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MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.

PERSONS OF THE DRAMA.

Don Pedro, prince of Arragon,i Don John, his bastard brother.

Ci.audio, a young lord of Florence , favourite toDon Pedro.

Benedick, a young lord of Padua, favourite like-wise of Don Pedro.

Leonato, governor of Messina.

Antonio, his brother.

Balthazar, servant to Don Pedro.

Conrade^ } f°! lowers a - f I)on Juhn -

Dogberry,

Verges,

A Sexton.

A Friar.

A Boy.

Hero, daughter to Leonato.

Beatrice, niece to Leonato.

Ursula^ 1 * } g en ^ ewomenaiien ^ n S 0n ^ er0,Messengers, Watch, and Attendants.

^ two foolish officers.

SCENE,— Messina.

ACT I.

SCENE I .—Before Leonato’s house.

Enter Leonato, Hero, Beatrice, and others,with a Messenger.

Leon. I learn in this letter, that Don Pedroof Arragon comes this night to Messina.

Mess. He is very near hy this ; he was notthree leagues off, when I left him.

Leon. How many gentlemen have you lost inthis action ?

Mess. But few of any sort, and none of name.

Leon. A victory is twice itself, when theachiever brings home full numbers. I find here,that Don Pedro hath bestowed much honour ona young Florentine, called Claudio.

Mess. Much deserved on his part, and equal*ly remembered by Don Pedro: He hath bornehimself beyond the promise of his age; doing,in the figure of a lamb, the feats of a lion: hehath, indeed, better bettered expectation, thanyou must expect of me to tell you how.

Leon. He hath an uncle here in Messina willbe very much glad of it.

Mess. I have already delivered him letters,and there appears much joy in him; even somuch, that joy could not show itself modestenough without a badge of bitterness.

Leon. Did he break out into tears?

Mess. In great measure.

Leon. A kind overflow of kindness: There