# 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]

Messenger

4

He is very near by this: he was not three leagues off
when I left him.

2

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.

3

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Leonato

41

Faith, niece, you tax Signior Benedick too much;
but he'll be meet with you, I doubt it not.

4

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.

5

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Messenger

69

I see, lady, the gentleman is not in your books.

6

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Beatrice

82

No, not till a hot January.

7

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.

8

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.

9

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Beatrice

123

Scratching could not make it worse, an 'twere such
a face as yours were.

10

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.

11

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Don John

141

I thank you: I am not of many words, but I thank
you.

12

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Benedick

147

I noted her not; but I looked on her.

13

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Claudio

148

Is she not a modest young lady?

14

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Benedick

153

Why, i' faith, methinks she's too low for a high
praise, too brown for a fair praise and too little
for a great praise: only this commendation I can
afford her, that were she other than she is, she
were unhandsome; and being no other but as she is, I
do not like her.

15

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?

16

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Benedick

177

Is't come to this? In faith, hath not the world
one man but he will wear his cap with suspicion?
Shall I never see a bachelor of three-score again?
Go to, i' faith; an thou wilt needs thrust thy neck
into a yoke, wear the print of it and sigh away
Sundays. Look Don Pedro is returned to seek you.

17

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Don Pedro

184

What secret hath held you here, that you followed
not to Leonato's?

18

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Benedick

195

Like the old tale, my lord: 'it is not so, nor
'twas not so, but, indeed, God forbid it should be
so.'

19

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Claudio

198

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

20

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 1]

Benedick

214

That a woman conceived me, I thank her; that she
brought me up, I likewise give her most humble
thanks: but that I will have a recheat winded in my
forehead, or hang my bugle in an invisible baldrick,
all women shall pardon me. Because I will not do
them the wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the
right to trust none; and the fine is, for the which
I may go the finer, I will live a bachelor.