Ant. This same is she, and I do give you her.

Claud. Why, then she's mine. Sweet, let me see your

face.

Leon. No, that you shall not, till you take her hand
Before this friar, and swear to marry her.

Claud. Give me your hand: before this holy friar,
I am your husband, if you like of me.
Hero. And when I lived, I was your other wife:

60

[Unmasking.

And when you loved, you were my other husband. Claud. Another Hero!

Hero.

Nothing certainer:

One Hero died defiled; but I do live,

And surely as I live, I am a maid.

D. Pedro. The former Hero! Hero that is dead!
Leon. She died, my lord, but whiles her slander lived.
Friar. 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.

Bene. Soft and fair, friar. Which is Beatrice?

70

Beat. [Unmasking] I answer to that name. What is your will?

Bene. Do not you love me?

Beat.

Why, no; no more than reason.

Bene. Why, then your uncle, and the prince, and Claudio Have been deceived; they swore you did.

Beat. Do not you love me?

Bene.

Troth, no; no more than reason.

Beat. Why, then my cousin, Margaret, and Ursula

Are much deceived; for they did swear you did.

Bene. They swore that you were almost sick for me. 80

Beat. They swore that you were well-nigh dead for me. Bene. 'Tis no such matter. Then you do not love me? Beat. No, truly, but in friendly recompence.

Leon. Come, cousin, I am sure you love the gentleman. Claud. And I'll be sworn upon 't that he loves her; For here's a paper, written in his hand,

Hero.

A halting sonnet of his own pure brain,

Fashion'd to Beatrice.

And here's another,

Writ in my cousin's hand, stolen from her pocket,
Containing her affection unto Benedick.

Bene. A miracle! here's our own hands against our
hearts. Come, I will have thee; but, by this
light, I take thee for pity.

Beat. 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.

Bene. Peace! I will stop your mouth.

90

[Kissing her. D. Pedro. How dost thou, Benedick, the married

man?

Bene. I'll tell thee what, prince; a college of witcrackers cannot flout me out of my humour. 100 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 I do 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.

Claud. 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 exceeding narrowly to thee.
Bene. 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.

Leon. We'll have dancing afterward.
Bene. 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.

Mess. My lord, your brother John is ta'en in flight, And brought with armed men back to Messina. Bene. Think not on him till to-morrow: I'll devise thee brave punishments for him. Strike up, pipers.

120

[Dance. Exeunt.

Glossary.