Lucio. Marrying a punk, my lord, is pressing to death, whipping, and hanging.

Duke. Slandering a prince deserves it.She, Claudio, that you wronged, look you restore. Joy to you, Mariana!-Love her, Angelo; I have confessed her, and I know her virtue. Thanks, good friend Escalus, for thy much goodness: There's more behind, that is more gratulate. Thanks, provost, for thy care and secrecy: We shall employ thee in a worthier place:Forgive him, Angelo, that brought you home The head of Ragozine for Claudio's; The 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.

--

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

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PERSONS REPRESENTED.

DON PEDRO, Prince of Arragon.
DON JOHN, his bastard Brother.

CLAUDIO, a young Lord of Florence, favorite to Don

Pedro.

BENEDICK, a young Lord of Padua, favorite likewise of Don Pedro.

HERO, Daughter to Leonato.

BEATRICE, Niece to Leonato.

MARGARET, Gentlewomen attending on Hero.

URSULA,

}

Messengers, Watch, and Attendants.

SCENE. Messina.

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MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.

ACT I.

SCENE I. Before Leonato's House.

Enter LEONATO, HERO, BEATRICE, and others, with a Messenger.

Leonato. I LEARN in this letter, that Don Pedro of Arragon comes this night to Messina.

Mess. 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 action? Mess. But few of any sort, and none of name.

Leon. A victory is twice itself, when the achiever brings. home full numbers. I find here, that don Pedro hath bestowed much honor on a young Florentine, called Claudio.

Mess. Much deserved on his part, and equally remembered 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 bettered expectation, than you must expect of me to tell you how.

Leon. He hath an uncle here in Messina will be very much glad of it.

Mess. I have already delivered him letters, and there appears much joy in him; eved so much, that joy could not show itself modest enough, without a badge of bitterness. Leon. Did he break out into tears?

Mess. In great measure.

Leon. A kind overflow of kindness: there are no faces truer than those that are so washed. How much better it is to weep at joy, than to joy at weeping! Beat. I pray you, is seignoir Montanto returned from the wars, or no?

Mess. I know none of that name, lady; there was none such in the army of any sort.

Leon. What is he that you ask for, niece?

Hero. My cousin means seignior Benedick of Padua.

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