Much Ado About Nothing — Act 5, Scene 3: A church.

At the tomb of Hero, Claudio, Don Pedro, and several attendants with torches perform a private act of mourning. Claudio reads an inscription that says Hero was killed by slander and that death has given her lasting fame. He then orders music and leads a solemn song honoring her innocence and asking for peace around her grave. After the ritual, Claudio says he will repeat this ceremony every year. Don Pedro tells everyone to extinguish the torches because day is coming, thanks them, and says they should all go their separate ways. He and Claudio agree to change clothes and then go to Leonato’s house.

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Is this the monument of Leonato?

It is, my lord.

[Reading out of a scroll]

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.

Now, unto thy bones good night!

Yearly will I do this rite.

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: each his several way.

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

And then to Leonato's we will go.

And Hymen now with luckier issue speed's

Than this for whom we render'd up this woe.