Reading Help MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
But let them go, `
` And be you blithe and bonny, `
` Converting all your sounds of woe `
` Into Hey nonny, nonny. `
` `
` Sing no more ditties, sing no moe, `
` Of dumps so dull and heavy! `
` The fraud of men was ever so, `
` Since summer first was leavy. `
` Then sigh not so, &c. `
` `
` Pedro. By my troth, a good song. `
` Balth. And an ill singer, my lord. `
` Pedro. Ha, no, no, faith! Thou sing'st well enough for a shift. `
` Bene. [aside] An he had been a dog that should have howl'd `
` thus, `
` they would have hang'd him; and I pray God his bad voice bode `
` no `
` mischief. I had as live have heard the night raven, come what `
` plague could have come after it. `
` Pedro. Yea, marry. Dost thou hear, Balthasar? I pray thee get `
` us `
` some excellent music; for to-morrow night we would have it at `
` the `
` Lady Hero's chamber window. `
` Balth. The best I can, my lord. `
` Pedro. Do so. Farewell. `
` Exit Balthasar [with Musicians]. `
` Come hither, Leonato. What was it you told me of to-day? that `
` your niece Beatrice was in love with Signior Benedick? `
` Claud. O, ay!-[Aside to Pedro] Stalk on, stalk on; the fowl `
` sits. `
` --I did never think that lady would have loved any man. `
` Leon. No, nor I neither; but most wonderful that she should so `
` dote `
` on Signior Benedick, whom she hath in all outward behaviours `
` seem'd ever to abhor. `
` Bene. [aside] Is't possible? Sits the wind in that corner? `
` Leon. By my troth, my lord, I cannot tell what to think of it, `
` but `
` that she loves him with an enraged affection. It is past the `
` infinite of thought. `
` Pedro. May be she doth but counterfeit. `
` Claud. Faith, like enough. `
` Leon. O God, counterfeit? There was never counterfeit of `
` passion `
` came so near the life of passion as she discovers it. `
` Pedro. Why, what effects of passion shows she? `
` Claud. [aside] Bait the hook well! This fish will bite. `
` Leon. What effects, my lord? She will sit you--you heard my `
` daughter tell you how. `
` Claud. She did indeed. `
` Pedro. How, how, I pray you? You amaze me. I would have thought `
` her `
` spirit had been invincible against all assaults of affection. `
` Leon. I would have sworn it had, my lord--especially against `
` Benedick. `
` Bene. [aside] I should think this a gull but that the `
` white-bearded `
` fellow speaks it. Knavery cannot, sure, hide himself in such `
` reverence. `
` Claud. [aside] He hath ta'en th' infection. Hold it up. `
` Pedro. Hath she made her affection known to Benedick? `
` Leon. No, and swears she never will. That's her torment. `
` Claud. 'Tis true indeed. So your daughter says. 'Shall I,' says `
` she, 'that have so oft encount'red him with scorn, write to `
` him `
` that I love him?'" `
` Leon. This says she now when she is beginning to write to him; `
` for `
` she'll be up twenty times a night, and there will she sit in `
` her `
` smock till she have writ a sheet of paper. My daughter tells `
` us `
` all. `
` Claud. Now you talk of a sheet of paper, I remember a pretty `
` jest `
` your daughter told us of. `
` Leon. O, when she had writ it, and was reading it over, she `
` found `
` 'Benedick' and 'Beatrice' between the sheet? `
` Claud. That. `
` Leon. O, she tore the letter into a thousand halfpence, rail'd `
` at `
` herself that she should be so immodest to write to one that `
` she `
` knew would flout her. 'I measure him,' says she, 'by my own `
` spirit; for I should flout him if he writ to me. Yea, though `
` I `
` love him, I should.' `
` Claud. Then down upon her knees she falls, weeps, sobs, beats `
` her `
` heart, tears her hair, prays, curses--'O sweet Benedick! God `
` give `
` me patience!' `
` Leon. She doth indeed; my daughter says so. And the ecstasy `
` hath so `
` much overborne her that my daughter is sometime afeard she `
` will `
` do a desperate outrage to herself. It is very true. `
` Pedro. It were good that Benedick knew of it by some other, if `
` she `
` will not discover it. `
` Claud. To what end? He would make but a sport of it and torment `
` the `
` poor lady worse. `
` Pedro. An he should, it were an alms to hang him! She's an `
` excellent sweet lady, and (out of all suspicion) she is `
` virtuous. `
` Claud. And she is exceeding wise. `
` Pedro. In everything but in loving Benedick. `
` Leon. O, my lord, wisdom and blood combating in so tender a `
` body, `
` we have ten proofs to one that blood hath the victory. I am `
` sorry `
` for her, as I have just cause, being her uncle and her `
` guardian. `
` Pedro. I would she had bestowed this dotage on me. I would have `
` daff'd all other respects and made her half myself. I pray `
` you `
` tell Benedick of it and hear what 'a will say. `
` Leon. Were it good, think you? `
` Claud. Hero thinks surely she will die; for she says she will `
` die `
` if he love her not, and she will die ere she make her love `
` known, `
` and she will die, if he woo her, rather than she will bate `
` one `
` breath of her accustomed crossness. `
` Pedro. She doth well. If she should make tender of her love, `
` 'tis `
` very possible he'll scorn it; for the man (as you know all) `
` hath `
` a contemptible spirit. `
` Claud. He is a very proper man. `
` Pedro. He hath indeed a good outward happiness. `
` Claud. Before God! and in my mind, very wise. `
` Pedro. He doth indeed show some sparks that are like wit. `
` Claud. And I take him to be valiant. `
` Pedro. As Hector, I assure you; and in the managing of quarrels `
` you `
` may say he is wise, for either he avoids them with great `
` discretion, or undertakes them with a most Christianlike `
` fear. `
` Leon. If he do fear God, 'a must necessarily keep peace. If he `
` break the peace, he ought to enter into a quarrel with fear `
` and `
` trembling. `
` Pedro. And so will he do; for the man doth fear God, howsoever `
` it `
` seems not in him by some large jests he will make. Well, I am `
` sorry for your niece. Shall we go seek Benedick and tell him `
` of `
` her love? `
` Claud. Never tell him, my lord. Let her wear it out with good `
` counsel. `
` Leon. Nay, that's impossible; she may wear her heart out first. `
` Pedro. Well, we will hear further of it by your daughter. Let `
` it `
` cool the while. I love Benedick well, and I could wish he `
` would `
` modestly examine himself to see how much he is unworthy so `
` good a `
` lady. `
` Leon. My lord, will you .walk? Dinner is ready. `
` [They walk away.] `
` Claud. If he dote on her upon this, I will never trust my `
` expectation. `
` Pedro. Let there be the same net spread for her, and that must `
` your `
` daughter and her gentlewomen carry. The sport will be, when `
` they `
` hold one an opinion of another's dotage, and no such matter. `
` That's the scene that I would see, which will be merely a `
` dumb `
` show. Let us send her to call him in to dinner. `
` Exeunt [Don Pedro, Claudio, and Leonato]. `
` `
` [Benedick advances from the arbour.] `
` `
` Bene. This can be no trick. The conference was sadly borne; `
` they `
` have the truth of this from Hero; they seem to pity the lady. `
` It seems her affections have their full bent. Love me? Why, `
` it `
` must be requited. I hear how I am censur'd. They say I will `
` bear `
` myself proudly if I perceive the love come from her. They say `
` too `
` that she will rather die than give any sign of affection. I `
` did `
` never think to marry. I must not seem proud. Happy are they `
` that `
` hear their detractions and can put them to mending. They say `
` the `
` lady is fair--'tis a truth, I can bear them witness; and `
` virtuous `
` --'tis so, I cannot reprove it; and wise, but for loving `
` me--by `
` my troth, it is no addition to her wit, nor no great argument `
` of `
`
` And be you blithe and bonny, `
` Converting all your sounds of woe `
` Into Hey nonny, nonny. `
` `
` Sing no more ditties, sing no moe, `
` Of dumps so dull and heavy! `
` The fraud of men was ever so, `
` Since summer first was leavy. `
` Then sigh not so, &c. `
` `
` Pedro. By my troth, a good song. `
` Balth. And an ill singer, my lord. `
` Pedro. Ha, no, no, faith! Thou sing'st well enough for a shift. `
` Bene. [aside] An he had been a dog that should have howl'd `
` thus, `
` they would have hang'd him; and I pray God his bad voice bode `
` no `
` mischief. I had as live have heard the night raven, come what `
` plague could have come after it. `
` Pedro. Yea, marry. Dost thou hear, Balthasar? I pray thee get `
` us `
` some excellent music; for to-morrow night we would have it at `
` the `
` Lady Hero's chamber window. `
` Balth. The best I can, my lord. `
` Pedro. Do so. Farewell. `
` Exit Balthasar [with Musicians]. `
` Come hither, Leonato. What was it you told me of to-day? that `
` your niece Beatrice was in love with Signior Benedick? `
` Claud. O, ay!-[Aside to Pedro] Stalk on, stalk on; the fowl `
` sits. `
` --I did never think that lady would have loved any man. `
` Leon. No, nor I neither; but most wonderful that she should so `
` dote `
` on Signior Benedick, whom she hath in all outward behaviours `
` seem'd ever to abhor. `
` Bene. [aside] Is't possible? Sits the wind in that corner? `
` Leon. By my troth, my lord, I cannot tell what to think of it, `
` but `
` that she loves him with an enraged affection. It is past the `
` infinite of thought. `
` Pedro. May be she doth but counterfeit. `
` Claud. Faith, like enough. `
` Leon. O God, counterfeit? There was never counterfeit of `
` passion `
` came so near the life of passion as she discovers it. `
` Pedro. Why, what effects of passion shows she? `
` Claud. [aside] Bait the hook well! This fish will bite. `
` Leon. What effects, my lord? She will sit you--you heard my `
` daughter tell you how. `
` Claud. She did indeed. `
` Pedro. How, how, I pray you? You amaze me. I would have thought `
` her `
` spirit had been invincible against all assaults of affection. `
` Leon. I would have sworn it had, my lord--especially against `
` Benedick. `
` Bene. [aside] I should think this a gull but that the `
` white-bearded `
` fellow speaks it. Knavery cannot, sure, hide himself in such `
` reverence. `
` Claud. [aside] He hath ta'en th' infection. Hold it up. `
` Pedro. Hath she made her affection known to Benedick? `
` Leon. No, and swears she never will. That's her torment. `
` Claud. 'Tis true indeed. So your daughter says. 'Shall I,' says `
` she, 'that have so oft encount'red him with scorn, write to `
` him `
` that I love him?'" `
` Leon. This says she now when she is beginning to write to him; `
` for `
` she'll be up twenty times a night, and there will she sit in `
` her `
` smock till she have writ a sheet of paper. My daughter tells `
` us `
` all. `
` Claud. Now you talk of a sheet of paper, I remember a pretty `
` jest `
` your daughter told us of. `
` Leon. O, when she had writ it, and was reading it over, she `
` found `
` 'Benedick' and 'Beatrice' between the sheet? `
` Claud. That. `
` Leon. O, she tore the letter into a thousand halfpence, rail'd `
` at `
` herself that she should be so immodest to write to one that `
` she `
` knew would flout her. 'I measure him,' says she, 'by my own `
` spirit; for I should flout him if he writ to me. Yea, though `
` I `
` love him, I should.' `
` Claud. Then down upon her knees she falls, weeps, sobs, beats `
` her `
` heart, tears her hair, prays, curses--'O sweet Benedick! God `
` give `
` me patience!' `
` Leon. She doth indeed; my daughter says so. And the ecstasy `
` hath so `
` much overborne her that my daughter is sometime afeard she `
` will `
` do a desperate outrage to herself. It is very true. `
` Pedro. It were good that Benedick knew of it by some other, if `
` she `
` will not discover it. `
` Claud. To what end? He would make but a sport of it and torment `
` the `
` poor lady worse. `
` Pedro. An he should, it were an alms to hang him! She's an `
` excellent sweet lady, and (out of all suspicion) she is `
` virtuous. `
` Claud. And she is exceeding wise. `
` Pedro. In everything but in loving Benedick. `
` Leon. O, my lord, wisdom and blood combating in so tender a `
` body, `
` we have ten proofs to one that blood hath the victory. I am `
` sorry `
` for her, as I have just cause, being her uncle and her `
` guardian. `
` Pedro. I would she had bestowed this dotage on me. I would have `
` daff'd all other respects and made her half myself. I pray `
` you `
` tell Benedick of it and hear what 'a will say. `
` Leon. Were it good, think you? `
` Claud. Hero thinks surely she will die; for she says she will `
` die `
` if he love her not, and she will die ere she make her love `
` known, `
` and she will die, if he woo her, rather than she will bate `
` one `
` breath of her accustomed crossness. `
` Pedro. She doth well. If she should make tender of her love, `
` 'tis `
` very possible he'll scorn it; for the man (as you know all) `
` hath `
` a contemptible spirit. `
` Claud. He is a very proper man. `
` Pedro. He hath indeed a good outward happiness. `
` Claud. Before God! and in my mind, very wise. `
` Pedro. He doth indeed show some sparks that are like wit. `
` Claud. And I take him to be valiant. `
` Pedro. As Hector, I assure you; and in the managing of quarrels `
` you `
` may say he is wise, for either he avoids them with great `
` discretion, or undertakes them with a most Christianlike `
` fear. `
` Leon. If he do fear God, 'a must necessarily keep peace. If he `
` break the peace, he ought to enter into a quarrel with fear `
` and `
` trembling. `
` Pedro. And so will he do; for the man doth fear God, howsoever `
` it `
` seems not in him by some large jests he will make. Well, I am `
` sorry for your niece. Shall we go seek Benedick and tell him `
` of `
` her love? `
` Claud. Never tell him, my lord. Let her wear it out with good `
` counsel. `
` Leon. Nay, that's impossible; she may wear her heart out first. `
` Pedro. Well, we will hear further of it by your daughter. Let `
` it `
` cool the while. I love Benedick well, and I could wish he `
` would `
` modestly examine himself to see how much he is unworthy so `
` good a `
` lady. `
` Leon. My lord, will you .walk? Dinner is ready. `
` [They walk away.] `
` Claud. If he dote on her upon this, I will never trust my `
` expectation. `
` Pedro. Let there be the same net spread for her, and that must `
` your `
` daughter and her gentlewomen carry. The sport will be, when `
` they `
` hold one an opinion of another's dotage, and no such matter. `
` That's the scene that I would see, which will be merely a `
` dumb `
` show. Let us send her to call him in to dinner. `
` Exeunt [Don Pedro, Claudio, and Leonato]. `
` `
` [Benedick advances from the arbour.] `
` `
` Bene. This can be no trick. The conference was sadly borne; `
` they `
` have the truth of this from Hero; they seem to pity the lady. `
` It seems her affections have their full bent. Love me? Why, `
` it `
` must be requited. I hear how I am censur'd. They say I will `
` bear `
` myself proudly if I perceive the love come from her. They say `
` too `
` that she will rather die than give any sign of affection. I `
` did `
` never think to marry. I must not seem proud. Happy are they `
` that `
` hear their detractions and can put them to mending. They say `
` the `
` lady is fair--'tis a truth, I can bear them witness; and `
` virtuous `
` --'tis so, I cannot reprove it; and wise, but for loving `
` me--by `
` my troth, it is no addition to her wit, nor no great argument `
` of `
`