Good Signior Leonato, are you come to meet your trouble?
Prince
Good Signior Leonato, are you come to meet
your trouble? The fashion of the world is to avoid
cost, and you encounter it.
Leonato
Never came trouble to my house in the
likeness of your Grace, for trouble being gone,
comfort should remain, but when you depart from
me, sorrow abides and happiness takes his leave.
I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow
than a man swear he loves me.
Prince
You embrace your charge too willingly.
Turning to Hero.
I think this is your daughter.
Leonato
Her mother hath many times told me so.
Benedick
Were you in doubt, sir, that you asked her?
Leonato
Signior Benedick, no, for then were you a child.
Prince
You have it full, Benedick. We may guess by
this what you are, being a man. Truly the lady
fathers herself.—Be happy, lady, for you are like
an honorable father.
Leonato and the Prince move aside.
Benedick
If Signior Leonato be her father, she would
not have his head on her shoulders for all Messina,
as like him as she is.
Beatrice
I wonder that you will still be talking, Signior
Benedick, nobody marks you.
Benedick
What, my dear Lady Disdain! Are you yet living?
Beatrice
Is it possible disdain should die while she
hath such meet food to feed it as Signior Benedick?
Courtesy itself must convert to disdain if you come
in her presence.
Benedick
Then is courtesy a turncoat. But it is certain
I am loved of all ladies, only you excepted; and
I would I could find in my heart that I had not a
hard heart, for truly I love none.
Beatrice
A dear happiness to women. They would
else have been troubled with a pernicious suitor. I
thank God and my cold blood I am of your humor
for that. I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow
than a man swear he loves me.
Benedick
God keep your Ladyship still in that mind, so some
gentleman or other shall ’scape a predestinate
scratched face.
Beatrice
Scratching could not make it worse an ’twere
such a face as yours were.
Benedick
Well, you are a rare parrot-teacher.
Beatrice
A bird of my tongue is better than a beast of yours.
Benedick
I would my horse had the speed of your tongue and
so good a continuer, but keep your way, i’ God’s name,
I have done.
Beatrice
You always end with a jade’s trick. I know you of old.