ACT I
SCENE III The
same.
[Enter DON JOHN and CONRADE]
CONRADE What
the good-year, my lord! why are you thus out of measure sad?
DON JOHN There
is no measure in the occasion that breeds; therefore the sadness is without
limit.
CONRADE You
should hear reason.
DON JOHN And
when I have heard it, what blessing brings it?
CONRADE If
not a present remedy, at least a patient sufferance.
DON JOHN I
wonder that thou, being, as thou sayest thou art, born under Saturn, goest
about to apply a moral medicine to a mortifying mischief. I cannot hide what I
am: I must be sad when I have cause and smile at no man's jests, eat when I
have stomach and wait for no man's leisure, sleep when I am drowsy and tend on
no man's business, laugh when I am merry and claw no man in his humour.
CONRADE Yea,
but you must not make the full show of this till you may do it without
controlment. You have of late stood out against your brother, and he hath ta'en
you newly into his grace; where it is impossible you should take true root but
by the fair weather that you make yourself: it is needful that you frame the
season for your own harvest.
DON JOHN I
had rather be a canker in a hedge than a rose in his grace, and it better fits
my blood to be disdained of all than to fashion a carriage to rob love from
any: in this, though I cannot be said to be a flattering honest man, it must
not be denied but I am a plain-dealing villain. I am trusted with a muzzle and
enfranchised with a clog; therefore I have decreed not to sing in my cage. If I
had my mouth, I would bite; if I had my liberty, I would do my liking: in the
meantime let me be that I am and seek not to alter me.
CONRADE Can
you make no use of your discontent?
DON JOHN I
make all use of it, for I use it only. Who comes here?
[Enter BORACHIO]
What news, Borachio?
BORACHIO I
came yonder from a great supper: the prince your brother is royally entertained
by Leonato: and I can give you intelligence of an intended marriage.
DON JOHN Will
it serve for any model to build mischief on? What is he for a fool that
betroths himself to unquietness?
BORACHIO Marry,
it is your brother's right hand.
DON JOHN Who?
the most exquisite Claudio?
BORACHIO Even
he.
DON JOHN A
proper squire! And who, and who? which way looks he?
BORACHIO Marry,
on Hero, the daughter and heir of Leonato.
DON JOHN A
very forward March-chick! How came you to this?
BORACHIO Being
entertained for a perfumer, as I was smoking a musty room, comes me the prince
and Claudio, hand in hand in sad conference: I whipt me behind the arras; and
there heard it agreed upon that the prince should woo Hero for himself, and
having obtained her, give her to Count Claudio.
DON JOHN Come,
come, let us thither: this may prove food to my displeasure. That young
start-up hath all the glory of my overthrow: if I can cross him any way, I
bless myself every way. You are both sure, and will assist me?
CONRADE To
the death, my lord.
DON JOHN Let
us to the great supper: their cheer is the greater that I am subdued. Would the
cook were of my mind! Shall we go prove what's to be done?
BORACHIO We'll
wait upon your lordship.
[Exeunt]