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practice let us put it presently。 ＇Exeunt。＇
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SCENE II。
A room in Leonato's house。
＇Enter ＇at one door＇ Leonato and ＇at another door； Antonio＇ an old man；
brother to Leonato。＇
Leon。 How now； brother？ Where is my cousin your son？ Hath he
provided this music？
Ant。 He is very busy about it。 But； brother； I can tell you strange news
that you yet dreamt not of。
Leon。 Are they good？
Ant。 As the event stamps them； but they have a good cover； they show
well outward。 The Prince and Count Claudio； walking in a thick…pleached
alley in mine orchard； were thus much overheard by a man of mine： the
Prince discovered to Claudio that he loved my
niece your daughter and meant to acknowledge it this night in a
dance； and if he found her accordant； he meant to take the present time by
the top and instantly break with you of it。
Leon。 Hath the fellow any wit that told you this？
Ant。 A good sharp fellow。 I will send for him； and question him
yourself。
Leon。 No； no。 We will hold it as a dream till it appear itself； but I will
acquaint my daughter withal； that she may be the better prepared for an
answer； if peradventure this be true。 Go you and tell her of it。 ＇Exit
Antonio。＇
＇Enter Antonio's Son with a Musician； and others。＇
＇To the Son＇ Cousin； you know what you have to do。
＇To the Musician＇ O； I cry you mercy； friend。 Go you with me； and I
will use your skill。Good cousin； have a care this busy time。 ＇Exeunt。＇
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SCENE III。
Another room in Leonato's house。
＇Enter Sir John the Bastard and Conrade； his companion。＇
Con。 What the goodyear； my lord！ Why are you thus out of measure
sad？
John。 There is no measure in the occasion that breeds； therefore the
sadness is without limit。
Con。 You should hear reason。
John。 And when I have heard it； what blessings brings it？
Con。 If not a present remedy； at least a patient sufferance。
John。 I wonder that thou （being； as thou say'st thou art； born under
Saturn） goest about to apply a moral medicine to a mortifying mischief。 I
cannot hide what I am： I must be sad when I have cause； and smile at no
man's jests； eat when I have stomach； and wait for no man's leisure； sleep
when I am drowsy； and tend on no man's business； laugh when I am merry；
and claw no man in his humour。
Con。 Yea； but you must not make the full show of this till you may do
it without controlment。 You have of late stood out against your brother；
and he hath ta'en you newly into his grace； where it is impossible you
should take true root but by the fair weather that you make yourself。 It is
needful that you frame the season for your own harvest。
John。 I had rather be a canker in a hedge than a rose in his grace； and it
better fits my blood to be disdain'd of all than to fashion a carriage to rob
love from any。 In this； though I cannot be said to be a flattering honest
man； it must not be denied but I am a plain…dealing villain。 I am trusted
with a muzzle and enfranchis'd with a clog； therefore I have decreed not to
sing in my cage。 If I had my mouth； I would bite； if I had my liberty； I
would do my liking。 In the meantime let me be that I am； and seek not to
alter me。
Con。 Can you make no use of your discontent？
John。 I make all use of it； for I use it only。
＇Enter Borachio。＇
Who comes here？ What news； Borachio？
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Bora。 I came yonder from a great supper。 The Prince your brother is
royally entertain'd by Leonato； and I can give you intelligence of an
intended marriage。
John。 Will it serve for any model to build mischief on？ What is he for a
fool that betroths himself to unquietness？
Bora。 Marry； it is your brother's right hand。
John。 Who？ the most exquisite Claudio？
Bora。 Even he。
John。 A proper squire！ And who？ and who？ which way looks he？
Bora。 Marry； on Hero； the daughter and heir of Leonato。
John。 A very forward March…chick！ How came you to this？
Bora。 Being entertain'd for a perfumer； as I was smoking a musty room；
comes me the Prince and Claudio； hand in hand in sad conference。 I whipt
me behind the arras and there heard it agreed upon that the Prince should
woo Hero for himself； and having obtain'd her； give her to Count Claudio。
John。 Come； come； let us thither。 This may prove food to my
displeasure。 That young start…up hath all the glory of my overthrow。 If I
can cross him any way； I bless myself every way。 You are both sure； and
will assist me？
Con。 To the death； my lord。
John。 Let us to the great supper。 Their cheer is the greater that I am
subdued。 Would the cook were o' my mind！ Shall we go prove what's to be
done？
Bora。 We'll wait upon your lordship。 ＇Exeunt。＇
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ACT II。
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SCENE I。
A hall in Leonato's house。
＇Enter Leonato； ＇Antonio＇ his Brother； Hero his Daughter； and
Beatrice his Niece； and a Kinsman； ＇also Margaret and Ursula。＇
Leon。 Was not Count John here at supper？
Ant。 I saw him not。
Beat。 How tartly that gentleman looks！ I never can see him but I am
heart…burn'd an hour after。
Hero。 He is of a very melancholy disposition。
Beat。 He were an excellent man that were made just in the midway
between him and Benedick。 The one is too like an image and says nothing；
and the other too like my lady's eldest son； evermore tattling。
Leon。 Then half Signior Benedick's tongue in Count John's mouth； and
half Count John's melancholy in Signior Benedick's face
Beat。 With a good leg and a good foot； uncle； and money enough in
his purse； such a man would win any woman in the worldif 'a could get
her good will。
Leon。 By my troth； niece； thou wilt never get thee a husband if thou be
so shrewd of thy tongue。
Ant。 In faith； she's too curst。
Beat。 Too curst is more than curst。 I shall lessen God's sending that
way； for it is said； 'God sends a curst cow short horns；' but to a cow too
curst he sends none。
Leon。 So； by being too curst； God will send you no horns。
Beat。 Just； if he send me no husband； for the which blessing I am at
him upon my knees every morning and evening。 Lord； I could not endure
a husband with a beard on his face。 I had rather lie in the woollen！
Leon。 You may light on a husband that hath no beard。
Beat。 What should I do with him？ dress him in my apparel and make
him my waiting gentlewoman？ He that hath a beard is more than a youth；
and he that hath no beard is less than a man； and he that is more than a
youth is not for me； and he that is less than a man； I am not for him。
Therefore I will even take sixpence in earnest of the berrord and lead his
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apes into hell。
Leon。 Well then； go you into hell？
Beat。 No； but to