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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    Not Peer Reviewed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)

    about Nothing.
    315And strong incounter of my amorous tale:
    Then after, to her father will I breake,
    And the conclusion is, she shal be thine,
    In practise let vs put it presently.
    exeunt.
    Enter Leonato and an old man brother to Leonato
    320Leo. How now brother, where is my cosen your sonne, hath
    he prouided this musique?
    Old He is very busie about it, but brother, I can tell you
    strange newes that you yet dreampt not of.
    Leo. Are they good?
    325Old As the euents stampes them, but they haue a good co-
    uer: they shew well outward, the prince and Count Claudio
    walking in a thicke pleached alley in mine orchard, were thus
    much ouer-heard by a man of mine: the prince discouered to
    Claudio that he loued my niece your daughter, and meant to
    330acknowledge it this night in a daunce, and if he found her ac-
    cordant, he meant to take the present time by the top, and in-
    stantly breake with you of it.
    Leo Hath the fellow any wit that told you this?
    335Old A good sharp fellow, I wil send for him, and question
    him your selfe.
    Leo. No, no, we wil hold it as a dreame til it appeare itself:
    but I will acquaint my daughter withall, that she may bee the
    better prepared for an answer, if peraduenture this be true: go
    340you and tel hir of it: coosins, you know what you haue to doe,
    O I crie you mercie friend, go you with me and I wil vse your
    shill: good cosin haue a care this busie time. exeunt.
    Enter sir Iohn the bastard, and Conrade his companion.
    345Con. What the goodyeere my lord, why are you thus out of
    measure sad?
    Iohn There is no measure in the occasion that breeds, ther-
    fore the sadnesse is without limit.
    Con. You should heare reason.
    350Iohn And when I haue heard it, what blessing brings it?
    Con If not a present remedy, at least a patient sufferance.
    Iohn I wonder that thou (being as thou saist, thou art, borne
    vnder Saturne) goest about to apply a morall medicine, to a
    B2 mor-