Metaphors on fire

In spite of his outward disdain for Beatrice, Benedick inwardly burns with love for her, as the following passage suggests That I neither feel how she should be loved nor know how she should be worthy, is the opinion that fire cannot melt out of me: I will die in it at the stake. (Act I, Scene I, Lines ) That I neither feel how she should be loved nor know how she should be worthy, is the opinion that fire cannot melt out of me: I will die in it at the stake. (Act I, Scene I, Lines )

Hero repeats this motif when she says it is better for Benedick to be consumed by the fire of his passion than to die from Beatrice's tongue-lashings: Hero repeats this motif when she says it is better for Benedick to be consumed by the fire of his passion than to die from Beatrice's tongue-lashings: Therefore let Benedick, like cover'd fire, Consume away in sighs, waste inwardly: It were a better death than die with mocks, Which is as bad as die with tickling.(Act III, Scene I, Lines 77-80) Therefore let Benedick, like cover'd fire, Consume away in sighs, waste inwardly: It were a better death than die with mocks, Which is as bad as die with tickling.(Act III, Scene I, Lines 77-80)