No Fear Shakespeare

Much Ado About Nothing

William Shakespeare

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Act 5, Scene 1, Page 2

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30

No, no, ’tis all men’s office to speak patience
To those that wring under the load of sorrow,
But no man’s virtue nor sufficiency
To be so moral when he shall endure
The like himself. Therefore give me no counsel.
My griefs cry louder than advertisement.
Every man thinks it’s his duty to advise those who are overwrought with sorrow to be patient. But no man is so moral or so strong that they can endure the same advice when they themselves are grieving. So don’t advise me. My sorrow is crying too loudly to hear what you have to say.

ANTONIO
Therein do men from children nothing differ.
ANTONIO
Well then you’re no better than a child.


35


LEONATO
I pray thee, peace. I will be flesh and blood,
For there was never yet philosopher
That could endure the toothache patiently,
However they have writ the style of gods
And made a push at chance and sufferance.
LEONATO
Please, leave me alone. I intend to be flesh and blood, not airy philosophy, for there has never yet been a philosopher who could endure a toothache patiently, even though they all write as if they had risen above human suffering and misfortune.


40
ANTONIO
Yet bend not all the harm upon yourself.
Make those that do offend you suffer too.
ANTONIO
But don’t take all that pain on yourself. Make sure the ones who have wronged you suffer too.




LEONATO
There thou speak’st reason. Nay, I will do so.
My soul doth tell me Hero is belied,
And that shall Claudio know; so shall the Prince
And all of them that thus dishonor her.
LEONATO
Now you’re talking. I definitely will. In my soul, I believe Hero has been falsely accused. And I’ll make sure that Claudio, the Prince, and anyone else who helped dishonor her know about it.
Enter DON PEDRO andCLAUDIO
DON PEDRO andCLAUDIO enter.

45
ANTONIO
Here comes the Prince and Claudio hastily.
ANTONIO
The Prince and Claudio are hurrying this way.

DON PEDRO
Good e'en, good e'en.
DON PEDRO
Good evening, good evening.

CLAUDIO
    Good day to both of you.
CLAUDIO
Good day to both of you.

LEONATO
Hear you, my lords—
LEONATO
Listen, my lords—

DON PEDRO
    We have some haste, Leonato.
DON PEDRO
We’re in a bit of a hurry, Leonato.

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