Page 1434 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

first employer of panders, and a whole bookful of these quondam carpet-
mongers, whose names yet run smoothly in the even road of a blank verse,
why, they were never so truly turned over and over as my poor self in love.
Marry, I cannot show it in rhyme, [35] I have tried; I can find out no rhyme to

‘lady’ but ‘baby’ an innocent rhyme; for ‘scorn’, ‘horn’ − a hard rhyme; for
‘school’, ‘fool’ − a babbling rhyme; very ominous endings. No, I was not born
under a rhyming planet, nor I cannot woo in festival terms. [40]

Enter Beatrice.

Sweet Beatrice, wouldst thou come when I called thee?

BEATRICE
Yea, signior, and depart when you bid me.

BENEDICK

O, stay but till then!

BEATRICE

‘Then’ is spoken; fare you well now. And yet, ere I go, let me go with that I
came, which is, with [45] knowing what hath passed between you and
Claudio.

BENEDICK
Only foul words; and thereupon I will kiss thee.

BEATRICE

Foul words is but foul wind, and foul wind is but foul breath, and foul breath is
noisome; therefore I [50] will depart unkissed.

BENEDICK
Thou hast frighted the word out of his right sense, so forcible is thy wit. But I
must tell thee plainly, Claudio undergoes my challenge; and either I must
shortly hear from him, or I will subscribe him a coward. [55] And I pray thee

now, tell me for which of my bad parts didst thou first fall in love with me?

BEATRICE