'I will swear by it that you love me, and I will make him eat it that says I love not you.' Benedick swears by his sword that he loves Beatrice. What does he mean by 'I will make him eat it'?

This scene from William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing takes place in Act Four, Scene One, after the dramatic scenes on the morning of Hero’s wedding. In this passage, Benedick and Beatrice leave their teasing and mockery behind for a more intimate and sincere conversation. They do not share the same aims and understanding of the situation, however. Note the difference in the way each character addresses the other. Benedick repeatedly uses an intimate “thou”, reserved for those who are very close, while Beatrice maintains a formal “you” in her speech, refusing the closeness sought by... Show more

This scene from William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing takes place in Act Four, Scene One, after the dramatic scenes on the morning of Hero’s wedding. In this passage, Benedick and Beatrice leave their teasing and mockery behind for a more intimate and sincere conversation. They do not share the same aims and understanding of the situation, however.

Note the difference in the way each character addresses the other. Benedick repeatedly uses an intimate “thou”, reserved for those who are very close, while Beatrice maintains a formal “you” in her speech, refusing the closeness sought by Benedick.

Read the passage below carefully before answering the questions.

BENEDICK: Lady Beatrice, have you wept all this while?

BEATRICE: Yea, and I will weep a while longer.

BENEDICK: I will not desire that.

BEATRICE: You have no reason, I do it freely.

BENEDICK: Surely I do believe your fair cousin is wronged.

BEATRICE: Ah, how much might the man deserve of me that would right her!

BENEDICK: Is there any way to show such friendship?

BEATRICE: A very even way, but no such friend.

BENEDICK: May a man do it?

BEATRICE: It is a man’s office, but not yours.

BENEDICK: I do love nothing in the world so well as you. Is not that strange?

BEATRICE: As strange as the thing I know not. It were as possible for me to say I loved nothing so well as you, but believe me not, and yet I lie not. I confess nothing nor I deny nothing. I am sorry for my cousin.

BENEDICK: By my sword, Beatrice, thou lovest me.

BEATRICE: Do not swear and eat it.

BENEDICK: I will swear by it that you love me, and I will make him eat it that says I love not you.

BEATRICE: Will you not eat your word?

BENEDICK: With no sauce that can be devised to it. I protest I love thee.

BEATRICE: Why then, God forgive me.

BENEDICK: What offense, sweet Beatrice?

BEATRICE: You have stayed me in a happy hour. I was about to protest I loved you.

BENEDICK: And do it with all thy heart.

BEATRICE: I love you with so much of my heart that none is left to protest.

BENEDICK: Come, bid me do anything for thee.

BEATRICE: Kill Claudio.

BENEDICK: Ha! Not for the wide world.

BEATRICE: You kill me to deny it. Farewell.

BENEDICK: Tarry, sweet Beatrice.

BEATRICE: I am gone though I am here. There is no love in you. - Nay, I pray you, let me go.

BENEDICK: Beatrice.

BEATRICE: In faith, I will go.

BENEDICK: We’ll be friends first.

BEATRICE: You dare easier be friends with me than fight with mine enemy.

BENEDICK: Is Claudio thine enemy?

BEATRICE: Is [he] not approved in the height a villain, that hath slandered, scorned, dishonored my kinswoman? O that I were a man! What, bear her in hand until they come to take hands, and then with public accusation, uncovered slander, unmitigated rancor - O God that I were a man! I would eat his heart in the market place.

BENEDICK: Hear me, Beatrice.

BEATRICE: Talk with a man out at a window - a proper saying.

BENEDICK: Nay, but Beatrice.

BEATRICE: Sweet Hero, she is wronged, she is slandered, she is undone.

BENEDICK: Beat -

- William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing

Show less