Page 1421 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

What I have done being young, or what would do
Were I not old. Know, Claudio, to thy head,
Thou hast so wronged mine innocent child and me
That I am forced to lay my reverence by,

And with grey hairs and bruise of many days, [65]
Do challenge thee to trial of a man.
I say thou hast belied mine innocent child.
Thy slander hath gone through and through her heart,

And she lies buried with her ancestors −
O, in a tomb where never scandal slept, [70]
Save this of hers, framed by thy villainy!

CLAUDIO
My villainy?

LEONATO
Thine, Claudio; thine, I say.

DON PEDRO
You say not right, old man.

LEONATO
My lord, my lord,
I’ll prove it on his body if he dare,
Despite his nice fence and his active practice, [75]
His May of youth and bloom of lustihood.

CLAUDIO

Away! I will not have to do with you.

LEONATO

Canst thou so daff me? Thou hast killed my child;
If thou kill’st me, boy, thou shalt kill a man.

ANTONIO
He shall kill two of us, and men indeed; [80]
But that’s no matter, let him kill one first.