"Ant. He is very busy about it. But, brother, I "can tell you news that you yet dream'd not of. "Leon, Are they good? "Ant. As the event stamps them; but they have "a good cover, they show well outward. The prince "and count Claudio, walking in a thick-pleached "alley in my orchard, were thus overheard by a "man of mine: The prince discover'd to Claudio, that he lov'd my niece your daughter, and meant "to acknowledge it this evening in a dance; nay, "if he found her accordant, he meant to take the present time by the top, and instantly break with you of it. 343 "Leon. Hath the fellow any wit that told you << this? "Ant. A good sharp fellow; I will send for him, and question him yourself. "Leon. No, no; we will hold it as a dream, till it appear itself but I will acquaint my daughter withal, that she may be the better prepared for an answer, if peradventure this be true: Go you, and "tell her of it. [Several Servants cross the stage here.] Cousin, you know what you have to do.-O, I ery you mercy, friend; go you with me, and I will use your skill: Good cousin, have a care this busy 44 time." [Exeunt. SCENE III. Another Apartment in LEONATO's House. Enter Don JOHN and CONRADE. Conr. What the good-jer, my lord! why are you thus out of measure sad? John. There is no measure in the occasion that breeds it, therefore the sadness is without limit. 360 Conr. You should hear reason. John. And when I have heard it, what blessing bringeth it? : Conr. If not a present remedy, yet a patient suf ferance. John. I wonder, that thou being (as thou say'st thou art) born under Saturn, goest about to apply a moral medicine to a mortifying mischief. I cannot hide what I am: I must be sad when I have cause, and smile at no man's jests; eat when I have stomach, and wait for no man's leisure; sleep when I am drowsy, and tend on no man's business; laugh when I am merry, and claw no man in his hu mour. 374 Conr. Yea, but you must not make the full show of this, till you may do it without controulment. You have of late stood out against your brother, and he hath ta'en you newly into his grace; where it is impossible you should take root, but by the fair weather that you make yourself: it is needful that you frame the season for your own harvest. 381 John. John. I had rather be a canker in a hedge, than a rose in his grace; and it better fits my blood to be disdain'd of all, than to fashion a carriage to rob love from any in this, though I cannot be said to be a flattering honest man, it must not be deny'd but I am a plain-dealing villain. I am trusted with a muzzle, and infranchised with a clog; therefore I have decreed not to sing in my cage: If I had my mouth, I would bite; if I had my liberty, I would do my liking in the mean time, let me be that I am, and seek not to alter me. 392 Conr. Can you make no use of your discon tent? John. I make all use of it, for I use it only. Who comes here? what news, Borachio? Enter BORACHIO. Bora. I came yonder from a great supper; the prince, your brother, is royally entertain'd by Leonato; and I can give you intelligence of an intended marriage. 400 John. Will it serve for any model to build mischief on? What is he, for a fool, that betroths himself to unquietness ? Bora. Marry, it is your brother's right hand, Bora. Even he! John. A proper squire! and who, and who? which way looks he? Bora. Bora. Marry, on Hero, the daughter and heir of Leonato. 410 John. A very forward March-chick! "How come 66 you to know this? "Bora. Being entertain'd for a perfumer, as I was ❝smoaking a musty room, comes me the prince "and Claudio, hand in hand, in sad conference: 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. 419 66 John." Come, come, let us thither; this may prove food to my displeasure: that young 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. Conr. To the death, my lord. John. Let us to the great supper; their cheer is the greater, that I am subdu'd: 'Would the cook were of my mind!" Shall we go prove what's to ❝ be done? "Bora. We'll wait upon your lordship." 439 [Exeunt ACT A Hall in LEONATO's House. Enter LEONATO, ANTONIO, HERO, BEATRICE, MARGARET, and URSULA. Leonato. 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-burn'd an hour after. Hero. He is of a very melancholy disposition. Beat. He were an excellent man, that were made just in the mid-way between him and Benedick the one is too like an image, and says nothing; and the other, too like my lady's eldest son, evermore tattling. 10 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 he could get her good will. Leon. By my troth, niece, thou wilt never get thee a husband, if thou be'st so shrewd of thy tongue. "Ant. In faith, she's too curst. 20 "Beat. Too curst is more than curst: I shall lessen "God's sending that way: for it is said, God sends a "curst cow fhort horns; but to a cow too curst he sends none. "Leon. |