1599 MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
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sorry
for her, as I have just cause, being her uncle and her
guardian.
Pedro. I would she had bestowed this dotage on me. I would have
daff'd all other respects and made her half myself. I pray
you
tell Benedick of it and hear what 'a will say.
Leon. Were it good, think you?
Claud. Hero thinks surely she will die; for she says she will
die
if he love her not, and she will die ere she make her love
known,
and she will die, if he woo her, rather than she will bate
one
breath of her accustomed crossness.
Pedro. She doth well. If she should make tender of her love,
'tis
very possible he'll scorn it; for the man (as you know all)
hath
a contemptible spirit.
Claud. He is a very proper man.
Pedro. He hath indeed a good outward happiness.
Claud. Before God! and in my mind, very wise.
Pedro. He doth indeed show some sparks that are like wit.
Claud. And I take him to be valiant.
Pedro. As Hector, I assure you; and in the managing of quarrels
you
may say he is wise, for either he avoids them with great
discretion, or undertakes them with a most Christianlike
fear.
Leon. If he do fear God, 'a must necessarily keep peace. If he
break the peace, he ought to enter into a quarrel with fear
and
trembling.
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?
Claud. Never tell him, my lord. Let her wear it out with good
counsel.
Leon. Nay, that's impossible; she may wear her heart out first.
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.
Leon. My lord, will you .walk? Dinner is ready.
[They walk away.]
Claud. If he dote on her upon this, I will never trust my
expectation.
Pedro. Let there be the same net spread for her, and that must