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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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    155Leon. Please it your grace leade on?
    Pedro Your hand Leonato, we wil go together.
    Exeunt. Manent Benedicke & Claudio.
    Clau. Benedicke, didst thou note the daughter of Signior (Leonato?
    160Bene. I noted her not, but I lookte on her,
    Clau. Is she not a modest yong ladie?
    Bene. Do you question me as an honest man should doe,
    for my simple true iudgement? or would you haue me speake
    after my custome, as being a professed tyrant to their sex?
    Claudio No, I pray thee speake in sober iudgement.
    Bene. Why yfaith me thinks shees too low for a hie praise,
    too browne for a faire praise, and too litle for a great praise, on-
    lie this commendation I can affoord her, that were shee other
    170then she is, she were vnhansome, and being no other, but as she
    is, I do not like her.
    Claudio Thou thinkest I am in sport, I pray thee tell mee
    truelie how thou lik'st her.
    Bene. Would you buie her that you enquier after her?
    Claudio Can the world buie such a iewel?
    Bene. Yea, and a case to putte it into, but speake you this
    with a sad brow? or doe you play the flowting iacke, to tell vs
    Cupid is a good Hare-finder, and Vulcan a rare Carpenter:
    180Come, in what key shall a man take you to go in the song?
    Claudio In mine eie, shee is the sweetest Ladie that euer I
    lookt on.
    Bened. I can see yet without spectacles, and I see no such
    185matter: theres her cosin, and she were not possest with a fury,
    exceedes her as much in beautie, as the first of Maie dooth the
    last of December: but I hope you haue no intent to turne hus-
    band, haue you?
    Claudio I would scarce trust my selfe, though I had sworne
    190the contrarie, if Hero would be my wife.
    Bened. Ist come to this? in faith hath not the worlde one
    man but he will weare his cappe with suspition? shall I neuer
    see a batcheller of three score againe? go to yfaith, and thou wilt
    needes thrust thy necke into a yoke, weare the print of it, and
    195sigh away sundaies: looke, don Pedro is returned to seeke you.
    A4 Enter