THE

WORKS

OF

SHAKESPEAR.

VOLUME THE SECOND.

CONTAINING,

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING..
The MERCHANT of VENICE.

LOVE'S LABOUR's LOST.

AS YOU LIKE IT.

The TAMING of the SHREW.

EDINBURGH:

Printed by A. DONALDSON, and fold at his Shop,
corner of Arundel-Street, Strand, London; and
at Edinburgh.

M. DCC.LXXI.

BODLEIAN

5 MAY 1936

LIBRARY

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING *.

DRAMATIS

PERSONÆ.

Don PEDRO, Prince of Ar- | Antonio, brother to Leonato.

ragon.

• Leonato, Governor of Mef

fina.

Don

bastard-brother

John, bajta
to Don Pedro.

Claudio, a young Lord of
Florence, favourite to
Don Pedro.

Benedick, a young Lord of
Padua, favoured likewise
by Don Pedro.

Balthazar, fervant to Don
Pedro.

Borachio, confident to Don'

John.
Conrade, friend to Borachio.
Dogberry,
Verges,
ficers.
Hero, daughter to Leonato,
Beatrice, niece to Leonato.
Margaret, Urfula, two gen-
tlewomen attending on
Hero.

two foolish of

AFriar, Messenger, Watch,
Town-Clerk, Sexton, and
Attendants.

SCENE, Messina in Sicily.

Leon.

A court before Leonato's house.

Enter Leonato, Hero, and Beatrice, with a messenger. LEARN in this letter, that Don Pedro of Arragon comes this night to Meffina. Meff. 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?

Meff. 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 Aery from Ariolo, Orl. Fur. 1.5. Mr Pope. VOL. II.

Meff.

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

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

Meff. I have already delivered him letters, and there appears much joy in him; even to much, that joy could not shew itself modest enough, without a badge of bitternefs.

Leon. Did he break out into tears?
Meff. In great meafure.

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!

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

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

Leon. What is he that you ask for, niece?
Hero. My coufin means Signior Benedick of Padua.
Meff. 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, subscribed for Cupid, and challenged him at the bird-bolt. " I pray you, how many hath. " 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, niece, you tax Signior Benedick too much; but he'll be meet with you, I doubt it not. Meff. He hath done good service, Lady, in these wars. Beat. "You had musty victuals, and he hath holp to eat it; he's a very valiant trencher-man, he hath an excellent ftomach."

Mef. And a good foldier too, Lady.