is but foul breath, and foul breath is noisome; therefore I will depart unkissed. 4 Bene. Thou hast frighted the word out of his right sense, so forcible is thy wit: But, I must tell thee plainly, Claudio undergoes my challenge; and either I must shortly hear from him, or I will subscribe him a coward. And, I pray thee now, tell me, for which of my bad parts didst thou first fall in love with me? Beat. For them all together; which maintained so politick a state of evil, that they will not admit any good part to intermingle with them. But for which of my good parts did you first suffer love for me? Bene. Suffer love; a good epithet! I do suffer love, indeed, for I love thee against my will. Beat. In spite of your heart, I think; alas! poor heart! If you spite it for my sake, I will spite it for yours; for I will never love that which my friend hates. Bene. Thou and I are too wise to woo peaceably. Beat. It appears not in this confession: there's not one wise man among twenty that will praise himself. Bene. An old, an old instance, Beatrice, that lived in the time of good neighbours 5: if a man do not erect in this age his own tomb ere he dies, he shall live no longer in monument, than the bell rings, and the widow weeps. Beat. And how long is that, think you? Bene. Question!—Why, an hour in clamour, 4 Is under challenge, or now stands challenged, by me. 5 i. e. when men were not envious, but every one gave another his due.' 6 This phrase appears to be equivalent to-' You ask a question indeed!'-or that is the question!' and a quarter in rheum: Therefore it is most expedient for the wise (if Don Worm, his conscience, find no impediment to the contrary), to be the trumpet of his own virtues, as I am to myself: So much for praising myself (who, I myself will bear witness, is praise-worthy), and now tell me, How doth your cousin? Beat. Very ill. Bene. And how do you? Bene. Serve God, love me, and mend: there will I leave you too, for here comes one in haste. Enter URSULA, Urs. Madam, you must come to your uncle; yonder's old coil at home: it is proved, my lady Hero hath been falsely accused, the Prince and Claudio mightily abused; and Don John is the author of all, who is fled and gone: will you come presently? Beat. Will you go hear this news, signior? Bene. I will live in thy heart, die in thy lap, and be buried in thy eyes; and moreover, I will go with thee to thy uncle's. SCENE III. [Exeunt. The Inside of a Church. Enter DON PEDRO, CLAUDIO, and Attendants, with Musick and Tapers. Claud. Is this the monument of Leonato ? Atten. It is, my lord. 7 Old coil is great or abundant bustle. Old was a common augmentative in ancient familiar language. So in K. Henry IV. Part II. Act ii. By the mass, here will be old utis.' And in Soliman and Perseda, 1599, I shall have old laughing.' It is said to be still in use in the northern counties. Claud. [Reads from a scroll.] Done to death1 by slanderous tongues Hang thou there upon the tomb, [affixing it. Now, musick, sound, and sing your solemn hymn. SONG. Pardon, Goddess of the night, Graves, yawn, and yield your dead, Heavily, heavily. Claud. Now, unto thy bones good night! 1 This phrase occurs frequently in writers of Shakspeare's time, it appears to be derived from the French phrase, faire mourir. See note on K. Henry VI. Part III. Act ii. Sc. 1. 2 Reward. 3 Diana's knight, or virgin knight, was the common poetical appellation of virgins in Shakspeare's time. So in The Two Noble Kinsmen, 1634. 'O sacred, shadowy, cold, and constant queen, 4 i. e. 'till death be spoken of?' D. Pedro. Good morrow, masters; put your torches out: The wolves have prey'd; and look, the gentle day, Before the wheels of Phœbus, round about Dapples the drowsy east with spots of gray: Thanks to you all, and leave us; fare you well. Claud. Good morrow, masters; each his several way. D. Pedro, Come, let us hence, and put on other weeds; And then to Leonato's we will go. Claud. And, Hymen, now with luckier issue speeds, Than this, for whom we render'd up this woe! [Exeunt. SCENE IV. A Room in Leonato's House. Enter LEONATO, ANTONIO, Benedick, BeaTRICE, URSULA, Friar, and HERO. Friar. Did I not tell you she was innocent? Leon. So are the prince and Claudio, who accus'd her Upon the error that you heard debated: Ant. Well, I am glad that all things sort so well. Bene. And so am I, being else by faith enforc'd To call young Claudio to a reckoning for it. Leon. Well, daughter, and you gentlewomen all, Withdraw into a chamber by yourselves; And, when I send for you, come hither mask'd: The prince and Claudio promis'd by this hour To visit me:-You know your office, brother; You must be father to your brother's daughter, And give her to young Claudio. [Exeunt Ladies. Ant. Which I will do with confirm'd countenance. Bene. Friar, I must entreat your pains, I think. Friar. To do what, signior? Bene. To bind me, or undo me, one of them.Signior Leonato, truth it is, good signior, Y our niece regards me with an eye of favour. Leon. That eye my daughter lent her; "Tis most true. Bene. And I do with an eye of love requite her. Leon. The sight whereof, I think, you had from me, From Claudio, and the prince: But what's your will? Bene. Your answer, sir, is enigmatical: Here comes the prince, and Claudio. And my help. Enter DON PEDRO and CLAUDIO, with Attendants. D. Pedro. Good morrow to this fair assembly. Leon. Good morrow, prince; good morrow, Claudio. We here attend you; are you yet determin'd To-day to marry with my brother's daughter? Claud. I'll hold my mind, were she an Ethiope. Leon. Call her forth, brother, here's the friar ready. [Exit ANTONIO. D. Pedro. Good morrow, Benedick: Why, what's the matter, That you have such a February face, So full of frost, of storm, and cloudiness? |