Thanks, Provost, for thy care and secresy;
We shall employ thee in a worthier place:
Forgive him, Angelo, that brought you home
The head of Ragozine for Claudio's ;
Th’offence pardons itself. Dear Isabel,
I have a motion much imports your good,
Whereto if you'll a willing ear incline,
What's mine is yours, and what is yours is mine:
So bring us to our palace, where we'll show
What's yet behind, that's meet you all should know.

[Exeunt omnes.

Dramatis Persona.

.

DON PEDRO, Prince of Arragon.
Leonato, Governor of Mellina.
Don John, Bastard-Brother to Don Pedro.
Claudio, a young Lord of Florence, Favourite to Don

Pedro.
Benedick, a young Lord of Padua, favour'd likewise by

Don Pedro.
Balthazar, Servant to Don Pedro.
Antonio, Brother to Leonato.
Borachio, Confident to Don John.
Conrade, Friend to Borachio.

.

Dogberry

, } two foolish Officers.

Hero, Daughter to Leonato.
Beatrice, Neice to Leonato.
Margaret,

two Gentlewomen, attendine on Hero. Ursula,

}

A Friar, Messenger, Watch, Town-Clerk, Sexton, and At

tendants.

SCENE, Messina in Sicily.

MUCH

*MUCHADO about NOTHING.

А СТІ.

SC EN E I.

SCENE, a Court before Leonato's House. Enter Leonato, Hero, and Beatrice, with a Messenger.

LEONATO. I

Learn in this letter, that Don Pedro of Arragon comes this night to Mefina. Mes. He is very near by this; he was not three leagues off when I left him.

Leon. How many gentlemen have you lost in this adion?

Mef. But few of any Sort, and none of Name.

Leon. A victory is twice itself, when the atchiever brings home full numbers; I find here, that Don Pedro hath bestowed much honour on a young FloTentine, call'd Claudio.

Meff. Much deserved on his part, and equally remembred by Don Pedro: he hath borne himself beyond the promise of his age, doing in the figure of a lamb the feats of a lion: he hath, indeed, better better'd expectation, than you must expect of me to tell you how. Léon. He hath an uncle here in Melina will be

very much glad of it.

Mej. I have already deliver'd him letters, and there appears much joy in him; cven so much, that * The Story from Ariosto, Orl. Fur. 1. 5.

joy

Mr. Pope.