_Bene._ Even to the next willow, about your own business, county. What fashion will you wear the garland of? about your neck, like an usurer’s chain? or under your arm, like a lieutenant’s scarf? You must wear it one way, for the prince hath got your Hero. 170 _Claud._ I wish him joy of her. _Bene._ Why, that’s spoken like an honest drovier: so they sell bullocks. But did you think the prince would have served you thus? _Claud._ I pray you, leave me. 175 _Bene._ Ho! now you strike like the blind man: ’twas the boy that stole your meat, and you’ll beat the post. _Claud._ If it will not be, I’ll leave you. [_Exit._ _Bene._ Alas, poor hurt fowl! now will he creep into sedges. But, that my Lady Beatrice should know me, and 180 not know me! The prince’s fool! Ha? It may be I go under that title because I am merry. Yea, but so I am apt to do myself wrong; I am not so reputed: it is the base, though bitter, disposition of Beatrice that puts the world into her person, and so gives me out. Well, I’ll be revenged 185 as I may. _Re-enter_ DON PEDRO. _D. Pedro._ Now, signior, where’s the count? did you see him? _Bene._ Troth, my lord, I have played the part of Lady Fame. I found him here as melancholy as a lodge in a 190 warren: I told him, and I think I told him true, that your grace had got the good will of this young lady; and I offered him my company to a willow-tree, either to make him a garland, as being forsaken, or to bind him up a rod, as being worthy to be whipped. 195 _D. Pedro._ To be whipped! What’s his fault? _Bene._ The flat transgression of a school-boy, who, being overjoyed with finding a birds’ nest, shows it his companion, and he steals it. _D. Pedro._ Wilt thou make a trust a transgression? 200 The transgression is in the stealer. _Bene._ Yet it had not been amiss the rod had been made, and the garland too; for the garland he might have worn himself, and the rod he might have bestowed on you, who, as I take it, have stolen his birds’ nest. 205 _D. Pedro._ I will but teach them to sing, and restore them to the owner. _Bene._ If their singing answer your saying, by my faith, you say honestly. _D. Pedro._ The Lady Beatrice hath a quarrel to you: 210 the gentleman that danced with her told her she is much wronged by you.