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  • Title: Much Ado About Nothing (Quarto 1, 1600)
  • 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    Not Peer Reviewed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 (Quarto 1, 1600)

    Much adoe
    825rance, and al the preparation ouerthrowne.
    Iohn Grow this to what aduerse issue it can, I will put it in
    practise: be cunning in the working this, and thy fee is a thou-
    sand ducates.
    830Bor. Be you constant in the accusation, and my cunning
    shall not shame me.
    Iohn I will presently go learne their day of marriage. exit

    Enter Benedicke alone.
    835Bene. Boy.
    Boy Signior.
    Bene. In my chamber window lies a booke, bring it hither
    to me in the orchard.
    Boy. I am here already sir. exit.
    840Bene. I know that, but I would haue thee hence and here a-
    gaine. I do much wonder, that one man seeing how much an
    other man is a foole, when he dedicates his behauiours to loue,
    wil after he hath laught at such shallow follies in others, becom
    the argument of his owne scorne, by falling in loue, and such a
    845man is Claudio, I haue knowne when there was no musique
    with him but the drumme and the fife, and now had he rather
    heare the taber and the pipe: I haue knowne when he would
    haue walkt ten mile afoot, to see a good armour, and now wil
    850he lie ten nights awake caruing the fashion of a new dublet: he
    was woont to speake plaine, and to the purpose (like an honest
    man and a souldier) and now is he turnd ortography, his words
    are a very fantasticall banquet, iust so many strange dishes:
    may I be so conuerted and see with these eies? I cannot tell, I
    855thinke not: I wil not be sworne but loue may transforme me to
    an oyster, but ile take my oath on it, till he haue made and oy-
    ster of me, he shall neuer make me such a foole: one woman is
    faire, yet I am well, an other is wise, yet I am well: an other
    vertuous, yet I am wel: but till all graces be in one woman, one
    womã shal not com in my grace: rich she shal be thats certain,
    wise, or ile none, vertuous, or ile neuer cheapen her: faire, or ile
    neuer looke on her, mild, or come not neare me, noble, or not I
    for an angell, of good discourse, an excellent musitian, and her
    haire