Much Ado About Nothing | Page 7

found her accordant, he meant to take the present time by the top
and instantly break with you of it.
LEONATO. Hath the fellow any wit that told you this?
ANTONIO. A good sharp fellow: I will send for him; and question him

yourself.
LEONATO. 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.
[Several persons cross the stage.]
Cousins, you know what you have to do. 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.]

Scene III. --Another room in LEONATO'S house.]
[Enter DON JOHN and CONRADE.]
CONRADE. What the good-year, my lord! why are you thus out of
measure sad?
DON JOHN. There is no measure in the occasion that breeds; therefore
the sadness is without limit.
CONRADE. You should hear reason.
DON JOHN. And when I have heard it, what blessings brings it?
CONRADE. If not a present remedy, at least a patient sufferance.
DON 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.
CONRADE. 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.
DON JOHN. I had rather be a canker in a hedge than a rose in his grace;
and it better fits my blood to be disdained 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 enfranchised 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.
CONRADE. Can you make no use of your discontent?
DON JOHN. I make all use of it, for I use it only. Who comes here?
[Enter Borachio.]
What news, Borachio?
BORACHIO. I came yonder from a great supper: the prince your
brother is royally entertained by Leonato; and I can give you
intelligence of an intended marriage.
DON JOHN. Will it serve for any model to build mischief on? What is
he for a fool that betroths himself to unquietness?
BORACHIO. Marry, it is your brother's right hand.
DON JOHN. Who? the most exquisite Claudio?
BORACHIO. Even he.
DON JOHN. A proper squire! And who, and who? which way looks
he?
BORACHIO. Marry, on Hero, the daughter and heir of Leonato.
DON JOHN. A very forward March-chick! How came you to this?
BORACHIO. Being entertained 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 obtained her,
give her to Count Claudio.
DON 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?
CONRADE. To the death, my lord.
DON JOHN. Let us to the great supper: their cheer is the greater that I
am subdued. Would the cook were of my mind! Shall we go to prove
what's to be done?
BORACHIO. We'll wait upon your lordship.
[Exeunt.]

ACT 2.
Scene I. A hall in LEONATO'S house.
[Enter LEONATO, ANTONIO, HERO, BEATRICE, and Others.]

LEONATO. Was not Count John here at supper?
ANTONIO. I saw him not.
BEATRICE. How tartly that gentleman looks! I never can see him but I
am heart-burned an hour after.
HERO. He is of a very melancholy disposition.
BEATRICE. He were an excellent man that were made just in the
mid-way