County Claudio, when mean you to go to church?
Prince
County Claudio, when mean you to go to church?
Claudio
Tomorrow, my lord. Time goes on crutches
till love have all his rites.
Leonato
Not till Monday, my dear son, which is hence
a just sevennight, and a time too brief, too, to have
all things answer my mind.
Time goes on crutches till love have all his rites
Prince, to Claudio
Come, you shake the head at solong a breathing,
but I warrant thee, Claudio, the time shall not go
dully by us. I will in the interimundertake one of
Hercules’ labors, which is to bring Signior Benedick
and the Lady Beatrice into a mountain of affection,
th’ one with th’ other. Iwould fain have it a match,
and I doubt not but to fashion it, if you three will but
minister such assistance as I shall give you direction.
Leonato
My lord, I am for you, though it cost me ten
nights’ watchings.
Claudio
And I, my lord.
Prince
And you too, gentle Hero?
Hero
I will do any modest office, my lord, to help my
cousin to a good husband.
Prince
And Benedick is not the unhopefullest husband
that I know. Thus far can I praise him: he is of
a noble strain, of approved valor, and confirmed
honesty. I will teach you how to humor your
cousin that she shall fall in love with Benedick.—
And I, with your two helps, will so practice on
Benedick that, in despite of his quick wit and his
queasy stomach, he shall fall in love with Beatrice.
If we can do this, Cupid is no longer an archer; his
glory shall be ours, for we are the only love gods. Go
in with me, and I will tell you my drift.
They exit.