Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Gretchen Minton
Not Peer Reviewed

Much Ado About Nothing (Quarto 1, 1600)

Much adoe
eate his heart in the market place.
1970Bened. Heare me Beatrice.
Beat. Talke with a man out at a window, a proper saying.
Bened. Nay but Beatrice.
Beat. Sweete Hero, she is wrongd, she is slaundred, shee is
1975vndone.
Bened. Beat?
Beat. Princes and Counties! surely a princely testimonie, a
goodly Counte, Counte Comfect, a sweete Gallant surely, O
that I were a man for his sake! or that I had any friend woulde
1980be a man for my sake! But manhoode is melted into cursies,
valour into complement, and men are only turnd into tongue,
and trim ones too: he is now as valiant as Hercules, that only
tels a lie, and sweares it: I cannot be a man with wishing, ther-
fore I will die a woman with grieuing.
Bened. Tarry good Beatrice, by this hand I loue thee.
Beatrice Vse it for my loue some other way than swearing
by it.
Bened. Thinke you in your soule the Count Claudio hath
1990wrongd Hero?
Beatrice Yea, as sure as I haue a thought, or a soule.
Bened. Enough, I am engagde, I will challenge him, I will
kisse your hand, and so I leaue you: by this hand, Claudio shal
render me a deere account: as you heare of me, so think of me:
1995goe comforte your coosin, I must say she is dead, and so fare-
well.

Enter the Constables, Borachio, and the Towne clearke
in gownes.
Keeper Is our whole dissembly appeard?
2000Cowley O a stoole and a cushion for the Sexton.
Sexton Which be the malefactors?
Andrew Mary that am I, and my partner.
Cowley Nay thats certaine, we haue the exhibition to exa-
mine.
2005Sexton But which are the offenders? that are to be exami-
ned, let them come before maister constable.
Kemp Yea mary, let them come before mee, what is your
name,