Page 1373 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

Is little Cupid’s crafty arrow made,
That only wounds by hearsay. Now begin;
Enter Beatrice secretively. She slips into the bower.
For look where Beatrice, like a lapwing, runs

Close by the ground, to hear our conference. [25]

URSULA
(to Hero)
The pleasant’st angling is to see the fish
Cut with her golden oars the silver stream,

And greedily devour the treacherous bait;
So angle we for Beatrice, who even now
Is couchèd in the woodbine coverture. [30]
Fear you not my part of the dialogue.

HERO
(to Ursula)

Then go we near her, that her ear lose nothing
Of the false sweet bait that we lay for it.
They approach the bower.
No, truly, Ursula, she is too disdainful;

I know her spirits are as coy and wild [35]
As haggards of the rock.

URSULA
But are you sure
That Benedick loves Beatrice so entirely?

HERO
So says the Prince and my new-trothèd lord.

URSULA
And did they bid you tell her of it, madam?

HERO
They did entreat me to acquaint her of it; [40]
But I persuaded them, if they loved Benedick,