that pleasant arbour, where honeysuckles, ripened by the sun, like
ungrateful minions, forbid the sun to enter.' This arbour, into which
Hero desired Margaret to entice Beatrice, was the very same pleasant
arbour where Benedick had so lately been an attentive listener.

'I will make her come, I warrant, presently,' said Margaret.

Hero, then taking Ursula with her into the orchard, said to her: 'Now,
Ursula, when Beatrice comes, we will walk up and down this alley,
and our talk must be only of Benedick, and when I name him, let it be
your part to praise him more than ever man did merit. My talk to you
must be how Benedick is in love with Beatrice. Now begin; for look
where Beatrice like a lapwing runs close by the ground, to hear our
conference.' They then began; Hero saying, as if in answer to
something which Ursula had said: 'No, truly, Ursula. She is too
disdainful; her spirits are as coy as wild birds of the rock.' 'But are you
sure,' said Ursula, 'that Benedick loves Beatrice so entirely?' Hero
replied: ' So says the prince, and my lord Claudio, and they entreated
me to acquaint her with it; but I persuaded them, if they loved
Benedick, never to let Beatrice know of it.' 'Certainly,' replied Ursula,
'it were not good she knew his love, lest she made sport of it.' 'Why, to
say truth,' said Hero, 'I never yet saw a man, how wise soever, or
noble, young, or rarely featured, but she would dispraise him.' 'Sure,
sure, such carping is not commendable,' said Ursula. 'No,' replied
Hero, 'but who dare tell her so? If I should speak, she would mock me
into air.' 'O! you wrong your cousin,' said Ursula: 'she cannot be so
much without true judgment, as to refuse so rare a gentleman as
signior Benedick.' 'He hath an excellent good name,' said Hero:
'indeed, he is the first man in Italy, always excepting my dear
Claudio.' And now, Hero giving her attendant a hint that it was time to