First folio
| Modern text
| Definitions
| Key line
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| Enter Leonato, Bene. Marg. | Enter Leonato, Antonio, Benedick, Beatrice, Margaret, | | MA V.iv.1.1 | |
| Vrsula, old man, Frier, Hero. | Ursula, Friar Francis, and Hero | | MA V.iv.1.2 | |
| Frier. | FRIAR | | | |
| Did I not tell you she was innocent? | Did I not tell you she was innocent? | | MA V.iv.1 | |
| Leo. | LEONATO | | | |
| So are the Prince and Claudio who accus'd her, | So are the Prince and Claudio, who accused her | | MA V.iv.2 | |
| Vpon the errour that you heard debated: | Upon the error that you heard debated; | | MA V.iv.3 | |
| But Margaret was in some fault for this, | But Margaret was in some fault for this, | | MA V.iv.4 | |
| Although against her will as it appeares, | Although against her will, as it appears | | MA V.iv.5 | |
| In the true course of all the question. | In the true course of all the question. | question (n.) questioning, interrogation, examination | MA V.iv.6 | |
| | course (n.) course of action, way of proceeding | | |
| Old. | ANTONIO | | | |
| Well, I am glad that all things sort so well. | Well, I am glad that all things sort so well. | sort (v.) turn out, fall out, come about | MA V.iv.7 | |
| Bene. | BENEDICK | | | |
| And so am I, being else by faith enforc'd | And so am I, being else by faith enforced | | MA V.iv.8 | |
| To call young Claudio to a reckoning for it. | To call young Claudio to a reckoning for it. | | MA V.iv.9 | |
| Leo. | LEONATO | | | |
| Well daughter, and you gentlewomen all, | Well, daughter, and you gentlewomen all, | | MA V.iv.10 | |
| Withdraw into a chamber by your selues, | Withdraw into a chamber by yourselves, | | MA V.iv.11 | |
| And when I send for you, come hither mask'd: | And when I send for you, come hither masked. | | MA V.iv.12 | |
| The Prince and Claudio promis'd by this howre | The Prince and Claudio promised by this hour | | MA V.iv.13 | |
| To visit me, you know your office Brother, | To visit me. You know your office, brother; | office (n.) task, service, duty, responsibility | MA V.iv.14 | |
| You must be father to your brothers daughter, | You must be father to your brother's daughter, | | MA V.iv.15 | |
| And giue her to young Claudio. | And give her to young Claudio. | | MA V.iv.16 | |
| Exeunt Ladies. | Exeunt Ladies | | MA V.iv.16 | |
| Old. | ANTONIO | | | |
| Which I will doe with confirm'd countenance. | Which I will do with confirmed countenance. | confirmed (adj.) resolute, determined, purposeful | MA V.iv.17 | |
| Bene. | BENEDICK | | | |
| Frier, I must intreat your paines, I thinke. | Friar, I must entreat your pains, I think. | | MA V.iv.18 | |
| Frier. | FRIAR | | | |
| To doe what Signior? | To do what, signor? | | MA V.iv.19 | |
| Bene. | BENEDICK | | | |
| To binde me, or vndoe me, one of them: | To bind me, or undo me – one of them. | undo (v.) ruin, destroy, wipe out | MA V.iv.20 | |
| Signior Leonato, truth it is good Signior, | Signor Leonato, truth it is, good signor, | | MA V.iv.21 | |
| Your neece regards me with an eye of fauour. | Your niece regards me with an eye of favour. | | MA V.iv.22 | |
| Leo. | LEONATO | | | |
| That eye my daughter lent her, 'tis most true. | That eye my daughter lent her; 'tis most true. | | MA V.iv.23 | |
| Bene. | BENEDICK | | | |
| And I doe with an eye of loue requite her. | And I do with an eye of love requite her. | | MA V.iv.24 | |
| Leo. | LEONATO | | | |
| The sight whereof I thinke you had from me, | The sight whereof I think you had from me, | | MA V.iv.25 | |
| From Claudio, and the Prince, but what's your will? | From Claudio, and the Prince; but what's your will? | | MA V.iv.26 | |
| Bened. | BENEDICK | | | |
| Your answer sir is Enigmaticall, | Your answer, sir, is enigmatical; | enigmatical (adj.) enigmatic, mysterious, puzzling | MA V.iv.27 | |
| But for my will, my will is, your good will | But, for my will, my will is your good will | | MA V.iv.28 | |
| May stand with ours, this day to be conioyn'd, | May stand with ours, this day to be conjoined | stand (v.) accord, agree, hold good, be compatible | MA V.iv.29 | |
| In the state of honourable marriage, | In the state of honourable marriage – | | MA V.iv.30 | |
| In which (good Frier) I shall desire your helpe. | In which, good Friar, I shall desire your help. | | MA V.iv.31 | |
| Leon. | LEONATO | | | |
| My heart is with your liking. | My heart is with your liking. | | MA V.iv.32.1 | |
| Frier. | FRIAR | | | |
| And my helpe. | And my help. | | MA V.iv.32.2 | |
| Here comes the Prince and Claudio. | | MA V.iv.33 | |
| Enter Prince and Claudio, with attendants. | Enter Don Pedro and Claudio, and two or three others | | MA V.iv.33 | |
| Prin. | DON PEDRO | | | |
| Good morrow to this faire assembly. | Good morrow to this fair assembly. | morrow (n.) morning | MA V.iv.34 | |
| Leo. | LEONATO | | | |
| Good morrow Prince, good morrow Claudio: | Good morrow, Prince; good morrow, Claudio; | | MA V.iv.35 | |
| We heere attend you, are you yet determin'd, | We here attend you. Are you yet determined | attend (v.) serve, follow, wait [on/upon] | MA V.iv.36 | |
| To day to marry with my brothers daughter? | Today to marry with my brother's daughter? | | MA V.iv.37 | |
| Claud. | CLAUDIO | | | |
| Ile hold my minde were she an Ethiope. | I'll hold my mind, were she an Ethiope. | Ethiop, Ethiope (adj./n.) Ethiopian, African, person with a dark countenance | MA V.iv.38 | |
| Leo. | LEONATO | | | |
| Call her forth brother, heres the Frier ready. | Call her forth, brother; here's the Friar ready. | | MA V.iv.39 | |
| Exit Antonio | | MA V.iv.39 | |
| Prin. | DON PEDRO | | | |
| Good morrow Benedicke, why what's the matter? | Good morrow, Benedick. Why, what's the matter, | | MA V.iv.40 | |
| That you haue such a Februarie face, | That you have such a February face, | | MA V.iv.41 | |
| So full of frost, of storme, and clowdinesse. | So full of frost, of storm and cloudiness? | | MA V.iv.42 | |
| Claud. | CLAUDIO | | | |
| I thinke he thinkes vpon the sauage bull: | I think he thinks upon the savage bull. | | MA V.iv.43 | |
| Tush, feare not man, wee'll tip thy hornes with gold, | Tush, fear not, man, we'll tip thy horns with gold, | | MA V.iv.44 | |
| And all Europa shall reioyce at thee, | And all Europa shall rejoice at thee, | | MA V.iv.45 | |
| As once Europa did at lusty Ioue, | As once Europa did at lusty Jove, | Jove (n.) [pron: johv] alternative name for Jupiter, the Roman supreme god | MA V.iv.46 | |
| | Europa (n.) [pron: yu'rohpa] old name for Europe | | |
| | Europa (n.) [pron: yu'rohpa] daughter of Agenor; abducted by Jove in the shape of a bull, who then swam with her on his back to Crete | | |
| When he would play the noble beast in loue. | When he would play the noble beast in love. | | MA V.iv.47 | |
| Ben. | BENEDICK | | | |
| Bull Ioue sir, had an amiable low, | Bull Jove, sir, had an amiable low; | amiable (adj.) beloved, desirable, lovable | MA V.iv.48 | |
| And some such strange bull leapt your fathers Cow, | And some such strange bull leaped your father's cow, | strange (adj.) of another person, not one's own | MA V.iv.49 | |
| A got a Calfe in that same noble feat, | And got a calf in that same noble feat | | MA V.iv.50 | |
| Much like to you, for you haue iust his bleat. | Much like to you, for you have just his bleat. | like (adj.) same, similar, alike, equal | MA V.iv.51 | |
| Cla. | CLAUDIO | | | |
| For this I owe you: here comes other recknings. | For this I owe you: here comes other reckonings. | owe (v.) repay, compensate, pay back | MA V.iv.52 | |
| Enter brother, Hero, Beatrice, Margaret, Vrsula. | Enter Antonio, with the Ladies masked | | MA V.iv.52 | |
| Which is the Lady I must seize vpon? | Which is the lady I must seize upon? | seize, seize upon (v.) [legal] take possession of, take hold of | MA V.iv.53 | |
| Leo. | ANTONIO | | | |
| This same is she, and I doe giue you her. | This same is she, and I do give you her. | | MA V.iv.54 | |
| Cla. | CLAUDIO | | | |
| Why then she's mine, sweet let me see your face. | Why, then she's mine. Sweet, let me see your face. | | MA V.iv.55 | |
| Leon. | LEONATO | | | |
| No that you shal not, till you take her hand, | No, that you shall not, till you take her hand | | MA V.iv.56 | |
| Before this Frier, and sweare to marry her. | Before this Friar and swear to marry her. | | MA V.iv.57 | |
| Clau. | CLAUDIO | | | |
| Giue me your hand before this holy Frier, | Give me your hand; before this holy Friar, | | MA V.iv.58 | |
| I am your husband if you like of me. | I am your husband, if you like of me. | | MA V.iv.59 | |
| Hero. | HERO | | | |
| (unmasking) | | MA V.iv.60 | |
| And when I liu'd I was your other wife, | And when I lived, I was your other wife; | | MA V.iv.60 | |
| And when you lou'd, you were my other husband. | And when you loved, you were my other husband. | | MA V.iv.61 | |
| Clau. | CLAUDIO | | | |
| Another Hero? | Another Hero! | | MA V.iv.62.1 | |
| Hero. | HERO | | | |
| Nothing certainer. | Nothing certainer; | | MA V.iv.62.2 | |
| One Hero died, but I doe liue, | One Hero died defiled, but I do live, | | MA V.iv.63 | |
| And surely as I liue, I am a maid. | And surely as I live, I am a maid. | | MA V.iv.64 | |
| Prin. | DON PEDRO | | | |
| The former Hero, Hero that is dead. | The former Hero! Hero that is dead! | | MA V.iv.65 | |
| Leon. | LEONATO | | | |
| Shee died my Lord, but whiles her slander liu'd. | She died, my lord, but whiles her slander lived. | | MA V.iv.66 | |
| Frier. | FRIAR | | | |
| All this amazement can I qualifie, | All this amazement can I qualify, | qualify (v.) moderate, weaken, diminish | MA V.iv.67 | |
| When after that the holy rites are ended, | When, after that the holy rites are ended, | | MA V.iv.68 | |
| Ile tell you largely of faire Heroes death: | I'll tell you largely of fair Hero's death. | largely (adv.) fully, at length | MA V.iv.69 | |
| Meane time let wonder seeme familiar, | Meantime let wonder seem familiar, | wonder (n.) feeling of wonder, astonishment, marvelling | MA V.iv.70 | |
| And to the chappell let vs presently. | And to the chapel let us presently. | presently (adv.) immediately, instantly, at once | MA V.iv.71 | |
| Ben. | BENEDICK | | | |
| Soft and faire Frier, which is Beatrice? | Soft and fair, Friar. Which is Beatrice? | soft and fair gently, not so fast | MA V.iv.72 | |
| Beat. | BEATRICE | | | |
| (unmasking) | | MA V.iv.73 | |
| I answer to that name, what is your will? | I answer to that name. What is your will? | | MA V.iv.73 | |
| Bene. | BENEDICK | | | |
| Doe not you loue me? | Do not you love me? | | MA V.iv.74.1 | |
| Beat. | BEATRICE | | | |
| Why no, no more then reason. | Why no, no more than reason. | reason (n.) reasonable view, sensible judgement, right opinion | MA V.iv.74.2 | |
| Bene. | BENEDICK | | | |
| Why then your Vncle, and the Prince, & Claudio, | Why, then your uncle and the Prince and Claudio | | MA V.iv.75 | |
| haue beene deceiued, they swore you did. | Have been deceived; they swore you did. | | MA V.iv.76 | |
| Beat. | BEATRICE | | | |
| Doe not you loue mee? | Do not you love me? | | MA V.iv.77.1 | |
| Bene. | BENEDICK | | | |
| Troth no, no more then reason. | Troth no, no more than reason. | troth, good troth (n.) exclamations, emphasizing an assertion - truly, indeed | MA V.iv.77.2 | |
| Beat. | BEATRICE | | | |
| Why then my Cosin Margaret and Vrsula | Why, then my cousin, Margaret, and Ursula | | MA V.iv.78 | |
| Are much deceiu'd, for they did sweare you did. | Are much deceived; for they did swear you did. | | MA V.iv.79 | |
| Bene. | BENEDICK | | | |
| They swore you were almost sicke for me. | They swore that you were almost sick for me. | | MA V.iv.80 | |
| Beat. | BEATRICE | | | |
| They swore you were wel-nye dead for me. | They swore that you were well-nigh dead for me. | | MA V.iv.81 | |
| Bene. | BENEDICK | | | |
| 'Tis no matter, then you doe not loue me? | 'Tis no such matter. Then you do not love me? | | MA V.iv.82 | |
| Beat. | BEATRICE | | | |
| No truly, but in friendly recompence. | No, truly, but in friendly recompense. | recompense (n.) repayment, return, compensation | MA V.iv.83 | |
| Leon. | LEONATO | | | |
| Come Cosin, I am sure you loue the gentlemã. | Come, cousin, I am sure you love the gentleman. | | MA V.iv.84 | |
| Clau. | CLAUDIO | | | |
| And Ile be sworne vpon't, that he loues her, | And I'll be sworn upon't that he loves her, | | MA V.iv.85 | |
| For heres a paper written in his hand, | For here's a paper written in his hand, | | MA V.iv.86 | |
| A halting sonnet of his owne pure braine, | A halting sonnet of his own pure brain, | halting (adj.) hesitating, limping, faltering | MA V.iv.87 | |
| Fashioned to Beatrice. | Fashioned to Beatrice. | | MA V.iv.88.1 | |
| Hero. | HERO | | | |
| And heeres another, | And here's another | | MA V.iv.88.2 | |
| Writ in my cosins hand, stolne from her pocket, | Writ in my cousin's hand, stolen from her pocket, | | MA V.iv.89 | |
| Containing her affection vnto Benedicke. | Containing her affection unto Benedick. | | MA V.iv.90 | |
| Bene. | BENEDICK | | | |
| A miracle, here's our owne hands against our | A miracle! Here's our own hands against our | | MA V.iv.91 | |
| hearts: come I will haue thee, but by this light I take | hearts. Come, I will have thee; but, by this light, I take | | MA V.iv.92 | |
| thee for pittie. | thee for pity. | | MA V.iv.93 | |
| Beat. | BEATRICE | | | |
| I would not denie you, but by this good day, I | I would not deny you; but, by this good day, I | | MA V.iv.94 | |
| yeeld vpon great perswasion, & partly to saue your | yield upon great persuasion; and partly to save your | | MA V.iv.95 | |
| life, for I was told, you were in a consumption. | life, for I was told you were in a consumption. | consumption (n.) wasting disease, venereal disease | MA V.iv.96 | |
| Leon. | BENEDICK | | | |
| (kissing her) | | MA V.iv.97 | |
| Peace I will stop your mouth. | Peace! I will stop your mouth. | | MA V.iv.97 | |
| Prin. | DON PEDRO | | | |
| How dost thou Benedicke the married man? | How dost thou, Benedick, the married man? | | MA V.iv.98 | |
| Bene. | BENEDICK | | | |
| Ile tell thee what Prince: a Colledge of witte-crackers | I'll tell thee what, Prince; a college of wit-crackers | | MA V.iv.99 | |
| cannot flout mee out of my humour, dost thou | cannot flout me out of my humour. Dost thou | humour (n.) mood, disposition, frame of mind, temperament [as determined by bodily fluids] | MA V.iv.100 | |
| | flout (v.) insult, abuse, mock | | |
| think I care for a Satyre or an Epigram? no, if a man will | think I care for a satire or an epigram? No; if a man will | | MA V.iv.101 | |
| be beaten with braines, a shall weare nothing handsome | be beaten with brains, 'a shall wear nothing handsome | brain (n.) (plural) witticisms, clever remarks | MA V.iv.102 | |
| about him: in briefe, since I do purpose to marry, I will | about him. In brief, since I do purpose to marry, I will | purpose (v.) intend, plan | MA V.iv.103 | |
| thinke nothing to any purpose that the world can say | think nothing to any purpose that the world can say | purpose (n.) intention, aim, plan | MA V.iv.104 | |
| against it, and therefore neuer flout at me, for I | against it; and therefore never flout at me for what I | flout at (v.) mock, jeer, scoff | MA V.iv.105 | |
| haue said against it: for man is a giddy thing, and this | have said against it; for man is a giddy thing, and this | | MA V.iv.106 | |
| is my conclusion: for thy part Claudio, I did thinke to | is my conclusion. For thy part, Claudio, I did think to | | MA V.iv.107 | |
| haue beaten thee, but in that thou art like to be my kinsman, | have beaten thee; but in that thou art like to be my kinsman, | like (adv.) likely, probable / probably | MA V.iv.108 | |
| liue vnbruis'd, and loue my cousin. | live unbruised and love my cousin. | unbruised (adj.) unmarked, uncrushed, undamaged | MA V.iv.109 | |
| Cla. | CLAUDIO | | | |
| I had well hop'd yu wouldst haue denied | I had well hoped thou wouldst have denied | | MA V.iv.110 | |
| Beatrice, yt I might haue cudgel'd thee out of thy | Beatrice, that I might have cudgelled thee out of thy | | MA V.iv.111 | |
| single life, to make thee a double dealer, which out of | single life, to make thee a double-dealer; which out of | | MA V.iv.112 | |
| questiõ thou wilt be, if my Cousin do not looke exceeding | question thou wilt be, if my cousin do not look exceeding | | MA V.iv.113 | |
| narrowly to thee. | narrowly to thee. | narrowly (adv.) carefully, with close attention | MA V.iv.114 | |
| Bene. | BENEDICK | | | |
| Come, come, we are friends, let's haue a | Come, come, we are friends. Let's have a | | MA V.iv.115 | |
| dance ere we are married, that we may lighten our own | dance ere we are married, that we may lighten our own | | MA V.iv.116 | |
| hearts, and our wiues heeles. | hearts and our wives' heels. | | MA V.iv.117 | |
| Leon. | LEONATO | | | |
| Wee'll haue dancing afterward. | We'll have dancing afterward. | afterward (adv.) afterwards | MA V.iv.118 | |
| Bene. | BENEDICK | | | |
| First, of my word, therfore play musick. | First, of my word; therefore play, music. | | MA V.iv.119 | |
| Prince, thou art sad, get thee a wife, get thee a wife, | Prince, thou art sad; get thee a wife, get thee a wife. | sad (adj.) downcast, distressed, mournful, gloomy | MA V.iv.120 | |
| there is no staff more reuerend then one tipt with | There is no staff more reverend than one tipped with | | MA V.iv.121 | |
| horn. | horn. | | MA V.iv.122 | |
| Enter. Mes. | Enter a Messenger | | MA V.iv.122 | |
| Messen. | MESSENGER | | | |
| My Lord, your brother Iohn is tane in flight, | My lord, your brother John is ta'en in flight, | | MA V.iv.123 | |
| And brought with armed men backe to Messina. | And brought with armed men back to Messina. | | MA V.iv.124 | |
| Bene. | BENEDICK | | | |
| Thinke not on him till to morrow, ile deuise | Think not on him till tomorrow; I'll devise | | MA V.iv.125 | |
| thee braue punishments for him: strike vp Pipers. | thee brave punishments for him. Strike up, pipers. | brave (adj.) fine, excellent, splendid, impressive | MA V.iv.126 | |
| Dance. | Dance, and then exeunt | | MA V.iv.126 | |