Original: Marry, this well carried shall on her behalf
Modern: Indeed, if this plan is carried out well, it will work in her favor

Original: Change slander to remorse; that is some good:
Modern: It will turn the slander against her into regret; that’s at least something positive:

Original: But not for that dream I on this strange course,
Modern: But that’s not the only reason I’ve come up with this unusual plan,

Original: But on this travail look for greater birth.
Modern: I’m hoping this difficult work will produce even better results.

Original: She dying, as it must so be maintain’d,
Modern: With her pretending to be dead, as we must claim she is,

Original: Upon the instant that she was accused,
Modern: Immediately after she was publicly accused,

Original: Shall be lamented, pitied and excused
Modern: She will be mourned, sympathized with, and forgiven

Original: Of every hearer: for it so falls out
Modern: By everyone who hears about it: because it turns out

Original: That what we have we prize not to the worth
Modern: That we don’t appreciate what we have at its true value

Original: Whiles we enjoy it, but being lack’d and lost,
Modern: While we still have it, but once it’s gone and lost,

Original: Why, then we rack the value, then we find
Modern: Well, then we inflate its worth, and then we discover

Original: The virtue that possession would not show us
Modern: The good qualities that we couldn’t see when we had it

Original: Whiles it was ours. So will it fare with Claudio:
Modern: While it was still ours. This is how it will go with Claudio:

Original: When he shall hear she died upon his words,
Modern: When he hears that she died because of his accusations,

Original: The idea of her life shall sweetly creep
Modern: The memory of her living will gently slip

Original: Into his study of imagination,
Modern: Into his thoughtful mind,

Original: And every lovely organ of her life
Modern: And every beautiful aspect of her being

Original: Shall come apparell’d in more precious habit,
Modern: Will appear dressed in more valuable clothing,

Original: More moving-delicate and full of life,
Modern: More touching, more delicate, and more vibrant,

Original: Into the eye and prospect of his soul,
Modern: In his mind’s eye and in his soul’s vision,

Original: Than when she lived indeed; then shall he mourn,
Modern: Than when she was actually alive; then he will grieve,

Original: If ever love had interest in his liver,
Modern: If he ever had any real capacity for love in his heart,

Original: And wish he had not so accused her,
Modern: And wish he had not accused her like that,

Original: No, though he thought his accusation true.
Modern: No matter how much he believed his accusation was true.

Original: Let this be so, and doubt not but success
Modern: Let this happen as planned, and don’t doubt that success

Original: Will fashion the event in better shape
Modern: Will shape the outcome into something better

Original: Than I can lay it down in likelihood.
Modern: Than I can even predict or describe right now.

Original: But if all aim but this be levell’d false,
Modern: But even if all our other goals for this plan miss their mark,

Original: The supposition of the lady’s death
Modern: The belief that the lady has died

Original: Will quench the wonder of her infamy:
Modern: Will put out the fire of her scandalous reputation:

Original: And if it sort not well, you may conceal her,
Modern: And if things don’t work out well, you can hide her,

Original: As best befits her wounded reputation,
Modern: In whatever way is most appropriate for her damaged reputation,

Original: In some reclusive and religious life,
Modern: In some secluded, religious lifestyle,

Original: Out of all eyes, tongues, minds and injuries.
Modern: Away from all stares, gossip, thoughts, and harm.

In Act IV, Scene 1 of “Much Ado About Nothing,” the wedding ceremony between Claudio and Hero takes place in a church. However, instead of proceeding with the marriage, Claudio publicly refuses to wed Hero, accusing her of being unchaste and unfaithful. Don Pedro supports Claudio’s accusations, claiming they witnessed Hero speaking with a man at her chamber window the previous night. Hero’s father Leonato is initially confused, then devastated by these allegations against his daughter. Hero protests her innocence but is overwhelmed by the public humiliation and faints. Claudio, Don Pedro, and Don John leave the church, while Leonato, in his shame and anger, wishes his daughter dead.

After the accusers depart, Hero revives, and Friar Francis, who conducted the ceremony, expresses his belief in Hero’s innocence based on observing her reactions. Benedick also suspects Don John’s involvement in some villainy. The Friar proposes a plan: they should announce that Hero died from the shock of the false accusations, which will make Claudio feel remorse and may reveal the truth. Leonato agrees to this strategy. After the others leave, Benedick and Beatrice remain alone. In an emotionally charged exchange, they finally confess their love for each other. However, Beatrice, furious about the treatment of her cousin Hero, demands that Benedick prove his love by challenging Claudio to a duel, which Benedick reluctantly agrees to do.

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.