![Page 1: KS3 & GCSE Literature - Heinemann Shakepeare Much Ado About Nothing](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051816/546b5099af795976298b4b6b/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Scene 2
Enter leonato and an old man, his brother antonio
leonato Hownowbrother,whereismycousinyourson?Hathheprovidedthismusic?
antonio Heisverybusyaboutit.Butbrother,Icantellyoustrangenewsthatyouyetdreamtnotof.
leonato Aretheygood?
antonio Astheeventstampsthem,buttheyhaveagoodcover;theyshowwelloutward.ThePrinceandCountClaudio,walkinginathick-pleachedalleyinmineorchard,werethusmuchoverheardbyamanofmine:thePrincediscoveredtoClaudiothathelovedmynieceyourdaughter,andmeanttoacknowledgeitthisnightinadance;andifhefoundheraccordant,hemeanttotakethepresenttimebythetopandinstantlybreakwithyouofit.
leonato Haththefellowanywitthattoldyouthis?
antonio Agoodsharpfellow;Iwillsendforhim,andquestionhimyourself.
leonato No,no,wewillholditasadreamtillitappearitself.ButIwillacquaintmydaughterwithal,thatshebethebetterpreparedforananswer,ifperadventurethisbetrue.Goyouandtellherofit.
Enter antonio’s son and balthasar the musician
Cousin,youknowwhatyouhavetodo.[To the musician]OIcryyoumercyfriend,goyouwithme,andIwilluseyourskill.Goodcousinhaveacarethisbusytime. [Exeunt
act 1 Scene 2
31
Much ado about nothing
30
10
15
20
25
5
Leonatoaskshisolderbrother,Antonio,whetherthemusicfortheeveninghasbeenarranged.AntoniohasbeentoldbyaservantthathehasoverheardDonPedrotellingClaudiothatheisinlovewithHeroandwilltellhersoduringthedance.HerfathersaysHeroneedstoknowthatthismighthappen.
1 cousinThewordoftenjustmeansarelation,notnecessarilyouruseof‘cousin’.
5 Aretheygood?Isthenewsgood?
6–7 As...coverWeshallsee,butitlookslikely
8 thick-pleachedalleyAwalkoravenueoftreeswhosebrancheshavebeentrainedtomeetinanarchoverhead.
9 orchardorchardorgarden
10 discoveredrevealed
13 accordantagreeable
14 take...topseizetheopportunity
16 witintelligence
22 peradventureperhaps
25 I...mercypleaseforgiveme(Leonatohasaskedhimtobepresentandnowisn’tusinghim.)
Act 1.indd 30-31 10/26/09 4:26 PM