Much Ado About Nothing

Beatrice
I have brought Count Claudio, whom you
sent me to seek.
Prince
Why, how now, count, wherefore are you sad?
Claudio
Not sad, my lord.
Prince
How then, sick?

No, sure, my lord, my mother cried, but then there
was a star danced, and under that was I born.
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Prince
County Claudio, when mean you to go to church?
Claudio
Tomorrow, my lord. Time goes on crutches
till love have all his rites.
Leonato
Not till Monday, my dear son, which is hence
a just sevennight, and a time too brief, too, to have
all things answer my mind.

Time goes on crutches till love have all his rites

Prince,
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Benedick
I do much wonder that one man, seeing how much
another man is a fool when he dedicates his behaviors
to love, will, after he hath laughed at such shallow follies
in others, become the argument of his own scorn by falling
in love—and such a man is Claudio.

He was wont to speak plain and to the purpose,
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Prince
Come, Balthasar, we’ll hear that song again.
Balthasar
O, good my lord, tax not so bad a voice
To slander music any more than once.
Prince
It is the witness still of excellency
To put a strange face on his own perfection.
I pray thee, sing, and let me woo no more.
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Benedick, coming forward
This can be no trick. The conference was sadly borne;
they have the truth of this from Hero; they seem to pity
the lady. It seems her affections have their full bent.
Love me? Why, it must be requited! I hear how I am
censured. Theysay I will bear myself proudly if
I perceive the love come from her.
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Hero
Now, Ursula, when Beatrice doth come,
As we do trace this alley up and down,
Our talk must only be of Benedick.
When I do name him, let it be thy part
To praise him more than ever man did merit.

What fire is in mine ears?

My talk to thee must be how Benedick
Is sick in love with Beatrice.
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Prince
I do but stay till your marriage be consummate,
and then go I toward Aragon.
Claudio
I’ll bring you thither, my lord, if you’ll vouchsafe me.

Well, everyone can master a grief but he that has it.

Prince
Nay, 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.
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Borachio
Therefore know, I have earned of Don John
a thousand ducats.
Conrade
Is it possible that any villainy should be so dear?
Borachio
Thou shouldst rather ask if it were possible
any villainy should be so rich. For when rich
villains have need of poor ones, poor ones may
make what price they will.
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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,
Nor fortune made such havoc of my means,
Nor my bad life reft me so much of friends,
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Friar, to Claudio
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.

O, what men dare do!
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