No Fear Shakespeare

Much Ado About Nothing

William Shakespeare

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Act 3, Scene 2

Original Text

Modern Text

Enter DON PEDRO, CLAUDIO BENEDICK, and LEONATO
DON PEDRO, CLAUDIO,BENEDICK, and LEONATO enter.


DON PEDRO
I do but stay till your marriage be consummate, and then go
I toward Aragon.
DON PEDRO
I’ll stay in Messina until you’re married, and then I’ll go to Aragon.

CLAUDIO
I’ll bring you thither, my lord, if you’ll vouchsafe me.
CLAUDIO
I’ll go with you, my lord, if you’ll allow me.


5




10
DON PEDRO
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. 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.
DON PEDRO
No, taking you away from your new marriage would be like showing a child a new coat and then not letting him wear it. I’ll ask only Benedick to come with me, for from the top of his head to the soles of his feet he’s a joker. He’s evaded love once or twice, and since then Cupid doesn’t dare to shoot at him. Benedick’s heart is like a bell, with his tongue as the clapper: everything his heart thinks, his tongue speaks.

BENEDICK
Gallants, I am not as I have been.
BENEDICK
Gentleman, I am not the same man I was before.

LEONATO
So say I. Methinks you are sadder.
LEONATO
I agree. I think you seem more serious.

CLAUDIO
I hope he be in love.
CLAUDIO
I hope he’s in love.

15
DON PEDRO
Hang him, truant! There’s no true drop of blood in him to
be truly touched with love. If he be sad, he wants money.
DON PEDRO
Come off it, man! There isn’t a single drop of sincerity in him that could be touched with love. If he looks serious, he must need money.

BENEDICK
I have the toothache.
BENEDICK
I have a toothache.

DON PEDRO
Draw it.
DON PEDRO

BENEDICK
Hang it!
BENEDICK

20
CLAUDIO
You must hang it first, and draw it afterwards.
CLAUDIO
You have to hang it first. Then you can draw it.

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