THE story is taken from Ariosto, Orl. Fur. B. V. POPE. It is true, as Mr. Pope has observed, that somewhat resembling the story of this play is to be found in the fifth Book of the Orlando Furioso. In Spenser's Fairy Queen, B. II. c. iv. as remote an original may be traced. A novel, however, of Belleforest, 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 seen so many versions from this once popular collection, 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 story which I have just mentioned, viz. the 18th history in the third volume, no translation has hitherto been met with. This play was entered at Stationers' Hall, Aug. 23. 1600. STEEVENS. Ariosto is continually quoted for the fable of Much Ado about Nothing; but I suspect our poet to have been satisfied with the Geneura of Turberville. "The tale (says Harrington) is a pretie comical matter, and hath bin written in English verse some few years past, learnedly and with good grace, by M. George Turbervil," Ariosto, fol. 1591, p. 39. FARMER. I suppose this comedy to have been written in 1600, in which year it was printed. MALONE. PERSONS REPRESENTED. Don PEDRO, prince of Arragon. Don JOHN, his bastard brother. CLAUDIO, a young lord of Florence, favourite to Don Pedro. BENEDICK, a young lord of Padua, favourite likewise of Don Pedro. LEONATO, governor of Messina. ANTONIO, his brother. BALTHAZAR, servant to Don Pedro. HERO, daughter to Leonato. BEATRICE, niece to Leonato. MARGARET, } gentlewomen attending on Hero. Messengers, Watch, and Attendants. SCENE, MESSINA. MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. ACT I. SCENE I.-Before LEONATO's House. Enter LEONATO, HERO, BEATRICE, and others, with a Messenger. Leonato. I LEARN in this letter, that Don Pedro of Arragon comes this night to Messina. Mess. 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? Mess. But few of any sort, and none of name. Leon. A victory is twice itself, when the achiever brings home full numbers. I find here, that Don Pedro hath bestowed much honour on a young Florentine, called Claudio. Mess. 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 bettered 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. Mess. I have already delivered him letters, and there |