Note to Much Ado About Nothing, 2.3.57: "Note, notes, forsooth, and nothing."


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Much Ado About Nothing,
Act 2, Scene 3, line 57.
Note, notes, forsooth, and nothing: i.e., take note, we'll have musical notes, indeed, and nothing else.  —Since "noting" and "nothing" sounded alike, Don Pedro's "and nothing" could also mean "and everyone will note the singing." In addition, as Don Pedro knows, Benedick is "noting," or eavesdropping.