MAAN V. 2 Enter Benedick and Margaret, meeting.
Bene. Pray thee, sweet Mistress Margaret, deserve well at my hands by helping me to the speech of Beatrice.
Marg. Will you, then, write me a sonnet in praise of my beauty?
005 Bene. In so high a style, Margaret, that no man living shall come over it; for, in most comely truth, thou deservest it.
[008] Marg. To have no man come over me! why, shall I [009] always keep below stairs?
010 Bene. Thy wit is as quick as the greyhound’s mouth; it catches.
Marg. And yours as blunt as the fencer’s foils, which hit, but hurt not.
Bene. A most manly wit, Margaret; it will not hurt a 015 woman: and so, I pray thee, call Beatrice: I give thee the bucklers.
Marg. Give us the swords; we have bucklers of our own.
Bene. If you use them, Margaret, you must put in the pikes with a vice; and they are dangerous weapons for maids.