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Shakespeare's Monologues

Benedick

Much Ado About Nothing: Act 2, Scene 3

Monologue

This can be no trick: the
conference was sadly borne. They have the truth of
this from Hero. They seem to pity the lady: it
seems her affections have their full bent. Love me!
why, it must be requited. I hear how I am censured:
they say I will bear myself proudly, if I perceive
the love come from her; they say too that she will
rather die than give any sign of affection. I did
never think to marry: I must not seem proud: happy
are they that hear their detractions and can put
them to mending. They say the lady is fair; 'tis a
truth, I can bear them witness; and virtuous; 'tis
so, I cannot reprove it; and wise, but for loving
me; by my troth, it is no addition to her wit, nor
no great argument of her folly, for I will be
horribly in love with her. I may chance have some
odd quirks and remnants of wit broken on me,
because I have railed so long against marriage: but
doth not the appetite alter? a man loves the meat
in his youth that he cannot endure in his age.
Shall quips and sentences and these paper bullets of
the brain awe a man from the career of his humour?
No, the world must be peopled. When I said I would
die a bachelor, I did not think I should live till I
were married. Here comes Beatrice. By this day!
she's a fair lady: I do spy some marks of love in
her.

Scored Monologue

Each row of the following table represents one line of the monologue. The first column indicates the number of syllables in that line of text. The second column is the scored text, meaning that boldfaced text indicates where emphasis should be placed when performing the monologue. The third column represents a beat, or section, of the monologue. The third column is only used to indicate the beginning of a beat and its meaning, or the end of a beat. 

Number of syllables Scored text Meaning of beat
6 This can be no trick: the [Beginning of beat 1] To solidify
12 conference was sadly borne. They have the truth of [End of beat 1]
13 this from Hero. They seem to pity the lady: it [Beginning of beat 2] To comprehend
11 seems her affections have their full bent. Love me!
14 why, it must be requited. I hear how I am censured
13 they say I will bear myself proudly, if I perceive
11 the love come from her; they say too that she will
14 rather die than give any sign of affection. I did
13 never think to marry: I must not seem proud: happy
11 are they that hear their detractions and can put
12 them to mending. They say the lady is fair; 'tis
13 so, I cannot reprove it; and wise, but for loving
14 me; by my troth, it is no addition to her wit, not [End of beat 2]
12 horribly in love with her. I may chance have some [Beginning of beat 3] To assure
11 odd quirks and remnants of wit broken on me,
12 because I have railed so long against marriage: but
13 doth not the appetite alter? a man loves the meat
12 in his youth that he cannot endure in his age.
13 Shall quips and sentences and these paper bullets of
13 the brain awe a man from the career of his humour?
12 No, the world must be peopled. When I said I would
14 die a bachelor, I did not think I should live till I [End of beat 3]
11 were married. Here comes Beatrice. By this day! [Beginning of beat 4] To identify
12 she's a fair lady: I do spy some marks of love in
1 her. [End of beat 3 and monologue]

Definitions from David & Ben Crystal / Shakespeare's Words are under copyright, and may not be used without their express permission. All other definitions are from sources in the public domain.
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