Understanding Shakespeare: Much Ado about Nothing by Robert A. Albano - HTML preview

7. Fedele and Fortunatio (1585)

Another lost play, this one was an English adaptation of an Italian play that has the same incident.

8. The Rock of Regard (1576) by George Whetstone This also contains a story similar to the Claudio and Hero plot.

9. Il Libro del Cortegiano (1528)

by Baldasarre Castiglione and

The Courtier (1561 English translation) by Sir Thomas Hoby

These contain witty exchanges between two antagonistic lovers similar to Beatrice and Benedick.

10. Taming of the Shrew (1593) by William Shakespeare

This earlier comedy also contains a witty and aggressive dialogue between lovers.