Act 2

Question 1

(408)

Are not you Signor Benedick?

Answer 1

You know me well, I am he.

Question 2

Signor, you are very near my brother In his love. He Is enamoured on Hero. I pray you dissuade him from her. She is no equal for his birth. You may do the part of an honest man in It.

Answer 2

How know you he loves her?

Question 3

Come, let us to the banquet. (EX all but Claudio)

Answer 3

Thus answer I in name of Benedick,
But hear these ill news with the ears of Claudio. ‘Tis certain so; the Prince woos for himself. Friendship is constant in all other things Save in the office and affairs of love. Therefore all hearts in love use their own tongues.
Let every eye negotiate for itself,
And trust no agent; for beauty Is a witch
Against whose charms faith melteth into blood. This Is an accident of hourly proof, Which I mistrusted not. Farewell, therefore, Hero.

Question 4

Count Claudio?

Answer 4

Yay, the same.

Question 5

Come, will you go with me?

Answer 5

Whither?

Question 6

Even to the next willow, the Prince hath got your Hero.

Answer 6

I wish him joy of her.

Question 7

Why that’s spoken like an honest drover; so they sell bullocks. But did you think the Prince would have served you thus?

Answer 7

I pray you leave me.

Question 8

Ho, now you strike like the blind man. ‘Twas the boy that stole your meat, and you’ll beat the post.

Answer 8

If it will not be, I’ll leave you.

Question 9

Why, how now, Count Claudio, wherefore are you sad?

Answer 9

Not sad my lord.

Question 10

How then, sick?

Answer 10

Neither my lord.

Question 11

Speak count, ‘tis your cue.

Answer 11

Silence is the perfectest herald of joy. I were but little happy if I could say how much. Lady, as you are mine, I am yours. I give away myself for you, and dote upon the exchange.

Question 12

Yea, my lord. I thank it, poor fool, it keeps on the windy side of care. My cousin tells him in his ear that he is in her heart.

Answer 12

And so she doth cousin.

Question 13

Count Claudio, when mean you to go to church?

Answer 13

Tomorrow my lord. Time goes on crutches till love have all his rites.

Question 14

My lord, I am for you, though it cost me ten nights’ watchings.

Answer 14

And I my lord.

Question 15

Come, shall we hear this music?

Answer 15

Yay my good lord. How still the evening is, as hushed on purpose to grace harmony.

Question 16

See you where Benedick hath hid himself?

Answer 16

O very well my lord. The music ended, we’ll fit the hid fox with a penny-worth.

Question 17

Come hither, Leonato. What was it you told me of today, that your niece Beatrice was in love with Signor Benedick?

Answer 17

O, ay, stalk on stalk on, the fowl sits. I did never think that lady would have loved any man.

Question 18

Maybe she doth but counterfeit.

Answer 18

Faith Like Enough.

Question 19

Why, what effects of passion shows she?

Answer 19

Bait the hook well, the fish will bite.

Question 20

What effects my lord? She will sit you. You heard my daughter tell you how.

Answer 20

She did indeed.

Question 21

I should think this a gull, but that the white-bearded fellow speaks it. Knavery cannot, sure, hide himself in such reverance.

Answer 21

He hath taken th’iunfection. Hold it up.

Question 22

No, and swears she never will. That’s her torment.

Answer 22

‘Tis true indeed, so your daughter says. “Shall I”, says she, “that have so oft encountered him with scorn, write to him that I love him?

Question 23

O she tore the letter into a thousand half-pence, railed at herself that she should be so immodest to write that she knew would flout her.

Answer 23

Then down upon her knees she falls, weeps, sobs, beats her heart, tears her hair, prays, curses, “O sweet Benedick! God give me patience”

Question 24

It were good that Benedick knew of it by some other, if she will not discover it.

Answer 24

To what end? He would make but a sport of it and torment the poor lady worse.

Question 25

An he should, it were alms to hang him. She’s an excellent sweet lady and, out of all suspicion, she is virtuous.

Answer 25

And she is exceedingly wise.

Question 26

Were it good, think you?

Answer 26

Hero thinks surely she will die; for she says she will die if he loves her not, and she will die ere she makes her love known, and she will die if he woo her, rather than she will bate one breath of her accustomed crossness.

Question 27

He doth indeed show some sparks that are like wit. Shall we go seek Benedick and tell him of her love?

Answer 27

Never tell him, my lord. Let her wear it out with good counsel.

Question 28

My lord, will you walk? Dinner is ready.

Answer 28

If he do not dote on her upon this, I will never trust my expectation.