BENEDICK.
Is’t come to this, in faith? Hath not the world one man but he will wear his cap with suspicion? Shall I never see a bachelor of threescore again? Go to, i’ faith; and thou wilt needs thrust thy neck into a yoke, wear the print of it and sigh away Sundays.
Re-enter Don Pedro.
Look! Don Pedro is returned to seek you.
DON PEDRO.
What secret hath held you here, that you followed not to Leonato’s?
BENEDICK.
I would your Grace would constrain me to tell.
DON PEDRO.
I charge thee on thy allegiance.
BENEDICK.
You hear, Count Claudio: I can be secret as a dumb man; I would have you think so; but on my allegiance mark you this, on my allegiance: he is in love. With who? now that is your Grace’s part. Mark how short his answer is: with Hero, Leonato’s short daughter.
CLAUDIO.
If this were so, so were it uttered.
BENEDICK.
Like the old tale, my lord: ‘it is not so, nor ’twas not so; but indeed, God forbid it should be so.’
CLAUDIO.
If my passion change not shortly, God forbid it should be otherwise.