Much Ado About Nothing (Arden Shakespeare: Third Series)

by William Shakespeare

  Verges. And so am I.

  Leonato. I would fain know what you have to say.

  Verges. Marry, sir, our watch tonight, excepting your worship's presence, ha' ta'en a couple of as arrant knaves as any in Messina.

  3.5.15 Palabras (for Spanish pocas palubras, few words)

  Dogberry. A good old man, sir; he will be talking. As they say, "When the age is in, the wit is out." God help us! It is a world to see! Well said, i' faith, neighbor Verges. Well, God's a good man. And two men ride of a horse, one must ride behind. An honest soul, i' faith, sir, by my troth he is, as ever broke bread; but God is to be worshiped; all men are not alike, alas, good neighbor!

  Leonato. Indeed, neighbor, he comes too short of you.

  Dogberry. Gifts that God gives.

  Leonato. I must leave you.

  Dogberry. One word, sir. Our watch, sir, have indeed comprehended two aspicious persons, and we would have them this morning examined before your wor ship.

  Leonato. Take their examination yourself and bring it me; I am now in great haste, as it may appear unto you.

  Dogberry. It shall be suffigance.

  Leonato. Drink some wine ere you go. Fare you well.

  [Enter a Messenger.]

  Messenger. My lord, they stay for you to give your daughter to her husband.

  Leonato. I'll wait upon them. I am ready.

  Exit [Leonato,

  with Messenger].

  Dogberry. Go, good partner, go get you to Francis Seacole; bid him bring his pen and inkhorn to the jail. We are now to examination these men.

  Verges. And we must do it wisely.

  Dogberry. We will spare for no wit, I warrant you; here's that shall drive some of them to a non-come.deg Only get the learned writer to set down our excommunication, and meet me at the jail. [Exeunt.]

  60 non-come non compos mentis

  [ACT 4

  Scene 1. A church.]

  Enter Prince [Don Pedro], [Don John the] Bas-

  tard, Leonato, Friar [Francis], Claudio, Bene-

  dick, Hero, and Beatrice [and Attendants].

  Leonato. Come, Friar Francis, be brief. Only to the plain form of marriage, and you shall recount their particulardeg duties afterwards.

  Friar. You come hither, my lord, to marry this lady?

  Claudio. No.

  Leonato. To be married to her; Friar, you come to marry her.

  Friar. Lady, you come hither to be married to this count?

  Hero. I do.

  Friar. If either of you know any inward impediment why you should not be conjoined, I charge you on your souls to utter it.

  Claudio. Know you any, Hero?

  Hero. None, my lord.

  4.1.3 particular personal

  Friar. Know you any, Count?

  Leonato. I dare make his answer, none.

  Claudio. O what men dare do! What men may do! What men daily do, not knowing what they do!

  Benedick. How now? Interjections? Why then, some be ofdeg laughing, as, ah, ha, he!deg

  Claudio. Stand thee by,deg friar. Father, by your leave, Will you with free and unconstrained soul Give me this maid your daughter?

  Leonato. As freely, son, as God did give her me.

  Claudio. And what have I to give you back whose worth

  May counterpoise this rich and precious gift?

  Don Pedro. Nothing, unless you render her again.

  Claudio. Sweet Prince, you learn me noble thankfulness.

  There, Leonato, take her back again. Give not this rotten orange to your friend. She's but the sign and semblance of her honor. Behold how like a maid she blushes here! O, what authority and show of truth Can cunning sin cover itself withal! Comes not that blood, as modest evidence, To witness simple virtue? Would you not swear, All you that see her, that she were a maid, By these exterior shows? But she is none. She knows the heat of a luxuriousdeg bed; Her blush is guiltiness, not modesty.

  Leonato. What do you mean, my lord?

  Claudio. Not to be married, Not to knit my soul to an approveddeg wanton.

  Leonato. Dear my lord, if you, in your own proof,deg Have vanquished the resistance of her youth And made defeat of her virginity--

  20--21 some be of some are concerned with

  21 ah, ha, he! (examples of interjections)

  22 Stand thee by stand aside

  40 luxurious lustful

  43 approved tested

  44 proof experience

  Claudio. I know what you would say: if I have knowndeg her,

  You will say she did embrace me as a husband, And so extenuate the 'forehand sin.

  No, Leonato, I never tempted her with word too large, But, as a brother to his sister, showed Bashful sincerity and comely love.

  Hero. And seemed I ever otherwise to you?

  Claudio. Out on thee, seeming! I will write against it. You seem to me as Dian in her orb, As chaste as is the bud ere it be blown;deg But you are more intemperate in your blooddeg Than Venus, or those pamp'red animals That rage in savage sensuality.

  Hero. Is my lord well that he doth speak so wide?deg

  Leonato. Sweet Prince, why speak not you?

  Don Pedro. What should I speak? I stand dishonored that have gone about To link my dear friend to a common stale.deg

  Leonato. Are these things spoken, or do I but dream?

  Don John. Sir, they are spoken, and these things are true.

  Benedick. This looks not like a nuptial.

  Hero. "True," O God!

  Claudio. Leonato, stand I here? Is this the Prince? Is this the Prince's brother? Is this face Hero's? Are our eyes our own?

  Leonato. All this is so. But what of this, my lord?

  47 known had intercourse with

  57 blown blossomed

  58 blood sexual desire

  61 so wide so far from the truth

  64 stale prostitute

  Claudio. Let me but move one question to your daughter ; And by that fatherly and kindlydeg power That you have in her, bid her answer truly.

  Leonato. I charge thee do so, as thou art my child.

  Hero. O, God defend me! How am I beset! What kind of catechizing call you this?

  Claudio. To make you answer truly to your name.

  Hero. Is it not Hero? Who can blot that name With any just reproach?

  Claudio. Marry, that can Hero! Hero itself can blot out Hero's virtue. What man was he talked with you yesternight, Out at your window betwixt twelve and one? Now, if you are a maid, answer to this.

  Hero. I talked with no man at that hour, my lord.

  Don Pedro. Why, then are you no maiden. Leonato, I am sorry you must hear. Upon mine honor Myself, my brother, and this grieved Count Did see her, hear her, at that hour last night Talk with a ruffian at her chamber window Who hath indeed, most like a liberaldeg villain, Confessed the vile encounters they have had A thousand times in secret.

  Don John. Fie, fie! They are not to be named, my lord--Not to be spoke of; There is not chastity enough in language Without offense to utter them. Thus, pretty lady, I am sorry for thy much misgovernment.

  Claudio. O Hero! What a Hero hadst thou been If half thy outward graces had been placed About thy thoughts and counsels of thy heart! But fare thee well, most foul, most fair, farewell; Thou pure impiety and impious purity, For thee I'll lock up all the gates of love, And on my eyelids shall conjecture' hang, To turn all beauty into thoughts of harm, And never shall it more be gracious.

  73 kindly natural

  91 liberal licentious

  Leonato. Hath no man's dagger here a point for me? [Hero swoons.]

  Beatrice. Why, how now, cousin? Wherefore sink you down?

  Don John. Come, let us go. These things, come thus to light, Smother her spirits up. [Exeunt Don Pedro, Don John, and Claudio.]

  Benedick. How doth the lady?

  Beatrice. Dead, I think. Help, uncle! Hero! Why, Hero! Uncle! Signior Benedick! Friar!

  Leonato. O Fate, take not away thy heavy hand! Death is t
he fairest cover for her shame That may be wished for.

  Beatrice. How now, cousin Hero?

  Friar. Have comfort, lady.

  Leonato. Dost thou look up?

  Friar. Yea, wherefore should she not?

  Leonato. Wherefore? Why, doth not every earthly thing Cry shame upon her? Could she here deny The story that is printed in her blood?deg Do not live, Hero; do not ope thine eyes; For, did I think thou wouldst not quickly die, Thought I thy spirits were stronger than thy shames, Myself would on the rearward of reproaches Strike at thy life. Grieved I, I had but one? Chid I for that at frugal nature's frame?deg O, one too much by thee! Why had I one? Why ever wast thou lovely in my eyes? Why had I not with charitable hand Took up a beggar's issue at my gates, Who smirched thus and mired with infamy, I might have said, "No part of it is mine; This shame derives itself from unknown loins"? But mine, and mine I loved, and mine I praised, And mine that I was proud on, mine so much That I myself was to myself not mine, Valuing of her--why she, O, she is fall'n Into a pit of ink, that the wide sea Hath drops too few to wash her clean again, And salt too little which may season givedeg To her foul tainted flesh!

  105 conjecture suspicion

  121 printed in her blood written in her blushes

  127 frame plan

  Benedick. Sir, sir, be patient. For my part, I am so attired in wonder, I know not what to say.

  Beatrice. O, on my soul, my cousin is belied!

  Benedick. Lady, were you her bedfellow last night?

  Beatrice. No, truly, not; although, until last night, I have this twelvemonth been her bedfellow.

  Leonato. Confirmed, confirmed! O, that is stronger made Which was before barred up with ribs of iron! Would the two princes lie, and Claudio lie, Who loved her so that, speaking of her foulness, Washed it with tears? Hence from her! Let her die.

  Friar. Hear me a little; For I have only been silent so long, And given way unto this course of fortune, By noting of the lady. I have marked A thousand blushing apparitions To start into her face, a thousand innocent shames In angel whiteness beat away those blushes, And in her eye there hath appeared a fire To burn the errors that these princes hold Against her maiden truth. Call me a fool; Trust not my reading nor my observations, Which with experimental sealdeg doth warrant The tenordeg of my book; trust not my age, My reverence, calling, nor divinity, If this sweet lady lie not guiltless here Under some biting error.

  141 season give act as a preservative

  Leonato. Friar, it cannot be. Thou seest that all the grace that she hath left Is that she will not add to her damnation A sin of perjury; she not denies it. Why seek'st thou then to cover with excuse That which appears in proper nakedness?

  Friar. Lady, what man is he you are accused of?

  Hero. They know that do accuse me; I know none. If I know more of any man alive Than that which maiden modesty doth warrant, Let all my sins lack mercy! O my father, Prove you that any man with me conversed At hours unmeet, or that I yesternight Maintained the changedeg of words with any creature, Refuse me, hate me, torture me to death!

  Friar. There is some strange misprisiondeg in the princes.

  Benedick. Two of them have the very bentdeg of honor; And if their wisdoms be misled in this, The practicedeg of it lives in John the bastard, Whose spirits toil in frame of villainies.

  Leonato. I know not. If they speak but truth of her, These hands shall tear her. If they wrong her honor, The proudest of them shall well hear of it. Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention,deg

  165 experimental seal seal of experience

  166 tenor purport )

  182 maintained the change held exchange

  184 misprision mistaking

  185 bent shape (or perhaps "inclination")

  187 practice scheming

  193 invention inventiveness

  Nor fortune made such havoc of my means, Nor my bad life reft me so much of friends, But they shall find awaked in such a kind Both strength of limb and policy of mind, Ability in means, and choice of friends, To quitdeg me of them throughly.

  Friar. Pause awhile And let my counsel sway you in this case. Your daughter here the princes left for dead. Let her awhile be secretly kept in, And publish it that she is dead indeed; Maintain a mourning ostentation,deg And on your family's old monument Hang mournful epitaphs, and do all rites That appertain unto a burial.

  Leonato. What shall become of this? What will this do?

  Friar. Marry, this well carried shall on her behalf Change slander to remorse; that is some good. But not for that dream I on this strange course, But on this travail look for greater birth. She dying, as it must be so maintained, Upon the instant that she was accused, Shall be lamented, pitied, and excused Of every hearer. For it so falls out That what we have we prize not to the worth Whiles we enjoy it; but being lacked and lost, Why, then we rackdeg the value, then we find The virtue that possession would not show us Whiles it was ours. So will it fare with Claudio. When he shall hear she died upon his words, Th' idea of her life shall sweetly creep Into his study of imagination,o And every lovely organdeg of her life Shall come appareled in more precious habit,deg More moving, delicate, and full of life,

  199 quit revenge

  204 Maintain a mourning ostentation perform the outward show of mourning

  219 rack stretch

  224 study of imagination meditation, musing

  225 organ physical feature

  226 habit dress

  Into the eye and prospect of his soul Than when she lived indeed. Then shall he mourn, If ever love had interest in his liver,deg And wish he had not so accused her, No, though he thought his accusation true. Let this be so, and doubt not but successdeg Will fashion the eventdeg in better shape Than I can lay it down in likelihood. But if all aim, but this, be leveled false,deg The supposition of the lady's death Will quench the wonder of her infamy; And if it sortdeg not well, you may conceal her, As best befits her wounded reputation, In some reclusive and religious life, Out of all eyes, tongues, minds, and injuries.

  Benedick. Signior Leonato, let the friar advise you; And though you know my inwardnessdeg and love Is very much unto the Prince and Claudio, Yet, by mine honor, I will deal in this As secretly and justly as your soul Should with your body.

  Leonato. Being that I flow in grief, The smallest twine may lead me.

  Friar. 'Tis well consented. Presently away; For to strange sores strangely they strain the cure. Come, lady, die to live. This wedding day Perhaps is but prolonged. Have patience and endure. Exit [with all but Beatrice and Benedick].

  Benedick. Lady Beatrice, have you wept all this while?

  Beatrice. Yea, and I will weep a while longer.

  Benedick. I will not desire that.

  230 liver (supposed seat of love)

  233 success what follows

  234 event outcome

  236 But if ... false but if all conjecture, except this (i.e., the mere supposition of Hero's death), be aimed (leveled) falsely

  239 sort turn out

  244 inwardness most intimate feelings

  Beatrice. You have no reason. I do it freely.

  Benedick. Surely I do believe your fair cousin is wronged.

  Beatrice. Ah, how much might the man deserve of me that would right her!

  Benedick. Is there any way to show such friendship?

  Beatrice. A very evendeg way, but no such friend.

  Benedick. May a man do it?

  Beatrice. It is a man's office, but not yours.

  Benedick. I do love nothing in the world so well as you. Is not that strange?

  Beatrice. As strange as the thing I know not. It were as possible for me to say I loved nothing so well as you. But believe me not; and yet I lie not. I confess noth ing, nor I deny nothing. I am sorry for my cousin.

  Benedick. By my sword, Beatrice, thou lovest me.

  Beatrice. Do not swear and eat it.

  Benedick. I will swear by it that you love me,
and I will make him eat it that says I love not you.

  Beatrice. Will you not eat your word?

  Benedick. With no sauce that can be devised to it. I protestdeg I love thee.

  Beatrice. Why then, God forgive me!

  Benedick. What offense, sweet Beatrice?

  Beatrice. You have stayed me in a happy hour.deg I was about to protest I loved you.

  Benedick. And do it with all thy heart.

  Beatrice. I love you with so much of my heart that none is left to protest.

  263 even direct

  278 protest avow

  281 in a happy hour just in time

  Benedick. Come, bid me do anything for thee.

  Beatrice. Kill Claudio.

  Benedick. Ha! Not for the wide world!

  Beatrice. You kill me to deny it. Farewell.

  Benedick. Tarry, sweet Beatrice. [He holds her.]

  Beatrice. I am gone, though I am here; there is no love in you. Nay, I pray you let me go!

  Benedick. Beatrice--

  Beatrice. In faith, I will go!

  Benedick. We'll be friends first. [He lets her go.]

  Beatrice. You dare easier be friends with me than fight with mine enemy.

  Benedick. Is Claudio thine enemy?

  Beatrice. Is 'a not approved in the height a villain, that hath slandered, scorned, dishonored my kinswoman? O that I were a man! What, bear her in handdeg until they come to take hands; and then, with public accusation, uncovered slander, unmitigated rancor--O God, that I were a man! I would eat his heart in the market place!

  Benedick. Hear me, Beatrice--

  Beatrice. Talk with a man out at a window! A proper saying!

  Benedick. Nay, but Beatrice--

  Beatrice. Sweet Hero, she is wronged, she is sland'red, she is undone.

  Benedick. Beat--

  Beatrice. Princes and counties! Surely, a princely testimony, a goodly count, Count Comfect;deg a sweet gallant surely! O that I were a man for his sake! Or that I had any friend would be a man for my sake! But manhood is melted into cursies,deg valor into compliment, and men are only turned into tongue, and trim ones too. He is now as valiant as Hercules that only tells a lie, and swears it. I cannot be a man with wishing; therefore I will die a woman with grieving.

  301 bear her in hand fool her

  314 Comfect sugar candy

  Benedick. Tarry, good Beatrice. By this hand, I love thee.

  Beatrice. Use it for my love some other way than swearing by it.