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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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    to see: well said yfaith neighbour Verges, well, God's a good
    1630man, and two men ride of a horse, one must ride behind, an ho-
    nest soule yfaith sir, by my troth he is, as euer broke bread, but
    God is to be worshipt, all men are not alike, alas good neigh-
    bour.
    Leonato Indeed neighbour he comes too short of you.
    1635Const. Do. Gifts that God giues.
    Leonato I must leaue you.
    Const. Dog. One word sir, our watch sir haue indeede com-
    prehended two aspitious persons, and wee woulde haue them
    this morning examined before your worship.
    1640Leonato Take their examination your selfe, and bring it me,
    I am now in great haste, as it may appeare vnto you.
    Constable It shall be suffigance.
    Leonato Drinke some wine ere you goe: fare you well. (exit
    Messenger My lord, they stay for you, to giue your daugh-
    1645ter to her husband.
    Leon. Ile wait vpon them, I am ready.
    Dogb. Go good partner, goe get you to Francis Sea-cole,
    bid him bring his penne and inckehorne to the Gaole: we are
    now to examination these men.
    1650Verges And we must do it wisely.
    Dogbery We will spare for no witte I warrant you: heeres
    that shall driue some of them to a noncome, only get the lear-
    ned writer to set downe our excommunication, and meet me
    at the Iaile.
    Enter Prince, Bastard, Leonato, Frier, Claudio, Bene-
    dicke, Hero, and Beatrice
    Leonato Come Frier Francis, be briefe, onely to the plaine
    forme of marriage, and you shall recount their particular due-
    1660ties afterwards.
    Fran. You come hither, my lord, to marry this lady.
    Claudio No.
    Leo To bee married to her: Frier, you come to marry her.
    1665Frier Lady, you come hither to be married to this counte.
    Hero I do.
    Frier If either of you know any inward impediment why
    F3 you