Page 1444 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

I would not deny you; but, by this good day, I yield upon great persuasion;
and partly to save your life, [95] for I was told you were in a consumption.

BENEDICK
(kissing her) Peace! I will stop your mouth.

DON PEDRO
How dost thou, Benedick the married man?

BENEDICK
I’ll tell thee what, Prince; a college of witcrackers cannot flout me out of my
humour. Dost thou [100] think I care for a satire or an epigram? No; if a man

will be beaten with brains, ’a shall wear nothing handsome about him. In
brief, since I do purpose to marry, I will think nothing to any purpose that the
world can say against it; and therefore never flout at me for what I [105]

have said against it; for man is a giddy thing, and this is my conclusion. For
thy part, Claudio, I did think to have beaten thee; but in that thou art like to
be my kinsman, live unbruised and love my cousin.

CLAUDIO
I had well hoped thou wouldst have denied [110] Beatrice, that I might have
cudgelled thee out of thy single life, to make thee a double-dealer; which out

of question thou wilt be, if my cousin do not look exceeding narrowly to thee.

BENEDICK
Come, come, we are friends. Let’s have a [115] dance ere we are married,
that we may lighten our own hearts and our wives’ heels.

LEONATO
We’ll have dancing afterward.

BENEDICK
First, of my word; therefore play, music. Prince, [120] thou art sad; get thee

a wife, get thee a wife. There is no staff more reverend than one tipped with
horn.

Enter a Messenger.