A COMEDY, IN FIVE ACTS; BY WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE. AS PERFORMED AT THE THEATRES ROYAL, DRURY LANE AND COVENT GARDEN. PRINTED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE MANAGERS FROM THE PROMPT BOOK. WITH REMARKS BY MRS. INCHBALD. LONDON: PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, AND ORME, REMARKS. The story of this comedy is supposed, by Pope, to have been taken from the fifth book of Ariosto's Orlando Furioso. Steevens says, there is as remote an original to be traced in Spenser's "Fairy Queen." "Much ado about Nothing" has more charms in its dialogue, than in its fable, or events. The first plot appears a trivial one, because all the incidents of note, which arise from it, are connected with persons of so little consequence in the piece, that their vicissitudes of fortune excite not that hope, fear, nor curiosity in the audience, which more important characters would inspire. Claudio and Hero are said to be in love, but they say so little about it themselves, that no strong sympathy is created, either by their joys, or their sorrows, their expectations or disappointments;though, such is the reverence for justice implanted in humankind, that every spectator feels a degree of delight in the final vindication of her innocence, and the confusion of her guilty accusers. Those persons, for whom the hearts of the audience |