_Bene._ That a woman conceived me, I thank her; that she brought me up, I likewise give her most humble thanks: but that I will have a recheat winded in my forehead, or 205 hang my bugle in an invisible baldrick, all women shall pardon me. Because I will not do them the wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the right to trust none; and the fine is, for the which I may go the finer, I will live a bachelor. _D. Pedro._ I shall see thee, ere I die, look pale with love. 210 _Bene._ With anger, with sickness, or with hunger, my lord; not with love: prove that ever I lose more blood with love than I will get again with drinking, pick out mine eyes with a ballad-maker’s pen, and hang me up at the door of a brothel-house for the sign of blind Cupid. 215 _D. Pedro._ Well, if ever thou dost fall from this faith, thou wilt prove a notable argument. _Bene._ If I do, hang me in a bottle like a cat, and shoot at me; and he that hits me, let him be clapped on the shoulder, and called Adam. 220 _D. Pedro._ Well, as time shall try: ‘In time the savage bull doth bear the yoke.’ _Bene._ The savage bull may; but if ever the sensible Benedick bear it, pluck off the bull’s horns, and set them in my forehead: and let me be vilely painted; and in such 225 great letters as they write ‘Here is good horse to hire,’ let them signify under my sign ‘Here you may see Benedick the married man.’ _Claud._ If this should ever happen, thou wouldst be horn-mad. 230 _D. Pedro._ Nay, if Cupid have not spent all his quiver in Venice, thou wilt quake for this shortly. _Bene._ I look for an earthquake too, then. _D. Pedro._ Well, you will temporize with the hours. In the meantime, good Signior Benedick, repair to Leonato’s: 235 commend me to him, and tell him I will not fail him at supper; for indeed he hath made great preparation. _Bene._ I have almost matter enough in me for such an embassage; and so I commit you— _Claud._ To the tuition of God: From my house, if I 240 had it,— _D. Pedro._ The sixth of July: Your loving friend, Benedick. _Bene._ Nay, mock not, mock not. The body of your discourse is sometime guarded with fragments, and the guards 245 are but slightly basted on neither: ere you flout old ends any further, examine your conscience: and so I leave you. [_Exit._ _Claud._ My liege, your highness now may do me good. _D. Pedro._ My love is thine to teach: teach it but how, And thou shalt see how apt it is to learn 250 Any hard lesson that may do thee good. _Claud._ Hath Leonato any son, my lord? _D. Pedro._ No child but Hero; she’s his only heir. Dost thou affect her, Claudio?