1 Good Ursula, wake my cousin Beatrice, and desire 2 her to rise.
URSULA
3 I will, lady.
HERO
4 And bid her come hither.
URSULA
5 Well.
Exit
MARGARET
6 Troth, I think your other rabato were better.
HERO
7 No, pray thee, good Meg, I'll wear this.
MARGARET
8 By my troth, 's not so good; and I warrant your 9 cousin will say so.
HERO
10 My cousin's a fool, and thou art another: I'll wear 11 none but this.
MARGARET
12 I like the new tire within excellently, if the hair 13 were a thought browner; and your gown's a most rare 14 fashion, i' faith. I saw the Duchess of Milan's 15 gown that they praise so.
HERO
16 O, that exceeds, they say.
MARGARET
17 By my troth, 's but a night-gown in respect of 18 yours: cloth o' gold, and cuts, and laced with 19 silver, set with pearls, down sleeves, side sleeves, 20 and skirts, round underborne with a bluish tinsel: 21 but for a fine, quaint, graceful and excellent 22 fashion, yours is worth ten on 't.
HERO
23 God give me joy to wear it! for my heart is 24 exceeding heavy.
MARGARET
25 'Twill be heavier soon by the weight of a man.
HERO
26 Fie upon thee! art not ashamed?
MARGARET
27 Of what, lady? of speaking honourably? Is not 28 marriage honourable in a beggar? Is not your lord 29 honourable without marriage? I think you would have 30 me say, 'saving your reverence, a husband:' and bad 31 thinking do not wrest true speaking, I'll offend 32 nobody: is there any harm in 'the heavier for a 33 husband'? None, I think, and it be the right husband 34 and the right wife; otherwise 'tis light, and not 35 heavy: ask my Lady Beatrice else; here she comes.
Enter BEATRICE
HERO
36 Good morrow, coz.
BEATRICE
37 Good morrow, sweet Hero.
HERO
38 Why how now? do you speak in the sick tune?
BEATRICE
39 I am out of all other tune, methinks.
MARGARET
40 Clap's into 'Light o' love;' that goes without a 41 burden: do you sing it, and I'll dance it.
BEATRICE
42 Ye light o' love, with your heels! then, if your 43 husband have stables enough, you'll see he shall 44 lack no barns.
MARGARET
45 O illegitimate construction! I scorn that with my heels.
BEATRICE
46 'Tis almost five o'clock, cousin; tis time you were 47 ready. By my troth, I am exceeding ill: heigh-ho!
MARGARET
48 For a hawk, a horse, or a husband?
BEATRICE
49 For the letter that begins them all, H.
MARGARET
50 Well, and you be not turned Turk, there's no more 51 sailing by the star.
BEATRICE
52 What means the fool, trow?
MARGARET
53 Nothing I; but God send every one their heart's desire!
HERO
54 These gloves the count sent me; they are an 55 excellent perfume.
BEATRICE
56 I am stuffed, cousin; I cannot smell.
MARGARET
57 A maid, and stuffed! there's goodly catching of cold.
BEATRICE
58 O, God help me! God help me! how long have you 59 professed apprehension?
MARGARET
60 Even since you left it. Doth not my wit become me rarely?
BEATRICE
61 It is not seen enough, you should wear it in your 62 cap. By my troth, I am sick.
MARGARET
63 Get you some of this distilled Carduus Benedictus, 64 and lay it to your heart: it is the only thing for a qualm.
HERO
65 There thou prickest her with a thistle.
BEATRICE
66 Benedictus! why Benedictus? you have some moral in 67 this Benedictus.
MARGARET
68 Moral! no, by my troth, I have no moral meaning; I 69 meant, plain holy-thistle. You may think perchance 70 that I think you are in love: nay, by'r lady, I am 71 not such a fool to think what I list, nor I list 72 not to think what I can, nor indeed I cannot think, 73 if I would think my heart out of thinking, that you 74 are in love or that you will be in love or that you 75 can be in love. Yet Benedick was such another, and 76 now is he become a man: he swore he would never 77 marry, and yet now, in despite of his heart, he eats 78 his meat without grudging: and how you may be 79 converted I know not, but methinks you look with 80 your eyes as other women do.
BEATRICE
81 What pace is this that thy tongue keeps?
MARGARET
82 Not a false gallop.
Re-enter URSULA
URSULA
83 Madam, withdraw: the prince, the count, Signior 84 Benedick, Don John, and all the gallants of the 85 town, are come to fetch you to church.
HERO
86 Help to dress me, good coz, good Meg, good Ursula.