# Result number

Work The work is either a play, poem, or sonnet. The sonnets are treated as single work with 154 parts.

Character Indicates who said the line. If it's a play or sonnet, the character name is "Poet."

Line Shows where the line falls within the work.

The numbering is not keyed to any copyrighted numbering system found in a volume of collected works (Arden, Oxford, etc.) The numbering starts at the beginning of the work, and does not restart for each scene.

Text The line's full text, with keywords highlighted within it, unless highlighting has been disabled by the user.

1

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Leonato

2

I learn in this letter that Don Peter of Arragon
comes this night to Messina.

2

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Messenger

7

But few of any sort, and none of name.

3

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Messenger

11

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.

4

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Leonato

17

He hath an uncle here in Messina will be very much
glad of it.

5

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Messenger

19

I have already delivered him letters, and there
appears much joy in him; even so much that joy could
not show itself modest enough without a badge of
bitterness.

6

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Leonato

25

A kind overflow of kindness: there are no faces
truer than those that are so washed. How much
better is it to weep at joy than to joy at weeping!

7

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Messenger

30

I know none of that name, lady: there was none such
in the army of any sort.

8

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Hero

33

My cousin means Signior Benedick of Padua.

9

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Beatrice

35

He set up his bills here in Messina and challenged
Cupid at the flight; and my uncle's fool, reading
the challenge, subscribed for Cupid, and challenged
him at the bird-bolt. I pray you, how many hath he
killed and eaten in these wars? But how many hath
he killed? for indeed I promised to eat all of his killing.

10

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Leonato

53

You must not, sir, mistake my niece. There is a
kind of merry war betwixt Signior Benedick and her:
they never meet but there's a skirmish of wit
between them.

11

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Beatrice

57

Alas! he gets nothing by that. In our last
conflict four of his five wits went halting off, and
now is the whole man governed with one: so that if
he have wit enough to keep himself warm, let him
bear it for a difference between himself and his
horse; for it is all the wealth that he hath left,
to be known a reasonable creature. Who is his
companion now? He hath every month a new sworn brother.

12

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Beatrice

66

Very easily possible: he wears his faith but as
the fashion of his hat; it ever changes with the
next block.

13

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Messenger

73

He is most in the company of the right noble Claudio.

14

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Don Pedro

85

Good Signior Leonato, you are come to meet your
trouble: the fashion of the world is to avoid
cost, and you encounter it.

15

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Leonato

88

Never came trouble to my house in the likeness of
your grace: for trouble being gone, comfort should
remain; but when you depart from me, sorrow abides
and happiness takes his leave.

16

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Benedick

111

Then is courtesy a turncoat. But it is certain I
am loved of all ladies, only you excepted: and I
would I could find in my heart that I had not a hard
heart; for, truly, I love none.

17

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Beatrice

115

A dear happiness to women: they would else have
been troubled with a pernicious suitor. I thank God
and my cold blood, I am of your humour for that: I
had rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man
swear he loves me.

18

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Beatrice

126

A bird of my tongue is better than a beast of yours.

19

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Benedick

127

I would my horse had the speed of your tongue, and
so good a continuer. But keep your way, i' God's
name; I have done.

20

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Beatrice

130

You always end with a jade's trick: I know you of old.