No Fear Shakespeare

Much Ado About Nothing

William Shakespeare

Get this No Fear to go!

Act 3, Scene 3, Page 2

Original Text

Modern Text


you shall comprehend all vagrom men; you are to bid any
man stand, in the Prince’s name.
you will comprehend any vagrant men you see. You are to order all men to stop, in the Prince’s name.

SECOND WATCHMAN
How if he will not stand?
SECOND WATCHMAN
And what if he won’t stop?


25
DOGBERRY
Why, then, take no note of him, but let him go and
presently call the rest of the watch together and thank God
you are rid of a knave.
DOGBERRY
Well then, don’t bother with him and let him go. Then immediately call the rest of the watch together and thank God that you’ve gotten rid of such a criminal.


VERGES
If he will not stand when he is bidden, he is none of the
Prince’s subjects.
VERGES
If he won’t stop when he’s told to, then he isn’t one of the Prince’s subjects.


30

DOGBERRY
True, and they are to meddle with none but the Prince’s
subjects.—You shall also make no noise in the streets; for,
for the watch to babble and to talk is most tolerable and not
to be endured.
DOGBERRY
True, and you aren’t supposed to meddle with anyone but the Prince’s subjects. You will also stay quiet in the streets, for a babbling watch is most tolerable and will not be endured.


WATCHMAN
We will rather sleep than talk. We know what belongs to a
watch.
WATCHMAN
We’ll sleep instead of talk. We know what’s appropriate for a watch.

35


DOGBERRY
Why, you speak like an ancient and most quiet watchman,
for I cannot see how sleeping should offend. Only have a
care that your bills be not stolen. Well, you are to call at all
the alehouses and bid those that are drunk get them to bed.
DOGBERRY
Why, you speak like an experienced and quiet watchman. Sleeping on the watch shouldn’t be a problem; just make sure that your weapons don’t get stolen. Also, you’re supposed to visit all the bars and tell anyone who’s drunk to go home and go to bed.

WATCHMAN
How if they will not?
WATCHMAN
And what if they won’t go?

40

DOGBERRY
Why, then, let them alone till they are sober. If they make
you not then the better answer, you may say they are not the
men you took them for.
DOGBERRY
Well then, leave them alone until they’re sober. If even then they don’t answer to your satisfaction, you can say that they’re not the men you thought they were.

WATCHMAN
Well, sir.
WATCHMAN
Very good, sir.

More Help

Read the Much Ado About Nothing SparkNote

Summary, analysis, themes, essay topics, and more

Download the iPhone app

Download No Fear Shakespeare for iPhone®/iPod touch™ from iTunes for $.99

Buy No Fear Much Ado About Nothing at BN.com

Get the No Fear Shakespeare you can hold in your hand at BN.com

EVEN MORE HELP! ↓

Take a Study Break

Green YOUR SCHOOL!

Click here to get involved with dosomething.org!

John Krasinski's BIG MIRACLE

Click to watch the trailer and read exclusive star interviews!

Do you like Anna?

Read Dear Albert... from ANNA's perspective!

BATTLESHIP, the movie

Here's why we're super jazzed about it.