William Shakespeare: Much Ado About Nothing

ACT 3. 4. Scene IV. A Room in LEONATO'S House. (continued)

MARGARET.
Get you some of this distilled Carduus Benedictus, and lay it to
your heart: it is the only thing for a qualm.

HERO.
There thou prick'st her with a thistle.

BEATRICE.
Benedictus! why benedictus? you have some moral in this Benedictus.

MARGARET.
Moral! no, by my troth, I have no moral meaning; I meant, plain
holy-thistle. You may think, perchance, that I think you are in love:
nay, by'r lady, I am not such a fool to think what I list; nor I list
not to think what I can; nor, indeed, I cannot think, if I would
think my heart out of thinking, that you are in love, or that you
will be in love, or that you can be in love. Yet Benedick was such
another, and now is he become a man: he swore he would never marry;
and yet now, in despite of his heart, he eats his meat without
grudging: and how you may be converted, I know not; but methinks
you look with your eyes as other women do.

BEATRICE.
What pace is this that thy tongue keeps?

MARGARET.
Not a false gallop.

[Re-enter URSULA.]

URSULA.
Madam, withdraw: the prince, the count, Signior Benedick, Don John,
and all the gallants of the town, are come to fetch you to church.

HERO.
Help to dress me, good coz, good Meg, good Ursula.

[Exeunt.]