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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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    Leonato My Lord, my Lord,
    2160Ile prooue it on his body if he dare,
    Dispight his nice fence, and his actiue practise,
    His Maie of youth, and bloome of lustihood.
    Claudio Away, I will not haue to doe with you.
    Leonato Canst thou so daffe me? thou hast kild my child,
    2165If thou kilst me, boy, thou shalt kill a man.
    Brother He shal kill two of vs, and men indeed,
    But thats no matter, let him kill one first:
    Win me and weare me, let him answer me,
    Come follow me boy, come sir boy, come follow me
    2170Sir boy, ile whip you from your foyning fence,
    Nay, as I am a gentleman I, will.
    Leonato Brother.
    Brother Content your self, God knowes, I loued my neece,
    And she is dead, slanderd to death by villaines,
    2175That dare as well answer a man indeed.
    As I dare take a serpent by the tongue,
    Boyes, apes, braggarts, Iackes, milke-sops.
    Leonato Brother Anthony.
    Brother Hold you content, what man! I know them, yea
    2180And what they weigh, euen to the vtmost scruple,
    Scambling out-facing, fashion-monging boies,
    That lie, and cogge, and flout, depraue, and slaunder,
    Go antiquely, and shew outward hidiousnesse,
    And speake of halfe a dozen dang'rous words,
    2185How they might hurt their enemies, if they durst,
    And this is all.
    Leonato But brother Anthonie.
    Brother Come tis no matter,
    Do not you meddle, let me deale in this.
    2190Prince Gentlemen both, we will not wake your patience,
    My heart is sory for your daughters death:
    But on my honour she was chargde with nothing
    But what was true, and very full of proofe.
    Leonato My Lord, my Lord.
    2195Prince I will not heare you.
    H2 Leonato