VILLE DE LYON Biblioth. du Palais des Arts

ml.

F.Hayman

: H Gravelet Sculpo. MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. Act 4.Sc.i.

MUCH A DO

A BOUT

N O T H I N G.

DRAMATIS PERSON Æ.

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,} two foolip Oficers.

Hero, Daughter to LEONATO.
Beatrice, Néice to LEONATO.
MARGARET, 1

BT;}

two Gentlewomen attending on Hero. URSULA,

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

SCENE Messina.

The Story from Ariosto, Orl. Fur. l. 5.

MUCH

Much ADO ABOUT NOTHING.

ACT 1. SCENE I.

A Court before Leonato's House.
Enter Leonato, Hero, and Beatrice, with a Messenger.

L E O NATO.
Learn in this letter, that Don Pedro of Arragon comes this
night to Messina.

Mel. 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? Mes. 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.

Mej. 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 Mefina will be very much glad of it.

Mel. 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.

Leon. Did he break out into tears?
Mel. In great measure.

Leon.