Benedick, didst thou note the daughter of Signior Leonato?
Claudio
Benedick, didst thou note the daughter of
Signior Leonato?
Benedick
I noted her not, but I looked on her.
Claudio
Is she not a modest young lady?
Why, i’ faith, methinks she’s too low for a
high praise, too brown for a fair praise, and too
little for a great praise
Benedick
Do you question me as an honest man
should do, for my simple true judgment? Or would
you have me speak after my custom, as being a
professed tyrant to their sex?
Claudio
No, I pray thee, speak in sober judgment.
Benedick
Why, i’ faith, methinks she’s too low for a
high praise, too brown for a fair praise, and too
little for a great praise. Only this commendation I
can afford her, that were she other than she is, she
were unhandsome, and being no other but as she is,
I do not like her.
Claudio
Thou thinkest I am in sport. I pray thee tell
me truly how thou lik’st her.
Benedick
Would you buy her that you enquire after her?
Claudio
Can the world buy such a jewel?
Benedick
Yea, and a case to put it into. But speak you
this with a sad brow? Or do you play the flouting
jack, to tell us Cupid is a good hare-finder and
Vulcan a rare carpenter? Come, in what key shall a
man take you to go in the song?
Claudio
In mine eye she is the sweetest lady that ever
I looked on.
Benedick
I can see yet without spectacles, and I see
no such matter. There’s her cousin, an 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?
Claudio
I would scarce trust myself, though I had
sworn the contrary, if Hero would be my wife.
Benedick
Is ’t come to this? In faith, hath not the
world one man but he will wear his cap with
suspicion? Shall I never see a bachelor of threescore
again? Go to, i’ faith, an thou wilt needs thrust
thy neck into a yoke, wear the print of it, and sigh
away Sundays.