Conr. Yea, but you must not make the full fhow of this, 'till you may do it without controlement; you have of late ftood out against your brother, and hẹ hath ta'en you newly into his grace, where it is impoffible you should take root, but by the fair weather that you make yourfelf; it is needful that you frame the feafon for your own harveft. John. I had rather be a canker in a hedge, than a rofe in his grace; and it better fits my blood to be difdain'd of all, than to fashion a carriage to rob love from any in this (though I cannot be faid to be a flattering honeft man) it must not be deny'd but I am a plain-dealing villain, I am trufted with a muzzel, and infranchifed with a clog, therefore I have decreed not to fing in my cage: if I had my mouth, I would bite; if I had my liberty, I would do my liking: in the mean time let me be that I am, and feek not to alter me. Conr. Can you make no use of your difcontent? John. I will make all use of it, for I use it only. Who comes here? what news, Boracbio? Enter Borachio. Bora. I came yonder from a great fupper; the mour.] To claw is to flatter, fo the pope's claw backs, in bifhop Jewel, are the pope's flatterers. The fenfe is the fame in the proverb, Mulus mulum fcabit. 7 I had rather be a canker in a bede, than a rofe in his grace; A canker is the canker role, dogrofe, cynofbatus, or kip. The fenfe is, I would rather live in obfcurity the wild life of nature, than owe dignity or estimation to my brother. He ftill continues his wish of gloomy independence. But what is the meaning of the ex preffion, a rofe in his grace? if he was a rofe of himself, his brother's grace or favour could not degrade him. I once read thus, I had rather be a canker in a hedge, than a rofe in his garden; that is, I had rather be what nature makes me, however mean, than owe any exaltation or improvement to my brother's kindnefs or cultivation. But a lefs change will be fufficient: I think it fhould be read, I had rather be a canker in a hedge, than a roje by his grace. Prince, Prince, your brother, is royally entertain'd by Leonato, and I can give you intelligence of an intended marriage. John. Will it ferve for any model to build mifchief on? what is he for a fool, that betroths himself to unquietness? Bora. Marry, it is your brother's right hand. Bora. Even he. John. A proper Squire! and who, and who? which way looks he? Bora. Marry, on Hero, the daughter and heir of Leonato. John. A very forward March chick! How come you to know this? Bora. Being entertain'd for a perfumer, as I was fmoaking a mufty room, comes me the Prince and Claudio hand in hand in fad conference. I whipt behind the Arras, and there heard it agreed upon, that the Prince fhould woo Hero for himfelf; and having obtained her, give her to Count Claudio. John. Come, come, let us thither, this may prove food to my difpleafure. That young start-up hath all the glory of my overthrow; if I can crofs him any way, I blefs myfelf every way; you are both fure, and will affift me. Conr. To the death, my lord. John. Let us to the great fupper; their Cheer is the greater, that I am fubdu'd, 'would the cook were of my mind!Shall we go prove what's to be done? Bora. We'll wait upon your lordship. [Exeunt. ACT ACT II. SCENE I. A Hall in Leónato's House. Enter Leonato, Antonio, Hero, Beatrice, Margaret, and Urlula. LEONATỞ. 'AS not Count John here at Supper? WA Ant. I faw him not. Beat. How tartly that gentleman looks! I never can fee him, but I am heart-burn'd an hour after ". Hero. He is of a very melancholy difpofition. Beat. He were an excellent man, that were made just in the mid-way between him and Benedick; the one is too like an image, and fays nothing: and the other too like my lady's eldest fon, evermore tatling. Leon. Then half Signior Benedick's tongue in Count John's mouth, and half Count John's melancholy in Signior Benedick's face Beat. With a good Leg, and a good foot, Uncle, and mony enough in his purfe, fuch a man would win any woman in the world, if he could her get good will, Leon. By my troth, Niece, thou wilt never get thee a husband, if thou be fo fhrewd of thy tongue. Ant. In faith, she's too curst. Beat. Too curft is more than curft; I fhall leffen God's fending that way'; for it is faid, God fends a curft Cow fhort horns; but to a Cow too curft he fends none. heart-burn'd an hour after.] The pain commonly called the heart-burn, proceeds from an acid humour in the ftomach, and is therfore properly enough imputed to tart looks. Leon. Leon. So, by being too curft, God will fend you no horns. Beat. Juft, if he fend me no Husband; for the which Bleffing I am at him upon my knées every morning and evening: Lord! I could not endure a husband with a beard on his face, I had rather lye in woollen. Leon. You may light upon a husband, that hath no beard. Beat. What should I do with him? drefs him in my apparel, and make him my waiting-gentlewoman? he that hath a beard is more than a youth, and he that hath no beard is lefs than a man; and he that is more than a youth, is not for me; and he that is lefs than a man, I am not for him: therefore I will even take fix pence in earnest of the bear-herd, and lead his apes into hell. Ant. Well, Niece, I truft, you will be rul'd by your father. [To Hero. Beat. Yes, faith, it is my Coufin's duty to make curtfie, and fay, Father, as it pleafes you; but yet for all that, Coufin, let him be a handfome fellow, or elfe make another curtfie, and fay, Father, as it pleafes me, Leon. Well, Niece, I hope to fee you one day fitted with a husband. Beat. Not 'till God make men of fome other metal than earth; would it not grieve a woman to be over-master'd with a piece of valiant duft? to make account of her life to a clod of way-ward marle ? no, uncle, I'll none; Adam's fons are my brethren, and, truly, I hold it a fin to match in my kindred. Leon. Daughter, remember, what I told you; if • Well then, &c.] Of do not deserve indeed fo honourthe two next speeches Mr. War- able a place yet I am afraid burton fays, All this impious non- they are too much in the manfenfe thrown to the bottom is the ner of our author, who is someplayers, and foified in without times trifling to purchase merrhyme or reafon. He therefore riment at too dear a rate. puts them in the margin. They the the Prince do follicit you in that kind, you know your anfwer. Beat. The fault will be in the mufick, coufin, if you be not woo'd in good time; If the Prince be too important, tell him, there is meafure in every thing; and fo dance out the Anfwer; for hear me, Hero, wooing, wedding, and repenting, is as a Scotch jig, a measure, and a cinque-pace; the firft fuit is hot and hatty, like a Scotch jig, and full as fantastical; the wedding mannerly-modeft, as a meafure, full of state and ancientry; and then comes repentance, and with his bad legs falls into the cinque-pace fafter and fafter, 'till he finks into his grave. Leon. Coufin, you apprehend paffing fhrewdly. Beat. I have a good eye, uncle, I can fee a church by day-light. Leon. The revellers are entring, brother; make good room. SCENE II. Enter Don Pedro, Claudio, Benedick, Balthazar, and others, in Mafquerade. Pedro. Lady, will you walk about with your friend? Hero. So you walk foftly, and look fweetly, and fay nothing, I am yours for the walk, and efpecially when I walk away. Pedro. With me in your company? Hero. I may fay fo, when I please. Pedro. And when pleafe you to fay fo? Hero. When I like your favour; for God defend, the lute fhould be like the cafe ! I Pedro. My vifor is Philemon's roof; within the houfe is Jove. *Important, here and in many other places, is importunate. My Vifor is Philemon's Roof, within the Houfe is Love.] Thus Hero. the whole Stream of the Copies, |