Brick Shakespeare: The Comedies—A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Tempest, Much Ado About Nothing, and The Taming of the Shrew (59 page)

ACT II. Scene III (89–246).

T
he match between Claudio and Hero has been made, making Don John’s plan of sabotage just a little bit harder. Borachio eases his fears by producing an elaborate set of scenarios to tarnish Hero’s name. While Don John is to convince Don Pedro that he has set Claudio up with a wolf in sheep’s clothing, Borachio will charm Hero’s attendant, Margaret, all the way to Hero’s bedroom window and pose as if Hero were being unfaithful to Claudio.

Over in the orchard, Benedick ponders the changes he sees in Claudio, who went from a man who laughed at the things others did for love to becoming one of them. He promises himself that he will never become a fool to love unless the woman he desires is the true embodiment of perfection. Benedick sees Don Pedro, Claudio, and Leonato wander into the orchard and immediately hides so they do not know he is there. Both Claudio and Don Pedro know that Benedick is hiding, and they listen to Balthasar poorly sing while they grab Benedick’s attention. Balthasar leaves, and the two reel Benedick in to eavesdrop on their private discussion.

DON PEDRO

Come hither, Leonato. What was it you told me of to-day, that your niece Beatrice was in love with Signior Benedick?

CLAUDIO

O, ay: stalk on, stalk on; the fowl sits. I did never think that lady would have loved any man.

LEONATO

No, nor I neither; but most wonderful that she should so dote on Signior Benedick, whom she hath in all outward behaviors seemed ever to abhor.

BENEDICK

Is’t possible? Sits the wind in that corner?

LEONATO

By my troth, my lord, I cannot tell what to think of it but that she loves him with an enraged affection: it is past the infinite of thought.

DON PEDRO

May be she doth but counterfeit.

CLAUDIO

Faith, like enough.

LEONATO

O God, counterfeit! There was never counterfeit of passion came so near the life of passion as she discovers it.

DON PEDRO

Why, what effects of passion shows she?

CLAUDIO

Bait the hook well; this fish will bite.

LEONATO

What effects, my lord? She will sit you, you heard my daughter tell you how.

CLAUDIO

She did, indeed.

DON PEDRO

How, how, pray you? You amaze me: I would have I thought her spirit had been invincible against all assaults of affection.

LEONATO

I would have sworn it had, my lord; especially against Benedick.

BENEDICK

I should think this a gull, but that the white-bearded fellow speaks it: knavery cannot, sure, hide himself in such reverence.

CLAUDIO

He hath ta’en the infection: hold it up.

DON PEDRO

Hath she made her affection known to Benedick?

LEONATO

No; and swears she never will: that’s her torment.

CLAUDIO

’Tis true, indeed; so your daughter says: “Shall I,” says she, “that have so oft encountered him with scorn, write to him that I love him?”