345Con. What the good yeere my Lord, why are you

346thus out of measure sad?

347Ioh. There is no measure in the occasion that breeds,

348therefore the sadnesse is without limit.

349Con. You should heare reason.

350Iohn. And when I haue heard it, what blessing brin-

351geth it?

352Con. If not a present remedy, yet a patient sufferance.

353Ioh. I wonder that thou (being as thou saist thou art,

354borne vnder Saturne) goest about to apply a morall me-

355dicine, to a mortifying mischiefe: I cannot hide what I

356am: I must bee sad when I haue cause, and smile at no

357mans iests, eat when I haue stomacke, and wait for no

358mans leisure: sleepe when I am drowsie, and tend on no

359mans businesse, laugh when I am merry, and claw no man

360in his humor.

361Con. Yea, but you must not make the ful show of this,

362till you may doe it without controllment, you haue of

104 Much adoe about Nothing.

363late stood out against your brother, and hee hath tane

364you newly into his grace, where it is impossible you

365should take root, but by the faire weather that you make

366your selfe, it is needful that you frame the season for your

367owne haruest.

368Iohn. I had rather be a canker in a hedge, then a rose

369in his grace, and it better fits my bloud to be disdain'd of

370all, then to fashion a carriage to rob loue from any: in this

371(though I cannot be said to be a flattering honest man)

372it must not be denied but I am a plaine dealing villaine, I

373am trusted with a mussell, and enfranchisde with a clog,

374therefore I haue decreed, not to sing in my cage: if I had

375my mouth, I would bite: if I had my liberty, I would do

376my liking: in the meane time, let me be that I am, and

377seeke not to alter me.

378Con. Can you make no vse of your discontent?

379Iohn. I will make all vse of it, for I vse it onely.

380Who comes here? what newes Borachio?

382Bor. I came yonder from a great supper, the Prince

383your brother is royally entertained by Leonato, and I can

384giue you intelligence of an intended marriage.

385Iohn. Will it serue for any Modell to build mischiefe

386on? What is hee for a foole that betrothes himselfe to

387vnquietnesse?

388Bor. Mary it is your brothers right hand.

389Iohn. Who, the most exquisite Claudio?

390Bor. Euen he.

391Iohn. A proper squier, and who, and who, which way

392lookes he?

393Bor. Mary on Hero, the daughter and Heire of Leo-

394nato.

395Iohn. A very forward March-chicke, how came you

396to this?

397Bor. Being entertain'd for a perfumer, as I was smoa-

398king a musty roome, comes me the Prince and Claudio,

399hand in hand in sad conference: I whipt behind the Ar-

400ras, and there heard it agreed vpon, that the Prince should

401wooe Hero for himselfe, and hauing obtain'd her, giue

402her to Count Claudio.

403Iohn. Come, come, let vs thither, this may proue food

404to my displeasure, that young start-vp hath all the glorie

405of my ouerthrow: if I can crosse him any way, I blesse

406my selfe euery way, you are both sure, and will assist

407mee?

408Conr. To the death my Lord.

409Iohn. Let vs to the great supper, their cheere is the

410greater that I am subdued, would the Cooke were of my

411minde: shall we goe proue whats to be done?

412Bor. Wee'll wait vpon your Lordship.