MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
by William Shakespeare
Contents
Dramatis Personæ
DON PEDRO, Prince of Arragon.
DON JOHN, his bastard Brother.
CLAUDIO, a young Lord of Florence.
BENEDICK, a young Lord of Padua.
LEONATO, Governor of Messina.
ANTONIO, his Brother.
BALTHASAR, Servant to Don Pedro.
BORACHIO, follower of Don John.
CONRADE, follower of Don John.
DOGBERRY, a Constable.
VERGES, a Headborough.
FRIAR FRANCIS.
A Sexton.
A Boy.
HERO, Daughter to Leonato.
BEATRICE, Niece to Leonato.
MARGARET, Waiting gentlewoman attending on Hero.
URSULA, Waiting gentlewoman attending on Hero.
Messengers, Watch, Attendants, &c.
SCENE. Messina.
ACT I
SCENE I. Before Leonato’s House.
Enter Leonato, Hero, Beatrice and others, with aMessenger.
LEONATO.
I learn in this letter that Don Pedro of Arragon comes this night to Messina.
MESSENGER.
He is very near by this: he was not three leagues off when I left him.
LEONATO.
How many gentlemen have you lost in this action?
MESSENGER.
But few of any sort, and none of name.
LEONATO.
A victory is twice itself when the achiever brings home full numbers. I findhere that Don Pedro hath bestowed much honour