I mean in singing. But in loving, Leander the good
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swimmer, Troilus the first employer of panders, and a
whole bookful of these quondam carpetmongers, whose
names yet run smoothly in the even road of a blank verse,
why, they were never so truly turned over and over as my
poor self in love. Marry, I cannot show it in rhyme. I have
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tried. I can find out no rhyme to “lady” but
“baby”—an
innocent rhyme; for “scorn,”
“horn”—a hard rhyme; for,
“school,”
“fool”—a babbling rhyme; very
ominous
endings. No, I was not born under a rhyming planet, nor I
cannot woo in festival terms.
(singing)
The god of love
He sits in heaven above
And he knows me, he knows
me
He knows how much pity I
deserve—
I'm really a pitiful singer. But as a lover, well,
that's another story. Take Leander, Troilus
, or an entire book's worth of those legendary
lover–boys, whose names sound so smooth and nice in a
line of verse—not one of them has been driven as crazy by
love as I have been. But I can't prove it in a poem. I
have tried. I can't think of any rhyme for
“lady” but “baby,” which
is a childish rhyme. The only rhyme for
“scorn” I can come up with is “horn”
—a bit off for a love poem. Nothing rhymes with
“school” but “fool,” and
that's a ridiculous jingle. These are all very
unpromising line endings. No, I wasn't destined to be a
poet, and I can't woo a lady with pretty words.
Enter BEATRICE
BEATRICE enters.
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Sweet Beatrice, wouldst thou come when I called thee?
Beatrice, have you come because I called for you?
BEATRICE
Yea, Signior, and depart when you bid me.
BEATRICE
Yes, sir, and I'll leave when you ask me to.
BENEDICK
Oh , stay but till then!
BENEDICK
Oh, well, stay till then!
BEATRICE
“Then” is spoken. Fare you well now. And
yet, ere I go, let
me go with that I came, which is, with knowing what hath
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passed between you and Claudio.
BEATRICE
There—you said “then.” So
I'll leave now. But before I go, let me get what I came
for. What happened between you and Claudio?
BENEDICK
Only foul words, and thereupon I will kiss thee.
BENEDICK
I spoke angry, foul words to him, and with that I will kiss
you.
