Brick Shakespeare: The ComediesA Midsummer Night's Dream, The Tempest, Much Ado About Nothing, and The Taming of the Shrew by John McCann, Monica Sweeney, Becky Thomas Page A
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SEXTON
HERO, daughter to Leonato
BEATRICE, niece to Leonato
MARGARET, waiting gentlewoman attending on Hero
URSULA, waiting gentlewoman attending on Hero
FIRST WATCHMAN
SECOND WATCHMAN
SEACOLE
Not Pictured:
BALTHASAR, attendant on Don Pedro
A Boy
Messengers, Attendants, etc
ACT I. Scene I (82–139).
M uch Ado About Nothing begins with a messenger carrying a letter to the governor of Messina, Leonato. The letter explains that after a long battle, Don Pedro (the Prince of Aragon) and his men will be arriving to Leonato’s home to celebrate their victory. The letter mentions that a Florentine soldier named Claudio—who was given special honors for his role in the battle—will be among the army men. Leonato’s daughter, Hero, and his niece, Beatrice, have been off to the side listening to the exchange with the messenger. Beatrice chimes in, asking the messenger about a particular soldier named Benedick. She proceeds on a long rant about how much she dislikes him, which only serves to prove the opposite. The army of men arrives on the scene, including Don Pedro, Claudio, Benedick, Balthasar, and Don John, Don Pedro’s illegitimate half-brother, whom they call “The Bastard.”
DON PEDRO
Good Signior Leonato, you are come to meet your trouble: the fashion of the world is to avoid cost, and you encounter it.
LEONATO
Never came trouble to my house in the likeness of your grace: for trouble being gone, comfort should remain; but when you depart from me, sorrow abides and happiness takes his leave.
DON PEDRO
You embrace your charge too willingly. I think this is your daughter.
LEONATO
Her mother hath many times told me so.
BENEDICK
Were you in doubt, sir, that you asked her?
LEONATO
Signior Benedick, no; for then were you a child.
DON PEDRO
You have it full, Benedick: we may guess by this what you are, being a man. Truly, the lady fathers herself. Be happy, lady; for you are like an honourable father.
BENEDICK
If Signior Leonato be her father, she would not have his head on her shoulders for all Messina, as like him as she is.
BEATRICE
I wonder that you will still be talking, Signior
Benedick: nobody marks you.
BENEDICK
What, my dear Lady Disdain! are you yet living?
BEATRICE
Is it possible disdain should die while she hath such meet food to feed it as Signior Benedick?
Courtesy itself must convert to disdain, if you come in her presence.
BENEDICK
Then is courtesy a turncoat. But it is certain I am loved of all ladies, only you excepted: and I would I could find in my heart that I had not a hard heart; for, truly, I love none.
BEATRICE
A dear happiness to women: they would else have been troubled with a pernicious suitor. I thank God and my cold blood, I am of your humour for that: I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man swear he loves me.
BENEDICK
God keep your ladyship still in that mind! so some gentleman or other shall ’scape a predestinate scratched face.
BEATRICE
Scratching could not make it worse, an ’twere such a face as yours were.
BENEDICK
Well, you are a rare parrot-teacher.
BEATRICE
A bird of my tongue is better than a beast of yours.
BENEDICK
I would my horse had the speed of your tongue, and so good a continuer. But keep your way, i’ God’s name; I have done.
BEATRICE
You always end with a jade’s trick: I know you of old.
DON PEDRO
That is the sum of all, Leonato. Signior Claudio and Signior Benedick, my dear friend Leonato hath invited you all. I tell him we shall stay here at the least a month; and he heartily prays some occasion may detain us longer. I dare swear he is no hypocrite, but prays from his heart.
LEONATO
If you swear, my lord, you shall not be forsworn.
LEONATO (cont.)
Let me bid you welcome, my lord: being reconciled to the prince your brother, I owe you all duty.
DON JOHN
I thank you: I am not of many words, but I thank you.
LEONATO
Please it your grace lead on?
DON PEDRO
Your hand, Leonato; we
HERO, daughter to Leonato
BEATRICE, niece to Leonato
MARGARET, waiting gentlewoman attending on Hero
URSULA, waiting gentlewoman attending on Hero
FIRST WATCHMAN
SECOND WATCHMAN
SEACOLE
Not Pictured:
BALTHASAR, attendant on Don Pedro
A Boy
Messengers, Attendants, etc
ACT I. Scene I (82–139).
M uch Ado About Nothing begins with a messenger carrying a letter to the governor of Messina, Leonato. The letter explains that after a long battle, Don Pedro (the Prince of Aragon) and his men will be arriving to Leonato’s home to celebrate their victory. The letter mentions that a Florentine soldier named Claudio—who was given special honors for his role in the battle—will be among the army men. Leonato’s daughter, Hero, and his niece, Beatrice, have been off to the side listening to the exchange with the messenger. Beatrice chimes in, asking the messenger about a particular soldier named Benedick. She proceeds on a long rant about how much she dislikes him, which only serves to prove the opposite. The army of men arrives on the scene, including Don Pedro, Claudio, Benedick, Balthasar, and Don John, Don Pedro’s illegitimate half-brother, whom they call “The Bastard.”
DON PEDRO
Good Signior Leonato, you are come to meet your trouble: the fashion of the world is to avoid cost, and you encounter it.
LEONATO
Never came trouble to my house in the likeness of your grace: for trouble being gone, comfort should remain; but when you depart from me, sorrow abides and happiness takes his leave.
DON PEDRO
You embrace your charge too willingly. I think this is your daughter.
LEONATO
Her mother hath many times told me so.
BENEDICK
Were you in doubt, sir, that you asked her?
LEONATO
Signior Benedick, no; for then were you a child.
DON PEDRO
You have it full, Benedick: we may guess by this what you are, being a man. Truly, the lady fathers herself. Be happy, lady; for you are like an honourable father.
BENEDICK
If Signior Leonato be her father, she would not have his head on her shoulders for all Messina, as like him as she is.
BEATRICE
I wonder that you will still be talking, Signior
Benedick: nobody marks you.
BENEDICK
What, my dear Lady Disdain! are you yet living?
BEATRICE
Is it possible disdain should die while she hath such meet food to feed it as Signior Benedick?
Courtesy itself must convert to disdain, if you come in her presence.
BENEDICK
Then is courtesy a turncoat. But it is certain I am loved of all ladies, only you excepted: and I would I could find in my heart that I had not a hard heart; for, truly, I love none.
BEATRICE
A dear happiness to women: they would else have been troubled with a pernicious suitor. I thank God and my cold blood, I am of your humour for that: I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man swear he loves me.
BENEDICK
God keep your ladyship still in that mind! so some gentleman or other shall ’scape a predestinate scratched face.
BEATRICE
Scratching could not make it worse, an ’twere such a face as yours were.
BENEDICK
Well, you are a rare parrot-teacher.
BEATRICE
A bird of my tongue is better than a beast of yours.
BENEDICK
I would my horse had the speed of your tongue, and so good a continuer. But keep your way, i’ God’s name; I have done.
BEATRICE
You always end with a jade’s trick: I know you of old.
DON PEDRO
That is the sum of all, Leonato. Signior Claudio and Signior Benedick, my dear friend Leonato hath invited you all. I tell him we shall stay here at the least a month; and he heartily prays some occasion may detain us longer. I dare swear he is no hypocrite, but prays from his heart.
LEONATO
If you swear, my lord, you shall not be forsworn.
LEONATO (cont.)
Let me bid you welcome, my lord: being reconciled to the prince your brother, I owe you all duty.
DON JOHN
I thank you: I am not of many words, but I thank you.
LEONATO
Please it your grace lead on?
DON PEDRO
Your hand, Leonato; we
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