Enter LEONATO, Governor of
Messina;HERO, his daughter; and
BEATRICE his niece, with a MESSENGER
LEONATO, Governor of
Messina;HERO, his daughter; and
BEATRICE, his niece, enter with a
MESSENGER
LEONATO
I learn in this letter that Don Pedro of Aragon comes this
night to Messina.
LEONATO
(holding a letter) According to
this letter, Don
Pedro of Aragon and his army are coming to Messina
tonight.
MESSENGER
He is very near by this. He was not three leagues off when
I left him.
MESSENGER
He must be very near by now. When I left him, he was less than
nine miles from here.
LEONATO
5
How many gentlemen have you lost in this action?
LEONATO
How many noblemen were killed in the battle you just
fought?
MESSENGER
But few of any sort, and none of name.
MESSENGER
Not many, and no one important.
LEONATO
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.
LEONATO
A victory in battle is twice as victorious when all the soldiers
return home safely. This letter also says that Don Pedro has given
honors to a young man from Florence named Claudio.
MESSENGER
10
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.
MESSENGER
Claudio deserves to be honored, and Don Pedro has rewarded him
accordingly. Claudio has done more than anyone would expect of a man
his age. He looks like a lamb but fights like a lion. He has so
greatly exceeded all expectations that I can't even
describe all he's done.
LEONATO
15
He hath an uncle here in Messina will be very much glad of
it.
LEONATO
He has an uncle here in Messina who will be glad to hear this
news.
