Internet Shakespeare Editions

About this text

  • Title: Much Ado About Nothing (Folio 1, 1623)
  • Editor: Gretchen Minton
  • ISBN: 978-1-55058-516-2

    Copyright Gretchen Minton. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: Gretchen Minton
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Much Ado About Nothing (Folio 1, 1623)

    Enter Leonato and an old man, brother to Leonato.
    320Leo. How now brother, where is my cosen your son:
    hath he prouided this musicke?
    Old. He is very busie about it, but brother, I can tell
    you newes that you yet dreamt not of.
    Lo. Are they good?
    325Old. As the euents stamps them, but they haue a good
    couer: they shew well outward, the Prince and Count
    Claudio walking in a thick pleached alley in my orchard,
    were thus ouer-heard by a man of mine: the Prince dis-
    couered to Claudio that hee loued my niece your daugh-
    330ter, and meant to acknowledge it this night in a dance,
    and if hee found her accordant, hee meant to take the
    present time by the top, and instantly breake with you
    of it.
    Leo. Hath the fellow any wit that told you this?
    335Old. A good sharpe fellow, I will send for him, and
    question him your selfe.
    Leo. No, no; wee will hold it as a dreame, till it ap-
    peare it selfe: but I will acquaint my daughter withall,
    that she may be the better prepared for an answer, if per-
    340aduenture this bee true: goe you and tell her of it: coo-
    sins, you know what you haue to doe, O I crie you mer-
    cie friend, goe you with mee and I will vse your skill,
    good cosin haue a care this busie time. Exeunt.