Page 1425 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

CLAUDIO

If he be, he knows how to turn his girdle.

BENEDICK
Shall I speak a word in your ear? [140]

CLAUDIO
God bless me from a challenge!

BENEDICK
(aside to Claudio) You are a villain; I jest not. I will make it good how you
dare, with what you dare, and when you dare. Do me right, or I will protest

your cowardice. You have killed a sweet lady, and her death shall [145] fall
heavy on you. Let me hear from you.

CLAUDIO
Well, I will meet you, so I may have good cheer.

DON PEDRO
What, a feast, a feast?

CLAUDIO
I’faith, I thank him; he hath bid me to a calf’s head and a capon, the which if
I do not carve most [150] curiously, say my knife’s naught. Shall I not find a

woodcock too?

BENEDICK
Sir, your wit ambles well; it goes easily.

DON PEDRO
I’ll tell thee how Beatrice praised thy wit the other day. I said, thou hadst a
fine wit. ‘True,’ said she, [155] ‘a fine little one.’ ‘No,’ said I, ‘a great wit.’

‘Right,’ says she, ‘a great gross one.’ ‘Nay,’ said I, ‘a good wit.’ ‘Just,’ said she,
‘it hurst nobody.’ ‘Nay,’ said I, ‘the gentleman is wise.’ ‘Certain,’ said she, ‘a
wise gentleman.’ ‘Nay,’ said I, ‘he hath the tongues.’ ‘That I believe,’ said she,
[160] ‘for he swore a thing to me on Monday night, which he forswore on
Tuesday morning. There’s a double tongue; there’s two tongues.’ Thus did