William Shakespeare - The Complete Works

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MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING Act 4 Scene 1 (Enter Don Pedro the Prince, Don John the bastard, Leonato, Friar Francis, Claudio, Benedick, Hero, and Beatrice) l1l Leonato Come, Friar Francis, be brief. Only to the plain l2l form of marriage, and you shall recount their particular l3l duties afterwards. l4l Friar (to Claudio) You come hither, my lord, to marry l5l this lady? l6l Claudio No. l7l Leonato To be married to her. Friar, you come to marry l8l her. l9l Friar (to Hero) Lady, you come hither to be married to l10l this count? l11l Hero I do. l12l Friar If either of you know any inward impediment why l13l you should not be conjoined, I charge you on your l14l souls to utter it. l15l Claudio Know you any, Hero? l16l Hero None, my lord. l17l Friar Know you any, Count? l18l Leonato I dare make his answerùnone. l19l Claudio O, what men dare do! What men may do! What l20l men daily do, not knowing what they do! l21l Benedick How now! Interjections? Why then, some be of l22l laughing, as ôah, ha, he!ö l23l Claudio Stand thee by, Friar. Father, by your leave, l24l Will you with free and unconstrainΦd soul l25l Give me this maid, your daughter? l26l Leonato As freely, son, as God did give her me. l27l Claudio And what have I to give you back whose worth l28l May counterpoise this rich and precious gift? l29l Don Pedro Nothing, unless you render her again. l30l Claudio Sweet Prince, you learn me noble thankfulness. l31l There, Leonato, take her back again. l32l Give not this rotten orange to your friend. l33l SheÆs but the sign and semblance of her honour. l34l Behold how like a maid she blushes here! l35l O, what authority and show of truth l36l Can cunning sin cover itself withal! l37l Comes not that blood as modest evidence l38l To witness simple virtue? Would you not swear, l39l All you that see her, that she were a maid, l40l By these exterior shows? But she is none. l41l She knows the heat of a luxurious bed. l42l Her blush is guiltiness, not modesty. l43l Leonato What do you mean, my lord? Claudio Not to be married, l44l Not to knit my soul to an approvΦd wanton. l45l Leonato Dear my lord, if you in your own proof l46l Have vanquished the resistance of her youth l47l And made defeat of her virginityù l48l Claudio I know what you would say. If I have known her, l49l You will say she did embrace me as a husband, l50l And so extenuate the forehand sin. l51l No, Leonato, l52l I never tempted her with word too large, l53l But as a brother to his sister showed l54l Bashful sincerity and comely love. l55l Hero And seemed I ever otherwise to you? l56l Claudio Out on thee, seeming! I will write against it. l57l You seem to me as Dian in her orb, l58l As chaste as is the bud ere it be blown. l59l But you are more intemperate in your blood l60l Than Venus or those pampered animals l61l That rage in savage sensuality. l62l Hero Is my lord well that he doth speak so wide? l63l Leonato Sweet Prince, why speak not you? Don Pedro What should I speak? l64l I stand dishonoured, that have gone about l65l To link my dear friend to a common stale. l66l Leonato Are these things spoken, or do I but dream? l67l Don John Sir, they are spoken, and these things are true. l68l Benedick This looks not like a nuptial. l69l Hero ôTrueö! O God! l70l Claudio Leonato, stand I here? l71l Is this the Prince? Is this the PrinceÆs brother? l72l Is this face HeroÆs? Are our eyes our own? l73l Leonato All this is so. But what of this, my lord? l74l Claudio Let me but move one question to your daughter, l75l And by that fatherly and kindly power l76l That you have in her, bid her answer truly. l77l Leonato (to Hero) I charge thee do so, as thou art my child. l78l Hero O God defend me, how am I beset! l79l What kind of catechizing call you this? l80l Claudio To make you answer truly to your name. l81l Hero Is it not Hero? Who can blot that name l82l With any just reproach? Claudio Marry, that can Hero. l83l Hero itself can blot out HeroÆs virtue. l84l What man was he talked with you yesternight l85l Out at your window betwixt twelve and one? l86l Now if you are a maid, answer to this. l87l Hero I talked with no man at that hour, my lord. l88l Don Pedro Why, then are you no maiden. Leonato, l89l I am sorry you must hear. Upon mine honour, l90l Myself, my brother, and this grievΦd Count l91l Did see her, hear her, at that hour last night l92l Talk with a ruffian at her chamber window, l93l Who hath indeed, most like a liberal villain, l94l Confessed the vile encounters they have had l95l A thousand times in secret. Don John Fie, fie, they are l96l Not to be named, my lord, not to be spoke of. l97l There is not chastity enough in language l98l Without offence to utter them. Thus, pretty lady, l99l I am sorry for thy much misgovernment. l100l Claudio O Hero! What a Hero hadst thou been l101l If half thy outward graces had been placed l102l About thy thoughts and counsels of thy heart! l103l But fare thee well, most foul, most fair, farewell l104l Thou pure impiety and impious purity. l105l For thee IÆll lock up all the gates of love, l106l And on my eyelids shall conjecture hang l107l To turn all beauty into thoughts of harm, l108l And never shall it more be gracious. l109l Leonato Hath no manÆs dagger here a point for me? (Hero falls to the ground) l110l Beatrice Why, how now, cousin, wherefore sink you down? l111l Don John Come. Let us go. These things come thus to light l112l Smother her spirits up. (Exeunt Don Pedro, Don John, and Claudio) l113l Benedick How doth the lady? Beatrice Dead, I think. Help, uncle. l114l Hero, why Hero! Uncle, Signor Benedick, Friarù l115l Leonato O fate, take not away thy heavy hand. l116l Death is the fairest cover for her shame l117l That may be wished for. Beatrice How now, cousin Hero? l118l Friar (to Hero) Have comfort, lady. l119l Leonato (to Hero) Dost thou look up? l120l Friar Yea, wherefore should she not? l121l Leonato Wherefore? Why, doth not every earthly thing l122l Cry shame upon her? Could she here deny l123l The story that is printed in her blood? l124l Do not live, Hero, do not ope thine eyes, l125l For did I think thou wouldst not quickly die, l126l Thought I thy spirits were stronger than thy shames, l127l Myself would on the rearward of reproaches l128l Strike at thy life. Grieved I I had but one? l129l Chid I for that at frugal natureÆs frame? l130l O one too much by thee! Why had I one? l131l Why ever wast thou lovely in my eyes? l132l Why had I not with charitable hand l133l Took up a beggarÆs issue at my gates, l134l Who smirchΦd thus and mired with infamy, l135l I might have said ôNo part of it is mine, l136l This shame derives itself from unknown loins.ö l137l But mine, and mine I loved, and mine I praised, l138l And mine that I was proud on, mine so much l139l That I myself was to myself not mine, l140l Valuing of herùwhy she, O she is fallen l141l Into a pit of ink, that the wide sea l142l Hath drops too few to wash her clean again, l143l And salt too little which may season give l144l To her foul tainted flesh. Benedick Sir, sir, be patient. l145l For my part, I am so attired in wonder l146l I know not what to say. l147l Beatrice O, on my soul, my cousin is belied. l148l Benedick Lady, were you her bedfellow last night? l149l Beatrice No, truly not, although until last night l150l I have this twelvemonth been her bedfellow. l151l Leonato Confirmed, confirmed. O, that is stronger made l152l Which was before barred up with ribs of iron. l153l Would the two princes lie? And Claudio lie, l154l Who loved her so that, speaking of her foulness, l155l Washed it with tears? Hence from her, let her die. l156l Friar Hear me a little, l157l For I have only been silent so long l158l And given way unto this course of fortune l159l [ ] l160l By noting of the lady. I have marked l161l A thousand blushing apparitions l162l To start into her face, a thousand innocent shames l163l In angel whiteness beat away those blushes, l164l And in her eye there hath appeared a fire l165l To burn the errors that these princes hold l166l Against her maiden truth. Call me a fool, l167l Trust not my reading nor my observations, l168l Which with experimental seal doth warrant l169l The tenor of my book. Trust not my age, l170l My reverence, calling, nor divinity, l171l If this sweet lady lie not guiltless here l172l Under some biting error. Leonato Friar, it cannot be. l173l Thou seest that all the grace that she hath left l174l Is that she will not add to her damnation l175l A sin of perjury. She not denies it. l176l Why seekÆst thou then to cover with excuse l177l That which appears in proper nakedness? l178l Friar (to Hero) Lady, what man is he you are accused of? l179l Hero They know that do accuse me. I know none. l180l If I know more of any man alive l181l Than that which maiden modesty doth warrant, l182l Let all my sins lack mercy. O my father, l183l Prove you that any man with me conversed l184l At hours unmeet, or that I yesternight l185l Maintained the change of words with any creature, l186l Refuse me, hate me, torture me to death. l187l Friar There is some strange misprision in the princes. l188l Benedick Two of them have the very bent of honour, l189l And if their wisdoms be misled in this l190l The practice of it lives in John the bastard, l191l Whose spirits toil in frame of villainies. l192l Leonato I know not. If they speak but truth of her l193l These hands shall tear her. If they wrong her honour l194l The proudest of them shall well hear of it. l195l Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, l196l Nor age so eat up my invention, l197l Nor fortune made such havoc of my means, l198l Nor my bad life reft me so much of friends, l199l But they shall find awaked in such a kind l200l Both strength of limb and policy of mind, l201l Ability in means, and choice of friends, l202l To quit me of them throughly. Friar Pause awhile, l203l And let my counsel sway you in this case. l204l Your daughter here the princes left for dead, l205l Let her a while be secretly kept in, l206l And publish it that she is dead indeed. l207l Maintain a mourning ostentation, l208l And on your familyÆs old monument l209l Hang mournful epitaphs, and do all rites l210l That appertain unto a burial. l211l Leonato What shall become of this? What will this do? l212l Friar Marry, this, well carried, shall on her behalf l213l Change slander to remorse. That is some good. l214l But not for that dream I on this strange course, l215l But on this travail look for greater birth. l216l Sheùdying, as it must be so maintained, l217l Upon the instant that she was accusedù l218l Shall be lamented, pitied, and excused l219l Of every hearer. For it so falls out l220l That what we have, we prize not to the worth l221l Whiles we enjoy it, but, being lacked and lost, l222l Why then we rack the value, then we find l223l The virtue that possession would not show us l224l Whiles it was ours. So will it fare with Claudio. l225l When he shall hear she died upon his words, l226l ThÆ idea of her life shall sweetly creep l227l Into his study of imagination, l228l And every lovely organ of her life l229l Shall come apparelled in more precious habit, l230l More moving-delicate, and full of life, l231l Into the eye and prospect of his soul l232l Than when she lived indeed. Then shall he mourn, l233l If ever love had interest in his liver, l234l And wish he had not so accusΦd her, l235l No, though he thought his accusation true. l236l Let this be so, and doubt not but success l237l Will fashion the event in better shape l238l Than I can lay it down in likelihood. l239l But if all aim but this be levelled false, l240l The supposition of the ladyÆs death l241l Will quench the wonder of her infamy. l242l And if it sort not well, you may conceal her, l243l As best befits her wounded reputation, l244l In some reclusive and religious life, l245l Out of all eyes, tongues, minds, and injuries. l246l Benedick Signor Leonato, let the Friar advise you. l247l And though you know my inwardness and love l248l Is very much unto the Prince and Claudio, l249l Yet, by mine honour, I will deal in this l250l As secretly and justly as your soul l251l Should with your body. l252l Leonato Being that I flow in grief, l253l The smallest twine may lead me. l254l Friar ÆTis well consented. Presently away, l255l For to strange sores strangely they strain the cure. l256l (To Hero) Come, lady, die to live. This wedding day l257l Perhaps is but prolonged. Have patience, and endure. (Exeunt all but Beatrice and Benedick) l258l Benedick Lady Beatrice, have you wept all this while? l259l Beatrice Yea, and I will weep a while longer. l260l Benedick I will not desire that. l261l Beatrice You have no reason, I do it freely. l262l Benedick Surely I do believe your fair cousin is wronged. l263l Beatrice Ah, how much might the man deserve of me l264l that would right her! l265l Benedick Is there any way to show such friendship? l266l Beatrice A very even way, but no such friend. l267l Benedick May a man do it? l268l Beatrice It is a manÆs office, but not yours. l269l Benedick I do love nothing in the world so well as you. l270l Is not that strange? l271l Beatrice As strange as the thing I know not. It were as l272l possible for me to say I loved nothing so well as you, l273l but believe me not, and yet I lie not. I confess nothing l274l nor I deny nothing. I am sorry for my cousin. l275l Benedick By my sword, Beatrice, thou lovest me. l276l Beatrice Do not swear and eat it. l277l Benedick I will swear by it that you love me, and I will l278l make him eat it that says I love not you. l279l Beatrice Will you not eat your word? l280l Benedick With no sauce that can be devised to it. I protest l281l I love thee. l282l Beatrice Why then, God forgive me. l283l Benedick What offence, sweet Beatrice? l284l Beatrice You have stayed me in a happy hour. I was l285l about to protest I loved you. l286l Benedick And do it with all thy heart. l287l Beatrice I love you with so much of my heart that none l288l is left to protest. l289l Benedick Come, bid me do anything for thee. l290l Beatrice Kill Claudio. l291l Benedick Ha! Not for the wide world. l292l Beatrice You kill me to deny it. Farewell. l293l Benedick Tarry, sweet Beatrice. l294l Beatrice I am gone though I am here. There is no love l295l in you.ùNay, I pray you, let me go. l296l Benedick Beatrice. l297l Beatrice In faith, I will go. l298l Benedick WeÆll be friends first. l299l Beatrice You dare easier be friends with me than fight l300l with mine enemy. l301l Benedick Is Claudio thine enemy? l302l Beatrice Is a not approved in the height a villain, that l303l hath slandered, scorned, dishonoured my kinswoman? l304l O that I were a man! What, bear her in hand until l305l they come to take hands, and then with public l306l accusation, uncovered slander, unmitigated rancourù l307l O God that I were a man! I would eat his heart in the l308l market place. l309l Benedick Hear me, Beatrice. l310l Beatrice Talk with a man out at a windowùa proper l311l saying! l312l Benedick Nay, but Beatrice. l313l Beatrice Sweet Hero, she is wronged, she is slandered, l314l she is undone. l315l Benedick Beatù l316l Beatrice Princes and counties! Surely a princely testimony, l317l a goodly count, Count Comfit, a sweet gallant, l318l surely. O that I were a man for his sake! Or that I had l319l any friend would be a man for my sake! But manhood l320l is melted into courtesies, valour into compliment, and l321l men are only turned into tongue, and trim ones, too. l322l He is now as valiant as Hercules that only tells a lie l323l and swears it. I cannot be a man with wishing, therefore l324l I will die a woman with grieving. l325l Benedick Tarry, good Beatrice. By this hand, I love thee. l326l Beatrice Use it for my love some other way than swearing l327l by it. l328l Benedick Think you in your soul the Count Claudio hath l329l wronged Hero? l330l Beatrice Yea, as sure as I have a thought or a soul. l331l Benedick Enough, I am engaged, I will challenge him. I l332l will kiss your hand, and so I leave you. By this hand, l333l Claudio shall render me a dear account. As you hear l334l of me, so think of me. Go comfort your cousin. I must l335l say she is dead. And so, farewell. (Exeunt)