# 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]

Benedick

170

I can see yet without spectacles and I see no such
matter: there's her cousin, an she were not
possessed with a fury, exceeds her as much in beauty
as the first of May doth the last of December. But I
hope you have no intent to turn husband, have you?

2

Much Ado about Nothing
[II, 1]

Leonato

414

By my troth, niece, thou wilt never get thee a
husband, if thou be so shrewd of thy tongue.

3

Much Ado about Nothing
[II, 1]

Beatrice

421

Just, if he send me no husband; for the which
blessing I am at him upon my knees every morning and
evening. Lord, I could not endure a husband with a
beard on his face: I had rather lie in the woollen.

4

Much Ado about Nothing
[II, 1]

Leonato

425

You may light on a husband that hath no beard.

5

Much Ado about Nothing
[II, 1]

Leonato

449

Well, niece, I hope to see you one day fitted with a husband.

6

Much Ado about Nothing
[II, 1]

Beatrice

695

Good Lord, for alliance! Thus goes every one to the
world but I, and I am sunburnt; I may sit in a
corner and cry heigh-ho for a husband!

7

Much Ado about Nothing
[II, 1]

Don Pedro

722

She cannot endure to hear tell of a husband.

8

Much Ado about Nothing
[II, 1]

Hero

746

I will do any modest office, my lord, to help my
cousin to a good husband.

9

Much Ado about Nothing
[II, 1]

Don Pedro

748

And Benedick is not the unhopefullest husband that
I know. Thus far can I praise him; he is of a noble
strain, of approved valour and confirmed honesty. I
will teach you how to humour your cousin, that she
shall fall in love with Benedick; and I, with your
two helps, will so practise on Benedick that, in
despite of his quick wit and his queasy stomach, he
shall fall in love with Beatrice. If we can do this,
Cupid is no longer an archer: his glory shall be
ours, for we are the only love-gods. Go in with me,
and I will tell you my drift.

10

Much Ado about Nothing
[III, 3]

Borachio

1465

Two of them did, the prince and Claudio; but the
devil my master knew she was Margaret; and partly
by his oaths, which first possessed them, partly by
the dark night, which did deceive them, but chiefly
by my villany, which did confirm any slander that
Don John had made, away went Claudio enraged; swore
he would meet her, as he was appointed, next morning
at the temple, and there, before the whole
congregation, shame her with what he saw o'er night
and send her home again without a husband.

11

Much Ado about Nothing
[III, 4]

Margaret

1517

Of what, lady? of speaking honourably? Is not
marriage honourable in a beggar? Is not your lord
honourable without marriage? I think you would have
me say, 'saving your reverence, a husband:' and bad
thinking do not wrest true speaking, I'll offend
nobody: is there any harm in 'the heavier for a
husband'? None, I think, and it be the right husband
and the right wife; otherwise 'tis light, and not
heavy: ask my Lady Beatrice else; here she comes.

12

Much Ado about Nothing
[III, 4]

Beatrice

1533

Ye light o' love, with your heels! then, if your
husband have stables enough, you'll see he shall
lack no barns.

13

Much Ado about Nothing
[III, 4]

Margaret

1539

For a hawk, a horse, or a husband?

14

Much Ado about Nothing
[III, 5]

Messenger

1629

My lord, they stay for you to give your daughter to
her husband.

15

Much Ado about Nothing
[IV, 1]

Claudio

1689

I know what you would say: if I have known her,
You will say she did embrace me as a husband,
And so extenuate the 'forehand sin:
No, Leonato,
I never tempted her with word too large;
But, as a brother to his sister, show'd
Bashful sincerity and comely love.

16

Much Ado about Nothing
[V, 4]

Claudio

2607

Give me your hand: before this holy friar,
I am your husband, if you like of me.

17

Much Ado about Nothing
[V, 4]

Hero

2609

And when I lived, I was your other wife:
[Unmasking]
And when you loved, you were my other husband.