# Result number

Work The work is either a play, poem, or sonnet. The sonnets are treated as single work with 154 parts.

Character Indicates who said the line. If it's a play or sonnet, the character name is "Poet."

Line Shows where the line falls within the work.

The numbering is not keyed to any copyrighted numbering system found in a volume of collected works (Arden, Oxford, etc.) The numbering starts at the beginning of the work, and does not restart for each scene.

Text The line's full text, with keywords highlighted within it, unless highlighting has been disabled by the user.

1

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Benedick

120

God keep your ladyship still in that mind! so some
gentleman or other shall 'scape a predestinate
scratched face.

2

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Don Pedro

131

That is the sum of all, Leonato. Signior Claudio
and Signior Benedick, my dear friend Leonato hath
invited you all. I tell him we shall stay here at
the least a month; and he heartily prays some
occasion may detain us longer. I dare swear he is no
hypocrite, but prays from his heart.

3

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Don Pedro

288

What need the bridge much broader than the flood?
The fairest grant is the necessity.
Look, what will serve is fit: 'tis once, thou lovest,
And I will fit thee with the remedy.
I know we shall have revelling to-night:
I will assume thy part in some disguise
And tell fair Hero I am Claudio,
And in her bosom I'll unclasp my heart
And take her hearing prisoner with the force
And strong encounter of my amorous tale:
Then after to her father will I break;
And the conclusion is, she shall be thine.
In practise let us put it presently.

4

Much Ado about Nothing
[II, 1]

Beatrice

450

Not till God make men of some other metal than
earth. Would it not grieve a woman to be
overmastered with a pierce of valiant dust? to make
an account of her life to a clod of wayward marl?
No, uncle, I'll none: Adam's sons are my brethren;
and, truly, I hold it a sin to match in my kindred.

5

Much Ado about Nothing
[II, 1]

Benedick

620

O, she misused me past the endurance of a block!
an oak but with one green leaf on it would have
answered her; my very visor began to assume life and
scold with her. She told me, not thinking I had been
myself, that I was the prince's jester, that I was
duller than a great thaw; huddling jest upon jest
with such impossible conveyance upon me that I stood
like a man at a mark, with a whole army shooting at
me. She speaks poniards, and every word stabs:
if her breath were as terrible as her terminations,
there were no living near her; she would infect to
the north star. I would not marry her, though she
were endowed with all that Adam bad left him before
he transgressed: she would have made Hercules have
turned spit, yea, and have cleft his club to make
the fire too. Come, talk not of her: you shall find
her the infernal Ate in good apparel. I would to God
some scholar would conjure her; for certainly, while
she is here, a man may live as quiet in hell as in a
sanctuary; and people sin upon purpose, because they
would go thither; so, indeed, all disquiet, horror
and perturbation follows her.

6

Much Ado about Nothing
[II, 3]

Don Pedro

903

Yea, marry, dost thou hear, Balthasar? I pray thee,
get us some excellent music; for to-morrow night we
would have it at the Lady Hero's chamber-window.

7

Much Ado about Nothing
[II, 3]

Don Pedro

967

It were good that Benedick knew of it by some
other, if she will not discover it.

8

Much Ado about Nothing
[II, 3]

Don Pedro

996

He doth indeed show some sparks that are like wit.

9

Much Ado about Nothing
[II, 3]

Don Pedro

1005

And so will he do; for the man doth fear God,
howsoever it seems not in him by some large jests
he will make. Well I am sorry for your niece. Shall
we go seek Benedick, and tell him of her love?

10

Much Ado about Nothing
[II, 3]

Benedick

1026

[Coming forward] This can be no trick: the
conference was sadly borne. They have the truth of
this from Hero. They seem to pity the lady: it
seems her affections have their full bent. Love me!
why, it must be requited. I hear how I am censured:
they say I will bear myself proudly, if I perceive
the love come from her; they say too that she will
rather die than give any sign of affection. I did
never think to marry: I must not seem proud: happy
are they that hear their detractions and can put
them to mending. They say the lady is fair; 'tis a
truth, I can bear them witness; and virtuous; 'tis
so, I cannot reprove it; and wise, but for loving
me; by my troth, it is no addition to her wit, nor
no great argument of her folly, for I will be
horribly in love with her. I may chance have some
odd quirks and remnants of wit broken on me,
because I have railed so long against marriage: but
doth not the appetite alter? a man loves the meat
in his youth that he cannot endure in his age.
Shall quips and sentences and these paper bullets of
the brain awe a man from the career of his humour?
No, the world must be peopled. When I said I would
die a bachelor, I did not think I should live till I
were married. Here comes Beatrice. By this day!
she's a fair lady: I do spy some marks of love in
her.

11

Much Ado about Nothing
[III, 1]

Hero

1160

No; rather I will go to Benedick
And counsel him to fight against his passion.
And, truly, I'll devise some honest slanders
To stain my cousin with: one doth not know
How much an ill word may empoison liking.

12

Much Ado about Nothing
[III, 1]

Hero

1179

Why, every day, to-morrow. Come, go in:
I'll show thee some attires, and have thy counsel
Which is the best to furnish me to-morrow.

13

Much Ado about Nothing
[III, 1]

Hero

1183

If it proves so, then loving goes by haps:
Some Cupid kills with arrows, some with traps.

14

Much Ado about Nothing
[III, 2]

Claudio

1236

If he be not in love with some woman, there is no
believing old signs: a' brushes his hat o'
mornings; what should that bode?

15

Much Ado about Nothing
[III, 3]

Watchman

1422

[Aside] Some treason, masters: yet stand close.

16

Much Ado about Nothing
[III, 4]

Margaret

1554

Get you some of this distilled Carduus Benedictus,
and lay it to your heart: it is the only thing for a qualm.

17

Much Ado about Nothing
[III, 4]

Beatrice

1557

Benedictus! why Benedictus? you have some moral in
this Benedictus.

18

Much Ado about Nothing
[III, 5]

Dogberry

1582

Marry, sir, I would have some confidence with you
that decerns you nearly.

19

Much Ado about Nothing
[III, 5]

Leonato

1627

Drink some wine ere you go: fare you well.

20

Much Ado about Nothing
[III, 5]

Dogberry

1637

We will spare for no wit, I warrant you; here's
that shall drive some of them to a non-come: only
get the learned writer to set down our
excommunication and meet me at the gaol.