No Fear Shakespeare: Much Ado About Nothing: Act 3 Scene 4

Read and listen with a SparkNotes PLUS trial!

No Fear Translations

No Fear Audio

Already have an account? Log in

Previous page Act 3, Scene 3 Next page Act 3, Scene 5

Test your knowledge

Take the Act 3, scenes iv-v Quick Quiz

Read the Summary

Read the Summary of Act 3, scenes iv-v.

Shakespeare’s Life & Times

Your password reset email should arrive shortly.

Something went wrong

Much Ado About Nothing

William Shakespeare

Original Text

Modern Text

Original Text

Modern Text

Take the Act 3, scenes iv-v Quick Quiz

Read the Summary of Act 3, scenes iv-v.

Dive into our comprehensive guide to ace your Shakespeare assignments

Popular pages: Much Ado About Nothing

Character List CHARACTERS

Beatrice CHARACTERS

Themes LITERARY DEVICES

Social Performance QUOTES

Full Play QUIZZES

Take a Study Break

Every Literary Reference Found in Taylor Swift's Lyrics

The 7 Most Messed-Up Short Stories We All Had to Read in School

QUIZ: Which Greek God Are You?

Answer These 7 Questions and We'll Tell You How You'll Do on Your AP Exams

Original Text	Modern Text
Enter HERO , MARGARET , and URSULA	Enter HERO , MARGARET , and URSULA
HERO Good Ursula, wake my cousin Beatrice and desire her to rise.	HERO Good Ursula, wake my cousin Beatrice and desire her to rise.
URSULA I will, lady.	URSULA I will, lady.
HERO And bid her come hither.	HERO And bid her come hither.
URSULA 5 Well.	URSULA Well.
Exit	Exit
MARGARET Troth, I think your other rebato were better.	MARGARET Troth, I think your other rebato were better.
HERO No, pray thee, good Meg, I’ll wear this.	HERO No, pray thee, good Meg, I’ll wear this.
MARGARET By my troth, ’s not so good, and I warrant your cousin will say so.	MARGARET By my troth, ’s not so good, and I warrant your cousin will say so.
HERO My cousin’s a fool, and thou art another. I’ll wear none but this.	HERO My cousin’s a fool, and thou art another. I’ll wear none but this.
MARGARET I like the new tire within excellently, if the hair were a thought browner; and your gown’s a most rare fashion, i' faith. I saw the Duchess of Milan’s gown that they praise so.	MARGARET I like the new tire within excellently, if the hair were a thought browner; and your gown’s a most rare fashion, i' faith. I saw the Duchess of Milan’s gown that they praise so.
HERO 15 Oh, that exceeds, they say.	HERO Oh, that exceeds, they say.
MARGARET By my troth, ’s but a nightgown in respect of yours—cloth o' gold, and cuts, and laced with silver, set with pearls, down sleeves, side sleeves, and skirts, round underborne with a bluish tinsel. But for a fine, quaint, graceful, and 20 excellent fashion, yours is worth ten on ’t.	MARGARET By my troth, ’s but a nightgown in respect of yours—cloth o' gold, and cuts, and laced with silver, set with pearls, down sleeves, side sleeves, and skirts, round underborne with a bluish tinsel. But for a fine, quaint, graceful, and excellent fashion, yours is worth ten on ’t.
HERO God give me joy to wear it, for my heart is exceeding heavy.	HERO God give me joy to wear it, for my heart is exceeding heavy.
MARGARET 'Twill be heavier soon by the weight of a man.	MARGARET 'Twill be heavier soon by the weight of a man.
HERO Fie upon thee! Art not ashamed?	HERO Fie upon thee! Art not ashamed?
MARGARET Of what, lady? Of speaking honorably? Is not marriage 25 honorable in a beggar? Is not your lord honorable without marriage? I think you would have me say, “Saving your reverence, a husband.” An bad thinking do not wrest true speaking, I’ll offend nobody. Is there any harm in “the heavier for a husband”? None, I think, an it be the right husband and the right wife. Otherwise, ’tis light and not heavy. Ask my Lady Beatrice else. Here she comes.	MARGARET Of what, lady? Of speaking honorably? Is not marriage honorable in a beggar? Is not your lord honorable without marriage? I think you would have me say, “Saving your reverence, a husband.” An bad thinking do not wrest true speaking, I’ll offend nobody. Is there any harm in “the heavier for a husband”? None, I think, an it be the right husband and the right wife. Otherwise, ’tis light and not heavy. Ask my Lady Beatrice else. Here she comes.
Enter BEATRICE	Enter BEATRICE
HERO Good morrow, coz.	HERO Good morrow, coz.
BEATRICE Good morrow, sweet Hero.	BEATRICE Good morrow, sweet Hero.
HERO Why, how now? Do you speak in the sick tune?	HERO Why, how now? Do you speak in the sick tune?
BEATRICE 35 I am out of all other tune, methinks.	BEATRICE I am out of all other tune, methinks.
MARGARET Clap ’s into “Light o' love.” That goes without a burden. Do you sing it, and I’ll dance it.	MARGARET Clap ’s into “Light o' love.” That goes without a burden. Do you sing it, and I’ll dance it.
BEATRICE Ye light o' love, with your heels! Then, if your husband have stables enough, you’ll see he shall lack no barns.	BEATRICE Ye light o' love, with your heels! Then, if your husband have stables enough, you’ll see he shall lack no barns.
MARGARET 40 O illegitimate construction! I scorn that with my heels.	MARGARET O illegitimate construction! I scorn that with my heels.
BEATRICE 'Tis almost five o'clock, cousin. 'Tis time you were ready. By my troth, I am exceeding ill. Heigh-ho!	BEATRICE 'Tis almost five o'clock, cousin. 'Tis time you were ready. By my troth, I am exceeding ill. Heigh-ho!
MARGARET For a hawk, a horse, or a husband?	MARGARET For a hawk, a horse, or a husband?
BEATRICE For the letter that begins them all, H.	BEATRICE For the letter that begins them all, H.
MARGARET Well, an you be not turned Turk, there’s no more sailing by the star.	MARGARET Well, an you be not turned Turk, there’s no more sailing by the star.
BEATRICE What means the fool, trow?	BEATRICE What means the fool, trow?
MARGARET Nothing, I; but God send everyone their heart’s desire.	MARGARET Nothing, I; but God send everyone their heart’s desire.
HERO These gloves the Count sent me, they are an excellent 50 perfume.	HERO These gloves the Count sent me, they are an excellent perfume.
BEATRICE I am stuffed, cousin. I cannot smell.	BEATRICE I am stuffed, cousin. I cannot smell.
MARGARET A maid, and stuffed! There’s goodly catching of cold.	MARGARET A maid, and stuffed! There’s goodly catching of cold.
BEATRICE Oh, God help me, God help me! How long have you professed apprehension?	BEATRICE Oh, God help me, God help me! How long have you professed apprehension?
MARGARET 55 Even since you left it. Doth not my wit become me rarely?	MARGARET Even since you left it. Doth not my wit become me rarely?
BEATRICE It is not seen enough; you should wear it in your cap. By my troth, I am sick.	BEATRICE It is not seen enough; you should wear it in your cap. By my troth, I am sick.
MARGARET Get you some of this distilled carduus benedictus and lay it to your heart. It is the only thing for a qualm.	MARGARET Get you some of this distilled carduus benedictus and lay it to your heart. It is the only thing for a qualm.
HERO 60 There thou prick’st her with a thistle.	HERO There thou prick’st her with a thistle.
BEATRICE Benedictus! Why benedictus? You have some moral in this benedictus?	BEATRICE Benedictus! Why benedictus? You have some moral in this benedictus?
MARGARET Moral! No, by my troth, I have no moral meaning. I meant plain holy thistle. You may think perchance that I think you are in love. Nay, by 'r Lady, I am not such a fool to think what I list, nor I list not to think what I can, nor indeed I cannot think, if I would think my heart out of thinking, that you are in love or that you will be in love or that you can be in love. Yet Benedick was such another, and now is he 70 become a man. He swore he would never marry, and yet now, in despite of his heart, he eats his meat without grudging. And how you may be converted I know not, but methinks you look with your eyes as other women do.	MARGARET Moral! No, by my troth, I have no moral meaning. I meant plain holy thistle. You may think perchance that I think you are in love. Nay, by 'r Lady, I am not such a fool to think what I list, nor I list not to think what I can, nor indeed I cannot think, if I would think my heart out of thinking, that you are in love or that you will be in love or that you can be in love. Yet Benedick was such another, and now is he become a man. He swore he would never marry, and yet now, in despite of his heart, he eats his meat without grudging. And how you may be converted I know not, but methinks you look with your eyes as other women do.
BEATRICE What pace is this that thy tongue keeps?	BEATRICE What pace is this that thy tongue keeps?
MARGARET 75 Not a false gallop.	MARGARET Not a false gallop.
Enter URSULA	Enter URSULA
URSULA Madam, withdraw: the Prince, the Count, Signor Benedick, Don John, and all the gallants of the town are come to fetch you to church.	URSULA Madam, withdraw: the Prince, the Count, Signor Benedick, Don John, and all the gallants of the town are come to fetch you to church.
HERO Help to dress me, good coz, good Meg, good Ursula.	HERO Help to dress me, good coz, good Meg, good Ursula.
Exeunt	Exeunt