Bene.
With no sauce that can be devised to it. I protest I love thee.
Beat.
Why then, God forgive me!
Bene.
What offence, sweet Beatrice?
Beat.
You have stayed me in a happy hour. I was about to protest I
loved you.
Bene.
And do it with all thy heart.
Beat.
I love you with so much of my heart that none is left to protest.
Bene.
Come, bid me do anything for thee.
Beat.
Kill Claudio.
Bene.
Ha! not for the wide world!
Beat.
You kill me to deny it. Farewell.
Bene.
Tarry, sweet Beatrice.
Beat.
I am gone, though I am here. There is no love in you. Nay, I
pray you let me go.
Bene.
Beatrice--
Beat.
In faith, I will go.
Bene.
We'll be friends first.
Beat.
You dare easier be friends with me than fight with mine enemy.
Bene.
Is Claudio thine enemy?
Beat.
Is 'a not approved in the height a villain, that hath slandered,
scorned, dishonoured my kinswoman? O that I were a man! What?
bear her in hand until they come to take hands,
and then with public accusation, uncover'd slander, unmitigated
rancour--O God, that I were a man! I would eat his heart in the
market place.
Bene.
Hear me, Beatrice!
Beat.
Talk with a man out at a window!-a proper saying!
Bene.
Nay but Beatrice--
Beat.
Sweet Hero! she is wrong'd, she is sland'red, she is undone.
Bene.
Beat--
Beat.
Princes and Counties! Surely a princely testimony, a goodly
count, Count Comfect, a sweet gallant surely! O that I were a man
for his sake! or that I had any friend would be a man for my
sake! But manhood is melted into cursies, valour into compliment,
and men are only turn'd into tongue, and trim ones too. He is now
as valiant as Hercules that only tells a lie,and swears it. I
cannot be a man with wishing; therefore I will die a woman with
grieving.
Bene.
Tarry, good Beatrice. By this hand, I love thee.
Beat.
Use it for my love some other way than swearing by it.
Bene.
Think you in your soul the Count Claudio hath wrong'd Hero?
Beat.
Yea, as sure is I have a thought or a soul.
Bene.
Enough, I am engag'd, I will challenge him. I will kiss your
hand, and so I leave you. By this hand, Claudio shall render me a
dear account. As you hear of me, so think of me. Go comfort your
cousin. I must say she is dead-and so farewell.
[Exeunt.]
Scene II.
A prison.
[Enter the Constables [Dogberry and Verges] and the Sexton, in
gowns, [and the Watch, with Conrade and] Borachio.]
Dog.
Is our whole dissembly appear'd?
Verg.
O, a stool and a cushion for the sexton.
Sex.
Which be the malefactors?
Dog.
Marry, that am I and my partner.
Verg.
Nay, that's certain. We have the exhibition to examine.
Sex.
But which are the offenders that are to be examined? let them
come before Master Constable.
Dog.
Yea, marry, let them come before me. What is your name, friend?
Bor.
Borachio.
Dog.
Pray write down Borachio. Yours, sirrah?
Con.
I am a gentleman, sir, and my name is Conrade.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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