Original: This can be no trick: the conference was sadly borne.
Modern: This can’t be a joke—they were talking so seriously.

Original: They have the truth of this from Hero.
Modern: They got this information from Hero.

Original: They seem to pity the lady: it seems her affections have their full bent.
Modern: They seem to feel sorry for her—it sounds like she’s completely in love.

Original: Love me! why, it must be requited.
Modern: She loves me! Well, I have to return her love then.

Original: 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.
Modern: I heard what they said about me—that I’ll act arrogantly if I know she loves me, and that she’d rather die than show her feelings.

Original: I did never think to marry: I must not seem proud: happy are they that hear their detractions and can put them to mending.
Modern: I never planned to get married, but I shouldn’t be proud—lucky are those who can hear criticism about themselves and improve.

Original: 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.
Modern: They say she’s beautiful—that’s true, I can confirm it—and good, which I can’t deny, and smart, except for loving me; honestly, loving me doesn’t make her smarter, but it’s not really foolish either, because I’m going to fall madly in love with her.

Original: 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?
Modern: People might make some clever jokes at my expense since I’ve spent so long speaking against marriage—but don’t people’s desires change?

Original: a man loves the meat in his youth that he cannot endure in his age.
Modern: A man enjoys food when he’s young that he can’t stand when he’s older.

Original: Shall quips and sentences and these paper bullets of the brain awe a man from the career of his humour?
Modern: Should witty remarks and clever sayings—these harmless jokes—scare a man away from following his heart’s desire?

Original: No, the world must be peopled.
Modern: No, the world needs to be populated.

Original: When I said I would die a bachelor, I did not think I should live till I were married.
Modern: When I said I’d never marry, I didn’t think I’d live long enough to change my mind.

Original: Here comes Beatrice.
Modern: Here comes Beatrice.

Original: By this day! she’s a fair lady: I do spy some marks of love in her.
Modern: I swear! She’s a beautiful woman—I can see some signs that she’s in love.

In Act II, Scene iii of “Much Ado About Nothing,” Benedick enters the orchard alone, reflecting on how Claudio has transformed from a soldier into a lover since falling for Hero. He mocks the idea of love and declares that he will never be caught in such a romantic trap himself. When he notices Don Pedro, Claudio, and Leonato approaching, Benedick hides in an arbor to eavesdrop on their conversation. The three men, aware of his presence, begin discussing Beatrice’s supposed passionate love for Benedick.

The conspirators elaborate on Beatrice’s alleged infatuation, claiming she writes love letters to Benedick nightly, tears them up in frustration, and suffers greatly from her unrequited feelings. They express concern that if Benedick knew of her love, he would mock her mercilessly due to his disdainful nature. Don Pedro, Leonato, and Claudio agree that Beatrice should be advised to overcome her feelings rather than reveal them to Benedick. After they exit, Benedick emerges from hiding, completely convinced by what he has overheard. He begins to reconsider his previous harsh opinions of Beatrice, finding new merit in her qualities and resolving that her love must be requited.

Much Ado About Nothing takes place in Messina, where Don Pedro, Prince of Aragon, arrives with his companions Claudio and Benedick after a military victory. Claudio immediately falls in love with Hero, daughter of Leonato (the governor of Messina), and Don Pedro arranges their engagement. Meanwhile, Benedick and Beatrice, Leonato’s niece, engage in a battle of wits, trading insults and declaring their mutual disdain for love and marriage. Don Pedro, Claudio, and Leonato conspire to trick Benedick and Beatrice into falling in love by staging conversations where each overhears how the other is supposedly lovesick for them.

Don John, Don Pedro’s illegitimate brother and the play’s villain, plots to destroy Claudio’s happiness by making him believe Hero is unfaithful. With his accomplices Borachio and Conrad, Don John arranges for Claudio and Don Pedro to witness what appears to be Hero meeting with another man at her window the night before her wedding. In reality, it is Hero’s waiting-gentlewoman Margaret being wooed by Borachio in disguise.

At the wedding ceremony, Claudio publicly accuses Hero of infidelity and rejects her. Hero faints from shock, and Friar Francis suggests they pretend she has died from the shame while they investigate the truth. Benedick, now in love with Beatrice, promises to challenge Claudio to a duel when Beatrice demands he prove his love by defending Hero’s honor. Meanwhile, the bumbling constable Dogberry and his watchmen accidentally overhear Borachio boasting about the deception to Conrad and arrest them both.

Through Dogberry’s interrogation, the truth emerges about Don John’s plot. Claudio learns of Hero’s innocence and agrees to make amends by marrying Leonato’s “niece” (actually Hero in disguise) the next day. At this second wedding ceremony, Hero reveals herself, and she and Claudio are reconciled. Benedick and Beatrice finally admit their love for each other and agree to marry as well. The play concludes with news that Don John has been captured while trying to flee, and the couples celebrate their double wedding.