One Hero died defiled, but I do live, And surely as I live, I am a maid. DON PEDRO The former Hero! Hero that is dead! LEONATO She died, my lord, but whiles her slander lived. FRIAR FRANCIS All this amazement can I qualify:
When after that the holy rites are ended, I'll tell you largely of fair Hero's death:
Meantime let wonder seem familiar, And to the chapel let us presently. BENEDICK Soft and fair, friar. Which is Beatrice? BEATRICE [Unmasking] I answer to that name. What is your will? BENEDICK Do not you love me? BEATRICE Why, no; no more than reason. BENEDICK Why, then your uncle and the prince and Claudio Have been deceived; they swore you did. BEATRICE Do not you love me? BENEDICK Troth, no; no more than reason. BEATRICE Why, then my cousin Margaret and Ursula Are much deceived; for they did swear you did. BENEDICK They swore that you were almost sick for me. BEATRICE They swore that you were well-nigh dead for me. BENEDICK 'Tis no such matter. Then you do not love me? BEATRICE No, truly, but in friendly recompense. LEONATO Come, cousin, I am sure you love the gentleman. CLAUDIO And I'll be sworn upon't that he loves her;For here's a paper written in his hand, A halting sonnet of his own pure brain, Fashion'd to Beatrice. HERO And here's another Writ in my cousin's hand, stolen from her pocket, Containing her affection unto Benedick. BENEDICK A miracle! here's our own hands against our hearts.
Come, I will have thee; but, by this light, Itake thee for pity. BEATRICE I would not deny you; but, by this good day, I yield upon great persuasion; and partly to save your life, for I was told you were in a consumption. BENEDICK Peace! I will stop your mouth.
Kissing her DON PEDRO How dost thou, Benedick, the married man? BENEDICK I'll tell thee what, prince; a college of wit-crackers cannot flout me out of my humour.
Dost thou think I care for a satire or an epigram?
No:
if a man will be beaten with brains, a' shall wear nothing handsome about him. In brief, since Ido purpose to marry, I will think nothing to any purpose that the world can say against it; and therefore never flout at me for what I have said against it; for man is a giddy thing, and this is my conclusion. For thy part, Claudio, I did think to have beaten thee, but in that thou art like to be my kinsman, live unbruised and love my cousin. CLAUDIO I had well hoped thou wouldst have denied Beatrice, that I might have cudgelled thee out of thy single life, to make thee a double-dealer; which, out of question, thou wilt be, if my cousin do not look exceedingly narrowly to thee. BENEDICK Come, come, we are friends: let's have a dance ere we are married, that we may lighten our own hearts and our wives' heels. LEONATO We'll have dancing afterward. BENEDICK First, of my word; therefore play, music.
Prince, thou art sad; get thee a wife, get thee a wife:
there is no staff more reverend than one tipped with horn.
Enter a Messenger Messenger My lord, your brother John is ta'en in flight, And brought with armed men back to Messina. BENEDICK Think not on him till to-morrow:
I'll devise thee brave punishments for him.
Strike up, pipers.
Dance Exeunt
