Much Ado About Nothing (1993)
Robert Sean Leonard: Claudio
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Quotes
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Benedick : Soft and fair, friar. Which is Beatrice?
Beatrice : [Pushed out of crowd by Antonio. Removes veil, clears throat] I answer to that name.
[Appraoches Benedick]
Beatrice : What is your will?
Benedick : Do not you love me?
Beatrice : Why, no. No more than reason.
Benedick : Well, then your Uncle, the prince and Claudio have been deceived. They swore you did.
Beatrice : Do not you love me?
Benedick : Why, no. No more than reason.
Beatrice : Why, then my cousin, Margaret, and Ursula are much deceived for they swear you did.
Benedick : They swore you were almost sick for me.
Beatrice : They swore you well nigh dead for me.
Benedick : 'Tis no such matter. Then... you... do not love me?
Beatrice : No, truly, but in friendly recompense.
[Shakes Benedick's hand]
Leonato : Come, cousin, I am sure you love the gentleman.
Claudio : I'll be sworn upon he loves her, for here's a paper written in his hand a halting sonnet of his own pure brain, fashioned to Beatrice.
Hero : And here's another...
Beatrice : No!
[Slaps Hero's hand]
Hero : ...writ in my cousin's hand, stolen from her pocket containing her affection unto Benedick.
Benedick : A miracle! Here's our own hands against our hearts. Come, I will have thee. But, by this light, I take thee for pity.
Beatrice : I would not deny you. But, by this good day, I yield upon great persuasion and partly to save your life, for I was told you were in a consumption.
Benedick : Peace! I will stop your mouth.
[Kisses Beatrice]
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Claudio : Benedick, didst thou note the daughter of Signior Leonato?
Benedick : I noted her not; but I looked on her.
Claudio : Is she not a modest young lady?
Benedick : Do you question me, as an honest man should do, for my simple true judgment; or would you have me speak after my custom, as being a professed tyrant to their sex?
Claudio : No; I pray thee speak in sober judgment.
Benedick : Why, i' faith, methinks she's too low for a high praise, too brown for a fair praise and too little for a great praise: only this commendation I can afford her, that were she other than she is, she were unhandsome; and being no other but as she is, I do not like her.
Claudio : Thou thinkest I am in sport: I pray thee tell me truly how thou likest her.
Benedick : Would you buy her, that you inquire after her?
Claudio : Can the world buy such a jewel?
Benedick : Yea, and a case to put it into. But speak you this with a sad brow?
Claudio : In mine eye she is the sweetest lady that ever I looked on.
Benedick : I can see yet without spectacles and I see no such matter: there's her cousin, an she were not possessed with a fury, exceeds her as much in beauty as the first of May doth the last of December. But I hope you have no intent to turn husband, have you?
Claudio : I would scarce trust myself, though I had sworn the contrary, if Hero would be my wife.
Benedick : Is't come to this? Shall I never see a bachelor of three-score again?
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Claudio : Silence is the perfectest herald of joy. I were but little happy if I could say how much.
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Claudio : Done to death by slanderous tongues, was the Hero that here lies: Death, in guerdon of her wrongs, gives her fame which never dies. So the life that died with shame lives in death with glorious fame.
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Leonato : Are you yet determined to marry with my brother's daughter?
[Claudio nods]
Leonato : Call her forth, brother. Here's the friar ready.
[Four veiled ladies are presented]
Claudio : Which is the lady I must seize upon?
Antonio : [Brings forth one lady] This same is she and I do give you her.
Claudio : Sweet, let me see your face.
Leonato : No, that you shall not till you take her hand before this friar and swear to marry her.
Claudio : [Kneels] Give me your hand, before this holy friar. I am your husband if you like of me.
Hero : [Removes veil]
Don Pedro : Hero that is dead.
Leonato : She died, my lord, but whiles her slander lived.
Hero : And when I lived, I was your other wife. And when you loved you were my other husband. One Hero died defiled, but I do live and surely as I live, I am a maid.
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Claudio : Friendship is constant in all other things, save in the office and affairs of love.
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Benedick : [Has been standing in front of the mirror, improving his looks, but stop when he notices the others' amusement] Gallants! I am not as I have been!
Leonato : So say I. Me thinks you are sadder!
[He and the other three start laughing again]
Claudio : I hope he be in love!
Leonato, Antonio, and Pedro : Ooohhh!
Benedick : [Turns indignantly to Leonato] Good signor, walk aside with me. I have studied eight or nine wise words to speak to you which these hoppy horses must not hear!
[Leaves with Leonato and Antonio, provoking more laughter from Claudio and Pedro]
Don Pedro : Oh my life! To break with him about Beatrice!
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Leonato : Canst thou so daff me? Thou hast killed my child! If thou kill'st me, boy, thou shalt kill a man.
Antonio : He shall kill two of us, and men indeed. But that's no matter, let him kill one first. I'll whip you from your foining fence. Nay, as I am a gentleman, I will.
Leonato : Brother...
Antonio : Content yourself. God knows I loved my niece. And she is dead, slandered to death by villains scrambling, outfacing, fashion-monging boys that lie, and cog and flout, deprave and slander...
Leonato : Brother Antony.
Antonio : 'Tis no matter. Do not you meddle. Let me deal in this.
Don Pedro : Gentlemen both, we will not wake your patience. My heart is sorry for your daughter's death, but, on my honor, she was charged with nothing but what was true and very full of proof.
Leonato : My lord...
Don Pedro : I will not hear you.
Leonato : No? Come, brother, away. I will be heard.
Antonio : And shall, or some of us will smart for it.
[Both depart]
Don Pedro : [Benedick approaches] See, here comes the man we went to seek.
Claudio : Now, signior, what news?
Benedick : Good day, my lord.
Don Pedro : Welcome, signior. You are almost come to part almost a fray.
Claudio : We had like to have our two noses snapped off with two old men without teeth.
Benedick : Shall I speak a word in your ear?
[Grabs Claudio and holds against wall]
Benedick : You are a villain. I jest not. I will make it good how dare you and when you dare. Do me right, or I will protest your cowardice. You have killed a sweet lady, and her death shall fall heavy on you. Fare you well, boy. You know my mind.
[Releases Claudio and approaches Don Pedro]
Benedick : My lord, for your many courtesies I thank you. I must discontinue your company. Your brother is fled from Messina. You have among you killed a sweet and innocent lady. For my Lord Lackbeard there, he and I shall meet. Till then peace be with him.
[Departs]
Don Pedro : He is in earnest.
Claudio : In most profound earnest.
Don Pedro : And hath challenged thee.
Claudio : Most sincerely.
