[173] D. Pedro. What secret hath held you here, that you [174] followed not to Leonato’s?
175 Bene. I would your Grace would constrain me to tell.
D. Pedro. I charge thee on thy allegiance.
[177] Bene. 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. [180] With who? now that is your Grace’s part. Mark how [181] short his answer is;—With Hero, Leonato’s short daughter.
[182] Claud. If this were so, so were it uttered.
Bene. Like the old tale, my lord: ‘it is not so, nor ’twas not so, but, indeed, God forbid it should be so.’
185 Claud. If my passion change not shortly, God forbid it should be otherwise.
D. Pedro. Amen, if you love her; for the lady is very well worthy.
Claud. You speak this to fetch me in, my lord.
190 D. Pedro. By my troth, I speak my thought.