MUCH ADO.

ABOUT

NOTHING.

Dramatis

Personæ.

DON PEDRO, Prince of Arragon.
Leonato, Governor of Messina.
Don John, Bastard Brother to Don Pedro.
Claudio, a young Lord of Florence, Favourite to Don Pedro.
Benedick, a young Lord of Padua, favour'd likewise by

Don Pedro.
Balthazar, Servant to Don Pedro.
Antonio, Brother to Leonato.
Borachio, Confident to Don John.
Conrade, Friend to Borachio.
Dogberry,

two foolish Officers. Verges,

}

Hero, Daughter to Leonato.
Beatrice, Niece to Leonato.

two Gentlewomen attending on Hero.

Margret; }

A Friar, Messenger, Watch, Town-Clerk, Sexton, and

Attendants.

SCENE, Melina in Sicily.

ke

MUCH

!!

(1) MUCH ADO about NOTHING.

ACT T I:

SCENE, a Court before Leonato's Houfe

Enter Leonato, Hero, and Beatrice,
with a Meffenger.

淡淡茶

LEONAT 0.

Learn in this letter, that Don Pedro of

Arragon comes this night to Mefina.

Meff. He is very near by this; he was not

three leagues off when I left him.

in this action ?

Leon. How many gentlemen have you lost

Me. But few of any Sort, and none of Name. Leo. A victory is twice itfelf, when the atchiever brings home full numbers; I find here, that Don Pedro

(1) Much Ado about Nothing.] Innogen, the Mother of Hero) in the oldeft Quarto that I have feen of this Play, printed in 1600, is mention'd to enter in two feveral Scenes. The fucceeding Editions have all continued her Name in the Dra matis Perfona. But I have ventur'd to expunge it; there being no mention of her through the Play, no one Speech addrefs'd to her, nor one Syllable fpoken by her. Neither is there any A 3

one

a

hath bestowed much honour on a young Florentine, callid Claudio.

Mal]. Much deserved on his part, and equally remembred by Don Pedro : he hath borne himself beyond the promise of his age, doing in the figure of a damb the feats of a lion: he hath, indeed, better better'd expectation, than you must expect of me to tell you

how. Leon. He hath an uncle here in Mefina will be very much glad of it.

Me: I have already delivered him letters, and there appears much joy in him ; éven so much, that joy could not thew itself inodeft enough, without a badge of bitterness. Leon. Did he break out into tears?

great measure. Leön. A kind overflow of kindness. There are no faces Fruer than thofe 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 Montanto return'd from the wars or no?

Mef. I know none of that name, Lady; there was none such in the army of any fort.

Leon. What is he that you ask for, Niece ?
Hero. My Coufio means Signior Benedick of Padua.
Mell. O, he's return'd, and as pleasant as ever he was.

Beut. 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 bird-bolt. I pray you, how many hath he kill'd and eaten in these wars ? but how many hath he kill'd ? for, indeed, I promis’d 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.