How we cite our quotes: (Act.Scene.Line) Line numbers correspond to the Riverside edition.
Quote #16
LEONATO
Well, daughter, and you gentlewomen all,
Withdraw into a chamber by yourselves,
And when I send for you, come hither masked. (5.4.10-12)
Deception continues to be used freely even after the entire earlier portion of the play has been fraught with mishaps caused by deception. There’s no good reason for Leonato to mask the women and keep up the charade of Hero’s death, but he’s going to do it anyway. Has no one learned his lesson?!
Quote #17
BENEDICK
Signior Leonato, truth it is, good signior,
Your niece regards me with an eye of favor.
LEONATO
That eye my daughter lent her; 'tis most true.
BENEDICK
And I do with an eye of love requite her.
LEONATO
The sight whereof I think you had from me,
From Claudio, and the Prince; but what's your will?
BENEDICK
Your answer, sir, is enigmatical.
But for my will, my will is your good will
May stand with ours, this day to be conjoined
In the state of honorable marriage—
In which, good friar, I shall desire your help. (5.4.21-33)
Though Benedick and Beatrice essentially arrived at loving each other because of the manipulation of others, this is the closest they ever come to discovering Don Pedro’s scheme. However, this "good" deception is ultimately less important than Benedick’s love for Beatrice.
Quote #18
BENEDICK
Do not you love me?
BEATRICE
Why no, no more than reason.
BENEDICK
Why then, your uncle and the Prince and Claudio
Have been deceived. They swore you did.
BEATRICE
Do not you love me?
BENEDICK
Troth, no, no more than reason.
BEATRICE
Why then, my cousin, Margaret, and Ursula
Are much deceived, for they did swear you did.
BENEDICK
They swore that you were almost sick for me.
BEATRICE
They swore that you were well-nigh dead for me. (5.4.76-85)
Benedick and Beatrice quip that everyone around them is very deceived about their love for each other, but they’re only fooling themselves. (Ooooh!)