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VILLE DE LYON Biblioth, du Palais des Arts

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MUCH ADO

ABOUT

·NOTHING.

DRAMATIS PERSONA.

DON PEDRO, Prince of Arragon.

LEONATO, Governour of Messina.

Don John, Bastard-Brother to Don PEDRO.

CLAUDIO, a young Lord of Florence, Favourite to Don PEDRO. BENEDICK, a young Lord of Padua, favour'd likewise by Don

PEDRO.

BALTHAZAR, Servant to Don PEDRO.

ANTONIO, Brother to LEONATO.

BORACHIO, Confident to Don JOHN.
CONRADE, Friend to BORACHIO.
DOGBERRY,
VERGES,

ERRY,} two foolish officers.

HERO, Daughter to LEONATO.

BEATRICE, Neice to LEONATO.

MARGARET, two Gentlewomen attending on Hero.

URSULA,

HERO.

A Friar, Mefsfenger, Watch, Town-Clerk, Sexton, and Attendants.

SCENE Messina.

The Story from ARIOSTO, Orl. Fur. 1. 5.

MUCH

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.

ACT I. SCENE I.

A Court before Leonato's House.

Enter Leonato, Hero, and Beatrice, with a Messsenger.

I

LEONATо.

Learn in this letter, that Don Pedro of Arragon comes this night to Messina.

Meff. He is very near by this; he was not three leagues off when I left him.

Leon. How many gentlemen have you lost in this action?

Meff. But few of any fort, and none of name.

Leon. A victory is twice itself, when the atchiever brings home full numbers; I find here, that Don Pedro hath bestowed much honour on a young Florentine, call'd Claudio.

Meff. Much deserved on his part, and equally remembred by Don Pedro: he hath born himself beyond the promise of his age, doing in the figure of a lamb the feats of a lion: he hath, indeed, better better'd expectation, than you must expect of me to tell you how.

Leon. He hath an uncle here in Messina will be very much glad of it.

Meff. I have already delivered him letters, and there appears much joy in him; even so much, that joy could not show itself modeft enough, without a badge of bitterness.

Leon. Did he break out into tears?

Meff. In great measure.

Leon..

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