Page 1412 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

BEATRICE

Is he not approved in the height a villain that hath slandered, scorned,
dishonoured my kinswoman? O that I were a man! What, bear her in hand
until they [300] come to take hands, and then, with public accusation,

uncovered slander, unmitigated rancour − O God, that I were a man! I would
eat his heart in the market-place.

BENEDICK
Hear me, Beatrice −

BEATRICE
Talk with a man out at a window! A proper [305] saying!

BENEDICK
Nay, but Beatrice −

BEATRICE
Sweet Hero! She is wronged, she is slandered, she is undone.

BENEDICK
Beat − [310]

BEATRICE
Princes and counties! Surely, a princely testimony, a goodly count, Count

Comfect; a sweet gallant, surely! O that I were a man for his sake, or that I
had any friend would be a man for my sake! But manhood is melted into
curtsies, valour into compliment, and men [315] are only turned into tongue,

and trim ones too. He is now as valiant as Hercules that only tells a lie and
swears it. I cannot be a man with wishing, therefore I will die a woman with
grieving.

BENEDICK
Tarry, good Beatrice. By this hand, I love thee. [320]

BEATRICE
Use it for my love some other way than swearing by it.