1599 MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
Page: 61

Hero. And here's another,
Writ in my cousin's hand, stol'n from her pocket,
Containing her affection unto Benedick.
Bene. A miracle! Here's our own hands against our hearts.
Come, I will have thee; but, by this light, I take thee for
pity.
Beat. I would not deny you; but, by this good day, I yield upon
great persuasion, and partly to save your life, for I was
told
you were in a consumption.
Bene. Peace! I will stop your mouth. [Kisses her.]
Beat. I'll tell thee what, Prince: a college of wit-crackers
cannot
flout me out of my humour. Dost thou think I care for a
satire or
an epigram? No. If a man will be beaten with brains, 'a shall
wear nothing handsome about him. In brief, since I do purpose
to
marry, I will think nothing to any purpose that the world can
say
against it; and therefore never flout at me for what I have
said
against it; for man is a giddy thing, and this is my
conclusion.
For thy part, Claudio, I did think to have beaten thee; but
in
that thou art like to be my kinsman, live unbruis'd, and love
my
cousin.
Claud. I had well hop'd thou wouldst have denied Beatrice, that
I
might have cudgell'd thee out of thy single life, to make
thee a
double-dealer, which out of question thou wilt be if my
cousin do
not look exceeding narrowly to thee.
Bene. Come, come, we are friends. Let's have a dance ere we are
married, that we may lighten our own hearts and our wives'
heels.
Leon. We'll have dancing afterward.
Bene. First, of my word! Therefore play, music. Prince, thou
art
sad. Get thee a wife, get thee a wife! There is no staff more
reverent than one tipp'd with horn.

Enter Messenger.

Mess. My lord, your brother John is ta'en in flight,
And brought with armed men back to Messina.
Bene. Think not on him till to-morrow. I'll devise thee brave
punishments for him. Strike up, pipers!
Dance. [Exeunt.]


THE END