[299] Beat. Is he not approved in the height a villain, that 300 hath slandered, scorned, dishonoured my kinswoman? O that I were a man! What, bear her in hand until they 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.
305 Bene. Hear me, Beatrice,—
Beat. Talk with a man out at a window! A proper saying!
Bene. Nay, but, Beatrice,—
Beat. Sweet Hero! She is wronged, she is slandered, 310 she is undone.
[311] Bene. Beat—
[312] Beat. Princes and counties! Surely, a princely testimony, [313] a goodly count, Count Comfect; a sweet gallant, surely! O that I were a man for his sake! or that I had 315 any friend would be a man for my sake! But manhood is [316] melted into courtesies, valour into compliment, and men [317] 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 320 woman with grieving.
Bene. Tarry, good Beatrice. By this hand, I love thee.
Beat. Use it for my love some other way than swearing by it.
Bene. Think you in your soul the Count Claudio hath 325 wronged Hero?