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I know we shall have revelling to-night. `
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I will assume thy part in some disguise `
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And tell fair Hero I am Claudio, `
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And in her bosom I'll unclasp my heart `
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And take her hearing prisoner with the force `
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And strong encounter of my amorous tale. `
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Then after to her father will I break, `
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And the conclusion is, she shall be thine. `
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In practice let us put it presently. Exeunt. `
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Scene II. `
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A room in Leonato's house. `
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`
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Enter [at one door] Leonato and [at another door, Antonio] an old `
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man, `
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brother to Leonato. `
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Leon. How now, brother? Where is my cousin your son? Hath he `
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provided this music? `
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Ant. He is very busy about it. But, brother, I can tell you `
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strange `
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news that you yet dreamt not of. `
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Leon. Are they good? `
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Ant. As the event stamps them; but they have a good cover, they `
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show well outward. The Prince and Count Claudio, walking in a `
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thick-pleached alley in mine orchard, were thus much `
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overheard by `
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a man of mine: the Prince discovered to Claudio that he loved `
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my `
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niece your daughter and meant to acknowledge it this night in `
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a `
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dance, and if he found her accordant, he meant to take the `
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present time by the top and instantly break with you of it. `
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Leon. Hath the fellow any wit that told you this? `
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Ant. A good sharp fellow. I will send for him, and question him `
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yourself. `
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Leon. No, no. We will hold it as a dream till it appear itself; `
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but `
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I will acquaint my daughter withal, that she may be the `
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better `
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prepared for an answer, if peradventure this be true. Go you `
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and `
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tell her of it. [Exit Antonio.] `
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[Enter Antonio's Son with a Musician, and others.] `
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[To the Son] Cousin, you know what you have to do. `
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--[To the Musician] O, I cry you mercy, friend. Go you with `
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me, `
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and I will use your skill.--Good cousin, have a care this `
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busy `
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time. Exeunt. `
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Scene III. `
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Another room in Leonato's house.] `
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Enter Sir John the Bastard and Conrade, his companion. `
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Con. What the goodyear, my lord! Why are you thus out of `
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measure `
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sad? `
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John. There is no measure in the occasion that breeds; `
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therefore `
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the sadness is without limit. `
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Con. You should hear reason. `
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John. And when I have heard it, what blessings brings it? `
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Con. If not a present remedy, at least a patient sufferance. `
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John. I wonder that thou (being, as thou say'st thou art, born `
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under Saturn) goest about to apply a moral medicine to a `
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mortifying mischief. I cannot hide what I am: I must be sad `
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when `
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I have cause, and smile at no man's jests; eat when I have `
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stomach, and wait for no man's leisure; sleep when I am `
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drowsy, `
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and tend on no man's business; laugh when I am merry, and `
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claw no `
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man in his humour. `
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Con. Yea, but you must not make the full show of this till you `
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may `
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do it without controlment. You have of late stood out against `
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your brother, and he hath ta'en you newly into his grace, `
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where `
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it is impossible you should take true root but by the fair `
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weather that you make yourself. It is needful that you frame `
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the `
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season for your own harvest. `
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John. I had rather be a canker in a hedge than a rose in his `
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grace, `
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and it better fits my blood to be disdain'd of all than to `
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fashion a carriage to rob love from any. In this, though I `
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cannot `
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be said to be a flattering honest man, it must not be denied `
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but `
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I am a plain-dealing villain. I am trusted with a muzzle and `
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enfranchis'd with a clog; therefore I have decreed not to `
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sing in `
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my cage. If I had my mouth, I would bite; if I had my `
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liberty, I `
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would do my liking. In the meantime let me be that I am, and `
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seek `
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not to alter me. `
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Con. Can you make no use of your discontent? `
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John. I make all use of it, for I use it only. `
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`
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Enter Borachio. `
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Who comes here? What news, Borachio? `
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Bora. I came yonder from a great supper. The Prince your `
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brother is `
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royally entertain'd by Leonato, and I can give you `
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intelligence `
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of an intended marriage. `
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John. Will it serve for any model to build mischief on? `
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What is he for a fool that betroths himself to unquietness? `
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Bora. Marry, it is your brother's right hand. `
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John. Who? the most exquisite Claudio? `
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Bora. Even he. `
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John. A proper squire! And who? and who? which way looks he? `
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Bora. Marry, on Hero, the daughter and heir of Leonato. `
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John. A very forward March-chick! How came you to this? `
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Bora. Being entertain'd for a perfumer, as I was smoking a `
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musty `
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room, comes me the Prince and Claudio, hand in hand in sad `
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conference. I whipt me behind the arras and there heard it `
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agreed `
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upon that the Prince should woo Hero for himself, and having `
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obtain'd her, give her to Count Claudio. `
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John. Come, come, let us thither. This may prove food to my `
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displeasure. That young start-up hath all the glory of my `
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overthrow. If I can cross him any way, I bless myself every `
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way. `
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You are both sure, and will assist me? `
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Con. To the death, my lord. `
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John. Let us to the great supper. Their cheer is the greater `
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that `
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I am subdued. Would the cook were o' my mind! Shall we go `
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prove `
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what's to be done? `
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Bora. We'll wait upon your lordship. `
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Exeunt. `
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ACT II. Scene I. `
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A hall in Leonato's house. `
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`
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Enter Leonato, [Antonio] his Brother, Hero his Daughter, `
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and Beatrice his Niece, and a Kinsman; [also Margaret and `
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Ursula]. `
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Leon. Was not Count John here at supper? `
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Ant. I saw him not. `
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Beat. How tartly that gentleman looks! I never can see him but `
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I am `
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heart-burn'd an hour after. `
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Hero. He is of a very melancholy disposition. `
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Beat. He were an excellent man that were made just in the `
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midway `
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between him and Benedick. The one is too like an image and `
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says `
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nothing, and the other too like my lady's eldest son, `
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evermore `
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tattling. `
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Leon. Then half Signior Benedick's tongue in Count John's `
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mouth, `
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and half Count John's melancholy in Signior Benedick's face-- `
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Beat. With a good leg and a good foot, uncle, and money enough `
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in `
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his purse, such a man would win any woman in the world--if 'a `
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could get her good will. `
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Leon. By my troth, niece, thou wilt never get thee a husband if `
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thou be so shrewd of thy tongue. `
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Ant. In faith, she's too curst. `
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Beat. Too curst is more than curst. I shall lessen God's `
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sending `
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that way, for it is said, 'God sends a curst cow short `
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horns,' `
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but to a cow too curst he sends none. `
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Leon. So, by being too curst, God will send you no horns. `
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Beat. Just, if he send me no husband; for the which blessing I `
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am `
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at him upon my knees every morning and evening. Lord, I could `
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not `
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