The Bodleian First Folio

A digital facsimile of the First Folio of Shakespeare's plays, Bodleian Arch. G c.7.



Text and Image

Here you can read a digital edition of each play in various views.

Page Image & Text
Digital Text
XML

Reference: K4v - Comedies, p. 116

Left Column


Much adoe about Nothing. Yet, by mine honor, I will deale in this, As secretly and iustlie, as your soule Should with your bodie. Leon.
[1870]
Being that I flow in greefe, The smallest twine may lead me.
Frier. 'Tis well consented, presently away, For to strange sores, strangely they straine the cure, Come Lady, die to liue, this wedding day
[1875]
Perhaps is but prolong'd, haue patience & endure.
Exit. Bene.

Lady Beatrice, haue you wept all this while?

Beat.

Yea, and I will weepe a while longer.

Bene.

I will not desire that.

Beat.

You haue no reason, I doe it freely.

Bene.
[1880]

Surelie I do beleeue your fair cosin is wrong'd.

Beat.

Ah, how much might the man deserue of mee

that would right her!

Bene.

Is there any way to shew such friendship?

Beat.

A verie euen way, but no such friend.

Bene.
[1885]

May a man doe it?

Beat.

It is a mans office, but not yours.

Bene.

I doe loue nothing in the world so well as you,

is not that strange?

Beat.

As strange as the thing I know not, it were as

[1890]

possible for me to say, I loued nothing so well as you, but

beleeue me not, and yet I lie not, I confesse nothing, nor

I deny nothing, I am sorry for my cousin.

Bene.

By my sword Beatrice thou lou'st me.

Beat.

Doe not sweare by it and eat it.

Bene.
[1895]

I will sweare by it that you loue mee, and I will

make him eat it that sayes I loue not you.

Beat.

Will you not eat your word?

Bene.

With no sawce that can be deuised to it, I pro­

test I loue thee.

Beat.
[1900]

Why then God forgiue me.

Bene.

What offence sweet Beatrice?

Beat.

You haue stayed me in a happy howre, I was a­

bout to protest I loued you.

Bene.

And doe it with all thy heart.

Beat.
[1905]

I loue you with so much of my heart, that none

is left to protest.

Bened.

Come, bid me doe any thing for thee.

Beat.

Kill Claudio.

Bene.

Ha, not for the wide world.

Beat.
[1910]

You kill me to denie, farewell.

Bene.

Tarrie sweet Beatrice.

Beat.

I am gone, though I am heere, there is no loue

in you, nay I pray you let me goe.

Bene.

Beatrice.

Beat.
[1915]

Infaith I will goe.

Bene.

Wee'll be friends first.

Beat.

You dare easier be friends with mee, than fight

with mine enemy.

Bene.

Is Claudio thine enemie?

Beat.
[1920]

Is a not approued in the height a villaine, that

hath slandered, scorned, dishonoured my kinswoman? O

that I were a man! what, beare her in hand vntill they

come to take hands, and then with publike accusation

vncouered slander, vnmittigated rancour? O God that I

[1925]

were a man! I would eat his heart in the marketȑplace.

Bene.

Heare me Beatrice.

Beat.

Talke with a man out at a window, a proper

saying.

Bene.

Nay but Beatrice.

Beat.
[1930]

Sweet Hero, she is wrong'd, shee is slandered,

she is vndone.

Bene.

Beat?

Right Column


Beat.

Princes and Counties! surelie a Princely testi­

monie, a goodly Count, Comfect, a sweet Gallant sure­

[1935]

lie, O that I were a man for his sake! or that I had any

friend would be a man for my sake ! But manhood is mel­

ted into cursies, valour into complement, and men are

onelie turned into tongue, and trim ones too: he is now

as valiant as Hercules, that only tells a lie, and sweares it:

[1940]

I cannot be a man with wishing, therfore I will die a wo­

man with grieuing.

Bene.

Tarry good Beatrice, by this hand I loue thee.

Beat.

Vse it for my loue some other way then swea­

ring by it.

Bened.
[1945]

Thinke you in your soule the Count Claudio

hath wrong'd Hero?

Beat.

Yea, as sure as I haue a thought, or a soule.

Bene.

Enough, I am engagde, I will challenge him, I

will kisse your hand, and so leaue you: by this hand Clau­ dio shall render me a deere account: as you heare of me,

so thinke of me: goe comfort your coosin, I must say she

is dead, and so farewell.

[Act 4, Scene 2] Enter the Constables, Borachio, and the Towne Clerke in gownes. Keeper.

Is our whole dissembly appeard?

Cowley.

O a stoole and a cushion for the Sexton.

Sexton.
[1955]

Which be the malefactors?

Andrew.

Marry that am I, and my partner.

Cowley.

Nay that's certaine, wee haue the exhibition

to examine.

Sexton.

But which are the offenders that are to be ex­

[1960]

amined, let them come before master Constable.

Kemp.

Yea marry, let them come before mee, what is

your name, friend?

Bor.

Borachio.

Kem.

Pray write downe Borachio. Yours sirra.

Con.
[1965]

I am a Gentleman sir, and my name is Conrade.

Kee.

Write downe Master gentleman Conrade: mai­

sters, doe you serue God: maisters, it is proued already

that you are little better than false knaues, and it will goe

neere to be thought so shortly, how answer you for your

[1970]

selues?

Con.

Marry sir, we say we are none.

Kemp.

A maruellous witty fellow I assure you, but I

will goe about with him: come you hither sirra, a word

in your eare sir, I say to you, it is thought you are false

[1975]

knaues.

Bor.

Sir, I say to you, we are none.

Kemp.

Well, stand aside, 'fore God they are both in

a tale: haue you writ downe that they are none?

Sext.

Master Constable, you goe not the way to ex­

[1980]

amine, you must call forth the watch that are their ac­

cusers.

Kemp.

Yea marry, that's the eftest way, let the watch

come forth: masters, I charge you in the Princes name,

accuse these men.

Watch 1.
[1985]

This man said sir, that Don Iohn the Princes

brother was a villaine.

Kemp.

Write down, Prince Iohn a villaine: why this

is flat periurie, to call a Princes brother villaine.

Bora.

Master Constable.

Kemp.
[1990]

Pray thee fellow peace, I do not like thy looke

I promise thee.

Sexton.

What heard you him say else?

Watch 2.

Mary that he had receiued a thousand Du­

kates of Don Iohn, for accusing the Lady Hero wrong­

[1995]

fully.

Kem.

Download the digital text and images of the play



 
[Act 4, Scene 2] Enter the Constables, Borachio, and the Towne Clerke in gownes. Keeper.

Is our whole dissembly appeard?

Cowley.

O a stoole and a cushion for the Sexton.

Sexton.
[1955]

Which be the malefactors?

Andrew.

Marry that am I, and my partner.

Cowley.

Nay that's certaine, wee haue the exhibition

to examine.

Sexton.

But which are the offenders that are to be ex­

[1960]

amined, let them come before master Constable.

Kemp.

Yea marry, let them come before mee, what is

your name, friend?

Bor.

Borachio.

Kem.

Pray write downe Borachio. Yours sirra.

Con.
[1965]

I am a Gentleman sir, and my name is Conrade.

Kee.

Write downe Master gentleman Conrade: mai­

sters, doe you serue God: maisters, it is proued already

that you are little better than false knaues, and it will goe

neere to be thought so shortly, how answer you for your

[1970]

selues?

Con.

Marry sir, we say we are none.

Kemp.

A maruellous witty fellow I assure you, but I

will goe about with him: come you hither sirra, a word

in your eare sir, I say to you, it is thought you are false

[1975]

knaues.

Bor.

Sir, I say to you, we are none.

Kemp.

Well, stand aside, 'fore God they are both in

a tale: haue you writ downe that they are none?

Sext.

Master Constable, you goe not the way to ex­

[1980]

amine, you must call forth the watch that are their ac­

cusers.

Kemp.

Yea marry, that's the eftest way, let the watch

come forth: masters, I charge you in the Princes name,

accuse these men.

Watch 1.
[1985]

This man said sir, that Don Iohn the Princes

brother was a villaine.

Kemp.

Write down, Prince Iohn a villaine: why this

is flat periurie, to call a Princes brother villaine.

Bora.

Master Constable.

Kemp.
[1990]

Pray thee fellow peace, I do not like thy looke

I promise thee.

Sexton.

What heard you him say else?

Watch 2.

Mary that he had receiued a thousand Du­

kates of Don Iohn, for accusing the Lady Hero wrong­

[1995]

fully.

Kemp.

Flat Burglarie as euer was committed.

Const.

Yea by th'masse that it is.

Sexton.

What else fellow?

Watch 1.

And that Count Claudio did meane vpon his

[2000]

words, to disgrace Hero before the whole assembly, and

not marry her.

Kemp.

O villaine! thou wilt be condemn'd into euer­

lasting redemption for this.

Sexton.

What else ?

Watch.
[2005]

This is all.

Sexton.

And this is more masters then you can deny,

Prince Iohn is this morning secretly stolne away: Hero

was in this manner accus'd, in this very manner refus'd,

and vpon the griefe of this sodainely died: Master Con­

[2010]

stable, let these men be bound, and brought to Leonato,

I will goe before, and shew him their examination.

Const.

Come, let them be opinion'd.

Sex.

Let them be in the hands of Coxcombe.

Kem.

Gods my life, where's the Sexton? let him write

[2015]

downe the Princes Officer Coxcombe: come, binde them

thou naughty varlet.

Couley.

Away, you are an asse, you are an asse.

Kemp.

Dost thou not suspect my place? dost thou not

suspect my yeeres? O that hee were heere to write mee

[2020]

downe an asse! but masters, remember that I am an asse:

though it be not written down, yet forget not y t I am an

asse: No thou villaine, y u art full of piety as shall be prou'd

vpon thee by good witnesse, I am a wise fellow, and

which is more, an officer, and which is more, a houshoul­

[2025]

der, and which is more, as pretty a peece of flesh as any in

Messina, and one that knowes the Law, goe to, & a rich

fellow enough, goe to, and a fellow that hath had losses,

and one that hath two gownes, and euery thing hand­

some about him: bring him away: O that I had been writ

[2030]

downe an asse !

Exit.
 

Download the digital text of the play

                                
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<div type="scene" n="2" rend="notPresent">
   <head type="supplied">[Act 4, Scene 2]</head>
   <stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter the Constables, Borachio, and the Towne Clerke
      <lb/>in gownes.</stage>
   <sp who="#F-ado-kee">
      <speaker rend="italic">Keeper.</speaker>
      <p n="1953">Is our whole dissembly appeard?</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-cow">
      <speaker rend="italic">Cowley.</speaker>
      <p n="1954">O a stoole and a cushion for the Sexton.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-sex">
      <speaker rend="italic">Sexton.</speaker>
      <p n="1955">Which be the malefactors?</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-dog">
      <speaker rend="italic">Andrew.</speaker>
      <p n="1956">Marry that am I, and my partner.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-cow">
      <speaker rend="italic">Cowley.</speaker>
      <p n="1957">Nay that's certaine, wee haue the exhibition
      <lb n="1958"/>to examine.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-sex">
      <speaker rend="italic">Sexton.</speaker>
      <p n="1959">But which are the offenders that are to be ex­
      <lb n="1960"/>amined, let them come before master Constable.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-kem">
      <speaker rend="italic">Kemp.</speaker>
      <p n="1961">Yea marry, let them come before mee, what is
      <lb n="1962"/>your name, friend?</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-bor">
      <speaker rend="italic">Bor.</speaker>
      <p n="1963">
         <hi rend="italic">Borachio</hi>.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-kem">
      <speaker rend="italic">Kem.</speaker>
      <p n="1964">Pray write downe<hi rend="italic">Borachio</hi>. Yours sirra.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-con">
      <speaker rend="italic">Con.</speaker>
      <p n="1965">I am a Gentleman sir, and my name is<hi rend="italic">Conrade</hi>.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-kee">
      <speaker rend="italic">Kee.</speaker>
      <p n="1966">Write downe Master gentleman<hi rend="italic">Conrade</hi>: mai­
      <lb n="1967"/>sters, doe you serue God: maisters, it is proued already
      <lb n="1968"/>that you are little better than false knaues, and it will goe
      <lb n="1969"/>neere to be thought so shortly, how answer you for your
      <lb n="1970"/>selues?</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-con">
      <speaker rend="italic">Con.</speaker>
      <p n="1971">Marry sir, we say we are none.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-kem">
      <speaker rend="italic">Kemp.</speaker>
      <p n="1972">A maruellous witty fellow I assure you, but I
      <lb n="1973"/>will goe about with him: come you hither sirra, a word
      <lb n="1974"/>in your eare sir, I say to you, it is thought you are false
      <lb n="1975"/>knaues.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-bor">
      <speaker rend="italic">Bor.</speaker>
      <p n="1976">Sir, I say to you, we are none.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-kem">
      <speaker rend="italic">Kemp.</speaker>
      <p n="1977">Well, stand aside, 'fore God they are both in
      <lb n="1978"/>a tale: haue you writ downe that they are none?</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-sex">
      <speaker rend="italic">Sext.</speaker>
      <p n="1979">Master Constable, you goe not the way to ex­
      <lb n="1980"/>amine, you must call forth the watch that are their ac­
      <lb n="1981"/>cusers.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-kem">
      <speaker rend="italic">Kemp.</speaker>
      <p n="1982">Yea marry, that's the eftest way, let the watch
      <lb n="1983"/>come forth: masters, I charge you in the Princes name,
      <lb n="1984"/>accuse these men.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-wat">
      <speaker rend="italic">Watch 1.</speaker>
      <p n="1985">This man said sir, that<hi rend="italic">Don Iohn</hi>the Princes
      <lb n="1986"/>brother was a villaine.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-kem">
      <speaker rend="italic">Kemp.</speaker>
      <p n="1987">Write down, Prince<hi rend="italic">Iohn</hi>a villaine: why this
      <lb n="1988"/>is flat periurie, to call a Princes brother villaine.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-bor">
      <speaker rend="italic">Bora.</speaker>
      <p n="1989">Master Constable.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-kem">
      <speaker rend="italic">Kemp.</speaker>
      <p n="1990">Pray thee fellow peace, I do not like thy looke
      <lb n="1991"/>I promise thee.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-sex">
      <speaker rend="italic">Sexton.</speaker>
      <p n="1992">What heard you him say else?</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-wat">
      <speaker rend="italic">Watch 2.</speaker>
      <p n="1993">Mary that he had receiued a thousand Du­
      <lb n="1994"/>kates of<hi rend="italic">Don Iohn</hi>, for accusing the Lady<hi rend="italic">Hero</hi>wrong­
      <lb n="1995"/>fully.</p>
   </sp>
   <pb facs="FFimg:axc0137-0.jpg" n="117"/>
   <cb n="1"/>
   <sp who="#F-ado-kem">
      <speaker rend="italic">Kemp.</speaker>
      <p n="1996">Flat Burglarie as euer was committed.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-dog">
      <speaker rend="italic">Const.</speaker>
      <p n="1997">Yea by th'masse that it is.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-sex">
      <speaker rend="italic">Sexton.</speaker>
      <p n="1998">What else fellow?</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-wat">
      <speaker rend="italic">Watch 1.</speaker>
      <p n="1999">And that Count<hi rend="italic">Claudio</hi>did meane vpon his
      <lb n="2000"/>words, to disgrace<hi rend="italic">Hero</hi>before the whole assembly, and
      <lb n="2001"/>not marry her.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-kem">
      <speaker rend="italic">Kemp.</speaker>
      <p n="2002">O villaine! thou wilt be condemn'd into euer­
      <lb n="2003"/>lasting redemption for this.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-sex">
      <speaker rend="italic">Sexton.</speaker>
      <p n="2004">What else<c rend="italic">?</c>
      </p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-wat">
      <speaker rend="italic">Watch.</speaker>
      <p n="2005">This is all.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-sex">
      <speaker rend="italic">Sexton.</speaker>
      <p n="2006">And this is more masters then you can deny,
      <lb n="2007"/>Prince<hi rend="italic">Iohn</hi>is this morning secretly stolne away:<hi rend="italic">Hero</hi>
         
      <lb n="2008"/>was in this manner accus'd, in this very manner refus'd,
      <lb n="2009"/>and vpon the griefe of this sodainely died: Master Con­
      <lb n="2010"/>stable, let these men be bound, and brought to<hi rend="italic">Leonato</hi>,
      <lb n="2011"/>I will goe before, and shew him their examination.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-dog">
      <speaker rend="italic">Const.</speaker>
      <p n="2012">Come, let them be opinion'd.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-sex">
      <speaker rend="italic">Sex.</speaker>
      <p n="2013">Let them be in the hands of<hi rend="italic">Coxcombe</hi>.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-kem">
      <speaker rend="italic">Kem.</speaker>
      <p n="2014">Gods my life, where's the Sexton? let him write
      <lb n="2015"/>downe the Princes Officer<hi rend="italic">Coxcombe</hi>: come, binde them
      <lb n="2016"/>thou naughty varlet.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-cow">
      <speaker rend="italic">Couley.</speaker>
      <p n="2017">Away, you are an asse, you are an asse.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ado-kem">
      <speaker rend="italic">Kemp.</speaker>
      <p n="2018">Dost thou not suspect my place? dost thou not
      <lb n="2019"/>suspect my yeeres? O that hee were heere to write mee
      <lb n="2020"/>downe an asse! but masters, remember that I am an asse:
      <lb n="2021"/>though it be not written down, yet forget not y<c rend="superscript">t</c>I am an
      <lb n="2022"/>asse: No thou villaine, y<c rend="superscript">u</c>art full of piety as shall be prou'd
      <lb n="2023"/>vpon thee by good witnesse, I am a wise fellow, and
      <lb n="2024"/>which is more, an officer, and which is more, a houshoul­
      <lb n="2025"/>der, and which is more, as pretty a peece of flesh as any in
      <lb n="2026"/>Messina, and one that knowes the Law, goe to, &amp; a rich
      <lb n="2027"/>fellow enough, goe to, and a fellow that hath had losses,
      <lb n="2028"/>and one that hath two gownes, and euery thing hand­
      <lb n="2029"/>some about him: bring him away: O that I had been writ
      <lb n="2030"/>downe an asse<c rend="italic">!</c>
      </p>
   </sp>
   <stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exit.</stage>
</div>

                                
                            

Download the XML