_Beat._ Ah, how much might the man deserve of me 260 that would right her! _Bene._ Is there any way to show such friendship? _Beat._ A very even way, but no such friend. _Bene._ May a man do it? _Beat._ It is a man’s office, but not yours. 265 _Bene._ I do love nothing in the world so well as you: is not that strange? _Beat._ As strange as the thing I know not. It were as possible for me to say I loved nothing so well as you: but believe me not; and yet I lie not; I confess nothing, nor I 270 deny nothing. I am sorry for my cousin. _Bene._ By my sword, Beatrice, thou lovest me. _Beat._ Do not swear, and eat it. _Bene._ I will swear by it that you love me; and I will make him eat it that says I love not you. 275 _Beat._ Will you not eat your word? _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? 280 _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. 285 _Bene._ Come, bid me do any thing for thee. _Beat._ Kill Claudio. _Bene._ Ha! not for the wide world. _Beat._ You kill me to deny it. Farewell. _Bene._ Tarry, sweet Beatrice. 290 _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. 295 _Beat._ You dare easier be friends with me than fight with mine enemy. _Bene._ Is Claudio thine enemy? _Beat._ Is he not approved in the height a villain, that hath slandered, scorned, dishonoured my kinswoman? O 300 that I were a man! What, bear her in hand until they come to take hands; and then, with public accusation, uncovered slander, unmitigated rancour,—O God, that I were a man! I would eat his heart in the market-place. _Bene._ Hear me, Beatrice,— 305 _Beat._ Talk with a man out at a window! A proper saying! _Bene._ Nay, but, Beatrice,— _Beat._ Sweet Hero! She is wronged, she is slandered, she is undone. 310 _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 315 melted into courtesies, valour into compliment, and men are only turned 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. 320