Much Ado About Nothing

Share
First folio
Modern text

Definitions

Key line

Enter Claudio, Prince, and three or Enter Claudio, Don Pedro, Balthasar, and three or MA V.iii.1.1
foure with Tapers. four with tapers, all wearing mourningtaper (n.)
candle
MA V.iii.1.2
Clau. CLAUDIO 
Is this the monument of Leonato?Is this the monument of Leonato? MA V.iii.1
Lord. A LORD 
It is my Lord. It is, my lord. MA V.iii.2
CLAUDIO  
Epitaph. (reading from a scroll) MA V.iii.3
Done to death by slanderous tongues,Done to death by slanderous tongues MA V.iii.3
Was the Hero that here lies:Was the Hero that here lies: MA V.iii.4
Death in guerdon of her wrongs,Death, in guerdon of her wrongsguerdon (n.)
[pron: 'gerdn] reward, recompense
MA V.iii.5
Giues her fame which neuer dies:Gives her fame which never dies. MA V.iii.6
So the life that dyed with shame,So the life that died with shame MA V.iii.7
Liues in death with glorious fame.Lives in death with glorious fame. MA V.iii.8
Hang thou there vpon the tombe,Hang thou there upon the tomb MA V.iii.9
Praising her when I am dombe.Praising her when I am dumb. MA V.iii.10
Now musick sound & sing your solemn hymneNow, music, sound, and sing your solemn hymn. MA V.iii.11
Song.BALTHASAR 
Pardon goddesse of the night,Pardon, goddess of the night, MA V.iii.12
Those that slew thy virgin knight,Those that slew thy virgin knight;knight (n.)
devotee, servant, follower [male or female]
MA V.iii.13
For the which with songs of woe,For the which, with songs of woe, MA V.iii.14
Round about her tombe they goe:Round about her tomb they go. MA V.iii.15
Midnight assist our mone, Midnight, assist our moan; MA V.iii.16
helpe vs to sigh and grone.Help us to sigh and groan, MA V.iii.17
Heauily, heauily.Heavily, heavily. MA V.iii.18
Graues yawne and yeelde your dead,Graves yawn and yield your dead,yawn (v.)

old form: yawne
open wide, gape
MA V.iii.19
Till death be vttered,Till death be uttered,utter (v.)

old form: vttered
[unclear meaning] commemorate, express, voice
MA V.iii.20
Heauenly, heauenly.Heavily, heavily. MA V.iii.21
Lo. CLAUDIO 
Now vnto thy bones good night, Now, unto thy bones good night! MA V.iii.22
yeerely will I do this right.Yearly will I do this rite. MA V.iii.23
Prin. DON PEDRO 
Good morrow masters, put your Torches out,Good morrow, masters; put your torches out;morrow (n.)
morning
MA V.iii.24
The wolues haue preied, and looke, the gentle dayThe wolves have preyed, and look, the gentle day,gentle (adj.)
peaceful, calm, free from violence
MA V.iii.25
Before the wheeles of Phoebus, round aboutBefore the wheels of Phoebus, round aboutPhoebus (n.)
[pron: 'feebus] Latin name for Apollo as the sun-god; also called Phoebus Apollo
MA V.iii.26
Dapples the drowsie East with spots of grey:Dapples the drowsy east with spots of grey. MA V.iii.27
Thanks to you all, and leaue vs, fare you well.Thanks to you all, and leave us: fare you well.fare ... well (int.)
goodbye [to an individual]
MA V.iii.28
Clau. CLAUDIO 
Good morrow masters, each his seuerall way.Good morrow, masters: each his several way.several (adj.)

old form: seuerall
various, sundry, respective, individual
MA V.iii.29
Prin. DON PEDRO 
Come let vs hence, and put on other weedes,Come, let us hence, and put on other weeds;weed (n.)
(plural) garments, dress, clothes
MA V.iii.30
And then to Leonatoes we will goe.And then to Leonato's we will go. MA V.iii.31
Clau. CLAUDIO 
And Hymen now with luckier issue speeds,And Hymen now with luckier issue speed'sissue (n.)
outcome, result, consequence(s)
MA V.iii.32
lucky (adj.)
fortunate, successful, prosperous
speed (v.)
meet with success, prosper, flourish
Hymen (n.)
[pron: 'hiymen] Greek god who led a wedding procession; associated with a torch, crown of flowers, and flute
Then this for whom we rendred vp this woe. Than this for whom we rendered up this woe. MA V.iii.33
Exeunt. Exeunt MA V.iii.33
 Previous Act V, Scene III Next  
x

Jump directly to