1599 MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
Page: 18

She
is never sad but when she sleeps, and not ever sad then; for
I
have heard my daughter say she hath often dreamt of
unhappiness
and wak'd herself with laughing.
Pedro. She cannot endure to hear tell of a husband.
Leon. O, by no means! She mocks all her wooers out of suit.
Pedro. She were an excellent wife for Benedick.
Leon. O Lord, my lord! if they were but a week married, they
would
talk themselves mad.
Pedro. County Claudio, when mean you to go to church?
Claud. To-morrow, my lord. Time goes on crutches till love have
all
his rites.
Leon. Not till Monday, my dear son, which is hence a just
sevennight; and a time too brief too, to have all things
answer
my mind.
Pedro. Come, you shake the head at so long a breathing;
but I warrant thee, Claudio, the time shall not go dully by
us.
I will in the interim undertake one of Hercules' labours,
which
is, to bring Signior Benedick and the Lady Beatrice into a
mountain of affection th' one with th' other. I would fain
have
it a match, and I doubt not but to fashion it if you three
will
but minister such assistance as I shall give you direction.
Leon. My lord, I am for you, though it cost me ten nights'
watchings.
Claud. And I, my lord.
Pedro. And you too, gentle Hero?
Hero. I will do any modest office, my lord, to help my cousin
to a
good husband.
Pedro. And Benedick is not the unhopefullest husband that I
know.
Thus far can I praise him: he is of a noble strain, of
approved
valour, and confirm'd honesty. I will teach you how to humour
your cousin, that she shall fall in love with Benedick; and
I,
[to Leonato and Claudio] with your two helps, will so
practise on
Benedick that, in despite of his quick wit and his queasy
stomach, he shall fall in love with Beatrice. If we can do
this,
Cupid is no longer an archer; his glory shall be ours, for we
are
the only love-gods. Go in with me, and I will tell you my
drift.
Exeunt.




Scene II.