And here’s another,
Writ in my cousin’s hand, stolen from her pocket,
090 Containing her affection unto Benedick.
Bene. A miracle! here’s our own hands against our hearts. Come, I will have thee; but, by this light, I take thee for pity.
[094] Beat. I would not deny you; but, by this good day, I 095 yield upon great persuasion; and partly to save your life, [096] for I was told you were in a consumption.
[097] Bene. Peace! I will stop your mouth. [Kissing her.
D. Pedro. How dost thou, Benedick, the married man?
[099] Bene. I’ll tell thee what, prince; a college of wit-crackers 100 cannot flout me out of my humour. Dost thou think I care for a satire or an epigram? No: if a man will be beaten [102] with brains, a’ shall wear nothing handsome about him. In [103] brief, since I do purpose to marry, I will think nothing to any purpose that the world can say against it; and therefore [105] never flout at me for what I have said against it; for man is a giddy thing, and this is my conclusion. For thy part, Claudio, I did think to have beaten thee; but in that thou art like to be my kinsman, live unbruised, and love my cousin.
Claud. I had well hoped thou wouldst have denied Beatrice, 110 that I might have cudgelled thee out of thy single life, to make thee a double-dealer; which, out of question, thou [112] wilt be, if my cousin do not look exceeding narrowly to thee.
Bene. Come, come, we are friends: let’s have a dance ere we are married, that we may lighten our own hearts, 115 and our wives’ heels.