# 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]

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.

2

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Beatrice

74

O Lord, he will hang upon him like a disease: he
is sooner caught than the pestilence, and the taker
runs presently mad. God help the noble Claudio! if
he have caught the Benedick, it will cost him a
thousand pound ere a' be cured.

3

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Benedick

101

If Signior Leonato be her father, she would not
have his head on her shoulders for all Messina, as
like him as she is.

4

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Beatrice

107

Is it possible disdain should die while she hath
such meet food to feed it as Signior Benedick?
Courtesy itself must convert to disdain, if you come
in her presence.

5

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Leonato

137

If you swear, my lord, you shall not be forsworn.
[To DON JOHN]
Let me bid you welcome, my lord: being reconciled to
the prince your brother, I owe you all duty.

6

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Claudio

175

I would scarce trust myself, though I had sworn the
contrary, if Hero would be my wife.

7

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Claudio

194

If this were so, so were it uttered.

8

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Claudio

198

If my passion change not shortly, God forbid it
should be otherwise.

9

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Don Pedro

200

Amen, if you love her; for the lady is very well worthy.

10

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Don Pedro

229

Well, if ever thou dost fall from this faith, thou
wilt prove a notable argument.

11

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Benedick

231

If I do, hang me in a bottle like a cat and shoot
at me; and he that hits me, let him be clapped on
the shoulder, and called Adam.

12

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Benedick

236

The savage bull may; but if ever the sensible
Benedick bear it, pluck off the bull's horns and set
them in my forehead: and let me be vilely painted,
and in such great letters as they write 'Here is
good horse to hire,' let them signify under my sign
'Here you may see Benedick the married man.'

13

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Claudio

242

If this should ever happen, thou wouldst be horn-mad.

14

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Don Pedro

243

Nay, if Cupid have not spent all his quiver in
Venice, thou wilt quake for this shortly.

15

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Claudio

253

To the tuition of God: From my house, if I had it,—

16

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Don Pedro

278

Thou wilt be like a lover presently
And tire the hearer with a book of words.
If thou dost love fair Hero, cherish it,
And I will break with her and with her father,
And thou shalt have her. Was't not to this end
That thou began'st to twist so fine a story?

17

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 2]

Antonio

308

As the event stamps them: but they have a good
cover; they show well outward. The prince and Count
Claudio, walking in a thick-pleached alley in mine
orchard, were thus much overheard by a man of mine:
the prince discovered to Claudio that he loved my
niece your daughter and meant to acknowledge it
this night in a dance: and if he found her
accordant, he meant to take the present time by the
top and instantly break with you of it.

18

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 2]

Leonato

320

No, no; we will hold it as a dream till it appear
itself: but I will acquaint my daughter withal,
that she may be the better prepared for an answer,
if peradventure this be true. Go you and tell her of it.
[Enter Attendants]
Cousins, you know what you have to do. O, I cry you
mercy, friend; go you with me, and I will use your
skill. Good cousin, have a care this busy time.

19

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 3]

Conrade

336

If not a present remedy, at least a patient
sufferance.

20

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 3]

Don John

353

I had rather be a canker in a hedge than a rose in
his grace, and it better fits my blood to be
disdained of all than to fashion a carriage to rob
love from any: in this, though I cannot be said to
be a flattering honest man, it must not be denied
but I am a plain-dealing villain. I am trusted with
a muzzle and enfranchised with a clog; therefore I
have decreed not to sing in my cage. If I had my
mouth, I would bite; if I had my liberty, I would do
my liking: in the meantime let me be that I am and
seek not to alter me.