written by William Shakespeare
about two pairs of lovers, Benedick and Beatrice, and Claudio and Hero.
Benedick and Beatrice are engaged in a "merry war"; they both talk a mile a minute and proclaim their scorn for love, marriage, and each other. In contrast, Claudio and Hero are sweet young people who are rendered practically speechless by their love for one another.
A victory is twice itself when the achiever brings home full numbers.
He hath borne himself beyond the promise of his age, doing, in the figure of a lamb, the feats of a lion: he hath indeed better bettered expectation, than you must expect of me to tell you how.
How much better is it to weep at joy than to joy at weeping!
A very valiant trencher-man.
They never meet, but there is a skirmish of wit between them.
In our last conflict four of his five wits went halting off, and now is the whole man governed with one: so that if he have wit enough to keep himself warm, let him bear it for a difference between himself and his horse; for it is all the wealth that he hath left, to be known a reasonable creature.
He wears his faith but as the fashion of his hat; it ever changes with the next block.
Messenger: I see, lady, the gentleman is not in your books.Beatrice: No; an he were, I would burn my study.
He is sooner caught than the pestilence, and the taker runs presently mad. God help the noble Claudio! if he have caught the Benedick, it will cost him a thousand pound ere he be cured.