William Shakespeare's Much Ado about Nothing in the complete original text.
William Shakespeare's plays, sonnets and poems at AbsoluteShakespeare.com
Home Plays Sonnets Poems Quotes Summaries Essays Glossary Links Help

HOME > Plays > Much Ado about Nothing > Act I. Scene III.

Much Ado about Nothing

Study Guides
Hamlet
Julius Caesar
King Henry IV
King Lear
Macbeth
Merchant of Venice
Othello
Romeo and Juliet
The Tempest
Twelfth Night

Trivia
Authorship
Bard Facts
Bibliography
Biography
FAQ
Films
Globe Theatre
Pictures
Quiz
Timeline

Act I. Scene III.

Scene III.—Another Room in LEONATO'S
House.

Enter DON JOHN and CONRADE.

Con. What the good-year, my lord! why are
you thus out of measure sad?
D. John. There is no measure in the occasion
that breeds; therefore the sadness is without
limit.
Con. You should hear reason.
D. John. And when I have heard it, what
blessing brings it?
Con. If not a present remedy, at least a
patient sufferance.
D. John. I wonder that thou, being,—as thou
say'st thou art,—born under Saturn, goest about
to apply a moral medicine to a mortifying mis-
chief. I cannot hide what I am: I must be sad
when I have cause, and smile at no man's jests;
eat when I have stomach, and wait for no man's
leisure; sleep when I am drowsy, and tend on no
man's business; laugh when I am merry, and
claw no man in his humour.
Con. Yea; but you must not make the full
show of this till you may do it without control-
ment. You have of Iate stood out against your
brother, and he hath ta'en you newly into his
grace; where it is impossible you should take
true root but by the fair weather that you make
yourself: it is needful that you frame the season
for your own harvest.
D. John. I had rather be a canker in a hedge
than a rose in his grace; and it better fits my
blood to be disdained of all than to fashion a
carriage to rob love from any: in this, though I
cannot be said to be a flattering honest man, it
must not be denied but I am a plain-dealing
villain. I am trusted with a muzzle and en-
franchised with a clog; therefore I have decreed
not to sing in my cage. If I had my mouth, I
would bite; if I had my liberty, I would do my
liking: in the meantime, let me be that I am,
and seek not to alter me.
Con. Can you make no use of your discontent?
D. John. I make all use of it, for I use it
only. Who comes here?

Enter BORACHIO.
What news, Borachio?
Bora. I came yonder from a great supper:
the prince, your brother, is royally entertained
by Leonato; and I can give you intelligence of
an intended marriage.
D. John. Will it serve for any model to build
mischief on? What is he for a fool that be-
troths himself to unquietness?
Bora. Marry, it is your brother's right hand.
D. John. Who? the most exquisite Claudio?
Bora. Even he.
D. John. A proper squire! And who, and
who? which way looks he?
Bora. Marry, on Hero, the daughter and heir
of Leonato.
D. John. A very forward March-chick! How
came you to this?
Bora. Being entertained for a perfumer, as I
was smoking a musty room, comes me the prince
and Claudio, hand in hand, in sad conference:
I whipt me behind the arras, and there heard it
agreed upon that the prince should woo Hero
for himself, and having obtained her, give her to
Count Claudio.
D. John. Come, come; let us thither: this
may prove food to my displeasure. That young
start-up hath all the glory of my overthrow: if I
can cross him any way, I bless myself every way.
You are both sure, and will assist me?
Con. & Bora.} To the death, my lord.
D. John. Let us to the great supper: their
cheer is the greater that I am subdued. Would
the cook were of my mind! Shall we go prove
what's to be done?
Bora. We'll wait upon your lordship. [Exeunt.
< PREVIOUS
Copyright © 2000-2005 AbsoluteShakespeare.com. All rights reserved.  Contact Us  Privacy  Awards