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MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.] The Rory is taken from Ariofto, Orl. Fur. B. V. POPE.

It is true, as Mr. Pope has obferved, that fomewhat refembling the ftory of this play is to be found in the fifth book of the Orlando Furiofo. In Spenfer's Faery Queen, B. II. c. iv. as remote an original may be traced. A novel, however, of Bellefo eft, copied from another of Bandello, seems to have furnished Shakspeare with his fable, as it approaches nearer in all its particulars to the play before us, than any other performance known to be extant. I have feen fo many verfions from this once popular colle&ion, that I entertain no doubt but that a great majority of the tales it comprehends, have made their appearance in an English dress. Of that particular ftory which I have juft mentioned. viz. the 18th hiftory in the third volume, no translation has hitherto been et with.

This play was entered at Stationers' Hall, Aug. 23, 1600.

STEEVENS.

Ariofto is continually quoted for the fable of Much ado about Nothing; but I fufped yur poet to have been fatisfied with the Geneura of Turberville. "The tale fays Harington) is a pretic comical matter, and hath bin written in English verfe fome few years paft, learnedly and with good grace, by M. George Turbervil." Ariofto, fol. 1591, p. 39. FARMER.

fuppofe this comedy to year it was printed. See Shakspeare's Plays, Vol. II.

have been written in 1600, in which An Attempt to afcertain the Order of

MALONE.

PERSONS reprefented.

Don Pedro, Prince of Arragon.
Don John, his baftard brother.

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

Benedick, a young lord of Padua, favoured likewife by Don Pedro.

Leonato, governor of Messina.

Antonio, his brother.

Balthazar, fervant to Don Pedro.

Borachio,?

Conrade, S

followers of Don John.

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Painter by William Hamilton.

Leon. Hath no man's dagger here a point for me?

SHAKSPEARE

Beat. Why, how nou, cousin! wherefore oink you down? Much ado about nothing

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ACT IV. SCENE 1.

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