A Room in Leonato's House.
 Enter DON PEDRO, CLAUDIO, BENEDICK, and LEONATO.

Don Pedro	I do but stay till your marriage be consummate, and then go I 
	toward Aragon.

Claudio	I'll bring you thither, my lord, if you'll vouchsafe me.

Don Pedro	Nay, that would be as great a soil in the new gloss of your 
	marriage as to show a child his new coat and forbid him to 
	wear it. I will only be bold with Benedick for his company, 
	for from the crown of his head to the sole of his foot he is 
	all mirth. He hath twice or thrice cut Cupid's bowstring, and 
	the little hangman dare not shoot at him. He hath a heart as 
	sound as a bell, and his tongue is the clapper; for what his 
	heart thinks his tongue speaks.

Benedick	Gallants, I am not as I have been.

Leonato	So say I. Methinks you are sadder.

Claudio	I hope he be in love.

Don Pedro	Hang him, truant! There's no true drop of blood in him to be 
	truly touched with love. If he be sad, he wants money.

Benedick	I have the toothache.

Don Pedro	Draw it.

Benedick	Hang it!

Claudio	You must hang it first, and draw it afterwards.

Don Pedro	What? Sigh for the toothache?

Leonato	Where is but a humour or a worm.

Benedick	Well everyone can master a grief but he that has it.

Claudio	Yet say I, he is in love.

Don Pedro	There is no appearance of fancy in him, unless it be a fancy 
	that he hath to strange disguises, as to be a Dutchman today, 
	a Frenchman tomorrow, or in the shape of two countries at 
	once, as a German from the waist downward, all slops, and a 
	Spaniard from the hip upward, no doublet. Unless he have a 
	fancy to this foolery, as it appears he hath, he is no fool 
	for fancy, as you would have it appear he is.

Claudio	If he be not in love with some woman there is no believing old 
	signs; a' brushes his hat o' mornings - what should that bode?

Don Pedro	Hath any man seen him at the barber's?

Claudio	No, but the barber's man hath been seen with him, and the old 
	ornament of his cheek hath already stuffed tennis-balls.

Leonato	Indeed he looks younger than he did, by the loss of a beard.

Don Pedro	Nay, a' rubs himself with civet; can you smell him out by 
	that?

Claudio	That's as much as to say the sweet youth's in love.

Don Pedro	The greatest note of it is his melancholy.

Claudio	And when was he wont to wash his face?

Don Pedro	Yea, or to paint himself? For the which I hear what they say 
	of him.

Claudio	Nay, but his jesting spirit, which is now crept into a lute-
	string, and now governed by stops.

Don Pedro	Indeed that tells a heavy tale for him. Conclude, conclude he 
	is in love.

Claudio	Nay, but I know who loves him.

Don Pedro	That would I know too. I warrant, one that knows him not.

Claudio	Yes, and his ill conditions, and in despite of all, dies for 
	him.

Don Pedro	She shall be buried with her face upwards.

Benedick	Yet is this no charm for the toothache. Old signor, walk aside 
	with me; I have studied eight or nine wise words to speak to 
	you, which these hobby-horses must not hear.
									  [Exeunt BENEDICK and LEONATO.

Don Pedro	For my life, to break with him about Beatrice.

Claudio	'Tis even so. Hero and Margaret have by this played their 
	parts with Beatrice, and then the two bears will not bite one 
	another when they meet.

                       Enter DON JOHN the Bastard.

Don John	My lord and brother, God save you!

Don Pedro	Good-den, brother.

Don John	If your leisure served, I would speak with you.

Don Pedro	In private?

Don John	If it please you; yet Count Claudio may hear, for what I would 
	speak of concerns him.

Don Pedro	What's the matter?

Don John	[To CLAUDIO.] Means your lordship to be married tomorrow?

Don Pedro	You know he does.

Don John	I know not that, when he knows what I know.

Claudio	If there be any impediment, I pray you discover it.

Don John	You may think I love you not; let that appear hereafter, and 
	aim better at me by that I now will manifest. For my brother - 
	I think he holds you well, and in dearness of heart - hath 
	holp to effect your ensuing marriage - surely suit ill spent, 
	and labour ill bestowed.

Don Pedro	Why, what's the matter?

Don John	I came hither to tell you, and, circumstances shortened - for 
	she has been too long a-talking of - the lady is disloyal.

Claudio	Who, Hero?

Don John	Even she. Leonato's Hero, your Hero, every man's Hero.

Claudio	Disloyal?

Don John	The word is too good to paint out her wickedness. I could say 
	she were worse; think you of a worse title and I will fit her 
	to it. Wonder not till further warrant. Go but with me 
	tonight, you shall see her chamber window entered, even the 
	night before her wedding-day. If you love her then, tomorrow 
	wed her; but it would better fit your honour to change your 
	mind.

Claudio	May this be so?

Don Pedro	I will not think it.

Don John	If you dare not trust that you see, confess not that you know. 
	If you will follow me, I will show you enough; and when you 
	have seen more and heard more, proceed accordingly.

Claudio	If I see anything tonight why I should not marry her tomorrow, 
	in the congregation where I should wed, there will I shame 
	her.

Don Pedro	And as I wooed for thee to obtain her, I will join with thee 
	to disgrace her.

Don John	I will disparage her no further till you are my witnesses. 
	Bear it coldly but till midnight, and let the issue show 
	itself.

Don Pedro	O day untowardly turned!

Claudio	O mischief strangely thwarting!

Don John	O plague right well prevented! So will you say when you have 
	seen the sequel.
													[Exeunt.
