I have already delivered him letters, and there appears
much joy in him—even so much that joy could not show
itself modest enough without a badge of bitterness.
MESSENGER
I have delivered some letters to his uncle, and he seemed very
happy. He got so emotional that he actually looked like he was in
pain.
LEONATO
20
Did he break out into tears?
LEONATO
Did he start weeping?
MESSENGER
In great measure.
MESSENGER
Yes, heavily.
LEONATO
A kind overflow of kindness. There are no faces truer than
those that are so washed. How much better is it to weep at
joy than to joy at weeping!
LEONATO
That's a very natural display of affection.
There's no face more sincere than one washed in tears.
And it's definitely better to cry because
you're happy than laugh because you're
sad!
BEATRICE
25
I pray you, is Signor Montanto returned from the wars or
no?
BEATRICE
Please tell me, has Signior Montanto
returned from battle?
MESSENGER
I know none of that name, lady. There was none such in the
army of any sort.
MESSENGER
I don't know anyone with that name, ma'am.
There was no Signior Montanto in our army.
LEONATO
What is he that you ask for, niece?
LEONATO
Who are you talking about, niece?
HERO
30
My cousin means Signor Benedick of Padua.
HERO
My cousin means Signior Benedick of Padua.
MESSENGER
Oh, he's returned, and as pleasant as ever he
was.
MESSENGER
Oh, yes, Benedick has returned and is as cheerful as ever.
BEATRICE
He set up his bills here in Messina and challenged Cupid at
the flight, and my uncle's Fool, reading the challenge,
subscribed for Cupid and challenged him at the bird-bolt.
35
I pray you, how many hath he killed and eaten in these
wars? But how many hath he killed? For indeed I promised
to eat all of his killing.
BEATRICE
Benedick
once put up a public notice in Messina challenging Cupid to
an archery match. My uncle's jester accepted the contest
on Cupid's behalf but used toy arrows at the shooting
match. But tell me, how many men did he kill and eat in this battle?
I promised him I would eat anyone he killed.
