1088Hero. Good Margaret runne thee to the parlour,

1089There shalt thou finde my Cosin Beatrice,

1090Proposing with the Prince and Claudio,

1091Whisper her eare, and tell her I and Vrsula,

1092Walke in the Orchard, and our whole discourse

1093Is all of her, say that thou ouer-heardst vs,

1094And bid her steale into the pleached bower,

1095Where hony-suckles ripened by the sunne,

1096Forbid the sunne to enter: like fauourites,

1097Made proud by Princes, that aduance their pride,

1098Against that power that bred it, there will she hide her,

1099To listen our purpose, this is thy office,

1100Beare thee well in it, and leaue vs alone.

1101Marg. Ile make her come I warrant you presently.

1102Hero. Now Vrsula, when Beatrice doth come,

1103As we do trace this alley vp and downe,

1104Our talke must onely be of Benedicke,

1105When I doe name him, let it be thy part,

1106To praise him more then euer man did merit,

1107My talke to thee must be how Benedicke

1108Is sicke in loue with Beatrice: of this matter,

1109Is little Cupids crafty arrow made,

1110That onely wounds by heare-say: now begin,

1112For looke where Beatrice like a Lapwing runs

1113Close by the ground, to heare our conference.

1114Vrs. The pleasant'st angling is to see the fish

1115Cut with her golden ores the siluer streame,

1116And greedily deuoure the treacherous baite:

1117So angle we for Beatrice, who euen now,

1118Is couched in the wood-bine couerture,

1119Feare you not my part of the Dialogue.

1120Her. Then go we neare her that her eare loose nothing,

1121Of the false sweete baite that we lay for it:

1122No truely Vrsula, she is too disdainfull,

1123I know her spirits are as coy and wilde,

1124As Haggerds of the rocke.

1125Vrsula. But are you sure,

1126That Benedicke loues Beatrice so intirely?

1127Her. So saies the Prince, and my new trothed Lord.

1128Vrs. And did they bid you tell her of it, Madam?

1129Her. They did intreate me to acquaint her of it,

1130But I perswaded them, if they lou'd Benedicke,

K To

110 Much ado about Nothing.

1131To wish him wrastle with affection,

1132And neuer to let Beatrice know of it.

1133Vrsula. Why did you so, doth not the Gentleman

1134Deserue as full as fortunate a bed,

1135As euer Beatrice shall couch vpon?

1136Hero. O God of loue! I know he doth deserue,

1137As much as may be yeelded to a man:

1138But Nature neuer fram'd a womans heart,

1139Of prowder stuffe then that of Beatrice:

1140Disdaine and Scorne ride sparkling in her eyes,

1141Mis-prizing what they looke on, and her wit

1142Values it selfe so highly, that to her

1143All matter else seemes weake: she cannot loue,

1144Nor take no shape nor proiect of affection,

1145Shee is so selfe indeared.

1146Vrsula. Sure I thinke so,

1147And therefore certainely it were not good

1148She knew his loue, lest she make sport at it.

1149Hero. Why you speake truth, I neuer yet saw man,

1150How wise, how noble, yong, how rarely featur'd.

1151But she would spell him backward: if faire fac'd,

1152She would sweare the gentleman should be her sister:

1153If blacke, why Nature drawing of an anticke,

1154Made a foule blot: if tall, a launce ill headed:

1155If low, an agot very vildlie cut:

1156If speaking, why a vane blowne with all windes:

1157If silent, why a blocke moued with none.

1158So turnes she euery man the wrong side out,

1159And neuer giues to Truth and Vertue, that

1160Which simplenesse and merit purchaseth.

1161Vrsu. Sure, sure, such carping is not commendable.

1162Hero. No, not to be so odde, and from all fashions,

1163As Beatrice is, cannot be commendable,

1164But who dare tell her so? if I should speake,

1165She would mocke me into ayre, O she would laugh me

1166Out of my selfe, presse me to death with wit,

1167Therefore let Benedicke like couered fire,

1168Consume away in sighes, waste inwardly:

1169It were a better death, to die with mockes,

1170Which is as bad as die with tickling.

1171Vrsu. Yet tell her of it, heare what shee will say.

1172Hero. No, rather I will goe to Benedicke,

1173And counsaile him to fight against his passion,

1174And truly Ile deuise some honest slanders,

1175To staine my cosin with, one doth not know,

1176How much an ill word may impoison liking.

1177Vrsu. O doe not doe your cosin such a wrong,

1178She cannot be so much without true iudgement,

1179Hauing so swift and excellent a wit

1180As she is prisde to haue, as to refuse

1181So rare a Gentleman as signior Benedicke.

1182Hero. He is the onely man of Italy,

1183Alwaies excepted, my deare Claudio.

1184Vrsu. I pray you be not angry with me, Madame,

1185Speaking my fancy: Signior Benedicke,

1186For shape, for bearing argument and valour,

1187Goes formost in report through Italy.

1188Hero. Indeed he hath an excellent good name.

1189Vrsu. His excellence did earne it ere he had it:

1190When are you married Madame?

1191Hero. Why euerie day to morrow, come goe in,

1192Ile shew thee some attires, and haue thy counsell,

1193Which is the best to furnish me to morrow.

1194Vrsu. Shee's tane I warrant you,

1195We haue caught her Madame?

1196Hero. If it proue so, then louing goes by haps,

1197Some Cupid kills with arrowes, some with traps. Exit.

1198Beat. What fire is in mine eares? can this be true?

1199Stand I condemn'd for pride and scorne so much?

1200Contempt, farewell, and maiden pride, adew,

1201No glory liues behinde the backe of such.

1202And Benedicke, loue on, I will requite thee,

1203Taming my wilde heart to thy louing hand:

1204If thou dost loue, my kindenesse shall incite thee

1205To binde our loues vp in a holy band.

1206For others say thou dost deserue, and I

1207Beleeue it better then reportingly. Exit.