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- William Shakespeare: Much Ado about Nothing, Act III, Scene II
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Scene IIA room in Leonato’s houseEnter Don Pedro, Claudio, Benedick, and LeonatoDon PedroI do but stay till your marriage be consummate, and then go I toward Arragon.ClaudioI’ll bring you thither, my lord, if you’ll vouchsafe me.Don PedroNay, that would be as great a soil in the new gloss of your marriage as to show a child his new coat and forbid him to wear it. I will only be bold with Benedick for his company; for, from the crown of his head to the sole of his foot, he is all mirth: he hath twice or thrice cut Cupid’s bow-string and the little hangman dare not shoot at him; he hath a heart as sound as a bell and his tongue is the clapper, for what his heart thinks his tongue speaks.BenedickGallants, I am not as I have been.LeonatoSo say I methinks you are sadder.ClaudioI hope he be in love.Don PedroHang him, truant! there’s no true drop of blood in him, to be truly touched with love: if he be sad, he wants money.BenedickI have the toothache.Don PedroDraw it.BenedickHang it!ClaudioYou must hang it first, and draw it afterwards.Don PedroWhat! sigh for the toothache?LeonatoWhere is but a humour or a worm.BenedickWell, every one can master a grief but he that has it.ClaudioYet say I, he is in love.Don PedroThere is no appearance of fancy in him, unless it be a fancy that he hath to strange disguises; as, to be a Dutchman today, a Frenchman to-morrow, or in the shape of two countries at once, as, a German from the waist downward, all slops, and a Spaniard from the hip upward, no doublet. Unless he have a fancy to this foolery, as it appears he hath, he is no fool for fancy, as you would have it appear he is.ClaudioIf he be not in love with some woman, there is no believing old signs: a’ brushes his hat o’ mornings; what should that bode?Don PedroHath any man seen him at the barber’s?ClaudioNo, but the barber’s man hath been seen with him, and the old ornament of his cheek hath already stuffed tennis-balls.LeonatoIndeed, he looks younger than he did, by the loss of a beard.Don PedroNay, a’ rubs himself with civet: can you smell him out by that?ClaudioThat’s as much as to say, the sweet youth’s in love.Don PedroThe greatest note of it is his melancholy.ClaudioAnd when was he wont to wash his face?Don PedroYea, or to paint himself? for the which, I hear what they say of him.ClaudioNay, but his jesting spirit; which is now crept into a lute-string and now governed by stops.Don PedroIndeed, that tells a heavy tale for him: conclude, conclude he is in love.ClaudioNay, but I know who loves him.Don PedroThat would I know too: I warrant, one that knows him not.ClaudioYes, and his ill conditions; and, in despite of all, dies for him.Don PedroShe shall be buried with her face upwards.BenedickYet is this no charm for the toothache. Old signior, walk aside with me: I have studied eight or nine wise words to speak to you, which these hobby-horses must not hear.Exeunt Benedick and LeonatoDon PedroFor my life, to break with him about Beatrice.Claudio’Tis even so. Hero and Margaret have by this played their parts with Beatrice; and then the two bears will not bite one another when they meet.Enter Don JohnDon JohnMy lord and brother, God save you!Don PedroGood den, brother.Don JohnIf your leisure served, I would speak with you.Don PedroIn private?Don JohnIf it please you: yet Count Claudio may hear; for what I would speak of concerns him.Don PedroWhat’s the matter?Don JohnTo ClaudioMeans your lordship to be married to-morrow?Don PedroYou know he does.Don JohnI know not that, when he knows what I know.ClaudioIf there be any impediment, I pray you discover it.Don JohnYou may think I love you not: let that appear hereafter, and aim better at me by that I now will manifest. For my brother, I think he holds you well, and in dearness of heart hath holp to effect your ensuing marriage;—surely suit ill spent and labour ill bestowed.Don PedroWhy, what’s the matter?Don JohnI came hither to tell you; and, circumstances shortened, for she has been too long a talking of, the lady is disloyal.ClaudioWho, Hero?Don PedroEven she; Leonato’s Hero, your Hero, every man’s Hero:ClaudioDisloyal?Don JohnThe word is too good to paint out her wickedness; I could say she were worse: think you of a worse title, and I will fit her to it. Wonder not till further warrant: go but with me to-night, you shall see her chamber-window entered, even the night before her wedding-day: if you love her then, to-morrow wed her; but it would better fit your honour to change your mind.ClaudioMay this be so?Don PedroI will not think it.Don JohnIf you dare not trust that you see, confess not that you know: if you will follow me, I will show you enough; and when you have seen more and heard more, proceed accordingly.ClaudioIf I see any thing to-night why I should not marry her to-morrow in the congregation, where I should wed, there will I shame her.Don PedroAnd, as I wooed for thee to obtain her, I will join with thee to disgrace her.Don JohnI will disparage her no farther till you are my witnesses: bear it coldly but till midnight, and let the issue show itself.Don PedroO day untowardly turned!ClaudioO mischief strangely thwarting!Don JohnO plague right well prevented! so will you say when you have seen the sequel.Exeunt
William Shakespeare: Much Ado about Nothing, Act III
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William Shakespeare: Much Ado about Nothing, Act II
- William Shakespeare: Much Ado about Nothing, Act II
TrendingHere are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about.
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The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales
TrendingHere are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about.
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The Twelve Dancing Princesses
Current Events This Week: January 2023
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Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents
The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales
- Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?
- The Twelve Dancing Princesses
- Current Events This Week: January 2023
- African Americans by the Numbers
- Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents
- The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales
