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| <title>SCENE I. A church. | |
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| <tr><td class="play" align="center">Much Ado About Nothing | |
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| | <A href="/Shakespeare/much_ado/">Much Ado About Nothing</A> | |
| | Act 4, Scene 1 | |
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| <H3>SCENE I. A church.</h3> | |
| <p><blockquote> | |
| <i>Enter DON PEDRO, DON JOHN, LEONATO, FRIAR FRANCIS, CLAUDIO, BENEDICK, HERO, BEATRICE, and Attendants</i> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech1><b>LEONATO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=1>Come, Friar Francis, be brief; only to the plain</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=2>form of marriage, and you shall recount their</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=3>particular duties afterwards.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech2><b>FRIAR FRANCIS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=4>You come hither, my lord, to marry this lady.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech3><b>CLAUDIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=5>No.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech4><b>LEONATO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=6>To be married to her: friar, you come to marry her.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech5><b>FRIAR FRANCIS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=7>Lady, you come hither to be married to this count.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech6><b>HERO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=8>I do.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech7><b>FRIAR FRANCIS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=9>If either of you know any inward impediment why you</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=10>should not be conjoined, charge you, on your souls,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=11>to utter it.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech8><b>CLAUDIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=12>Know you any, Hero?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech9><b>HERO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=13>None, my lord.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech10><b>FRIAR FRANCIS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=14>Know you any, count?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech11><b>LEONATO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=15>I dare make his answer, none.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech12><b>CLAUDIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=16>O, what men dare do! what men may do! what men daily</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=17>do, not knowing what they do!</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech13><b>BENEDICK</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=18>How now! interjections? Why, then, some be of</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=19>laughing, as, ah, ha, he!</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech14><b>CLAUDIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=20>Stand thee by, friar. Father, by your leave:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=21>Will you with free and unconstrained soul</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=22>Give me this maid, your daughter?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech15><b>LEONATO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=23>As freely, son, as God did give her me.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech16><b>CLAUDIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=24>And what have I to give you back, whose worth</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=25>May counterpoise this rich and precious gift?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech17><b>DON PEDRO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=26>Nothing, unless you render her again.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech18><b>CLAUDIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=27>Sweet prince, you learn me noble thankfulness.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=28>There, Leonato, take her back again:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=29>Give not this rotten orange to your friend;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=30>She's but the sign and semblance of her honour.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=31>Behold how like a maid she blushes here!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=32>O, what authority and show of truth</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=33>Can cunning sin cover itself withal!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=34>Comes not that blood as modest evidence</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=35>To witness simple virtue? Would you not swear,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=36>All you that see her, that she were a maid,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=37>By these exterior shows? But she is none:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=38>She knows the heat of a luxurious bed;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=39>Her blush is guiltiness, not modesty.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech19><b>LEONATO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=40>What do you mean, my lord?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech20><b>CLAUDIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=41>Not to be married,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=42>Not to knit my soul to an approved wanton.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech21><b>LEONATO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=43>Dear my lord, if you, in your own proof,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=44>Have vanquish'd the resistance of her youth,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=45>And made defeat of her virginity,--</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech22><b>CLAUDIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=46>I know what you would say: if I have known her,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=47>You will say she did embrace me as a husband,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=48>And so extenuate the 'forehand sin:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=49>No, Leonato,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=50>I never tempted her with word too large;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=51>But, as a brother to his sister, show'd</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=52>Bashful sincerity and comely love.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech23><b>HERO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=53>And seem'd I ever otherwise to you?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech24><b>CLAUDIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=54>Out on thee! Seeming! I will write against it:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=55>You seem to me as Dian in her orb,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=56>As chaste as is the bud ere it be blown;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=57>But you are more intemperate in your blood</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=58>Than Venus, or those pamper'd animals</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=59>That rage in savage sensuality.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech25><b>HERO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=60>Is my lord well, that he doth speak so wide?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech26><b>LEONATO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=61>Sweet prince, why speak not you?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech27><b>DON PEDRO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=62>What should I speak?</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=63>I stand dishonour'd, that have gone about</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=64>To link my dear friend to a common stale.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech28><b>LEONATO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=65>Are these things spoken, or do I but dream?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech29><b>DON JOHN</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=66>Sir, they are spoken, and these things are true.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech30><b>BENEDICK</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=67>This looks not like a nuptial.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech31><b>HERO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=68>True! O God!</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech32><b>CLAUDIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=69>Leonato, stand I here?</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=70>Is this the prince? is this the prince's brother?</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=71>Is this face Hero's? are our eyes our own?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech33><b>LEONATO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=72>All this is so: but what of this, my lord?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech34><b>CLAUDIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=73>Let me but move one question to your daughter;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=74>And, by that fatherly and kindly power</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=75>That you have in her, bid her answer truly.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech35><b>LEONATO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=76>I charge thee do so, as thou art my child.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech36><b>HERO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=77>O, God defend me! how am I beset!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=78>What kind of catechising call you this?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech37><b>CLAUDIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=79>To make you answer truly to your name.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech38><b>HERO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=80>Is it not Hero? Who can blot that name</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=81>With any just reproach?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech39><b>CLAUDIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=82>Marry, that can Hero;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=83>Hero itself can blot out Hero's virtue.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=84>What man was he talk'd with you yesternight</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=85>Out at your window betwixt twelve and one?</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=86>Now, if you are a maid, answer to this.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech40><b>HERO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=87>I talk'd with no man at that hour, my lord.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech41><b>DON PEDRO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=88>Why, then are you no maiden. Leonato,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=89>I am sorry you must hear: upon mine honour,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=90>Myself, my brother and this grieved count</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=91>Did see her, hear her, at that hour last night</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=92>Talk with a ruffian at her chamber-window</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=93>Who hath indeed, most like a liberal villain,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=94>Confess'd the vile encounters they have had</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=95>A thousand times in secret.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech42><b>DON JOHN</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=96>Fie, fie! they are not to be named, my lord,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=97>Not to be spoke of;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=98>There is not chastity enough in language</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=99>Without offence to utter them. Thus, pretty lady,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=100>I am sorry for thy much misgovernment.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech43><b>CLAUDIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=101>O Hero, what a Hero hadst thou been,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=102>If half thy outward graces had been placed</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=103>About thy thoughts and counsels of thy heart!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=104>But fare thee well, most foul, most fair! farewell,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=105>Thou pure impiety and impious purity!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=106>For thee I'll lock up all the gates of love,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=107>And on my eyelids shall conjecture hang,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=108>To turn all beauty into thoughts of harm,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=109>And never shall it more be gracious.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech44><b>LEONATO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=110>Hath no man's dagger here a point for me?</A><br> | |
| <p><i>HERO swoons</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech45><b>BEATRICE</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=111>Why, how now, cousin! wherefore sink you down?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech46><b>DON JOHN</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=112>Come, let us go. These things, come thus to light,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=113>Smother her spirits up.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Exeunt DON PEDRO, DON JOHN, and CLAUDIO</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech47><b>BENEDICK</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=114>How doth the lady?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech48><b>BEATRICE</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=115> Dead, I think. Help, uncle!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=116>Hero! why, Hero! Uncle! Signior Benedick! Friar!</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech49><b>LEONATO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=117>O Fate! take not away thy heavy hand.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=118>Death is the fairest cover for her shame</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=119>That may be wish'd for.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech50><b>BEATRICE</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=120>How now, cousin Hero!</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech51><b>FRIAR FRANCIS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=121>Have comfort, lady.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech52><b>LEONATO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=122>Dost thou look up?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech53><b>FRIAR FRANCIS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=123>Yea, wherefore should she not?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech54><b>LEONATO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=124>Wherefore! Why, doth not every earthly thing</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=125>Cry shame upon her? Could she here deny</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=126>The story that is printed in her blood?</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=127>Do not live, Hero; do not ope thine eyes:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=128>For, did I think thou wouldst not quickly die,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=129>Thought I thy spirits were stronger than thy shames,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=130>Myself would, on the rearward of reproaches,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=131>Strike at thy life. Grieved I, I had but one?</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=132>Chid I for that at frugal nature's frame?</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=133>O, one too much by thee! Why had I one?</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=134>Why ever wast thou lovely in my eyes?</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=135>Why had I not with charitable hand</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=136>Took up a beggar's issue at my gates,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=137>Who smirch'd thus and mired with infamy,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=138>I might have said 'No part of it is mine;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=139>This shame derives itself from unknown loins'?</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=140>But mine and mine I loved and mine I praised</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=141>And mine that I was proud on, mine so much</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=142>That I myself was to myself not mine,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=143>Valuing of her,--why, she, O, she is fallen</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=144>Into a pit of ink, that the wide sea</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=145>Hath drops too few to wash her clean again</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=146>And salt too little which may season give</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=147>To her foul-tainted flesh!</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech55><b>BENEDICK</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=148>Sir, sir, be patient.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=149>For my part, I am so attired in wonder,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=150>I know not what to say.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech56><b>BEATRICE</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=151>O, on my soul, my cousin is belied!</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech57><b>BENEDICK</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=152>Lady, were you her bedfellow last night?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech58><b>BEATRICE</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=153>No, truly not; although, until last night,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=154>I have this twelvemonth been her bedfellow.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech59><b>LEONATO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=155>Confirm'd, confirm'd! O, that is stronger made</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=156>Which was before barr'd up with ribs of iron!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=157>Would the two princes lie, and Claudio lie,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=158>Who loved her so, that, speaking of her foulness,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=159>Wash'd it with tears? Hence from her! let her die.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech60><b>FRIAR FRANCIS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=160>Hear me a little;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=161>For I have only been silent so long</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=162>And given way unto this course of fortune.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=163>...</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=164>By noting of the lady I have mark'd</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=165>A thousand blushing apparitions</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=166>To start into her face, a thousand innocent shames</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=167>In angel whiteness beat away those blushes;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=168>And in her eye there hath appear'd a fire,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=169>To burn the errors that these princes hold</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=170>Against her maiden truth. Call me a fool;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=171>Trust not my reading nor my observations,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=172>Which with experimental seal doth warrant</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=173>The tenor of my book; trust not my age,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=174>My reverence, calling, nor divinity,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=175>If this sweet lady lie not guiltless here</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=176>Under some biting error.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech61><b>LEONATO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=177>Friar, it cannot be.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=178>Thou seest that all the grace that she hath left</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=179>Is that she will not add to her damnation</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=180>A sin of perjury; she not denies it:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=181>Why seek'st thou then to cover with excuse</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=182>That which appears in proper nakedness?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech62><b>FRIAR FRANCIS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=183>Lady, what man is he you are accused of?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech63><b>HERO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=184>They know that do accuse me; I know none:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=185>If I know more of any man alive</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=186>Than that which maiden modesty doth warrant,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=187>Let all my sins lack mercy! O my father,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=188>Prove you that any man with me conversed</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=189>At hours unmeet, or that I yesternight</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=190>Maintain'd the change of words with any creature,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=191>Refuse me, hate me, torture me to death!</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech64><b>FRIAR FRANCIS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=192>There is some strange misprision in the princes.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech65><b>BENEDICK</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=193>Two of them have the very bent of honour;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=194>And if their wisdoms be misled in this,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=195>The practise of it lives in John the bastard,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=196>Whose spirits toil in frame of villanies.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech66><b>LEONATO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=197>I know not. If they speak but truth of her,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=198>These hands shall tear her; if they wrong her honour,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=199>The proudest of them shall well hear of it.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=200>Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=201>Nor age so eat up my invention,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=202>Nor fortune made such havoc of my means,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=203>Nor my bad life reft me so much of friends,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=204>But they shall find, awaked in such a kind,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=205>Both strength of limb and policy of mind,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=206>Ability in means and choice of friends,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=207>To quit me of them throughly.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech67><b>FRIAR FRANCIS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=208>Pause awhile,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=209>And let my counsel sway you in this case.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=210>Your daughter here the princes left for dead:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=211>Let her awhile be secretly kept in,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=212>And publish it that she is dead indeed;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=213>Maintain a mourning ostentation</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=214>And on your family's old monument</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=215>Hang mournful epitaphs and do all rites</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=216>That appertain unto a burial.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech68><b>LEONATO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=217>What shall become of this? what will this do?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech69><b>FRIAR FRANCIS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=218>Marry, this well carried shall on her behalf</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=219>Change slander to remorse; that is some good:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=220>But not for that dream I on this strange course,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=221>But on this travail look for greater birth.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=222>She dying, as it must so be maintain'd,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=223>Upon the instant that she was accused,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=224>Shall be lamented, pitied and excused</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=225>Of every hearer: for it so falls out</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=226>That what we have we prize not to the worth</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=227>Whiles we enjoy it, but being lack'd and lost,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=228>Why, then we rack the value, then we find</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=229>The virtue that possession would not show us</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=230>Whiles it was ours. So will it fare with Claudio:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=231>When he shall hear she died upon his words,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=232>The idea of her life shall sweetly creep</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=233>Into his study of imagination,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=234>And every lovely organ of her life</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=235>Shall come apparell'd in more precious habit,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=236>More moving-delicate and full of life,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=237>Into the eye and prospect of his soul,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=238>Than when she lived indeed; then shall he mourn,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=239>If ever love had interest in his liver,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=240>And wish he had not so accused her,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=241>No, though he thought his accusation true.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=242>Let this be so, and doubt not but success</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=243>Will fashion the event in better shape</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=244>Than I can lay it down in likelihood.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=245>But if all aim but this be levell'd false,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=246>The supposition of the lady's death</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=247>Will quench the wonder of her infamy:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=248>And if it sort not well, you may conceal her,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=249>As best befits her wounded reputation,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=250>In some reclusive and religious life,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=251>Out of all eyes, tongues, minds and injuries.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech70><b>BENEDICK</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=252>Signior Leonato, let the friar advise you:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=253>And though you know my inwardness and love</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=254>Is very much unto the prince and Claudio,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=255>Yet, by mine honour, I will deal in this</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=256>As secretly and justly as your soul</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=257>Should with your body.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech71><b>LEONATO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=258>Being that I flow in grief,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=259>The smallest twine may lead me.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech72><b>FRIAR FRANCIS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=260>'Tis well consented: presently away;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=261>For to strange sores strangely they strain the cure.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=262>Come, lady, die to live: this wedding-day</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=263>Perhaps is but prolong'd: have patience and endure.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Exeunt all but BENEDICK and BEATRICE</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech73><b>BENEDICK</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=264>Lady Beatrice, have you wept all this while?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech74><b>BEATRICE</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=265>Yea, and I will weep a while longer.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech75><b>BENEDICK</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=266>I will not desire that.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech76><b>BEATRICE</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=267>You have no reason; I do it freely.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech77><b>BENEDICK</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=268>Surely I do believe your fair cousin is wronged.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech78><b>BEATRICE</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=269>Ah, how much might the man deserve of me that would right her!</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech79><b>BENEDICK</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=270>Is there any way to show such friendship?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech80><b>BEATRICE</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=271>A very even way, but no such friend.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech81><b>BENEDICK</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=272>May a man do it?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech82><b>BEATRICE</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=273>It is a man's office, but not yours.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech83><b>BENEDICK</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=274>I do love nothing in the world so well as you: is</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=275>not that strange?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech84><b>BEATRICE</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=276>As strange as the thing I know not. It were as</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=277>possible for me to say I loved nothing so well as</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=278>you: but believe me not; and yet I lie not; I</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=279>confess nothing, nor I deny nothing. I am sorry for my cousin.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech85><b>BENEDICK</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=280>By my sword, Beatrice, thou lovest me.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech86><b>BEATRICE</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=281>Do not swear, and eat it.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech87><b>BENEDICK</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=282>I will swear by it that you love me; and I will make</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=283>him eat it that says I love not you.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech88><b>BEATRICE</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=284>Will you not eat your word?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech89><b>BENEDICK</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=285>With no sauce that can be devised to it. I protest</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=286>I love thee.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech90><b>BEATRICE</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=287>Why, then, God forgive me!</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech91><b>BENEDICK</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=288>What offence, sweet Beatrice?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech92><b>BEATRICE</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=289>You have stayed me in a happy hour: I was about to</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=290>protest I loved you.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech93><b>BENEDICK</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=291>And do it with all thy heart.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech94><b>BEATRICE</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=292>I love you with so much of my heart that none is</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=293>left to protest.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech95><b>BENEDICK</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=294>Come, bid me do any thing for thee.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech96><b>BEATRICE</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=295>Kill Claudio.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech97><b>BENEDICK</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=296>Ha! not for the wide world.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech98><b>BEATRICE</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=297>You kill me to deny it. Farewell.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech99><b>BENEDICK</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=298>Tarry, sweet Beatrice.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech100><b>BEATRICE</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=299>I am gone, though I am here: there is no love in</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=300>you: nay, I pray you, let me go.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech101><b>BENEDICK</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=301>Beatrice,--</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech102><b>BEATRICE</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=302>In faith, I will go.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech103><b>BENEDICK</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=303>We'll be friends first.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech104><b>BEATRICE</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=304>You dare easier be friends with me than fight with mine enemy.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech105><b>BENEDICK</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=305>Is Claudio thine enemy?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech106><b>BEATRICE</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=306>Is he not approved in the height a villain, that</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=307>hath slandered, scorned, dishonoured my kinswoman? O</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=308>that I were a man! What, bear her in hand until they</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=309>come to take hands; and then, with public</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=310>accusation, uncovered slander, unmitigated rancour,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=311>--O God, that I were a man! I would eat his heart</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=312>in the market-place.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech107><b>BENEDICK</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=313>Hear me, Beatrice,--</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech108><b>BEATRICE</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=314>Talk with a man out at a window! A proper saying!</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech109><b>BENEDICK</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=315>Nay, but, Beatrice,--</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech110><b>BEATRICE</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=316>Sweet Hero! She is wronged, she is slandered, she is undone.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech111><b>BENEDICK</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=317>Beat--</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech112><b>BEATRICE</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=318>Princes and counties! Surely, a princely testimony,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=319>a goodly count, Count Comfect; a sweet gallant,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=320>surely! O that I were a man for his sake! or that I</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=321>had any friend would be a man for my sake! But</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=322>manhood is melted into courtesies, valour into</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=323>compliment, and men are only turned into tongue, and</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=324>trim ones too: he is now as valiant as Hercules</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=325>that only tells a lie and swears it. I cannot be a</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=326>man with wishing, therefore I will die a woman with grieving.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech113><b>BENEDICK</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=327>Tarry, good Beatrice. By this hand, I love thee.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech114><b>BEATRICE</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=328>Use it for my love some other way than swearing by it.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech115><b>BENEDICK</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=329>Think you in your soul the Count Claudio hath wronged Hero?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech116><b>BEATRICE</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=330>Yea, as sure as I have a thought or a soul.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech117><b>BENEDICK</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=331>Enough, I am engaged; I will challenge him. I will</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=332>kiss your hand, and so I leave you. By this hand,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=333>Claudio shall render me a dear account. As you</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=334>hear of me, so think of me. Go, comfort your</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=335>cousin: I must say she is dead: and so, farewell.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Exeunt</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
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