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 I can praise him; he is of a noble strain, of approved valour, and confirmed honesty. I will teach you how to humour your cousin, that she shall fall in love with Benedick:—and I, 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

ANOTHER APARTMENT IN LEONATO'S HOUSE.

Enter Don John, and Borachio.

John. It is so; the count Claudio shall marry the daughter of Leonato.

Bora. Yea, my lord; but I can cross it.

John. Any bar, any crofs, any impediment, will be medicinable to me: I am sick in displeasure to him; and what

soever comes athwart his affection, ranges evenly with mine. How canst thou cross this marriage?

Bora. Not honestly, my lord; but so covertly, that no dishonesty shall appear in me.

John. Shew me briefly how.

Bora. I think, I told your lordship, a year since, how much I am in the favour of Margaret, the waiting-gentlewoman to Hero.

John. I remember.

Bora. I can, at any unseasonable instant of the night, appoint her to look out at her lady's chamber window. John. What life is in that, to be the death of this marriage?

Bora. The poison of that lies in you to temper. Go you to the prince your brother; spare not to tell him, that he hath wronged his honour in marrying the renowned Claudio (whose estimation do you mightily hold up) to a contaminated stale, such a one as Hero.

John. What proof shall I make of that?

Bora. Proof enough to misuse the prince, to vex Claudio, to undo Hero, and kill Leonato: Look you for any other ifsue?

John. Only to despite them, I will endeavour any thing. Bora. Go then, find me a meet hour to draw Don Pedro, and the count Claudio, alone: tell them, that you know that Hero loves me; intend a kind of zeal both to the prince and Claudio; as—in love of your brother's honour, who hath made this match; and his friend's reputation, who is thus like to be cozened with the semblance of a maid,-that you have discovered thus. They will scarcely believe this with

:

out trial offer them instances; which shall bear no lefs
likelihood, than to see me at her chamber window; hear
me call Margaret, Hero; hear Margaret term me Borachio;
and bring them to see this, the very night before the in-
tended wedding: for, in the mean time, I will so fashion
the matter, that Hero shall be absent; and there shall
ap-
pear
such seeming truth of Hero's disloyalty, that jealousy
shall be called afsurance, and all the preparation overthrown.
John. Grow this to what adverse issue it can, I will put
it in practice: Be cunning in the working this, and thy fee
is a thousand ducats.

Bora. Be you constant in the accusation, and my cunning shall not shame me.

John. I will presently go learn their day of marriage.

[Exeunt.

Bene. Boy,

Boy. Signior.

SCENE III

LEONATO'S ORCHARD.

Enter Benedick, and a Boy.

Bene. In my chamber window lies a book; bring it hither to me in the orchard.

Boy. I am here already, sir.

Bene. I know that;-but I would have thee hence, and here again. [Exit Boy.]—I do much wonder, that one man, seeing how much another man is a fool when he dedicates

his behaviours to love, will, after he hath laughed at such shallow follies in others, become the argument of his own scorn, by falling in love: And such a man is Claudio. I have known, when there was no music with him but the drum and the fife; and now had he rather hear the tabor and the pipe: I have known, when he would have walked ten mile afoot, to see a good armour; and now will he lie ten nights awake, carving the fashion of a new doublet. He was wont to speak plain, and to the purpose, like an honest man, and a soldier; and now is he turned orthographer; his words are a very fantastical banquet, just so many strange dishes. May I be so converted, and see with these eyes? I cannot tell; I think not: I will not be sworn, but love may oath on it, till transform me to an oyster; but I will take my he have made an oyster of me, he shall never make me such a fool. One woman is fair; yet I am well: another is wise; yet I am well: another virtuous; yet I am well: but till all graces be in one woman, one woman shall not come in my grace. Rich she shall be, that is certain; wise, or I will none; virtuous, or I will never cheapen her; fair, or I will never look on her; mild, or come not near me; noble, or not I for an angel: of good discourse, an excellent musician, and her hair shall be of what colour it please God. Ha! the prince and monsieur Love! I will hide me in the arbour. [withdraws.

Enter Don Pedro, Leonato, and Claudio.

Pedro. Come, shall we hear this music?

Claud. Yea, my good lord: -How still the evening is,

As hush'd on purpose to grace harmony!

Pedro. See you where Benedick hath hid himself? Claud. O very well, my lord: the music ended, We'll fit the kid fox with a pennyworth.

Enter Balthazar, with Music.

Pedro. Come, Balthazar, we'll hear that song again.
Balth. O good my lord, tax not so bad a voice
To slander music any more than once.

Pedro. It is the witnefs still of excellency,
To put a strange face on his own perfection:-
I pray thee, sing, and let me woo no more.
Balth. Because you talk of wooing, I will sing:
Since many a wooer doth commence his suit
To her he thinks not worthy; yet he wooes;
Yet will he swear, he loves.

Pedro. Nay, pray thee, come:

Or, if thou wilt hold longer argument,
Do it in notes.

Balth. Note this before my notes,

There's not a note of mine that's worth the noting.

Pedro. Why these are very crotchets that he speaks; Note, notes, forsooth, and noting!

Bene. Now, Divine air! now is his soul ravished!-Is it not strange, that sheep's guts should hale souls out of men's bodies? Well, a horn for my money, when all is done.