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.
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