If he break the peace, he ought to enter into a quarrel with fear and trembling.

Don Pedro. And so will he do; for the man doth fear God, howsoever it seems not in him by some large jests° he will make. Well, I am sorry for your niece. Shall we go seek Benedick and tell him of her love?

Claudio. Never tell him, my lord; let her wear it out with good counsel.

Leonato. Nay, that’s impossible; she may wear her heart out first.

Don Pedro. Well, we will hear further of it by your daughter. Let it cool the while. I love Benedick well, and I could wish he would modestly examine himself to see how much he is unworthy so good a lady.

Leonato. My lord, will you walk? Dinner is ready.

[They walk away.]

Claudio. If he do not dote on her upon this, I will never trust my expectation.

Don Pedro. Let there be the same net spread for her, and that must your daughter and her gentlewomen carry.° The sport will be, when they hold one an opinion of another’s dotage, and no such matter. That’s the scene that I would see, which will be merely a dumb show.° Let us send her to call him in to dinner.

[Exeunt Don Pedro, Claudio, and Leonato.]

Benedick. [Advancing] This can be no trick; the conference was sadly° borne. They have the truth of this from Hero. They seem to pity the lady; it seems her affections have their full bent.° Love me? Why, it must be requited. I hear how I am censured. They say I will bear myself proudly if I perceive the love come from her. They say too that she will rather die than give any sign of affection. I did never think to marry; I must not seem proud. Happy are they that hear their detractions and can put them to mending. They say the lady is fair—‘tis a truth, I can bear them witness; and virtuous—’tis so, I cannot reprove it; and wise, but for loving me; by my troth, it is no addition to her wit, nor no great argument of her folly; for I will be horribly in love with her. I may chance have some odd quirks and remnants of wit broken on me because I have railed so long against marriage; but doth not the appetite alter? A man loves the meat in his youth that he cannot endure in his age. Shall quips and sentences° and these paper bullets of ‘the brain awe a man from the career° of his humor? No, the world must be peopled. When I said I would die a bachelor, I did not think I should live till I were married. Here comes Beatrice. By this day, she’s a fair lady. I do spy some marks of love in her.

196—97 large jests broad jokes

212 carry manage

215 dumb show pantomime (because of embarrassment)

218 sadly seriously

Enter Beatrice.

Beatrice. Against my will I am sent to bid you come in to dinner.

Benedick. Fair Beatrice, I thank you for your pains.

Beatrice. I took no more pains for those thanks than you take pains to thank me. If it had been painful, I would not have come.

Benedick. You take pleasure then in the message?

Beatrice. Yea, just so much as you may take upon a knife’s point, and choke a daw withal.° You have no stomach,° signior? Fare you well. Exit.

220 affections have their full bent emotions are tightly stretched (like a bent bow)

236 sentences maxims

238 career course

Benedick. Ha! “Against my will I am sent to bid you come in to dinner.” There’s a double meaning in that. “I took no more pains for those thanks than you took pains to thank me.” That’s as much as to say, “Any pains that I take for you is as easy as thanks.” If I do not take pity of her, I am a villain; if I do not love her, I am a Jew. I will go get her picture. Exit:

251 withal with

252 no stomach no wish to argue (as well as “no appetite”)

[ACT 3

Scene 1. Leonato’s garden.]

Enter Hero and two Gentlewomen, Margaret
and Ursula.

Hero. Good Margaret, run thee to the parlor. There shalt thou find my cousin Beatrice Proposing with° the Prince and Claudio. Whisper her ear and tell her, I and Ursley Walk in the orchard, and our whole discourse Is all of her. Say that thou overheard‘st us; And bid her steal into the pleached bower, Where honeysuckles, ripened by the sun, Forbid the sun to enter—like favorites, Made proud by princes, that advance their pride Against that power that bred it.° There will she hide her To listen our propose.