Beat.
Yes faith. It is my cousin's duty to make cursy and say, 'Father,
as it please you.' But yet for all that, cousin, let him be a
handsome fellow, or else make another cursy, and say,
'Father, as it please me.'
Leon.
Well, niece, I hope to see you one day fitted with a husband.
Beat.
Not till God make men of some other metal than earth. Would it
not grieve a woman to be overmaster'd 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 kinred.
Leon.
Daughter, remember what I told you. If 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 everything, 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 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 revellers are ent'ring, brother. Make good room.
[Exit Antonio.]
[Enter, [masked,] Don Pedro, Claudio, Benedick, and Balthasar.
With them enter Antonio, also masked. After them enter
Don John [and Borachio (without masks), who stand aside
and look on during the dance.]
Pedro.
Lady, will you walk a bout 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.
Pedro.
With me in your company?
Hero.
I may say so when I please.
Pedro.
And when please you to say so?
Hero.
When I like your favour, for God defend the lute should be like
the case!
Pedro.
My visor is Philemon's roof; within the house is Jove.
Hero.
Why then, your visor should be thatch'd.
Pedro.
Speak low if you speak love. [Takes her aside.]
Balth.
Well, I would you did like me.
Marg.
So would not I for your own sake, for I have many ill qualities.
Balth.
Which is one?
Marg.
I say my prayers aloud.
Balth.
I love you the better. The hearers may cry Amen.
Marg.
God match me with a good dancer!
Balth.
Amen.
Marg.
And God keep him out of my sight when the dance is done!
Answer, clerk.
Balth.
No more words. The clerk is answered.
[Takes her aside.]
Urs.
I know you well enough. You are Signior Antonio.
Ant.
At a word, I am not.
Urs.
I know you by the waggling of your head.
Ant.
To tell you true, I counterfeit him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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