Much Ado About Nothing

Act 1, Scene 1 Much Ado About Nothing Enter, Governor of Messina; HERO, his daughter; and his niece, with a I learn in this letter that Don Pedro of Aragon comes this night to Messina. He is very near by this. He was not three leagues off when I left him. 5 How many gentlemen have you lost in this action? But few of any sort, and none of name. A victory is twice itself when the achiever brings home full numbers. I find here that Don Pedro hath bestowed much honor on a young Florentine called Claudio. 10 Much deserved on his part, and equally remembered by Don Pedro. He hath borne himself beyond the promise of his age, doing in the figure of a lamb the feats of a lion. He hath indeed better bettered expectation than you must expect of me to tell you how. 15 He hath an uncle here in Messina will be very much glad of it. I have already delivered him letters, and there appears much joy in him even so much that joy could not show itself modest enough without a badge of bitterness. 20 Did he break out into tears? In great measure. A kind overflow of kindness. There are no faces truer than those that are so washed. How much better is it to weep at joy than to joy at weeping!, Governor of Messina, enters with HERO, his daughter, and, his niece, along with a. (holding a letter) This letter says that Don Pedro of Aragon (Ed. note: "Don" is Italian for "Sir" or "Lord.") is coming to Messina tonight. He must be very close by now. He was less than nine miles away when I left him. How many men did you lose in this battle? Not many, and no one with any notable rank or reputation. A victory is twice as great when the victor comes home without losing any soldiers. This letter also says that Don Pedro has given great honors to a young man from Florence named Claudio. The honors are well-deserved, and Don Pedro has bestowed them fairly. Claudio has achieved things that no one would expect from such a young man. He has the look of a lamb, but he fights like a lion. Indeed, he's surpassed all expectations by so much that you can't expect me to describe him properly. He has an uncle here in Messina who will be very glad to hear about this. I've already delivered some letters to him, and he seemed overjoyed indeed, he got so emotional that he couldn't restrain his tears. Did he really start crying? Yes, heavily. That's the result oa natural overflow of affection for family members. There's no face more honest than one washed by tears. And how much better it is to weep for joy than to laugh in despair! 2016 LitCharts LLC Follow us: @litcharts v.001 Page 1

25 I pray you, is Signor Montanto returned from the wars or no? I know none of that name, lady. There was none such in the army of any sort. What is he that you ask for, niece? HERO 30 My cousin means Signor Benedick of Padua. Oh, he s returned, and as pleasant as ever he was. He set up his bills here in Messina and challenged Cupid at the flight, and my uncle s Fool, reading the challenge, subscribed for Cupid and challenged him at the bird-bolt. I pray you, how many hath he killed and eaten in these wars? But how many hath he killed? For indeed I promised to eat all of his killing. Faith, niece, you tax Signor Benedick too much, but he ll be meet with you, I doubt it not. 40 He hath done good service, lady, in these wars. You had musty victual, and he hath holp to eat it. He is a very valiant trencherman. He hath an excellent stomach. And a good soldier too, lady. And a good soldier to a lady, but what is he to a lord? 45 A lord to a lord, a man to a man, stuffed with all honorable virtues. It is so indeed. He is no less than a stuffed man. But for the stuffing well, we are all mortal. You must not, sir, mistake my niece. There is a kind of merry war betwixt Signor Benedick and her. They never meet but there s a skirmish of wit between them. Please, has Sir Montanto (Ed. note: "Montanto" is a fencing term meaning an upward thrust, but Beatrice is being sarcastic here, and basically saying "a showy fighter.") returned from the battle or not? I don't know anyone by that name, my lady. There never was a Sir Montanto in our army. Who is it you're asking about, niece? HERO My cousin means Signor Benedick of Padua. Oh, he's returned, and he's as witty and cheerful as ever. Benedick once put up signs here in Messina challenging Cupid to an archery contest (Ed. note: The meaning of this joke is unclear. Cupid is traditionally blindfolded, so it would be easy to beat him in an archery contest, but when his arrows strike the victim falls in love. This could either be Beatrice saying that Benedick is so bad at archery that he could only beat Cupid, or Benedick boasting that he will never be struck by Cupid and fall in love.). My uncle's jester read the challenge, accepted on Cupid's behalf, and challenged Benedick with blunt arrows. But please tell me, how many men has he killed and eaten in these battles? For I promised to eat any man he could kill. Honestly, niece, you criticize Signor Benedick too much. But I don't doubt that he'll give as good as he gets. He served well, my lady, in this war. You had stale food, and he helped you eat it. He's a very brave eater. He has an excellent stomach for eating. And a stomach for fighting too, my lady. He's a good soldier. A good soldier compared to a lady, but what is he compared to a lord? He's a lord to a lord and a man to a man. He's stuffed full of honorable virtues. Indeed he is. He's nothing more than a dummy, a stuffed man. But as for what he's stuffed with well, we all have our faults. Sir, you mustn't misunderstand my niece. There is a kind of cheerful war between her and Signor Benedick. Whenever they meet there's always a battle of wits. 2016 LitCharts LLC Follow us: @litcharts v.001 Page 2

Alas, he gets nothing by that. In our last conflict four of his five wits went halting off, and now is the whole man governed with one, so that if he have wit enough to keep himself warm, let him bear it for a difference between himself and his horse, for it is all the wealth that he hath left to be known a reasonable creature. Who is his companion now? He hath every month a new sworn brother. Is t possible? 60 Very easily possible. He wears his faith but as the fashion of his hat; it ever changes with the next block. I see, lady, the gentleman is not in your books. No. An he were, I would burn my study. But I pray you, who is his companion? Is there no young squarer now that will make a voyage with him to the devil? He is most in the company of the right noble Claudio. O Lord, he will hang upon him like a disease! He is sooner caught than the pestilence, and the taker runs presently mad. God help the noble Claudio! If he have caught the Benedick, it will cost him a thousand pound ere a be cured. I will hold friends with you, lady. Do, good friend. You will never run mad, niece. 75 No, not till a hot January. Don Pedro is approached. Enter, Prince of Aragon, with,, BALTHASAR, and DON JOHN the bastard Good Signor Leonato, are you come to meet your trouble? The fashion of the world is to avoid cost, and you encounter it. And he never gains anything from such battles. In our last encounter, all his wits but one went limping off, leaving him with only enough wit to keep himself warm and distinguish himself from his horse. But who is his companion now? Every month he has a new best friend. Is that possible? Entirely possible. He wears his loyalty like he wears his hats always changing with the latest fashions. I see, my lady, that this gentleman isn't included in your good book. No. And if he was, I'd burn down my library. But please tell me, who is his friend now? Isn't there some quarrelsome young man who will go along with Benedick on his voyage to hell? He spends most of his time in the company of the noble Claudio. Oh Lord, Benedick will cling to him like a disease! Benedick is easier to catch than the plague, and the person he's infected immediately goes mad. God help the noble Claudio! If he's caught the Benedick, he'll lose all his money before he can be cured. I'll make sure to stay on your good side, my lady. Do, good friend. You will never "catch the Benedick," niece. No, not until there's a hot January. Don Pedro is here., Prince of Aragon, enters with,, BALTHASAR, and DON JOHN (Don Pedro's illegitimate half-brother). Good Signor Leonato, have you come to meet your burden the burden of hosting me and all my followers? Most people avoid expense, but you welcome it. 2016 LitCharts LLC Follow us: @litcharts v.001 Page 3

80 Never came trouble to my house in the likeness of your Grace, for trouble being gone, comfort should remain, but when you depart from me, sorrow abides and happiness takes his leave. You embrace your charge too willingly. I think this is your daughter. Her mother hath many times told me so. Were you in doubt, sir, that you asked her? Signor Benedick, no, for then were you a child. You have it full, Benedick. We may guess by this what you are, being a man. Truly, the lady fathers herself. Be happy, lady, for you are like an honorable father. and move to one side, still talking If Signor Leonato be her father, she would not have his head on her shoulders for all Messina, as like him as she is. 95 I wonder that you will still be talking, Signor Benedick. Nobody marks you. What, my dear Lady Disdain! Are you yet living? Is it possible disdain should die while she hath such meet food to feed it as Signor Benedick? Courtesy itself must convert to disdain if you come in her presence. Then is courtesy a turncoat. But it is certain I am loved of all ladies, only you excepted. And I would I could find in my heart that I had not a hard heart, for truly I love none. 105 A dear happiness to women. They would else have been troubled with a pernicious suitor. I thank God and my cold blood I am of your humor for that. I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man swear he loves me. You are never a burden to my house, your Grace. When a burden leaves, comfort should replace it, but when you leave, you take happiness with you and leave behind only sorrow. You welcome your troubles too cheerfully. (turning to HERO) This must be your daughter. That's what her mother keeps telling me. Did you doubt that she was your daughter, sir, since you had to ask? No, Signor Benedick, for you were only a child then not yet old enough to seduce my wife. He got you back, Benedick! I can tell from this what kind of a man you are, and that you have a reputation with women. But seriously, the lady proves who her father is by her resemblance to him. Be happy, my lady, for you resemble an honorable father. and move to one side, still talking. Even if Signor Leonato is her father, she wouldn't want to resemble an old man, no matter how similar she is to him. I'm surprised that you're still talking, Signor Benedick. Nobody's paying attention to you. Oh, it's my dear Lady Scorn! Haven't you died from boredom yet? How could Scorn die when she has such a plentiful supply of food in the form of Signor Benedick? When you're around, even Lady Courtesy must transform into Lady Scorn. Then Lady Courtesy is a traitor. But truly all ladies love me, except you. And I wish I could say that I wasn't so hard-hearted, for I really don't love anyone. What a stroke of good fortune for women. Otherwise they would all be plagued by a terrible suitor. I thank God and my own cold blood that I feel the same way, and don't love anyone. I would rather hear my dog bark at a crow than hear a man swear that he loves me. 2016 LitCharts LLC Follow us: @litcharts v.001 Page 4

God keep your Ladyship still in that mind, so some gentle-man or other shall scape a predestinate scratched face. Scratching could not make it worse an twere such a face as yours were. Well, you are a rare parrot-teacher. A bird of my tongue is better than a beast of yours. 115 I would my horse had the speed of your tongue and so good a continuer. But keep your way, i' God s name. I have done. You always end with a jade s trick. I know you of old. and come forward That is the sum of all, Leonato. Signior Claudio and Signior Benedick, my dear friend Leonato hath invited you all. I tell him we shall stay here at the least a month, and he heartily prays some occasion may detain us longer. I dare swear he is no hypocrite but prays from his heart. If you swear, my lord, you shall not be forsworn. (to DON JOHN) Let me bid you welcome, my lord. Being reconciled to the Prince your brother, I owe you all duty. DON JOHN I thank you. I am not of many words, but I thank you. Please it your Grace lead on? Your hand, Leonato. We will go together. Exeunt. Manent and 130 Benedick, didst thou note the daughter of Signior Leonato? I noted her not, but I looked on her. Is she not a modest young lady? May God preserve you in that state of mind forever, your Ladyship, so that some poor gentleman will escape having his face scratched up. Scratching couldn't make it look any worse, if it's a face like yours. You'd be great at teaching parrots you say the same things over and over. Better a bird that talks like me than a beast tha talks like you unable to say anything at all. I wish my horse was as fast as your tongue, and could go on and on in the same way. But have it your way, for God's sake. I'm done. You always drop out of the horse race before it's over. I know how you are. and come forward. And that's everything that's happened since we last saw each other, Leonato. Signor Claudio and Signor Benedick, my dear friend Leonato has invited you all to stay here. I told him we'll stay for at least a month, and he begged us to stay longer. I dare say that he's not just being polite, but is sincere. If you dare say it, my lord, you won't be lying. (to DON JOHN) Let me welcome you as well, my lord. Now that you and your brother are reconciled, I owe you the same allegiance I owe to Don Pedro. DON JOHN I thank you. I'm a man of few words, but I thank you. Do you want to lead us all inside, your Grace? Give me your hand, Leonato. We'll go together. Everyone exits except for and. Benedick, did you notice Signor Leonato's daughter? I saw her, but I didn't see anything worth noting. Isn't she a well-mannered young lady? 2016 LitCharts LLC Follow us: @litcharts v.001 Page 5