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`
` 1599 `
` `
` MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING `
` `
` by William Shakespeare `
` `
` `
` `
` Dramatis Personae `
` `
` Don Pedro, Prince of Arragon. `
` Don John, his bastard brother. `
` Claudio, a young lord of Florence. `
` Benedick, a Young lord of Padua. `
` Leonato, Governor of Messina. `
` Antonio, an old man, his brother. `
` Balthasar, attendant on Don Pedro. `
` Borachio, follower of Don John. `
` Conrade, follower of Don John. `
` Friar Francis. `
` Dogberry, a Constable. `
` Verges, a Headborough. `
` A Sexton. `
` A Boy. `
` `
` Hero, daughter to Leonato. `
` Beatrice, niece to Leonato. `
` Margaret, waiting gentlewoman attending on Hero. `
` Ursula, waiting gentlewoman attending on Hero. `
` `
` Messengers, Watch, Attendants, etc. `
` `
` `
` `
` SCENE.--Messina. `
` `
` `
` ACT I. Scene I. `
` An orchard before Leonato's house. `
` `
` Enter Leonato (Governor of Messina), Hero (his Daughter), `
` and Beatrice (his Niece), with a Messenger. `
` `
` Leon. I learn in this letter that Don Pedro of Arragon comes `
` this `
` night to Messina. `
` Mess. He is very near by this. He was not three leagues off `
` when I `
` left him. `
` Leon. How many gentlemen have you lost in this action? `
` Mess. But few of any sort, and none of name. `
` Leon. A victory is twice itself when the achiever brings home `
` full `
` numbers. I find here that Don Pedro hath bestowed much honour `
` on `
` a young Florentine called Claudio. `
` Mess. Much deserv'd on his part, and equally rememb'red by Don `
` Pedro. 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 bett'red expectation than you must expect of me to `
` tell `
` you how. `
` Leon. He hath an uncle here in Messina will be very much glad `
` of it. `
` Mess. I have already delivered him letters, and there appears `
` much `
` joy in him; even so much that joy could not show itself `
` modest `
` enough without a badge of bitterness. `
` Leon. Did he break out into tears? `
` Mess. In great measure. `
` Leon. A kind overflow of kindness. There are no faces truer `
` than `
` those that are so wash'd. How much better is it to weep at `
` joy `
` than to joy at weeping! `
` Beat. I pray you, is Signior Mountanto return'd from the wars `
` or no? `
` Mess. I know none of that name, lady. There was none such in `
` the `
` army of any sort. `
` Leon. What is he that you ask for, niece? `
` Hero. My cousin means Signior Benedick of Padua. `
` Mess. O, he's return'd, and as pleasant as ever he was. `
` Beat. He set up his bills here in Messina and challeng'd Cupid `
` at `
` the flight, and my uncle's fool, reading the challenge, `
` subscrib'd for Cupid and challeng'd him at the burbolt. I `
` pray `
` you, how many hath he kill'd and eaten in these wars? But how `
` many hath he kill'd? For indeed I promised to eat all of his `
` killing. `
` Leon. Faith, niece, you tax Signior Benedick too much; but `
` he'll `
` be meet with you, I doubt it not. `
` Mess. He hath done good service, lady, in these wars. `
` Beat. You had musty victual, and he hath holp to eat it. He is `
` a `
` very valiant trencherman; he hath an excellent stomach. `
` Mess. And a good soldier too, lady. `
` Beat. And a good soldier to a lady; but what is he to a lord? `
` Mess. A lord to a lord, a man to a man; stuff'd with all `
` honourable `
` virtues. `
` Beat. It is so indeed. He is no less than a stuff'd man; but `
` for `
` the stuffing--well, we are all mortal. `
` Leon. You must not, sir, mistake my niece. There is a kind of `
` merry `
` war betwixt Signior Benedick and her. They never meet but `
` there's `
` a skirmish of wit between them. `
` Beat. Alas, he gets nothing by that! In our last conflict four `
` of `
` his five wits went halting off, and now is the whole man `
` govern'd `
` 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. Who is his companion now? He hath every month a new `
` sworn brother. `
` Mess. Is't possible? `
` Beat. Very easily possible. He wears his faith but as the `
` fashion `
` of his hat; it ever changes with the next block. `
` Mess. I see, lady, the gentleman is not in your books. `
` Beat. No. An he were, I would burn my study. But I pray you, `
` who is `
` his companion? Is there no young squarer now that will make a `
` voyage with him to the devil? `
` Mess. He is most in the company of the right noble Claudio. `
` Beat. O Lord, he will hang upon him like a disease! 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 'a be cured. `
` Mess. I will hold friends with you, lady. `
` Beat. Do, good friend. `
` Leon. You will never run mad, niece. `
` Beat. No, not till a hot January. `
` Mess. Don Pedro is approach'd. `
` `
` Enter Don Pedro, Claudio, Benedick, Balthasar, and John the `
` Bastard. `
` `
` Pedro. Good Signior Leonato, are you come to meet your trouble? `
` The `
` fashion of the world is to avoid cost, and you encounter it. `
` Leon. Never came trouble to my house in the likeness of your `
` Grace; `
` for trouble being gone, comfort should remain; but when you `
` depart `
` from me, sorrow abides and happiness takes his leave. `
` Pedro. You embrace your charge too willingly. I think this is `
` your `
` daughter. `
` Leon. Her mother hath many times told me so. `
` Bene. Were you in doubt, sir, that you ask'd her? `
` Leon. Signior Benedick, no; for then were you a child. `
` Pedro. You have it full, Benedick. We may guess by this what `
` you `
` are, being a man. Truly the lady fathers herself. Be happy, `
` lady; `
` for you are like an honourable father. `
` Bene. If Signior Leonato be her father, she would not have his `
` head `
` on her shoulders for all Messina, as like him as she is. `
` Beat. I wonder that you will still be talking, Signior `
` Benedick. `
` Nobody marks you. `
` Bene. What, my dear Lady Disdain! are you yet living? `
` Beat. Is it possible Disdain should die while she hath such `
` meet `
` food to feed it as Signior Benedick? Courtesy itself must `
` convert `
` to disdain if you come in her presence. `
` Bene. Then is courtesy a turncoat. But it is certain I am loved `
` of `
` all ladies, only you excepted; and I would I could find in my `
` heart that I had not a hard heart, for truly I love none. `
` Beat. A dear happiness to women! They would else have been `
` troubled `
` with a pernicious suitor. I thank God and my cold blood, I am `
` of `
` your humour for that. I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow `
` than a man swear he loves me. `
` Bene. God keep your ladyship still in that mind! So some `
` gentleman `
` or other shall scape a predestinate scratch'd face. `
` Beat. Scratching could not make it worse an 'twere such a face `
` as `
` yours were. `
` Bene. Well, you are a rare parrot-teacher. `
` Beat. A bird of my tongue is better than a beast of yours. `
`
` 1599 `
` `
` MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING `
` `
` by William Shakespeare `
` `
` `
` `
` Dramatis Personae `
` `
` Don Pedro, Prince of Arragon. `
` Don John, his bastard brother. `
` Claudio, a young lord of Florence. `
` Benedick, a Young lord of Padua. `
` Leonato, Governor of Messina. `
` Antonio, an old man, his brother. `
` Balthasar, attendant on Don Pedro. `
` Borachio, follower of Don John. `
` Conrade, follower of Don John. `
` Friar Francis. `
` Dogberry, a Constable. `
` Verges, a Headborough. `
` A Sexton. `
` A Boy. `
` `
` Hero, daughter to Leonato. `
` Beatrice, niece to Leonato. `
` Margaret, waiting gentlewoman attending on Hero. `
` Ursula, waiting gentlewoman attending on Hero. `
` `
` Messengers, Watch, Attendants, etc. `
` `
` `
` `
` SCENE.--Messina. `
` `
` `
` ACT I. Scene I. `
` An orchard before Leonato's house. `
` `
` Enter Leonato (Governor of Messina), Hero (his Daughter), `
` and Beatrice (his Niece), with a Messenger. `
` `
` Leon. I learn in this letter that Don Pedro of Arragon comes `
` this `
` night to Messina. `
` Mess. He is very near by this. He was not three leagues off `
` when I `
` left him. `
` Leon. How many gentlemen have you lost in this action? `
` Mess. But few of any sort, and none of name. `
` Leon. A victory is twice itself when the achiever brings home `
` full `
` numbers. I find here that Don Pedro hath bestowed much honour `
` on `
` a young Florentine called Claudio. `
` Mess. Much deserv'd on his part, and equally rememb'red by Don `
` Pedro. 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 bett'red expectation than you must expect of me to `
` tell `
` you how. `
` Leon. He hath an uncle here in Messina will be very much glad `
` of it. `
` Mess. I have already delivered him letters, and there appears `
` much `
` joy in him; even so much that joy could not show itself `
` modest `
` enough without a badge of bitterness. `
` Leon. Did he break out into tears? `
` Mess. In great measure. `
` Leon. A kind overflow of kindness. There are no faces truer `
` than `
` those that are so wash'd. How much better is it to weep at `
` joy `
` than to joy at weeping! `
` Beat. I pray you, is Signior Mountanto return'd from the wars `
` or no? `
` Mess. I know none of that name, lady. There was none such in `
` the `
` army of any sort. `
` Leon. What is he that you ask for, niece? `
` Hero. My cousin means Signior Benedick of Padua. `
` Mess. O, he's return'd, and as pleasant as ever he was. `
` Beat. He set up his bills here in Messina and challeng'd Cupid `
` at `
` the flight, and my uncle's fool, reading the challenge, `
` subscrib'd for Cupid and challeng'd him at the burbolt. I `
` pray `
` you, how many hath he kill'd and eaten in these wars? But how `
` many hath he kill'd? For indeed I promised to eat all of his `
` killing. `
` Leon. Faith, niece, you tax Signior Benedick too much; but `
` he'll `
` be meet with you, I doubt it not. `
` Mess. He hath done good service, lady, in these wars. `
` Beat. You had musty victual, and he hath holp to eat it. He is `
` a `
` very valiant trencherman; he hath an excellent stomach. `
` Mess. And a good soldier too, lady. `
` Beat. And a good soldier to a lady; but what is he to a lord? `
` Mess. A lord to a lord, a man to a man; stuff'd with all `
` honourable `
` virtues. `
` Beat. It is so indeed. He is no less than a stuff'd man; but `
` for `
` the stuffing--well, we are all mortal. `
` Leon. You must not, sir, mistake my niece. There is a kind of `
` merry `
` war betwixt Signior Benedick and her. They never meet but `
` there's `
` a skirmish of wit between them. `
` Beat. Alas, he gets nothing by that! In our last conflict four `
` of `
` his five wits went halting off, and now is the whole man `
` govern'd `
` 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. Who is his companion now? He hath every month a new `
` sworn brother. `
` Mess. Is't possible? `
` Beat. Very easily possible. He wears his faith but as the `
` fashion `
` of his hat; it ever changes with the next block. `
` Mess. I see, lady, the gentleman is not in your books. `
` Beat. No. An he were, I would burn my study. But I pray you, `
` who is `
` his companion? Is there no young squarer now that will make a `
` voyage with him to the devil? `
` Mess. He is most in the company of the right noble Claudio. `
` Beat. O Lord, he will hang upon him like a disease! 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 'a be cured. `
` Mess. I will hold friends with you, lady. `
` Beat. Do, good friend. `
` Leon. You will never run mad, niece. `
` Beat. No, not till a hot January. `
` Mess. Don Pedro is approach'd. `
` `
` Enter Don Pedro, Claudio, Benedick, Balthasar, and John the `
` Bastard. `
` `
` Pedro. Good Signior Leonato, are you come to meet your trouble? `
` The `
` fashion of the world is to avoid cost, and you encounter it. `
` Leon. Never came trouble to my house in the likeness of your `
` Grace; `
` for trouble being gone, comfort should remain; but when you `
` depart `
` from me, sorrow abides and happiness takes his leave. `
` Pedro. You embrace your charge too willingly. I think this is `
` your `
` daughter. `
` Leon. Her mother hath many times told me so. `
` Bene. Were you in doubt, sir, that you ask'd her? `
` Leon. Signior Benedick, no; for then were you a child. `
` Pedro. You have it full, Benedick. We may guess by this what `
` you `
` are, being a man. Truly the lady fathers herself. Be happy, `
` lady; `
` for you are like an honourable father. `
` Bene. If Signior Leonato be her father, she would not have his `
` head `
` on her shoulders for all Messina, as like him as she is. `
` Beat. I wonder that you will still be talking, Signior `
` Benedick. `
` Nobody marks you. `
` Bene. What, my dear Lady Disdain! are you yet living? `
` Beat. Is it possible Disdain should die while she hath such `
` meet `
` food to feed it as Signior Benedick? Courtesy itself must `
` convert `
` to disdain if you come in her presence. `
` Bene. Then is courtesy a turncoat. But it is certain I am loved `
` of `
` all ladies, only you excepted; and I would I could find in my `
` heart that I had not a hard heart, for truly I love none. `
` Beat. A dear happiness to women! They would else have been `
` troubled `
` with a pernicious suitor. I thank God and my cold blood, I am `
` of `
` your humour for that. I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow `
` than a man swear he loves me. `
` Bene. God keep your ladyship still in that mind! So some `
` gentleman `
` or other shall scape a predestinate scratch'd face. `
` Beat. Scratching could not make it worse an 'twere such a face `
` as `
` yours were. `
` Bene. Well, you are a rare parrot-teacher. `
` Beat. A bird of my tongue is better than a beast of yours. `
`