I took no more pains for those thanks than you take pains to
thank me. If it had been painful, I would not have come.
BEATRICE
I didn't take any more pains bringing this message than
you took pains in thanking me. If the job had been painful, I would
not have come.
BENEDICK
210
You take pleasure then in the message?
BENEDICK
So you took pleasure in bringing me this message?
BEATRICE
Yea, just so much as you may take upon a knife's point
and
choke a daw withal. You have no stomach, Signior. Fare you
well.
BEATRICE
Yes, as much pleasure as one might take in choking a bird at
knifepoint. You don't want to eat, sir? Goodbye,
then.
Exit
She exits.
BENEDICK
Ha! “Against my will I am sent to bid you come in to
215
dinner.” There's a double meaning in that.
“I took no more
pains for those thanks than you took pains to thank
me.”
That's as much as to say, “Any pains that I
take for you is as
easy as thanks.” If I do not take pity of her, I am a
villain.
If I do not love her, I am a Jew. I will go get her
picture.
BENEDICK
Ha! “Against my will, I've been told to
bring you in to dinner.” There's a double
meaning in that. “I didn't take any more pains
bringing this message than you took pains in thanking
me.” That's like saying, “Any thing
I do for you is as easy as saying ‘thank
you.’” If this doesn't move me to
take pity on her, I'm a horrible person. If I
don't love her, I'm completely hard-hearted
. I will go get her picture.
