Much Ado About Nothing

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Enter Hero and two Gentlemen, Margaret, and Vrsula. Enter Hero and two gentlewomen (Margaret and Ursula) MA III.i.1
Hero. HERO 
Good Margaret runne thee to the parlour,Good Margaret, run thee to the parlour; MA III.i.1
There shalt thou finde my Cosin Beatrice,There shalt thou find my cousin Beatrice MA III.i.2
Proposing with the Prince and Claudio,Proposing with the Prince and Claudio.propose (v.)
converse, discourse, hold forth
MA III.i.3
Whisper her eare, and tell her I and Vrsula,Whisper her ear, and tell her I and Ursula MA III.i.4
Walke in the Orchard, and our whole discourseWalk in the orchard, and our whole discourseorchard (n.)
garden
MA III.i.5
Is all of her, say that thou ouer-heardst vs,Is all of her; say that thou overheardst us, MA III.i.6
And bid her steale into the pleached bower,And bid her steal into the pleached bower,pleached (adj.)
with hedges made of interlaced branches
MA III.i.7
Where hony-suckles ripened by the sunne,Where honeysuckles, ripened by the sun, MA III.i.8
Forbid the sunne to enter: like fauourites,Forbid the sun to enter – like favourites, MA III.i.9
Made proud by Princes, that aduance their pride,Made proud by princes, that advance their pride MA III.i.10
Against that power that bred it, there will she hide her,Against that power that bred it. There will she hide her,power (n.)
authority, government
MA III.i.11
To listen our purpose, this is thy office,To listen our propose. This is thy office;office (n.)
task, service, duty, responsibility
MA III.i.12
propose (n.)
conversation, discourse, purposes
Beare thee well in it, and leaue vs alone. Bear thee well in it, and leave us alone. MA III.i.13
Marg. MARGARET 
Ile make her come I warrant you presently. I'll make her come, I warrant you, presently.presently (adv.)
immediately, instantly, at once
MA III.i.14
warrant (v.)
assure, promise, guarantee, confirm
Exit MA III.i.14
Hero. HERO 
Now Vrsula, when Beatrice doth come,Now, Ursula, when Beatrice doth come, MA III.i.15
As we do trace this alley vp and downe,As we do trace this alley up and down,trace (v.)
range over, pass through, traverse
MA III.i.16
Our talke must onely be of Benedicke,Our talk must only be of Benedick; MA III.i.17
When I doe name him, let it be thy part,When I do name him, let it be thy part MA III.i.18
To praise him more then euer man did merit,To praise him more than ever man did merit. MA III.i.19
My talke to thee must be how BenedickeMy talk to thee must be how Benedick MA III.i.20
Is sicke in loue with Beatrice: of this matter,Is sick in love with Beatrice. Of this matter MA III.i.21
Is little Cupids crafty arrow made,Is little Cupid's crafty arrow made,crafty (adj.)
skilfully made, cleverly designed
MA III.i.22
Cupid (n.)
[pron: 'kyoopid] Roman god of love, son of Venus and Mercury; a winged, blindfolded boy with curved bow and arrows
That onely wounds by heare-say: now begin,That only wounds by hearsay. Now begin; MA III.i.23
Enter Beatrice.Enter Beatrice secretively. She slips into the bower MA III.i.23
For looke where Beatrice like a Lapwing runsFor look where Beatrice, like a lapwing, runslapwing (n.)
type of plover [bird with wily methods of escaping the notice of predators; associated with amorous intrigue]
MA III.i.24
Close by the ground, to heare our conference.Close by the ground, to hear our conference.conference (n.)
conversation, talk, discourse
MA III.i.25
Vrs. URSULA  
(to Hero) MA III.i.26
The pleasant'st angling is to see the fishThe pleasant'st angling is to see the fish MA III.i.26
Cut with her golden ores the siluer streame,Cut with her golden oars the silver stream, MA III.i.27
And greedily deuoure the treacherous baite:And greedily devour the treacherous bait; MA III.i.28
So angle we for Beatrice, who euen now,So angle we for Beatrice, who even now MA III.i.29
Is couched in the wood-bine couerture,Is couched in the woodbine coverture.woodbine (n.)

old form: wood-bine
honeysuckle
MA III.i.30
coverture (n.)

old form: couerture
shelter, canopied bower, covered retreat
Feare you not my part of the Dialogue.Fear you not my part of the dialogue. MA III.i.31
Her. HERO  
(to Ursula) MA III.i.32
Then go we neare her that her eare loose nothing,Then go we near her, that her ear lose nothing MA III.i.32
Of the false sweete baite that we lay for it:Of the false sweet bait that we lay for it.false (adj.)
sham, spurious, not genuine, artificial
MA III.i.33
They approach the bower MA III.i.33
No truely Vrsula, she is too disdainfull,No, truly, Ursula, she is too disdainful; MA III.i.34
I know her spirits are as coy and wilde,I know her spirits are as coy and wildcoy (adj.)
unresponsive, distant, standoffish, disdainful
MA III.i.35
As Haggerds of the rocke.As haggards of the rock.haggard (n.)

old form: Haggerds
[falconry] wild hawk
MA III.i.36.1
Vrsula. URSULA 
But are you sure,But are you sure MA III.i.36.2
That Benedicke loues Beatrice so intirely?That Benedick loves Beatrice so entirely?entirely (adv.)

old form: intirely
sincerely, heartily
MA III.i.37
Her. HERO 
So saies the Prince, and my new trothed Lord.So says the Prince and my new-trothed lord.new-trothed (adj.)

old form: new trothed
recently engaged
MA III.i.38
Vrs. URSULA 
And did they bid you tell her of it, Madam?And did they bid you tell her of it, madam? MA III.i.39
Her. HERO 
They did intreate me to acquaint her of it,They did entreat me to acquaint her of it; MA III.i.40
But I perswaded them, if they lou'd Benedicke,But I persuaded them, if they loved Benedick, MA III.i.41
To wish him wrastle with affection,To wish him wrestle with affection,affection (n.)
emotion, feeling
MA III.i.42
And neuer to let Beatrice know of it.And never to let Beatrice know of it. MA III.i.43
Vrsula. URSULA 
Why did you so, doth not the GentlemanWhy did you so? Doth not the gentleman MA III.i.44
Deserue as full as fortunate a bed,Deserve as full as fortunate a bed MA III.i.45
As euer Beatrice shall couch vpon?As ever Beatrice shall couch upon? MA III.i.46
Hero. HERO 
O God of loue! I know he doth deserue,O god of love! I know he doth deserve MA III.i.47
As much as may be yeelded to a man:As much as may be yielded to a man; MA III.i.48
But Nature neuer fram'd a womans heart,But Nature never framed a woman's heart MA III.i.49
Of prowder stuffe then that of Beatrice:Of prouder stuff than that of Beatrice. MA III.i.50
Disdaine and Scorne ride sparkling in her eyes,Disdain and scorn ride sparkling in her eyes, MA III.i.51
Mis-prizing what they looke on, and her witMisprizing what they look on, and her witmisprise (v.)

old form: Mis-prizing
despise, undervalue, scorn
MA III.i.52
wit (n.)
mental sharpness, acumen, quickness, ingenuity
Values it selfe so highly, that to herValues itself so highly that to her MA III.i.53
All matter else seemes weake: she cannot loue,All matter else seems weak. She cannot love,matter (n.)
subject-matter, content, substance
MA III.i.54
weak (adj.)

old form: weake
of little worth, wanting, deficient
Nor take no shape nor proiect of affection,Nor take no shape nor project of affection,project (n.)

old form: proiect
conception, idea, notion
MA III.i.55
shape (n.)
appearance, aspect, visible form
Shee is so selfe indeared.She is so self-endeared.self-endeared (adj.)

old form: selfe indeared
in love with herself
MA III.i.56.1
Vrsula. URSULA 
Sure I thinke so,Sure, I think so; MA III.i.56.2
And therefore certainely it were not goodAnd therefore, certainly, it were not good MA III.i.57
She knew his loue, lest she make sport at it.She knew his love, lest she make sport at it.sport (n.)
recreation, amusement, entertainment
MA III.i.58
Hero. HERO 
Why you speake truth, I neuer yet saw man,Why, you speak truth. I never yet saw man, MA III.i.59
How wise, how noble, yong, how rarely featur'd.How wise, how noble, young, how rarely featured,rarely (adv.)
splendidly, beautifully, excellently
MA III.i.60
But she would spell him backward: if faire fac'd,But she would spell him backward. If fair-faced,spell backward
misrepresent, distort, conjure up a bad image of
MA III.i.61
She would sweare the gentleman should be her sister:She would swear the gentleman should be her sister; MA III.i.62
If blacke, why Nature drawing of an anticke,If black, why, Nature, drawing of an antic,nature (n.)
natural order, ungoverned state, way of the world [often personified]
MA III.i.63
black (adj.)

old form: blacke
dark-complexioned, swarthy
antic, antick(e), antique (n.)
grotesque figure, grinning jester, buffoon
Made a foule blot: if tall, a launce ill headed:Made a foul blot; if tall, a lance ill-headed; MA III.i.64
If low, an agot very vildlie cut:If low, an agate very vilely cut;agate (n.)

old form: agot
dwarf, midget [as of a tiny figure carved in an agate-seal]
MA III.i.65
If speaking, why a vane blowne with all windes:If speaking, why, a vane blown with all winds; MA III.i.66
If silent, why a blocke moued with none.If silent, why, a block moved with none. MA III.i.67
So turnes she euery man the wrong side out,So turns she every man the wrong side out, MA III.i.68
And neuer giues to Truth and Vertue, thatAnd never gives to truth and virtue that MA III.i.69
Which simplenesse and merit purchaseth.Which simpleness and merit purchaseth.purchase (v.)
deserve, earn, merit
MA III.i.70
simpleness (n.)

old form: simplenesse
integrity, honesty, honour
Vrsu. URSULA 
Sure, sure, such carping is not commendable.Sure, sure, such carping is not commendable. MA III.i.71
Hero. HERO 
No, not to be so odde, and from all fashions,No, not to be so odd and from all fashions MA III.i.72
As Beatrice is, cannot be commendable,As Beatrice is, cannot be commendable; MA III.i.73
But who dare tell her so? if I should speake,But who dare tell her so? If I should speak, MA III.i.74
She would mocke me into ayre, O she would laugh meShe would mock me into air; O, she would laugh me MA III.i.75
Out of my selfe, presse me to death with wit,Out of myself, press me to death with wit!wit (n.)
mental sharpness, acumen, quickness, ingenuity
MA III.i.76
Therefore let Benedicke like couered fire,Therefore let Benedick, like covered fire, MA III.i.77
Consume away in sighes, waste inwardly:Consume away in sighs, waste inwardly. MA III.i.78
It were a better death, to die with mockes,It were a better death than die with mocks,mock (n.)

old form: mockes
act of mockery, mocking remark, derisive action, scornful irony
MA III.i.79
Which is as bad as die with tickling.Which is as bad as die with tickling. MA III.i.80
Vrsu. URSULA 
Yet tell her of it, heare what shee will say.Yet tell her of it; hear what she will say. MA III.i.81
Hero. HERO 
No, rather I will goe to Benedicke,No; rather I will go to Benedick MA III.i.82
And counsaile him to fight against his passion,And counsel him to fight against his passion. MA III.i.83
And truly Ile deuise some honest slanders,And, truly, I'll devise some honest slandershonest (adj.)
innocent, well-intentioned, innocuous
MA III.i.84
To staine my cosin with, one doth not know,To stain my cousin with. One doth not know MA III.i.85
How much an ill word may impoison liking.How much an ill word may empoison liking.empoison (v.)

old form: impoison
poison, corrupt, destroy
MA III.i.86
ill (adj.)
bad, adverse, unfavourable
Vrsu. URSULA 
O doe not doe your cosin such a wrong,O, do not do your cousin such a wrong! MA III.i.87
She cannot be so much without true iudgement,She cannot be so much without true judgement – MA III.i.88
Hauing so swift and excellent a witHaving so swift and excellent a witwit (n.)
intelligence, wisdom, good sense, mental ability
MA III.i.89
As she is prisde to haue, as to refuseAs she is prized to have – as to refuseprize (v.)

old form: prisde
esteem, value, hold
MA III.i.90
So rare a Gentleman as signior Benedicke.So rare a gentleman as Signor Benedick.rare (adj.)
marvellous, splendid, excellent
MA III.i.91
Hero. HERO 
He is the onely man of Italy,He is the only man of Italy, MA III.i.92
Alwaies excepted, my deare Claudio.Always excepted my dear Claudio. MA III.i.93
Vrsu. URSULA 
I pray you be not angry with me, Madame,I pray you be not angry with me, madam, MA III.i.94
Speaking my fancy: Signior Benedicke,Speaking my fancy; Signor Benedick,fancy (n.)
imagination, mind, mental state
MA III.i.95
For shape, for bearing argument and valour,For shape, for bearing, argument and valour,argument (n.)
power of reasoning, keenness in debate
MA III.i.96
Goes formost in report through Italy.Goes foremost in report through Italy.report (n.)
reputation, fame, renown
MA III.i.97
Hero. HERO 
Indeed he hath an excellent good name.Indeed, he hath an excellent good name. MA III.i.98
Vrsu. URSULA 
His excellence did earne it ere he had it:His excellence did earn it ere he had it. MA III.i.99
When are you married Madame?When are you married, madam? MA III.i.100
Hero. HERO 
Why euerie day to morrow, come goe in,Why, every day, tomorrow. Come, go in; MA III.i.101
Ile shew thee some attires, and haue thy counsell,I'll show thee some attires, and have thy counselattire (n.)
head-dress
MA III.i.102
Which is the best to furnish me to morrow.Which is the best to furnish me tomorrow.furnish (v.)
dress, clothe, equip, fit out
MA III.i.103
Vrsu. URSULA 
(to Hero) MA III.i.104.1
Shee's tane I warrant you, / We haue caught her Madame?She's limed, I warrant you; we have caught her, madam.lime (v.)
trap, snare, catch [as if by using birdlime]
MA III.i.104
warrant (v.)
assure, promise, guarantee, confirm
Hero. HERO 
(to Ursula) MA III.i.105.1
If it proue so, then louing goes by haps,If it prove so, then loving goes by haps;hap (n.)
luck, chance, accident
MA III.i.105
Some Cupid kills with arrowes, some with traps. Some Cupid kills with arrows, some with traps. MA III.i.106
Exit. Exeunt Hero and Ursula MA III.i.106
Beat. BEATRICE  
(coming forward) MA III.i.107
What fire is in mine eares? can this be true?What fire is in mine ears? Can this be true? MA III.i.107
Stand I condemn'd for pride and scorne so much?Stand I condemned for pride and scorn so much? MA III.i.108
Contempt, farewell, and maiden pride, adew,Contempt, farewell! and maiden pride, adieu! MA III.i.109
No glory liues behinde the backe of such.No glory lives behind the back of such. MA III.i.110
And Benedicke, loue on, I will requite thee,And, Benedick, love on; I will requite thee,requite (v.), past forms requit, requited
reward, repay, recompense
MA III.i.111
Taming my wilde heart to thy louing hand:Taming my wild heart to thy loving hand. MA III.i.112
If thou dost loue, my kindenesse shall incite theeIf thou dost love, my kindness shall incite thee MA III.i.113
To binde our loues vp in a holy band.To bind our loves up in a holy band.band (n.)
bond, obligation, tie
MA III.i.114
For others say thou dost deserue, and IFor others say thou dost deserve, and Ideserve (v.)

old form: deserue
be worthy, be entitled to honour
MA III.i.115
Beleeue it better then reportingly. Believe it better than reportingly.reportingly (adv.)
by hearsay, by report
MA III.i.116
Exit.Exit MA III.i.116
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