No Fear Shakespeare
Much Ado About Nothing
Get this No Fear to go!
Act 2, Scene 3, Page 11
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BEATRICE
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.
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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.
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BENEDICK
You take pleasure then in the message?
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BENEDICK
So you took pleasure in bringing me this message?
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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.
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BEATRICE
Yes, as much pleasure as one might take in choking a bird at
knifepoint. You don’t want to eat, sir? Goodbye,
then.
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Exit |
She exits. |
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BENEDICK
Ha! “Against my will I am sent to bid you come in to
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.
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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.
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Exit |
He exits. |
