Act 5, Scene 3 — Much Ado About Nothing

The argument Don Pedro, Claudio, and their attendants visit Hero's tomb at night with music and torches. Claudio reads an epitaph mourning the innocent Hero slain by slander. He commits to performing this ritual yearly. Don Pedro notes that dawn approaches. They resolve to change their clothes and go to Leonato's house, where a new marriage will take place. Claudio prays that his new bride (unknowingly Hero) will bring more happiness than his previous match brought sorrow.

Enter Don Pedro, Claudio and Attendants,

with music and tapers.

CLAUDIO Young passion wanting approval and reassurance

Is this the monument of Leonato?

is this the monument of leonato?

A LORD Formal address

It is, my lord.

it is, my lord.

[Reads from a scroll.]

CLAUDIO ≋ verse Young passion wanting approval and reassurance

Epitaph.

Done to death by slanderous tongues

Was the Hero that here lies:

Death, in guerdon of her wrongs,

Gives her fame which never dies.

So the life that died with shame

Lives in death with glorious fame.

Hang thou there upon the tomb,

Praising her when I am dumb.

Now, music, sound, and sing your solemn hymn.

Song.

Pardon, goddess of the night,

Those that slew thy virgin knight;

For the which, with songs of woe,

Round about her tomb they go.

Midnight, assist our moan;

Help us to sigh and groan,

Heavily, heavily:

Graves, yawn and yield your dead,

Till death be uttered,

Heavily, heavily.

Epitaph. Done to death by slanderous tongues Was the Hero that here lies: Death, in guerdon of her wrongs, Gives her fame which never dies. So the life that died with shame Lives in death with glorious fame. Hang you there upon the tomb, Praising her when I am dumb. Now, music, sound, and sing your solemn hymn. Song. Pardon, goddess of the night, Those that slew your virgin knight; For the which, with songs of woe, Round about her tomb they go. Midnight, assist our moan; Help us to sigh and groan, Heavily, heavily: Graves, yawn and yield your dead, Till death be uttered, Heavily, heavily.

Epitaph. Done to death by slanderous tongues Was the Hero that here lies: Death, in guerdon of her wrongs, Gives her fame which never dies. So the life that died with shame Lives in death with glorious fame. Hang you there upon the tomb, Praising her when I'm dumb. Now, music, sound, and sing your solemn hymn. Song. Pardon, goddess of the night, Those that slew your virgin knight; For the which, with songs of woe, Round about her tomb they go. Midnight, assist our moan; Help us to sigh and groan, Heavily, heavily: Graves, yawn and yield your dead, Till death be uttered, Heavily, heavily.

epitaph done to death by slanderous tongues was the hero that here lies: death in guerdon of her wrongs gives her fame which never dies so the life that died with shame lives in death with glorious fame

CLAUDIO ≋ verse Young passion wanting approval and reassurance

Now, unto thy bones good night!

Yearly will I do this rite.

Now, unto your bones good night! Yearly will I do this rite.

now, unto your bones good night! yearly will i do this rite.

DON PEDRO ≋ verse Warm authority that moves others

Good morrow, masters: put your torches out.

The wolves have prey’d; and look, the gentle day,

Before the wheels of Phoebus, round about

Dapples the drowsy East with spots of grey.

Thanks to you all, and leave us: fare you well.

Good morrow, masters: put your torches out. The wolves have prey’d; and look, the gentle day, Before the wheels of Phoebus, round about Dapples the drowsy East with spots of grey. Thanks to you all, and leave us: fare you well.

good morrow masters: put your torches out the wolves have prey’d and look the gentle day

CLAUDIO Young passion wanting approval and reassurance

Good morrow, masters: each his several way.

good morrow, masters: each his several way.

DON PEDRO ≋ verse Warm authority that moves others

Come, let us hence, and put on other weeds;

And then to Leonato’s we will go.

Come, let us hence, and put on other weeds; And then to Leonato’s we will go.

come let us hence and put on other weeds and then to leonato’s we will go

CLAUDIO ≋ verse Young passion wanting approval and reassurance

And Hymen now with luckier issue speed’s,

Than this for whom we rend’red up this woe!

And Hymen now with luckier issue speed’s, Than this for whom we rend’red up this woe!

and hymen now with luckier issue speed’s than this for whom we rend’red up this woe

[Exeunt.]

The Reckoning

The tomb scene is penance made visible: midnight vigil and written prayer mark Claudio's genuine remorse, transforming his shame into devotion. He accepts responsibility through ritual.

If this happened today…

Grief and guilt require visible acts of remembrance; private apology means nothing without public acknowledgment and ongoing commitment to make amends.

Continue to 5.4 →