1599 MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
Page: 5

how
thou lik'st her.
Bene. Would you buy her, that you enquire after her?
Claud. Can the world buy such a jewel?
Bene. Yea, and a case to put it into. But speak you this with a
sad
brow? or do you play the flouting Jack, to tell us Cupid is a
good hare-finder and Vulcan a rare carpenter? Come, in what
key
shall a man take you to go in the song?
Claud. In mine eye she is the sweetest lady that ever I look'd
on.
Bene. I can see yet without spectacles, and I see no such
matter.
There's her cousin, an she were not possess'd with a
fury,exceeds
her as much in beauty as the first of May doth the last of
December. But I hope you have no intent to turn husband, have
you?
Claud. I would scarce trust myself, though I had sworn the
contrary, if Hero would be my wife.
Bene. Is't come to this? In faith, hath not the world one man
but
he will wear his cap with suspicion? Shall I never see a
bachelor of threescore again? Go to, i' faith! An thou wilt
needs
thrust thy neck into a yoke, wear the print of it and sigh
away
Sundays.

Enter Don Pedro.

Look! Don Pedro is returned to seek you.
Pedro. What secret hath held you here, that you followed not to
Leonato's?
Bene. I would your Grace would constrain me to tell.
Pedro. I charge thee on thy allegiance.
Bene. You hear, Count Claudio. I can be secret as a dumb man, I
would have you think so; but, on my allegiance--mark you
this-on
my allegiance! he is in love. With who? Now that is your
Grace's
part. Mark how short his answer is: With Hero, Leonato's
short
daughter.
Claud. If this were so, so were it utt'red.
Bene. Like the old tale, my lord: 'It is not so, nor 'twas not
so;
but indeed, God forbid it should be so!'
Claud. If my passion change not shortly, God forbid it should
be
otherwise.
Pedro. Amen, if you love her; for the lady is very well worthy.
Claud. You speak this to fetch me in, my lord.
Pedro. By my troth, I speak my thought.
Claud. And, in faith, my lord, I spoke mine.