WORKS

OF

S HA KES P E A R.

VOLUME THE SECOND.

CONTAINING,

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. --
The MERCHANT of VENICE. .
LOVE's LAB QUR's LOST.

Printed by A. DONALDSON, and fold at his Shop,

corner of Arundel-Street, Strand, London; and
at Edinburgh.

M, DCC. LXXI.

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING *.

DRAMATIS PERSON Æ.

Don PEDRO, Prince of Ir. | Antonio, brather to Leonato. ragon.

Borachio, confiúent to Don' Leonato, Governor of Mef- John. fina.

Conrade, friend to Borachio. Don John, bastard-brother Dogberry, two foolish of to Don Pedro.

Veiges,

}

ficers. Claudio, a young Lord of Hero, daughter to Leonato,

Florence, favourite to Beatrice, niece to Leonato.
Don Pedro,

Margaret, Ursula, two gena
Benedick, a young Lord of tle wornen attending on
Padua, favoured likewise

Hero. by Don Pedro.

A Friar, Melsenger, Watch,
Balthazar, Servant to Don Town-Clerk, Sexton, and
Pedro.

Attendanis.
SCENE, Melina in Sicily.

A court before Leonati's house.
Enter Leonato, Hero, and Beatrice, with a nellenger.
Leon, LEARN in this letter, that Don Pedro

of Arragon comes this night to Messina.

Nell. He is very near by this; he was

not three leagues off when I left him. Leon. How many gentlemen have you lost in this action!

Mel. But few of any fort, and none of name.

Leon. A victory is twice itself, when the atchiever brings home full numbers; I find here, that Don Pedro hath bestowed much honour on a young Florentine, called Claudio..

* The firy from Ariolo, Orl. Fur. 1. 5. Mr Fope. Vol. II.

A

Mo/

M:1. Much deserved on his part, and equally remembered by Don Pedro: he hath borne himself bę. yond the promise of his age, doing in the figure of a linib the feats of a lion: he hath indeed better better'd expectation, than you must expect of me to tell

you how.

1.601. He hath an uncle here in Messina will be very much glad of it.

Mic/. I have already delivered him letters, and there appears much joy in him ; even so much, that joy could not thew itfelf modeft enough, without a badge of bitterness.

Lcon. Did he break out into tears ?
Meil. In great measure.

Leon. A kind overflow of kindness. There are no faces truer than those that are so washed. How much better is it to weep at joy, than to joy at weeping !

Leat. I pray you, is Signior Montanto * returned from the wars, or no?

Mej. I know none of that name, Lady; there was none such in the army of

any

fort.
Leon. What is he that you ask for, niece?
Hero. My cousin means Signior Benedick of Padua.
Mel. O, he's return'd, and as pleasant as ever he

was.

Beat. He fet up his bills here in Messina, and challenge'd Cupid at the flight; and my uncle's fool, reading the challenge, fubfcribed for Cupid, and challenged him at the bird-bolt. I pray you, how many liath " he kill'd and eaten in these wars : but how many “ hath he kill'd? for indeed I promis’d to eat all of “ his killing"

Leon. Faith, riece, you tax Signior Benedick too much ; but he'll be meet with you, I doubt it not.

Mej. He hath done good service, Lady, in these wars.

Beat. “ You had musty victuals, and he hath holp " to cat it; he's a very valiant trencher-man, he hath

an excellent ftomach." Mel: And a good foldier too, Lady. * Sl.e gives him ti's name, to ridicule in hin the character of a bluitering, Ildies, the mornianto in Spanish fgriying a rico-larcel foorde

Beat.