Much Ado About Nothing
Act I, Scene 3
A hall in Leonato’s house.
It better fits my blood to be disdain’d of all than to fashion a carriage to rob love from any
Sidney Herbert as Don John
1913
- Enter Don John the Bastard and Conrade, his companion.
Conrade
1 - 2- What the good-year, my lord, why are you thus out of measure
- sad?
Don John
3 - 4- There is no measure in the occasion that breeds, therefore
- the sadness is without limit.
Conrade
5- You should hear reason.
Don John
6- And when I have heard it, what blessing brings it?
Conrade
7- If not a present remedy, at least a patient sufferance.
Don John
8 - 14- I wonder that thou (being, as thou say’st thou art, born
- under Saturn) goest about to apply a moral medicine to a
- mortifying mischief. I cannot hide what I am: I must be sad
- when I have cause, and smile at no man’s jests; eat when I
- have stomach, and wait for no man’s leisure; sleep when I am
- drowsy, and tend on no man’s business; laugh when I am
- merry, and claw no man in his humor.
Conrade
15 - 20- Yea, but you must not make the full show of this till you
- may do it without controlment. You have of late stood out
- against your brother, and he hath ta’en you newly into his
- grace, where it is impossible you should take true root but
- by the fair weather that you make yourself. It is needful
- that you frame the season for your own harvest.
Don John
21 - 30- I had rather be a canker in a hedge than a rose in his
- grace, and it better fits my blood to be disdain’d 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 enfranchis’d 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 mean time let me be that I am, and seek not
- to alter me.
Scene design for Much Ado About Nothing
From Charles Kean's scrapbook
Conrade
31- Can you make no use of your discontent?
Don John
32 - 33- I make all use of it, for I use it only. Who comes here?
- Enter Borachio.
- What news, Borachio?
Borachio
34 - 36- I came yonder from a great supper. The Prince your brother
- is royally entertain’d by Leonato, and I can give you
- intelligence of an intended marriage.
Don John
37 - 38- Will it serve for any model to build mischief on? What is he
- for a fool that betroths himself to unquietness?
Borachio
39- Marry, it is your brother’s right hand.
Don John
40- Who, the most exquisite Claudio?
Borachio
41- Even he.
Don John
42- A proper squire! And who, and who? Which way looks he?
Borachio
43- Marry, one Hero, the daughter and heir of Leonato.
Don John
44- A very forward March-chick! How came you to this?
Borachio
45 - 49- Being entertain’d for a perfumer, as I was smoking a musty
- room, comes me the Prince and Claudio, hand in hand in sad
- conference. I whipt me behind the arras, and there heard it
- agreed upon that the Prince should woo Hero for himself, and
- having obtain’d her, give her to Count Claudio.
Don John
50 - 53- Come, come, let us thither, this may prove food to my
- displeasure. That young start-up hath all the glory of my
- overthrow. If I can cross him any way, I bless myself every
- way. You are both sure, and will assist me?
Conrade
54- To the death, my lord.
Don John
55 - 57- Let us to the great supper, their cheer is the greater that
- I am subdu’d. Would the cook were a’ my mind! Shall we go
- prove what’s to be done?
Borachio
58- We’ll wait upon your lordship.
- Exeunt.
Mr. Charles Glenney as Don John
Frank Feller, C. Goodall & Son, circa 1900