Actus primus, Scena prima.
[Act 1, Scene 1]
Enter Leonato Gouernour of Messina, Innogen his wife, He
ro his daughter, and Beatrice his Neece, with a messenger.
Leonato.
I Learne in this Letter, that
Don Peter of
Arra
gon
, comes this night to
Messina.
Mess.
He is very neere by this: he was not
three Leagues off when I left him.
Leon.
[5]
How many Gentlemen haue you lost in this
action?
Mess.
But few of any sort, and none of name.
Leon.
A victorie is twice it selfe, when the atchieuer
brings home full numbers: I finde heere, that Don
Pe
ter
hath bestowed much honor on a yong
Florentine, cal
led
Claudio.
Mess.
Much deseru'd on his part, and equally remem
bred by Don
Pedro, he hath borne himselfe beyond the
promise of his age, doing in the figure of a Lambe, the
[15]
feats of a Lion, he hath indeede better bettred expecta
tion, then you must expect of me to tell you how.
Leo.
He hath an Vnckle heere in
Messina, wil be very
much glad of it.
Mess.
I haue alreadie deliuered him letters, and there
[20]
appeares much ioy in him, euen so much, that ioy could not
shew it selfe modest enough, without a badg of bit
ternesse.
Leo.
Did he breake out into teares?
Mess.
In great measure.
Leo.
[25]
A kinde ouerflow of kindnesse, there are no fa
ces truer, then those that are so wash'd, how much bet
ter is it to weepe at ioy, then to ioy at weeping?
Bea.
I pray you, is Signior
Mountanto return'd from
the warres, or no?
Mess.
[30]
I know none of that name, Lady, there was
none such in the armie of any sort.
Leon.
What is he that you aske for Neece?
Hero.
My cousin meanes Signior Benedick of
Padua
Mess.
O he's return'd, and as pleasant as euer he was.
Beat.
[35]
He set vp his bils here in
Messina, & challeng'd
Cupid at the Flight: and my Vnckles foole reading the
Challenge, subscrib'd for Cupid, and challeng'd him at
the Burbolt. I pray you, how many hath hee kil'd and
eaten in these warres? But how many hath he kil'd? for
[40]
indeed, I promis'd to eate all of his killing.
Leon.
'Faith Neece, you taxe Signior Benedicke too
much, but hee'l be meet with you, I doubt it not.
Mess.
He hath done good seruice Lady in these wars.
Beat.
You had musty victuall, and he hath holpe to
[45]
ease it: he's a very valiant Trencher‑man, hee hath an
excellent stomacke.
Mess.
And a good souldier too Lady.
Beat.
And a good souldier to a Lady. But what is he
to a Lord?
Mess.
[50]
A Lord to a Lord, a man to a man, stuft with
all honourable vertues.
Beat.
It is so indeed, he is no lesse then a stuft man:
but for the stuffing well, we are all mortall.
Leon.
You must not (sir) mistake my Neece, there is
[55]
a kind of merry war betwixt Signior Benedick, & her:
they neuer meet, but there's a skirmish of wit between
them.
Bea.
Alas, he gets nothing by that. In our last con
flict, foure of his fiue wits went halting off, and now is
[60]
the whole man gouern'd with one: so that if hee haue
wit enough to keepe himselfe warme, let him beare it
for a difference betweene himselfe and his horse: For it
is all the wealth that he hath left, to be knowne a reaso-
nable creature. Who is his companion now? He hath
[65]
euery month a new sworne brother.
Mess.
I'st
Is't
possible?
Beat.
Very easily possible: he weares his faith but as
the fashion of his hat, it euer changes with yͤ next block.
Mess.
I see (Lady) the Gentleman is not in your
[70]
bookes.
Bea.
No, and he were, I would burne my study. But
I pray you, who is his companion? Is there no young
squarer now,
that will make a voyage with him to the
diuell?
Mess.
[75]
He is most in the company of the right noble
Claudio.
Beat.
O Lord, he will hang vpon him like a disease:
he is sooner caught then the pestilence, and the taker
runs presently mad. God helpe the noble
Claudio, if hee
[80]
haue caught the Benedict, it will cost him a thousand
pound ere he be cur'd.
Mess.
I will hold friends with you Lady.
Bea.
Do good friend.
Leo.
You'l ne're run mad Neece.
Bea.
[85]
No, not till a hot Ianuary.
Mess.
Don Pedro is approach'd.
Enter don Pedro, Claudio, Benedicke, Balthasar,
and Iohn the bastard.
Pedro.
Good Signior
Leonato, you are come to meet
your trouble: the fashion of the world is to auoid cost,
and you encounter it.
Leon.
[90]
Neuer came trouble to my house in the likenes
of your Grace: for trouble being gone, comfort should
remaine: but when you depart from me, sorrow abides,
and happinesse takes his leaue.
Pedro.
You embrace your charge too willingly: I
[95]
thinke this is your daughter.
Leonato.
Her mother hath many times told me so.
Bened.
Were you in doubt that you askt her?
Leonato.
Signior Benedicke, no, for then were you a
childe.
Pedro.
[100]
You haue it full Benedicke, we may ghesse by
this, what you are, being a man, truely the Lady fathers
her selfe: be happie Lady, for you are like an honorable
father.
Ben.
If Signior
Leonato be her father, she would not
[105]
haue his head on her shoulders for al Messina, as like him
as she is.
Beat.
I wonder that you will still be talking, signior
Benedicke, no body markes you.
Ben.
What my deere Ladie Disdaine! are you yet
[110]
liuing?
Beat.
Is it possible Disdaine should die, while shee
hath such meete foode to feede it, as Signior Benedicke?
Curtesie it selfe must conuert to Disdaine, if you come in
her presence.
Bene.
[115]
Then is curtesie a turneȑcoate, but it is cer
taine I am loued of all Ladies, onely you excepted: and
I would I could finde in my heart that I had not a hard
heart, for truely I loue none.
Beat.
A deere happinesse to women, they would else
[120]
haue beene troubled with a pernitious Suter, I thanke
God and my cold blood, I am of your humour for that, I
had rather heare my Dog barke at a Crow, than a man
sweare he loues me.
Bene.
God keepe your Ladiship still in that minde,
[125]
so
some Gentleman or other shall scape a predestinate
scratcht face.
Beat.
Scratching could not make it worse, and 'twere
such a face as yours were.
Bene.
Well, you are a rare Parrat teacher.
Beat.
[130]
A bird of my tongue, is better than a beast of
your.
Ben.
I would my horse had the speed of your tongue,
and so good a continuer, but keepe your way a Gods
name, I haue done.
Beat.
[135]
You alwaies end with a Iades tricke, I know
you of old.
Pedro.
This is the summe of all:
Leonato, signior
Clau
dio
, and signior
Benedicke; my deere friend
Leonato, hath
inuited you all, I tell him we shall stay here, at the least
[140]
a moneth, and he heartily praies some occasion may de
taine vs longer: I dare sweare hee is no hypocrite,
but praies from his heart.
Leon.
If you sweare, my Lord, you shall not be for
sworne, let mee bid you welcome, my Lord, being re
[145]
conciled to the Prince your brother: I owe you all
duetie.
Iohn.
I thanke you, I am not of many words, but I
thanke you.
Leon.
Please it your grace leade on
?
Pedro.
[150]
Your hand
Leonato, we will goe together.
Exeunt. Manet Benedicke and Claudio.
Clau.
Benedicke, didst thou note the daughter of sig
nior
Leonato?
Bene.
I noted her not, but I lookt on her.
Claud.
Is she not a modest yong Ladie?
Bene.
[155]
Doe you question me as an honest man should
doe, for my simple true iudgement? or would you haue
me speake after my custome, as being a professed tyrant
to their sexe
?
Clau.
No, I pray thee speake in sober iudgement.
Bene.
[160]
Why yfaith me thinks shee's too low for a hie
praise, too browne for a faire praise, and too little for a
great praise, onely this commendation I can affoord her,
that were shee other then she is, she were vnhandsome,
and being no other, but as she is, I doe not like her.
Clau.
[165]
Thou think'st I am in sport, I pray thee tell me
truely how thou lik'st her.
Bene.
Would you buie her, that you enquier after
her
?
Clau.
Can the world buie such a iewell?
Ben.
[170]
Yea, and a case to put it into, but speake you this
with a sad brow? Or doe you play the flowting iacke, to
tell vs Cupid is a good Hare‑finder, and Vulcan a rare
Carpenter: Come, in what key shall
aman
a man
take you to
goe in the song?
Clau.
[175]
In mine eie, she is the sweetest Ladie that euer
I lookt on.
Bene.
I can see yet without spectacles, and I see no
such matter: there's her cosin, and she were not possest
with a furie, exceedes her as much in beautie, as the first
[180]
of Maie doth the last of December: but I hope you haue
no intent to turne husband, haue you?
Clau.
I would scarce trust my selfe, though I had
sworne the contrarie, if
Hero would be my wife.
Bene.
Ist come to this? in faith hath not the world one
[185]
man but he will weare his cap with suspition? shall I ne
uer see a batcheller of three score againe? goe to yfaith,
and thou wilt needes thrust thy necke into a yoke, weare
the print of it, and sigh away sundaies: looke,
don Pedro
is returned to seeke you.
Enter don Pedro, Iohn the bastard.
Pedr.
[190]
What secret hath held you here, that you fol
lowed not to
Leonatoes?
Bened.
I would your Grace would constraine mee to
tell.
Pedro.
I charge thee on thy allegeance.
Ben.
[195]
You heare, Count
Claudio, I can be secret as a
dumbe man, I would haue you thinke so (but on my al
legiance, marke you this, on my allegiance) hee is in
loue, With who? now that is your Graces part: marke
how short his answere is, with
Hero, Leonatoes short
[200]
daughter.
Clau.
If this were so, so were it vttred.
Bened.
Like the old tale, my Lord, it is not so, nor 'twas
not so: but indeede, God forbid it should be so.
Clau.
If my passion change not shortly, God forbid it
[205]
should be otherwise.
Pedro.
Amen, if you loue her, for the Ladie is verie
well worthie.
Clau.
You speake this to fetch me in, my Lord.
Pedr.
By my troth I speake my thought.
Clau.
[210]
And in faith, my Lord, I spoke mine.
Bened.
And by my two faiths and troths, my Lord, I
speake mine.
Clau.
That I loue her, I feele.
Pedr.
That she is worthie, I know.
Bened.
[215]
That I neither feele how shee should be lo
ued, nor know how shee should be worthie, is the
opinion that fire cannot melt out of me, I will die in it at
the stake.
Pedr.
Thou wast euer an obstinate heretique in the de
[220]
spight of Beautie.
Clau.
And neuer could maintaine his part, but in the
force of his will.
Ben.
That a woman conceiued me, I thanke her: that
she brought mee vp, I likewise giue her most humble
[225]
thankes: but that I will haue a rechate winded in my
forehead, or hang my bugle in an inuisible baldricke, all
women shall pardon me: because I will not do them the
wrong to mistrust any, I will doe my selfe the right to
trust none: and the fine is, (for the which I may goe the
[230]
finer) I will liue a Batchellor.
Pedro.
I shall see thee ere I die, looke pale with loue.
Bene.
With anger, with sicknesse, or with hunger,
my Lord, not with loue: proue that euer I loose more
blood with loue, then I will get againe with drinking,
[235]
picke out mine eyes with a Ballet‑makers penne, and
hang me vp at the doore of a brothel‑house for the signe
of blinde Cupid.
Pedro.
Well, if euer thou doost fall from this faith,
thou wilt proue a notable argument.
Bene.
[240]
If I do, hang me in a bottle like a Cat, & shoot
at me, and he that hit's me, let him be clapt on the shoul
der, and cal'd
Adam.
Pedro.
Well, as time shall trie: In time the sauage
Bull doth beare
tne
the
yoake.
Bene.
[245]
The sauage bull may, but if euer the sensible
Benedicke beare it, plucke off the bulles hornes, and set
them in my forehead, and let me be vildely painted, and
in such great Letters as they write, heere is good horse
to hire: let them signifie vnder my signe, here you may
[250]
see
Benedicke the married man.
Clau.
If this should euer happen, thou wouldst bee
horne mad.
Pedro.
Nay, if Cupid haue not spent all his Quiuer in
Venice, thou wilt quake for this shortly.
Bene.
[255]
I looke for an earthquake too then.
Pedro.
Well, you will temporize with the houres, in
the meane time, good Signior
Benedicke, repaire to
Leo
natoes
, commend me to him, and tell him I will not faile
him at supper, for indeede he hath made great prepara
[260]
tion.
Bene.
I haue almost matter enough in me for such an
Embassage, and so I commit you.
Clau.
To the tuition of God. From my house, if I
had it.
Pedro.
[265]
The sixt of Iuly. Your louing friend,
Benedick.
Bene.
Nay mocke not, mocke not; the body of your
discourse is sometime guarded with fragments, and the
guardes are but slightly basted on neither, ere you flout
old ends any further, examine your conscience, and so I
[270]
leaue you.
Exit.
Clau.
My Liege, your Highnesse now may doe mee
good.
Pedro.
My loue is thine to teach, teach it but how,
And thou shalt see how apt it is to learne
Any hard Lesson that may do thee good.
Clau.
[275]
Hath
Leonato any sonne my Lord?
Pedro.
No childe but
Hero, she's his onely heire.
Dost thou affect her
Claudio?
Clau.
O my Lord,
When you went onward on this ended action,
An ink mark follows the end of this line.
[280]
I look'd vpon her with a souldiers eie,
That lik'd, but had a rougher taske in hand,
Than to driue liking to the name of loue:
But now I am return'd, and that warre‑thoughts
Haue left their places vacant: in their roomes,
[285]
Come thronging soft and delicate desires,
All prompting mee how faire yong
Hero is,
Saying I lik'd her ere I went to warres.
Pedro.
Thou wilt be like a louer presently,
And tire the hearer with a booke of words:
[290]
If thou dost loue faire
Hero, cherish it,
And I will breake with her: wast not to this end,
That thou began
ft
st
to twist so fine a story?
Clau.
How sweetly doe you minister to loue,
That know loues griefe by his complexion!
[295]
But lest my liking might too sodaine seeme,
I would haue salu'd it with a longer treatise.
Ped.
What need yͤ bridge much broder then the flood?
The fairest graunt is the necessitie:
Looke what will serue, is fit: 'tis once, thou louest,
[300]
And I will fit thee with the remedie,
I know we shall haue reuelling to night,
I will assume thy part in some disguise,
And tell faire
Hero I am
Claudio,
And in her bosome Ile vnclaspe my heart,
[305]
And take her hearing prisoner with the force
And strong incounter of my amorous tale:
Then after, to her father will I breake,
And the conclusion is, shee shall be thine,
In practise let vs put it presently.
Exeunt.
