Act 1 Flashcards
(243) (1575)
Your hand, Leonato. We will all go together. (EX all but Benedick and Claudio)
Benedick didst thou note the daughter of Signor Leonato?
I noted her not, but I looked on her.
Is she not a modest young lady?
Do you question me as an honest man should do, for my simple true judgement, or would you have me speak after my custom, as being a professed tyrant to their sex?
No, I pray thee speak in sober judgement.
Why, I faith methinks she’s too low for a high praise, and too little for agreat praise. Only this commendation I can afford her, that she were other than she is she were unhandsome, and being no other but she is, I do not like her.
Thou thinkest I am in sport. I pray thee tell me truly how thou likest her.
Would you buy her, that you enquire after her?
Can the world buy such a jewel?
Yea and a case to put it into. But speak you this with a sad brow? Come, in what key shall a man take you to go in the song?
In mine eye she is the sweetest lady that ever I looked on.
I can see yet without spectacles, and I see no such matter. There’s her cousin, and she were not possessed with a fury, exceeds her as much in beauty as the first of May doth the last of December. But I hope you have no intent to turn husband have you?
I would scarce trust myself though I had sworn the contrary, if Hero would be my wife.
He is in love! With who? Now that is your grace’s part. Mark how short his answer is - with Hero, Leonato’s short daughter.
If this were so, so were it uttered.
Amen, if you love her, for the lady is very well worthy.
You speak this to fetch me in my lord.
By my troth, I speak my thought.
And in faith my lord, I spoke mine.
And by my two faiths and troths my lord, I spoke mine.
That I love her I feel.
Thou wast ever an obstinate heretic in the despite of beauty.
And never could maintain his part but in the force of his will.
And so I leave you (EX Benedick)
My Liege, your highness now may do me good.
My love is thine to teach. teach it but how and thou shalt see how apt it is to learn any hard lesson that may do thee good.
Hath Leonato any son my lord?
No child but Hero. She’s his only heir. Dost thou affect her Claudio?
Oh my lord, when you went onward on this ended action I looked upon her with a soldier’s eye, that liked but had a rougher task in hand than to drive liking to the name of love. But now I am returned, and that war-thoughts have left their places vacant, in their rooms come thronging soft and delicate desires, all prompting me how fair young Hero is, saying I liked her ere I went to wars.
