Title page
Much Ado about Nothing, A COMEDY, by SHAKESPEARE, AS PERFORMED AT THE THEATRE-ROYAL, DRURY-LANE.
Regulated from the PROMPT-BOOK, With PERMISSION of the MANAGERS, By Mr. HOPKINS, Prompter.
An INTRODUCTION, and NOTES Critical and Illustrative, ARE ADDED BY THE AUTHORS of the DRAMATIC CENSOR.
LONDON:
Printed for JOHN BELL, near Exeter-Exchange, in the Strand; and C. ETHERINGTON, at York.
MDCCLXXIII.
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INTRODUCTION.
Much Ado about Nothing.
The well chosen title of this play, gives a comic idea; the
the plot is sufficiently intricate, the incidents are well
suited, the dialogue is very spirited; the thoughts pregnant
with humour and pleasantry; the characters, in
their different lights, are well sustained, and the catastrophe
is very pleasing. We perceive no general
moral to be inferred from the tale; and think our
author's chief view, was to give to Benedick and
Beatrice, a very whimsical, but at the same time, natural
picture of love.
