Scene 2

Enter leonato and an old man, his brother antonio

leonato Hownowbrother,whereismycousinyourson?Hathheprovidedthismusic?

antonio Heisverybusyaboutit.Butbrother,Icantellyoustrangenewsthatyouyetdreamtnotof.

leonato Aretheygood?

antonio Astheeventstampsthem,buttheyhaveagoodcover;theyshowwelloutward.ThePrinceandCountClaudio,walkinginathick-pleachedalleyinmineorchard,werethusmuchoverheardbyamanofmine:thePrincediscoveredtoClaudiothathelovedmynieceyourdaughter,andmeanttoacknowledgeitthisnightinadance;andifhefoundheraccordant,hemeanttotakethepresenttimebythetopandinstantlybreakwithyouofit.

leonato Haththefellowanywitthattoldyouthis?

antonio Agoodsharpfellow;Iwillsendforhim,andquestionhimyourself.

leonato No,no,wewillholditasadreamtillitappearitself.ButIwillacquaintmydaughterwithal,thatshebethebetterpreparedforananswer,ifperadventurethisbetrue.Goyouandtellherofit.

Enter antonio’s son and balthasar the musician

Cousin,youknowwhatyouhavetodo.[To the musician]OIcryyoumercyfriend,goyouwithme,andIwilluseyourskill.Goodcousinhaveacarethisbusytime. [Exeunt

act 1 Scene 2

31

Much ado about nothing

30

10

15

20

25

5

Leonatoaskshisolderbrother,Antonio,whetherthemusicfortheeveninghasbeenarranged.AntoniohasbeentoldbyaservantthathehasoverheardDonPedrotellingClaudiothatheisinlovewithHeroandwilltellhersoduringthedance.HerfathersaysHeroneedstoknowthatthismighthappen.

1 cousinThewordoftenjustmeansarelation,notnecessarilyouruseof‘cousin’.

5 Aretheygood?Isthenewsgood?

6–7 As...coverWeshallsee,butitlookslikely

8 thick-pleachedalleyAwalkoravenueoftreeswhosebrancheshavebeentrainedtomeetinanarchoverhead.

9 orchardorchardorgarden

10 discoveredrevealed

13 accordantagreeable

14 take...topseizetheopportunity

16 witintelligence

22 peradventureperhaps

25 I...mercypleaseforgiveme(Leonatohasaskedhimtobepresentandnowisn’tusinghim.)

Act 1.indd 30-31 10/26/09 4:26 PM