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The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 2 of 9]

Chapter 55: Much Ado About Nothing, I, 1.
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About This Book

A collection of five stage plays ranges from playful romantic comedies and pastoral enchantments to sharp social satire and a tense courtroom-like dispute. Interwoven plots hinge on misreadings, disguises, eavesdropping, and staged entertainments that provoke love, humiliation, and reconciliation. Language alternates between brisk, witty dialogue and lyrical passages, with songs, masques, and theatrical setpieces punctuating scenes. Recurring concerns include the nature of love and honor, the gap between appearance and reality, and the clash between law, mercy, and public reputation.

Linenotes-Much Ado About Nothing

Much Ado About Nothing, I, 1.

Scene i. Before L.’s house] Capell. A court before L.’s house. Pope.

Enter...] See note (i).

1, 8: Peter] Q Ff. Pedro Rowe.

8: numbers] number F4.

35: bird-bolt] Theobald. but-bolt Id. conj. burbolt Q Ff.

37: promised] promise F4.

39: be] om. F3 F4.

meet] met Capell.

40: these] Q F1. those F2 F3 F4.

41: Beat.] Mes. F2.

victual] Capell. vittaile Q. victuall F1 F2 F3. victuals F4.

eat] F3 F4. eate Q F2. ease F1.

42: he is] Q. he’s Ff.

50: stuffing,—well,] Theobald (Davenant’s version). stuffing well, Q Ff.

57: warm] from harm Warburton.

58: wealth] wearth Hanmer.

65, 161, 170 and passim. an] Theobald. and Q Ff. if Pope.

73: Benedick] Benedict Q F1.

74: a’] a Q1. he F1. it F2 F3 F4.

77: never] Q. ne’re Ff.

79: Enter ... Don John] Enter ... John the Bastard. Q Ff.

80: Scene ii. Pope.

80, 81: you are...trouble:] Ff. are you...trouble: Q. are you...trouble? Collier.

87: too] Q F1. more F2 F3 F4. most Rowe.

90: sir] Q. om. Ff.

92: we] you Rowe (ed. 2).

110: pernicious] pertinacious Grey conj.

116: were] om. Collier MS.

120: i’] Capell. a Q Ff. o’ Warburton.

124: That...all, Leonato.] That...all: Leonato, Q. This...all: Leonato, Ff. This...all: Don John, Hanmer. See note (ii).

126: tell him] Q F1 F2. tell you F3 F4.

131, 132: Q Ff place a comma after lord and a colon or semicolon after brother.

136: [Exeunt...] Exeunt. Manent ... Q. [Exeunt. Manet... Ff.

137: Scene iii. Pope.

143: their] her Capell conj.

144: pray thee] Q F1 prethee F2 F3 F4.

145: a high] a hie Q F1 F2. an high F3 F4.

154: into] in too Hanmer.

158, 159: ever I] I ever Pope.

162: with a] with such a Rowe (ed. 2).

167: this? In faith] Q Ff. this, in faith? Pope.

172: Re-enter Don Pedro.] Hanmer. Enter Don Pedro, John the bastard. Q Ff.

173: Scene iv. Pope.

174: Leonato’s] Rowe (ed. 2). Leonatoes Q F1 F2. Leonato F3 F4. Leonato’s house Pope.

177: can] cannot F4.

180: With who?] Q F1. With whom? F2 F3 F4.

181: his] the Collier MS.

182, 183: Claud. If ... were it. Bene. Uttered like the old tale ... Johnson conj. See note (iii).

193: spoke] Q. speake F1 F2. speak F3 F4.

205: recheat] rechate Q Ff.

219: hits] first hits Collier MS.

248: Scene v. Pope.

249: to teach] to use S. Walker conj.

267: I will] I’ll Pope.

267, 268: and with her father, And thou shalt have her] Q. Omitted in Ff. restored by Theobald.

269: story] string Lettsom conj.

270: you do] Q. do you Ff.

275: grant] plea Hanmer. ground Collier MS.

grant is] garant’s Anon. conj.

is] Q F1 F2. in F3 F4.

the] to Hayley conj.

282: the] a F4.

286: presently] instantly Capell conj. MS.

Much Ado About Nothing, I, 2.

Scene ii.] Capell.

A room in L.’s house] Capell. See note (iv).

Enter...] Enter L. and an old man brother to L. Q Ff. Re-enter A. and L. Pope.

4: strange] Q. om. Ff.

6: event] F2 F3 F4 events Q F1.

8: mine orchard] Q. my orchard Ff.

9: thus much] Q. thus Ff.

12: he meant] Q F1 F2 F3. meant F4.

18: withal] Theobald. withall Q F1 F2. with all F3 F4.

19: an]Q F1. om. F2 F3 F4.

20: Enter attendants] Edd. Several cross the stage here. Theobald. Enter several persons, bearing things for the Banquet. Capell.

23: cousin] cousins Steevens.

Much Ado About Nothing, I. 3.

Scene iii.] Capell. Scene vi. Pope.

1: good-year] good-yeere Q. good yeere F1 F2. good year F3 F4. good-jer Theobald. goujeres Hanmer. goujere Steevens.

4: breeds] breeds it. Theobald.

7: brings] Q. bringeth Ff.

8: at least] Q. yet Ff.

10: moral] morall Q F1. mortall F2 F3 F4.

16: the full] full S. Walker conj. who would print lines 16–21 as verses, ending this...controlement ... brother...grace...root...yourself...season...harvest.

17: of late] till of late Collier MS.

19: true] Q. om. Ff.

23: in his grace] by his grace Johnson conj. in his garden Id. conj. (withdrawn).

27: muzzle] mussell Q F1 F2 F3. muzzel F4.

33: I make] Q. I will make Ff.

36: came] come Capell conj.

47: on] Ff. one Q.

48: came] Q F1. come F2 F3 F4.

49: to this?] to know this? Johnson.

52: whipt me] Q. whipt Ff.

59: me?] Ff. me. Q.

Much Ado About Nothing, II. 1.

Act ii. See note (v).

Scene i. A hall...] Theobald. L.’s House. Pope. See note (vi).

Enter...] Enter L., his brother, his wife, Hero his daughter and Beatrice his niece and a kinsman. Q Ff. (and kinsman F3 F4). See note (i).

15: a’] Collier. a Q. he Ff.

26: the woollen] woollen Rowe (ed. 2).

27: on] Q. upon Ff.

34: bear-ward] Collier. Berrord Q F1 F2. Bearherd F3 F4.

35: hell?] Hanmer. hell. Q Ff. hell,—Theobald.

35–41: Put in the margin as spurious by Warburton.

37: horns] his horns F4.

40: Peter for the heavens;] Pope. Peter: for the heavens, Q Ff. Peter. for the heavens! Staunton.

44, 47: courtesy] cursie Q. curtsie Ff.

45: Father] Q. om. Ff.

47: please] Q F1. pleases F2 F3 F4.

52: an account] Q. account Ff.

53: wayward] cold wayward F3 F4.

54: my] om. F3 F4.

59: important] importunate Rowe (ed. 2).

61: hear] here Q.

62: as] om. Rowe.

65: ancientry] aunchentry Q F1 F2. anchentry F3 F4.

67: sink] sincke Q. sinkes F1 F2. sinks F3 F4. sink apace Collier MS. See note (v).

72: All...masks] L. and his company mask. Capell.

73: Scene ii. Pope.

Enter...masked.] Enter Prince, Pedro, Claudio, and Benedicke, and Balthasar, or dumb John. Q. Enter...John, Maskers with a drum. Ff.

82–85: Printed as two verses by Grant White.

83: Jove] Q. Love F1. love F2 F3 F4.

84, 85: Hero...thatch’d. D. Pedro...love] Hero...thatch’d. Speak...speak, Jove. Anon. conj.

85: D. Pedro] Marg. Heath conj. [Drawing her aside] Capell.

86, 89, 91: These lines are given to Benedick in Q Ff. Theobald gives them to Balthasar.

87: Marg.] Mas. F4. See note (viii.)

90: Marg.] Mask. F4.

91: [Turning off in quest of another. Capell.

96: [Parting different ways. Capell.

101: ill-well] Theobald. ill well Q Ff. ill Will Rowe. ill, well Pope.

106: mum,] mumme, Q Ff. mummer, Anon. conj.

107: [Mixing with the company. Capell.

110: not tell] Q F1. tell F2 F3 F4.

116: Beat.] om. F2.

121: impossible] impassible Warburton.

123: pleases] Q. pleaseth Ff.

131: [Music] Musick within. Theobald. [Musick begins: Dance forming. Capell.

135: [Dance......Claudio] Dance. Exeunt. Q. [Exeunt. Musicke for the dance. Ff. [Exeunt. Manent Don. J., B. and C. Warburton. [Dance: and exeunt D. Ped. and Leo. conversing...Capell.

136: Scene iii. Pope.

146: you] ye Theobald.

152: these] this F3 F4.

156: their] your Hanmer.

158: for] om. Pope.

161: therefore] then Pope.

167: county] Q. Count Ff.

of] Q F4. off F1 F2 F3.

168: an] a F4.

172: drovier] Q Ff. drover Rowe (ed. 2)

176: Ho! now] Ho now Q F1. Ho no! F2 F3. No no! F4.

179: fowl] foule Q. fowle F1. soule F2. soul F3 F4.

181: Ha?] F2 F3 F4. hah, Q. Hah? F1.

182: Yea] Q F1. you F2. yet F3 F4.

182, 3: so...wrong;] so; (but...wrong) Capell.

183: base,] bare Anon. conj.

184: though bitter] the bitter Steevens (Johnson conj.). tough, bitter Jackson conj. through-bitter Anon. conj.

world] word F3 F4.

187: Scene iv. Pope.

Re-enter Don Pedro.] Enter the Prince. Ff. Enter the Prince, Hero, Leonato, John and Borachio, and Conrade. Q.

191: I told] Q. told Ff.

192: good] Q. om. Ff.

this] his S. Walker conj.

194: up] Q. om. Ff.

198, 205: birds’] birds Q Ff. bird’s Rowe (ed. 2).

214: but with] with but Capell conj.

217: that] Q. and that Ff.

218: impossible] impassable Theobald (Warburton). See note (ix). impetuous Hanmer. importable Johnson conj. imposeable Becket conj. unportable Collier MS. impitiable Jackson.

222: her terminations] Q. terminations Ff. her minations S. Walker conj.

223: to the north] the north Warburton conj.

225: left] lent Collier MS.

228: the infernal] in the infernal F3 F4.

233: follows] follow Pope.

235: Scene v. Pope.

240: off] of Collier. See note (x).

242: You have] Have you Collier MS.

245: my Lady Tongue.] Q. this Lady Tongue F1. this lady’s tongue F2 F3 F4.

249: his] Q. a Ff.

263: civil count] civil, count Theobald.

264: that jealous] Q. a jealous Ff. as jealous a Collier MS.

266: I’ll] Q F1. I F2 F3 F4.

268, 269: and his...obtained:] Pope. and his...obtained, Q Ff. and, his...obtained, Collier.

284: her] Q. my Ff.

287: to] through Jackson conj.

world] wood Johnson conj.

288: heigh-ho for a husband!] See note (xi).

299: of] Ff. a Q. o’ Edd. conj.

302: was I] Q F1 F2. I was F3 F4.

308: Scene vi. Pope.

pleasant-spirited] Theobald. pleasant spirited Q Ff.

311: ever] even Anon. conj.

312: unhappiness] an happiness Theobald.

320: County] Countie Q. Counte F1. Count F2 F3 F4.

326: my] Q. om. Ff. our Collier MS.

331: mountain] mooting Johnson conj.

mountain of affection] mounting affection of Becket conj.

331, 332: the...the] th’...th’ Q Ff.

333: but] om. Pope.

350: in] om. F3 F4.

Much Ado About Nothing, II. 2.

Scene ii.] Scene vii. Pope.

The same] Edd. Scene changes. Pope. Scene changes to another apartment in L.’s house. Theobald.

30: Don] Q. on Ff.

33: in love] Q. in a love Ff.

33–35: as,—in...maid,—that] Capell, (as in...match)...maid, that Q Ff.

36: scarcely] hardly Rowe.

39: Claudio] Borachio Pope, ed. 2 (Theobald). See note (xii).

41: so] om. F3 F4.

43: truth] Q. truths Ff. proofs Collier MS.

Hero’s] her Capell.

48: you] Q, Capell. thou Ff.

Much Ado About Nothing, II. 3.

Scene iii.] Scene viii. Pope.

Enter Benedick.] Collier. Enter Benedick alone. Q Ff. Enter B. and a Boy. Rowe. Enter B. and a Boy following. Staunton.

1: Enter Boy.] Collier, om. Q Ff.

7: [Exit Boy.] Exit. Q. Ff (after line 5).

18: orthography] Ff. ortography Q. orthographer Rowe (ed. 2). orthographist Capell conj.

22: an] and Q.

27–30: See note (xiii).

29: I] Q. om. Ff.

33: Scene ix. Pope.

Enter......Leonato] Capell. Enter prince, Leonato, Claudio, Musicke. Q. Enter Prince, L., C. and Jacke Wilson. Ff.

38: kid-fox] cade fox Hanmer. hid fox Warburton.

Enter...Music] Q. om. Ff.

40: tax] task Capell conj.

41, 42: F1 repeats these lines in the turn of the page.

45–56: Put into the margin as spurious by Pope.

53: nothing] Q Ff. noting Theobald.

65: moe] Q F1. more F2 F3 F4.

66: Of] Or Collier MS.

67: fraud...was] Q. fraud...were Ff. frauds...were Pope.

68: leavy] leafy Pope.

72: no, no] ne no F4.

no, faith;] no; faith, Collier.

74: An] Capell. And Q Ff. If Pope.

76: lief] live Q.

79: us] om. Rowe.

night] om. Pope.

82: [Exit B.] Exeunt Bal. and Musick. Capell. See note (xiv).

93, 94: it,...affection;] it,...affection, Q Ff. it;...affection, Pope. it;...affection,— Capell.

94: infinite] definite Warburton.

100: this] Q F1. the F2 F3 F4.

102: tell you] tell Capell.

124: paper] paper full Collier MS.

126: us of] of us Q.

127: was] om. F3 F4.

128: over] ever F2.

sheet?] Capell. sheet. Q Ff. sheets. Collier MS.

133: for] om. Rowe.

136: prays, curses] prays, cries Collier MS. curses, prays Halliwell.

140: afeard] Q Ff. afraid Rowe.

144: make but] Q. but make Ff.

146: alms] alms-deed Collier MS.

156: daffed] Johnson. daft Q Ff. dofft Pope. dafft Theobald.

158: a’] a Q. he Ff.

166: contemptible] contemptuous Hanmer.

169: Before] Q. ’Fore Ff.

172: Claud.] Q. Leon. Ff.

174: say] Q. see Ff.

175: most] Q. om. Ff.

177–182: Leon. If he...make.] Put into the margin as spurious by Pope.

177: a’ must] a must Q Ff. he must Rowe.

183: seek] Q. see Ff.

184: wear] wait Rowe (ed. i).

190: see] shew Rowe (ed. i).

191: unworthy] Q. unworthy to have Ff.

196: gentlewomen] Q. gentlewoman Ff.

197: one an opinion of another’s] an opinion of one another’s Pope.

200: in to] Q F4. into F1 F2 F3. to Rowe (ed. i).

201: Scene x. Pope.

204: their] Q. the Ff.

214: have] to have Rowe.

215: remnants] Q F1. remains F2 F3 F4.

217: youth...age] age...youth Collier MS.

224: in to] into F3.

225: dinner] See note (xv).

232: knife’s] Pope. knives Q Ff.

choke] not choke Collier MS.

235: in to] into F1.

238: is] are Hanmer.