Thanks, Provost, for thy care and secresy; Th' offence pardons itfelf. Dear Ifabel, What's mine is yours, and what is yours is mine: What's yet behind, that's meet You all fhould know. [Exeunt omnes. Dramatis Perfonæ. DON PEDRO, Prince of Arragon. Don John, Baftard-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. Conrade, Friend to Borachio. BRITISH Hero, Daughter to Leonato. Beatrice, Neice to Leonato. Margaret, two Gentlewomen, attending on Hero. Urfula, A Friar, Meffenger, Watch, Town-Clerk, Sexton, and At tendants. SCENE, Messina in Sicily. MUCH *MUCH ADO about NOTHING. ACT I. SCENE I. SCENE, a Court before Leonato's Houfe. Enter Leonato, Hero, and Beatrice, with a Meffenger. LEONATO. Learn in this letter, that Don Pedro of Arragon Meff. He is very near by this; he was not three leagues off when I left him. Leon. How many gentlemen have you loft in this action? Meff. 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 beflowed much honour on a young Florentine, call'd Claudio. Meff. Much deferved 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. Leon. He hath an uncle here in Meffina will be very much glad of it. Meff. I have already deliver'd him letters, and there appears much joy in him; even so much, that *The Story from Ariofto, Orl. Fur. 1. 5. Mr. Pope. joy |