Oh God, That I Were A Man!

From Much Ado About Nothing By William Shakespeare

BEATRICE
Is he not approved in the height a villain, that hath slandered, scorned, dishonoured 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 rancour,
–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—

BEATRICE
Princes and counties! Surely, a princely testimony,
a goodly count, Count Comfect;
a sweet gallant, surely!
O that I were a man for his sake! or that I had any friend would be a man for my sake!
But manhood is melted into courtesies, valour into compliment, and men are only turned into tongue, and trim ones too: he is now as valiant as Hercules that only tells a lie and swears it.
I cannot be a man with wishing, therefore I will die a woman with grieving.