Much Ado About Nothing: Act 3, Scene 1
Enter HERO and two gentlewomen,
Ursley: variant form of Ursula.
MARGARET and URSLEY.
HERO
1
Good Margaret, run thee to the parlor; 2
There shalt thou find my cousin Beatrice 3
Proposing with the prince and Claudio: 4
Whisper her ear and tell her, I and Ursula 5
Walk in the orchard and our whole discourse 6
Is all of her; say that thou overheard'st us; 7
And bid her steal into the pleached bower, 8
Where honeysuckles, ripen'd by the sun, 9
Forbid the sun to enter, like favourites, 10
Made proud by princes, that advance their pride 11
Against that power that bred it: there will she hide her,12. listen our propose: listen to our conversation. thy office: your part [in the plot]. 13. leave us alone: leave the rest to us.
12
To listen our purpose. This is thy office; 13
Bear thee well in it and leave us alone.
MARGARET
14. warrant: promise, assure. presently: immediately.
14
I'll make her come, I warrant you, presently.
[Exit.]
HERO
15
Now, Ursula, when Beatrice doth come,16. trace this alley up and down: i.e., walk back and forth on this garden path.
16
As we do trace this alley up and down, 17
Our talk must only be of Benedick. 18
When I do name him, let it be thy part 19
To praise him more than ever man did merit: 20
My talk to thee must be how Benedick 21
Is sick in love with Beatrice. Of this matter 22
Is little Cupid's crafty arrow made,23. only wounds by hearsay: wounds by hearsay only; i.e., a mere hint that someone has a fancy for you will make you fall in love.
23
That only wounds by hearsay.
Enter BEATRICE [behind].
23
Now begin;
24. like a lapwing: The lapwing that Shakespeare has in mind is about the size of pigeon and is a wader, so it usually stays pretty close to the ground. >>>
24
For look where Beatrice, like a lapwing, runs 25
Close by the ground, to hear our conference.
URSULA
26
The pleasant'st angling is to see the fish 27
Cut with her golden oars the silver stream, 28
And greedily devour the treacherous bait: 29
So angle we for Beatrice; who even now30. woodbine coverture: honeysuckle bower.
31. Fear you not my part: don't worry about me doing my part.
31. Fear you not my part: don't worry about me doing my part.
30
Is couched in the woodbine coverture. 31
Fear you not my part of the dialogue.
HERO
32
Then go we near her, that her ear lose nothing 33
Of the false sweet bait that we lay for it.
[They advance to the bower.]
34
No, truly, Ursula, she is too disdainful;35. coy: shy, wary.
36. haggards of the rock: i.e., adult female hawks captured in their mountain habitats. >>>
36. haggards of the rock: i.e., adult female hawks captured in their mountain habitats. >>>
35
I know her spirits are as coy and wild 36
As haggards of the rock.
URSULA
36
But are you sure 37
That Benedick loves Beatrice so entirely?
HERO
38. my new-trothed lord: my lord, to whom I am newly betrothed; i.e., Claudio.
38
So says the prince and my new-trothed lord.
URSULA
39
And did they bid you tell her of it, madam?
HERO
40
They did entreat me to acquaint her of it; 41
But I persuaded them, if they loved Benedick,42. wish him wrestle: advise him to wrestle.
42
To wish him wrestle with affection, 43
And never to let Beatrice know of it.
URSULA
44
Why did you so? Doth not the gentleman45. as full as: fully as.
45
Deserve as full as fortunate a bed 46
As ever Beatrice shall couch upon?
HERO
47
O god of love! I know he doth deserve 48
As much as may be yielded to a man: 49
But Nature never framed a woman's heart 50
Of prouder stuff than that of Beatrice; 51
Disdain and scorn ride sparkling in her eyes,52. Misprising: undervaluing, despising.
52
Misprising what they look on, and her wit 53
Values itself so highly that to her
54. All matter else: i.e., what anyone else has to say.
55. take no shape nor project of affection: formulate any mental image or idea of what love is. 56. self-endeared: full of self-love.
55. take no shape nor project of affection: formulate any mental image or idea of what love is. 56. self-endeared: full of self-love.
54
All matter else seems weak: she cannot love, 55
Nor take no shape nor project of affection, 56
She is so self-endeared.
URSULA
56
Sure, I think so; 57
And therefore certainly it were not good 58
She knew his love, lest she make sport at it.
HERO
59
Why, you speak truth. I never yet saw man,60. How: however. rarely featured: excellent in face and form.
61. spell him backward: i.e., say that his merits are faults.
61. spell him backward: i.e., say that his merits are faults.
60
How wise, how noble, young, how rarely featured, 61
But she would spell him backward: if fair-faced, 62
She would swear the gentleman should be her sister;
63. black: dark. antique: grotesque figure.
63
If black, why, Nature, drawing of an antique,
64. foul blot: disgusting mistake.
64
Made a foul blot; if tall, a lance ill-headed;
65. low: short. agate: Agates engraved with tiny figures were used in rings. 66. vane: weather vane.
65
If low, an agate very vilely cut; 66
If speaking, why, a vane blown with all winds; 67
If silent, why, a block moved with none. 68
So turns she every man the wrong side out 69
And never gives to truth and virtue that
70. simpleness: integrity, sincerity. purchaseth: deserves.
70
Which simpleness and merit purchaseth.
URSULA
71
Sure, sure, such carping is not commendable.
HERO
72. from all fashions: contrary to all accepted behavior.
72
No, not to be so odd and from all fashions 73
As Beatrice is, cannot be commendable: 74
But who dare tell her so? If I should speak, 75
She would mock me into air; O, she would laugh me
76. press me to death: Witches were sometimes pressed to death with heavy weights.
76
Out of myself, press me to death with wit. 77
Therefore let Benedick, like cover'd fire, 78
Consume away in sighs, waste inwardly:
79. die with mocks: die from mockery.
79
It were a better death than die with mocks, 80
Which is as bad as die with tickling.
URSULA
81
Yet tell her of it: hear what she will say.
HERO
82
No; rather I will go to Benedick 83
And counsel him to fight against his passion.84. honest: harmless, well-intentioned.
84
And, truly, I'll devise some honest slanders 85
To stain my cousin with: one doth not know 86
How much an ill word may empoison liking.
URSULA
87
O, do not do your cousin such a wrong. 88
She cannot be so much without true judgment 89
Having so swift and excellent a wit90. priz'd: reputed.
90
As she is priz'd to haveas to refuse
91. rare: excellent.
91
So rare a gentleman as Signior Benedick.
HERO
92. only: i.e., very best.
92
He is the only man of Italy, 93
Always excepted my dear Claudio.
URSULA
94
I pray you, be not angry with me, madam, 95
Speaking my fancy: Signior Benedick,96. argument: skills in conversation.
96
For shape, for bearing, argument and valour,
97. report: reputation.
97
Goes foremost in report through Italy.
HERO
98. name: reputation.
98
Indeed, he hath an excellent good name.
URSULA
99
His excellence did earn it, ere he had it.100
When are you married, madam?
HERO
101. every day, tomorrow: every day, beginning tomorrow.
102. attires: clothes, accessories. counsel: advice, opinion.
103. Which is the best to furnish me tomorrow: i.e., what is best to wear tomorrow (on my wedding day).
102. attires: clothes, accessories. counsel: advice, opinion.
103. Which is the best to furnish me tomorrow: i.e., what is best to wear tomorrow (on my wedding day).
101
Why, every day, tomorrow. Come, go in:102
I'll show thee some attires, and have thy counsel103
Which is the best to furnish me tomorrow.
URSULA [Aside.]
104. limed: caught. Birdlime was a sticky substance used to catch birds.
104
She's limed, I warrant you: we have caught her, madam.
HERO [Aside.]
105. by haps: by chance.
105
If it proves so, then loving goes by haps:106
Some Cupid kills with arrows, some with traps.
[Exeunt Hero and Ursula.]
BEATRICE
107. What fire is in mine ears: It was, and still is, said that being talked about makes one's ears burn.
107
What fire is in mine ears? Can this be true?108
Stand I condemn'd for pride and scorn so much?109
Contempt, farewell! and maiden pride, adieu!
110. No glory lives behind the back of such: i.e., no one speaks well of a person who has the faults of contempt and pride. 112. Taming my wild heart to thy loving hand: Hawks were tamed by being blindfolded and gently handled (passed from hand to hand) by the falconer. Earlier in the scene, Beatrice was termed a "haggard," a wild female hawk.
110
No glory lives behind the back of such.111
And, Benedick, love on; I will requite thee,112
Taming my wild heart to thy loving hand:113
If thou dost love, my kindness shall incite thee114
To bind our loves up in a holy band;115
For others say thou dost deserve, and I116
Believe it better than reportingly.
Exit.