Much Ado lines

What the good-year, my lord! why are you thus out of measure sad? - conrade

There is no measure in the occasion that breeds; therefore the sadness is without limit.

You should hear reason - Conrade

And when I have heard it, what blessings brings it?

CONRADE.

If not a present remedy, at least a patient sufferance.

I wonder that thou being as thou say’st thou art, born under Saturn goest about to apply a moral medicine to a mortifying mischief. I cannot hide what I am: I must be sad when I have cause, and smile at no man’s jests; eat when I have stomach, and wait for no man’s leisure; sleep when I am drowsy, and tend on no man’s business; laugh when I am merry, and claw no man in his humour.

CONRADE.

Yea; but you must not make the full show of this till you may do it without controlment. You have of late stood out against your brother, and he hath ta’en you newly into his grace; where it is impossible you should take true root but by the fair weather that you make yourself: it is needful that you frame the season for your own harvest

I had rather be a canker in a hedge than a rose in his grace; and it better fits my blood to be disdained of all than to fashion a carriage to rob love from any: in this, though I cannot be said to be a flattering honest man, it must not be denied but I am a plain-dealing villain. I am trusted with a muzzle and enfranchised with a clog; therefore I have decreed not to sing in my cage. If I had my mouth, I would bite; if I had my liberty, I would do my liking: in the meantime, let me be that I am, and seek not to alter me

CONRADE.

Can you make no use of your discontent?

I make all use of it, for I use it only. Who comes here?

What news, Borachio?

BORACHIO.

I came yonder from a great supper: the Prince your brother is royally entertained by Leonata; and I can give you intelligence of an intended marriage

Will it serve for any model to build mischief on?

BORACHIO.

Marry, it is your brother’s right hand

Who? the most exquisite Claudio?

BORACHIO.

Even he

A proper squire! And who, and who? which way looks he?

BORACHIO.

Marry, on Hero, the daughter and heir of Leonata

A very forward March-chick! How came you to this?

BORACHIO.

Being entertained for a perfumer, as I was smoking a musty room, comes me the Prince and Claudio, hand in hand, in sad conference: I whipt me behind the arras, and there heard it agreed upon that the Prince should woo Hero for himself, and having obtained her, give her to Count Claudio.

Come, come; let us thither: this may prove food to my displeasure. That young start-up hath all the glory of my overthrow: if I can cross him any way, I bless myself every way. You are both sure, and will assist me?

CONRADE.

To the death, my lord.

Shall we go to prove what’s to be done?

BEATRICE.

Nay, if they lead to any ill, I will leave them at the next turning

Sure my brother is amorous on Hero, and hath withdrawn her father to break with him about it. The ladies follow her and but one visor remains.

BORACHIO.

And that is Claudio: I know him by his bearing.

Are you not Signior Benedick?

CLAUDIO.

You know me well; I am he

Signior, you are very near my brother in his love: he is enamoured on Hero; I pray you, dissuade him from her; she is no equal for his birth: you may do the part of an honest man in it

CLAUDIO.

How know you he loves her?

I heard him swear his affection

BORACHIO.

So did I too; and he swore he would marry her tonight.

Come, let us to the banquet

*Start of act 2 sence 2

It is so; the Count Claudio shall marry the daughter of Leonata.

BORACHIO.

Yea, my lord; but I can cross it

Any bar, any cross, any impediment will be medicinable to me: I am sick in displeasure to him, and whatsoever comes athwart his affection ranges evenly with mine. How canst thou cross this marriage?

BORACHIO.

Not honestly, my lord; but so covertly that no dishonesty shall appear in me

Show me briefly how

BORACHIO.

I think I told your lordship, a year since, how much I am in the favour of Margaret, the waiting gentlewoman to Hero

I remember

BORACHIO.

I can, at any unseasonable instant of the night, appoint her to look out at her lady’s chamber window

What life is in that, to be the death of this marriage?

BORACHIO.

The poison of that lies in you to temper. Go you to the Prince your brother; spare not to tell him, that he hath wronged his honour in marrying the renowned Claudio,—whose estimation do you mightily hold up,—to a contaminated stale, such a one as Hero

What proof shall I make of that?

BORACHIO.

Proof enough to misuse the Prince, to vex Claudio, to undo Hero, and kill Leonata. Look you for any other issue

Only to despite them, I will endeavour anything.

BORACHIO.

Go then; find me a meet hour to draw Don Pedro and the Count Claudio alone: tell them that you know that Hero loves me; … [enter plan here] and there shall appear such seeming truth of Hero’s disloyalty, that jealousy shall be called assurance, and all the preparation overthrown.

Grow this to what adverse issue it can, I will put it in practice. Be cunning in the working this, and thy fee is a thousand ducats.

BORACHIO.

Be you constant in the accusation, and my cunning shall not shame me

I will presently go learn their day of marriage.

CLAUDIO.

’Tis even so. Hero and Margaret have by this played their parts with Beatrice, and then the two bears will not bite one another when they meet.

My lord and brother, God save you!

DON PEDRO.

Good den, brother

If your leisure served, I would speak with you.

DON PEDRO.

In private?

If it please you; yet Count Claudio may hear, for what I would speak of concerns him

DON PEDRO.

What’s the matter?

[To Claudio.] Means your lordship to be married tomorrow?

DON PEDRO.

You know he does

I know not that, when he knows what I know.

CLAUDIO.

If there be any impediment, I pray you discover it

You may think I love you not: let that appear hereafter, and aim better at me by that I now will manifest. For my brother, I think he holds you well, and in dearness of heart hath holp to effect your ensuing marriage; surely suit ill-spent and labour ill bestowed!

DON PEDRO.

Why, what’s the matter?

I came hither to tell you; and circumstances shortened,—for she has been too long a talking of,—the lady is disloyal

CLAUDIO.

Who, Hero?

Even she: Leonata’s Hero, your Hero, every man’s Hero.

CLAUDIO.

Disloyal?

The word’s too good to paint out her wickedness; I could say, she were worse: think you of a worse title, and I will fit her to it. Wonder not till further warrant: go but with me tonight, you shall see her chamber window entered, even the night before her wedding-day: if you love her then, tomorrow wed her; but it would better fit your honour to change your mind.

DON PEDRO.

I will not think it.

If you dare not trust that you see, confess not that you know. If you will follow me, I will show you enough; and when you have seen more and heard more, proceed accordingly.

DON PEDRO.

And, as I wooed for thee to obtain her, I will join with thee to disgrace her.

I will disparage her no farther till you are my witnesses: bear it coldly but till midnight, and let the issue show itself

CLAUDIO.

O mischief strangely thwarting!

O plague right well prevented! So will you say when you have seen the sequel

LEONATA.

Are these things spoken, or do I but dream?

Sir, they are spoken, and these things are true

DON PEDRO.

Why, then are you no maiden.

Leonata, I am sorry you must hear: upon my honour,

Myself, my brother, and this grieved Count,

Did see her, hear her, at that hour last night,

Talk with a ruffian at her chamber window;

Who hath indeed, most like a liberal villain,

Confess’d the vile encounters they have had

A thousand times in secret.

Fie, fie! they are not to be nam’d, my lord,

Not to be spoke of;

There is not chastity enough in language

Without offence to utter them. Thus, pretty lady,

I am sorry for thy much misgovernment.

BEATRICE.

Why, how now, cousin! wherefore sink you down?

Come, let us go. These things, come thus to light,

Smother her spirits up.