Hero's Apartment in Leonato's House.
 Enter HERO, MARGARET, and URSULA.

Hero	Good Ursula, wake my cousin Beatrice and desire her to rise.

Ursula	I will, lady.

Hero	And bid her come hither.

Ursula	Well.
													[Exit.
Margaret	Troth, I think your other rebato were better.

Hero	No, pray thee, good Meg, I'll wear this.

Margaret	By my troth, 's not so good, and I warrant your cousin will 
	say so.

Hero	My cousin's a fool, and thou art another. I'll wear none but 
	this.

Margaret	I like the new tire within excellently, if the hair were a 
	thought browner; and your gown's a most rare fashion, i'faith. 
	I saw the Duchess of Milan's gown that they praise so.

Hero	O, that exceeds, they say.

Margaret	By my troth, 's but a nightgown in respect of yours - cloth o' 
	gold, and cuts, and laced with silver, set with pearls, down 
	sleeves, side sleeves, and skirts round, underborne with a 
	bluish tinsel. But for a fine, quaint, graceful, and excellent 
	fashion, yours is worth ten on't.

Hero	God give me joy to wear it, for my heart is exceeding heavy.

Margaret	'Twill be heavier soon, by the weight of a man.

Hero	Fie upon thee! Art not ashamed?

Margaret	Of what, lady? Of speaking honourably? Is not marriage 
	honourable in a beggar? Is not your lord honourable without 
	marriage? I think you would have me say 'saving your 
	reverence, a husband'. An bad thinking do not wrest true 
	speaking, I'll offend nobody. Is there any harm in 'the 
	heavier for a husband'? None, I think, an it be the right 
	husband and the right wife; otherwise 'tis light and not 
	heavy. Ask my Lady Beatrice else; here she comes.

                             Enter BEATRICE.

Hero	Good morrow, coz.

Beatrice	Good morrow, sweet Hero.

Hero	Why, how now? Do you speak in the sick tune?

Beatrice	I am out of all other tune, methinks.

Margaret	Clap's into 'Light o' Love'; that goes without a burden. Do 
	you sing it, and I'll dance it.

Beatrice	Ye light o' love with your heels! Then, if your husband have 
	stables enough, you'll see he shall lack no barns.

Margaret	O illegitimate construction! I scorn that with my heels.

Beatrice	'Tis almost five o'clock, cousin; 'tis time you were ready. By 
	my troth, I am exceeding ill. Heigh-ho!

Margaret	For a hawk, a horse, or a husband?

Beatrice	For the letter that begins them all, H.

Margaret	Well, an you be not turned Turk, there's no more sailing by 
	the star.

Beatrice	What means the fool, trow?

Margaret	Nothing I, but God send everyone their heart's desire!

Hero	These gloves the count sent me, they are an excellent perfume.

Beatrice	I am stuffed, cousin, I cannot smell.

Margaret	A maid, and stuffed! There's goodly catching of cold.

Beatrice	O, God help me, God help me! How long have you professed 
	apprehension?

Margaret	Ever since you left it. Doth not my wit become me rarely?

Beatrice	It is not seen enough; you should wear it in your cap. By my 
	troth, I am sick.

Margaret	Get you some of this distilled carduus benedictus, and lay it 
	to your heart. It is the only thing for a qualm.

Hero	There thou prick'st her with a thistle.

Beatrice	Benedictus? Why benedictus? You have some moral in this 
	benedictus.

Margaret	Moral? No, by my troth, I have no moral meaning. I meant plain 
	holy-thistle. You may think perchance that I think you are in 
	love. Nay, by'r-Lady, I am not such a fool to think what I 
	list; nor I list not to think what I can; nor, indeed, I 
	cannot think, if I would think my heart out of thinking, that 
	you are in love, or that you will be in love, or that you can 
	be in love. Yet Benedick was such another, and now is he 
	become a man. He swore he would never marry, and yet now, in 
	despite of his heart, he eats his meat without grudging. And 
	how you may be converted I know not; but methinks you look 
	with your eyes as other women do.

Beatrice	What pace is this that thy tongue keeps?

Margaret	Not a false gallop.

                             Re-enter URSULA.

Ursula	Madam, withdraw. The prince, the count, Signor Benedick, Don 
	John, and all the gallants of the town, are come to fetch you 
	to church.

Hero	Help to dress me, good coz, good Meg, good Ursula.
													[Exeunt.
