1599 MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
Page: 57

him
or I will subscribe him a coward. And I pray thee now tell
me,
for which of my bad parts didst thou first fall in love with
me?
Beat. For them all together, which maintain'd so politic a
state of
evil that they will not admit any good part to intermingle
with
them. But for which of my good parts did you first suffer
love
for me?
Bene. Suffer love!--a good epithet. I do suffer love indeed,
for I
love thee against my will.
Beat. In spite of your heart, I think. Alas, poor heart! If you
spite it for my sake, I will spite it for yours, for I will
never
love that which my friend hates.
Bene. Thou and I are too wise to woo peaceably.
Beat. It appears not in this confession. There's not one wise
man
among twenty, that will praise himself.
Bene. An old, an old instance, Beatrice, that liv'd in the time
of
good neighbours. If a man do not erect in this age his own
tomb
ere he dies, he shall live no longer in monument than the
bell
rings and the widow weeps.
Beat. And how long is that, think you?
Bene. Question: why, an hour in clamour and a quarter in rheum.
Therefore is it most expedient for the wise, if Don Worm (his
conscience) find no impediment to the contrary, to be the
trumpet
of his own virtues, as I am to myself. So much for praising
myself, who, I myself will bear witness, is praiseworthy. And
now
tell me, how doth your cousin?
Beat. Very ill.
Bene. And how do you?
Beat. Very ill too.
Bene. Serve God, love me, and mend. There will I leave you too,
for
here comes one in haste.

Enter Ursula.

Urs. Madam, you must come to your uncle. Yonder's old coil at
home.
It is proved my Lady Hero hath been falsely accus'd, the
Prince
and Claudio mightily abus'd, and Don John is the author of
all,
who is fled and gone. Will you come presently?
Beat. Will you go hear this news, signior?
Bene. I will live in thy heart, die in thy lap, and be buried
thy
eyes; and moreover, I will go with thee to thy uncle's.
Exeunt.