Act 1, Scene 3: The same

SCENE III. 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.

    Exeunt