# 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

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.

2

Much Ado about Nothing
[I, 3]

Conrade

330

What the good-year, my lord! why are you thus out
of measure sad?

3

Much Ado about Nothing
[II, 1]

Hero

484

Why, then, your visor should be thatched.

4

Much Ado about Nothing
[II, 1]

Beatrice

522

Why, he is the prince's jester: a very dull fool;
only his gift is in devising impossible slanders:
none but libertines delight in him; and the
commendation is not in his wit, but in his villany;
for he both pleases men and angers them, and then
they laugh at him and beat him. I am sure he is in
the fleet: I would he had boarded me.

5

Much Ado about Nothing
[II, 1]

Benedick

578

Why, that's spoken like an honest drovier: so they
sell bullocks. But did you think the prince would
have served you thus?

6

Much Ado about Nothing
[II, 1]

Don Pedro

667

Why, how now, count! wherefore are you sad?

7

Much Ado about Nothing
[II, 3]

Don Pedro

874

Why, these are very crotchets that he speaks;
Note, notes, forsooth, and nothing.

8

Much Ado about Nothing
[II, 3]

Don Pedro

926

Why, what effects of passion shows she?

9

Much Ado about Nothing
[II, 3]

Benedick

1026

[Coming forward] This can be no trick: the
conference was sadly borne. They have the truth of
this from Hero. They seem to pity the lady: it
seems her affections have their full bent. Love me!
why, it must be requited. I hear how I am censured:
they say I will bear myself proudly, if I perceive
the love come from her; they say too that she will
rather die than give any sign of affection. I did
never think to marry: I must not seem proud: happy
are they that hear their detractions and can put
them to mending. They say the lady is fair; 'tis a
truth, I can bear them witness; and virtuous; 'tis
so, I cannot reprove it; and wise, but for loving
me; by my troth, it is no addition to her wit, nor
no great argument of her folly, for I will be
horribly in love with her. I may chance have some
odd quirks and remnants of wit broken on me,
because I have railed so long against marriage: but
doth not the appetite alter? a man loves the meat
in his youth that he cannot endure in his age.
Shall quips and sentences and these paper bullets of
the brain awe a man from the career of his humour?
No, the world must be peopled. When I said I would
die a bachelor, I did not think I should live till I
were married. Here comes Beatrice. By this day!
she's a fair lady: I do spy some marks of love in
her.

10

Much Ado about Nothing
[III, 1]

Ursula

1121

Why did you so? Doth not the gentleman
Deserve as full as fortunate a bed
As ever Beatrice shall couch upon?

11

Much Ado about Nothing
[III, 1]

Hero

1137

Why, you speak truth. I never yet saw man,
How wise, how noble, young, how rarely featured,
But she would spell him backward: if fair-faced,
She would swear the gentleman should be her sister;
If black, why, Nature, drawing of an antique,
Made a foul blot; if tall, a lance ill-headed;
If low, an agate very vilely cut;
If speaking, why, a vane blown with all winds;
If silent, why, a block moved with none.
So turns she every man the wrong side out
And never gives to truth and virtue that
Which simpleness and merit purchaseth.

12

Much Ado about Nothing
[III, 1]

Hero

1179

Why, every day, to-morrow. Come, go in:
I'll show thee some attires, and have thy counsel
Which is the best to furnish me to-morrow.

13

Much Ado about Nothing
[III, 2]

Don Pedro

1288

Why, what's the matter?

14

Much Ado about Nothing
[III, 2]

Claudio

1309

If I see any thing to-night why I should not marry
her to-morrow in the congregation, where I should
wed, there will I shame her.

15

Much Ado about Nothing
[III, 3]

Dogberry

1338

You have: I knew it would be your answer. Well,
for your favour, sir, why, give God thanks, and make
no boast of it; and for your writing and reading,
let that appear when there is no need of such
vanity. You are thought here to be the most
senseless and fit man for the constable of the
watch; therefore bear you the lantern. This is your
charge: you shall comprehend all vagrom men; you are
to bid any man stand, in the prince's name.

16

Much Ado about Nothing
[III, 3]

Dogberry

1348

Why, then, take no note of him, but let him go; and
presently call the rest of the watch together and
thank God you are rid of a knave.

17

Much Ado about Nothing
[III, 3]

Dogberry

1359

Why, you speak like an ancient and most quiet
watchman; for I cannot see how sleeping should
offend: only, have a care that your bills be not
stolen. Well, you are to call at all the
ale-houses, and bid those that are drunk get them to bed.

18

Much Ado about Nothing
[III, 3]

Dogberry

1365

Why, then, let them alone till they are sober: if
they make you not then the better answer, you may
say they are not the men you took them for.

19

Much Ado about Nothing
[III, 3]

Dogberry

1369

If you meet a thief, you may suspect him, by virtue
of your office, to be no true man; and, for such
kind of men, the less you meddle or make with them,
why the more is for your honesty.

20

Much Ado about Nothing
[III, 3]

Dogberry

1385

Why, then, depart in peace, and let the child wake
her with crying; for the ewe that will not hear her
lamb when it baes will never answer a calf when he bleats.