No Fear Shakespeare
Much Ado About Nothing
Get this No Fear to go!
Act 1, Scene 1, Page 4
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BEATRICE
Very easily possible. He wears his faith but as the fashion of
his hat; it ever changes with the next block.
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BEATRICE
It’s entirely possible. He’s incredibly
fickle—his affection changes faster than the latest
fashions.
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MESSENGER
I see, lady, the gentleman is not in your books.
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MESSENGER
I can see you don’t like this gentleman.
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BEATRICE
No. An he were, I would burn my study. But I pray you,
who is his companion? Is there no young squarer now that
will make a voyage with him to the devil?
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BEATRICE
No, absolutely not. But please tell me, who’s his best
friend? Isn’t there some new swaggering young ruffian who
will happily go to hell with Benedick?
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MESSENGER
He is most in the company of the right noble Claudio.
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MESSENGER
He spends most of his time with the good, noble Claudio.
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BEATRICE
O Lord, he will hang upon him like a disease! He is sooner
caught than the pestilence, and the taker runs presently
mad. God help the noble Claudio! If he have caught the
Benedick, it will cost him a thousand pound ere a be cured.
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BEATRICE
Oh God, Benedick will plague him like a disease! Benedick is an
infection that’s easy to catch but hard to get rid
of—and he’ll drive you crazy once
you’ve been infected. God help Claudio! If
he’s caught the Benedick, he’ll lose all his
money before he’s cured.
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MESSENGER
I will hold friends with you, lady.
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MESSENGER
I’m going to make sure I stay on your good side,
lady.
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BEATRICE
Do, good friend.
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BEATRICE
Do that, my friend.
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LEONATO
You will never run mad, niece.
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LEONATO
You will never fall victim to Benedick’s charms, my
niece.
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BEATRICE
No, not till a hot January.
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BEATRICE
No, not until we see a hot January.
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MESSENGER
Don Pedro is approached.
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MESSENGER
Don Pedro is here.
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Enter DON PEDRO, Prince of Aragon,
with CLAUDIO,
BENEDICK,BALTHASAR, and
DON JOHN the bastard |
DON PEDRO, Prince of Aragon, enters
with CLAUDIO,
BENEDICK,BALTHASAR, andDON JOHN, the bastard. |
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DON PEDRO
Good Signor Leonato, are you come to meet your trouble?
The fashion of the world is to avoid cost, and you encounter
it.
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DON PEDRO
My dear Signior Leonato, hosting my whole army is such a huge
burden, but you accept it—and me—with open
arms. Most people choose to avoid trouble, but you run to it.
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