ference: I whipt me behind the arras; and there heard it agreed upon, that the prince should woo Hero for himself, and having obtained her, give her to Count Claudio. D. John. Come, come, let us thither: this may prove food to my displeasure. That young 70 start-up hath all the glory of my overthrow: if I can cross him any way, I bless myself every way. You are both sure, and will assist me?

Con. To the death, my lord.

D. John. Let us to the great supper: their cheer is the greater that I am subdued. Would the cook were of my mind! Shall we go prove what's to be done?

Bora. We'll wait upon your lordship. [Exeunt. 80

ACT SECOND

SCENE I

A hall in Leonato's house.

Enter Leonato, Antonio, Hero, Beatrice, and others.

Leon. Was not Count John here at supper?
Ant. I saw him not.

Beat. How tartly that gentleman looks! I
never can see him but I am heart-burned an
hour after.

Hero. He is of a very melancholy disposition.
Beat. He were an excellent man that were made

just in the midway between him and Benedick: the one is too like an image and says nothing, and the other too like my lady's eld- 10 est son, evermore tattling. Leon. Then half Signior Benedick's tongue in Count John's mouth, and half Count John's melancholy in Signior Benedick's face,Beat. With a good leg and a good foot, uncle, and money enough in his purse, such a man would win any woman in the world, if a' could get her good-will.

Leon. By my troth, niece, thou wilt never get

10. “my lady's eldest son”; a young heir (in general).-C. H. H.

thee a husband, if thou be so shrewd of thy 20

tongue.

Ant. In faith, she 's too curst.

Beat. Too curst is more than curst: I shall

lessen God's sending that way; for it is said, 'God sends a curst cow short horns;' but to a cow too curst he sends none.

Leon. So, by being too curst, God will send you
no horns.

Beat. Just, if he send me no husband; for the
which blessing I am at him upon my knees 30
every morning and evening. Lord, I could
not endure a husband with a beard on his
face: I had rather lie in the woolen.
Leon. You may light on a husband that hath no
beard.

Beat. What should I do with him? dress him in
my apparel, and make him my waiting-gen-
tlewoman? He that hath a beard is more
than a youth; and he that hath no beard is
less than a man: and he that is more than a 40
youth is not for me; and he that is less than
a man, I am not for him: therefore I will
even take sixpence in earnest of the bear-
ward, and lead his apes into hell.

Leon. Well, then, go you into hell?
Beat. No, but to the gate; and there will the

devil meet me, like an old cuckold, with horns
on his head, and say 'Get you to heaven,
Beatrice, get you to heaven; here's no place
for you maids:' so deliver I up my apes, and 50
away to Saint Peter for the heavens; he

shows me where the bachelors sit, and there
live we as merry as the day is long.

Ant. [To Hero] Well, niece, I trust you will be
ruled by your father.

Beat. Yes, faith; it is my cousin's duty to make
courtesy, and say, 'Father, as it please you.'
But yet for all that, cousin, let him be a
handsome fellow, or else make another cour-
tesy, and say, 'Father, as it please me.'
Leon. Well, niece, I hope to see you one day
fitted with a husband.

60

Beat. Not till God make men of some other metal than earth. Would it not grieve a woman to be overmastered with a piece of valiant dust? to make an account of her life to a clod of wayward marl? No, uncle, I'll none: Adam's sons are my brethren; and, truly, I hold it a sin to match in my kindred. Leon. Daughter, remember what I told you: if 70 the prince do solicit you in that kind, you know your answer.

Beat. The fault will be in the music, cousin, if you be not wooed in good time: if the prince be too important, tell him there is measure in every thing, and so dance out the answer. For, hear me, Hero: wooing, wedding, and repenting, is as a Scotch jig, a measure, and a cinque pace: the first suit is hot and hasty, like a Scotch jig, and full as fantastical; the 80 wedding, mannerly-modest, as a measure, full of state and ancientry; and then comes repentance, and, with his bad legs, falls into

the cinque pace faster and faster, till he sink
into his grave.

Leon. Cousin, you apprehend passing shrewdly.
Beat. I have a good eye, uncle; I can see a
church by daylight.

Leon. The revelers are entering, brother: make [All put on their masks. 90

good room.

Enter Don Pedro, Claudio, Benedick, Balthasar, Don John, Borachio, Margaret, Ursula, and others, masked.

D. Pedro. Lady, will you walk about with your friend?

Hero. So you walk softly, and look sweetly, and
say nothing. I am yours for the walk; and
especially when I walk away.

D. Pedro. With me in your company?
Hero. I may say so, when I please.

D. Pedro. And when please you to say so?
Hero. When I like your favor; for God defend
the lute should be like the case!

D. Pedro. My visor is Philemon's roof; within
the house is Jove.

Hero. Why, then, your visor should be thatched.
D. Pedro. Speak low, if you speak love.

100

[Drawing her aside.

100. "the lute should be like the case"; that is, God forbid that your face should be like your mask.-H. N. H.

102. "within the house is Jove"; alluding to the fable of Baucis and Philemon in Ovid, who describes the old couple as living in a thatched cottage: "Stipulis et cannâ tecta palustri"; which Golding renders: "The roofe thereof was thatched all with straw and fennish reede." Jaques, in As You Like It, again alludes to it: "O knowledge ill-inhabited, worse than Jove in a thatched-house."-H. N. H.