_Leon._ Tush, tush, man; never fleer and jest at me: I speak not like a dotard nor a fool, As, under privilege of age, to brag 60 What I have done being young, or what would do, Were I not old. Know, Claudio, to thy head, Thou hast so wrong’d mine innocent child and me, That I am forced to lay my reverence by, And, with grey hairs and bruise of many days, 65 Do challenge thee to trial of a man. I say thou hast belied mine innocent child; Thy slander hath gone through and through her heart, And she lies buried with her ancestors; O, in a tomb where never scandal slept, 70 Save this of hers, framed by thy villany! _Claud._ My villany? _Leon._ Thine, Claudio; thine, I say. _D. Pedro._ You say not right, old man. _Leon._ My lord, my lord, I’ll prove it on his body, if he dare, Despite his nice fence and his active practice, 75 His May of youth and bloom of lustihood. _Claud._ Away! I will not have to do with you. _Leon._ Canst thou so daff me? Thou hast kill’d my child: If thou kill’st me, boy, thou shalt kill a man. _Ant._ He shall kill two of us, and men indeed: 80 But that’s no matter; let him kill one first; Win me and wear me; let him answer me. Come, follow me, boy; come, sir boy, come, follow me: Sir boy, I’ll whip you from your foining fence; Nay, as I am a gentleman, I will. 85 _Leon._ Brother,— _Ant._ Content yourself. God knows I loved my niece; And she is dead, slander’d to death by villains, That dare as well answer a man indeed As I dare take a serpent by the tongue: 90 Boys, apes, braggarts, Jacks, milksops! _Leon._ Brother Antony,— _Ant._ Hold you content. What, man! I know them, yea, And what they weigh, even to the utmost scruple,— Scambling, out-facing, fashion-monging boys, That lie, and cog, and flout, deprave, and slander, 95 Go antiquely, and show outward hideousness, And speak off half a dozen dangerous words, How they might hurt their enemies, if they durst; And this is all. _Leon._ But, brother Antony,— _Ant._ Come, ’tis no matter: 100 Do not you meddle; let me deal in this. _D. Pedro._ Gentlemen both, we will not wake your patience. My heart is sorry for your daughter’s death: But, on my honour, she was charged with nothing But what was true, and very full of proof. 105 _Leon._ My lord, my lord,— _D. Pedro._ I will not hear you. _Leon._ No? Come, brother; away! I will be heard. _Ant._ And shall, or some of us will smart for it. [_Exeunt Leonato and Antonio._ _D. Pedro._ See, see; here comes the man we went to seek. 110 _Enter_ BENEDICK. _Claud._ Now, signior, what news? _Bene._ Good day, my lord.