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Home : Much Ado About Nothing : Act 1, scene iii : page 36 Read the Study Guide: Much Ado About Nothing
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Much Ado About Nothing
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 DON JOHN
  A proper squire. And who, and who? Which way looks he?
DON JOHN
He's a very fancy gentleman. And who's the girl who has caught his eye?
 BORACHIO
  Marry, on Hero, the daughter and heir of Leonato.
BORACHIO
Hero, the daughter and heir of Leonato.
 DON JOHN
  A very forward March-chick! How came you to this?
DON JOHN
A lively young one! How did you learn about this?
 BORACHIO
45 Being entertained for a perfumer, as I was smoking a musty
  room, comes me the Prince and Claudio, hand in hand, in
  sad conference. I whipped me behind the arras, and there
  heard it agreed upon that the Prince should woo Hero for
  himself, and having obtained her, give her to Count
50 Claudio.
BORACHIO
I was hired to perfume all the rooms in Leonato's house. As I was working on one musty room, the Prince and Claudio entered. They were in the middle of a serious conversation. I quickly hid behind a tapestry and heard them agree that the Prince would court Hero tonight at the dance and, once he won her consent to marry, would give her to Claudio.
 DON JOHN
  Come, come, let us thither. This may prove food to my
  displeasure. That young start-up hath all the glory of my
  overthrow. If I can cross him any way, I bless myself every
  way. You are both sure, and will assist me?
DON JOHN
Come, let's go to the dance. This just may cheer me up. Claudio, the young upstart, was responsible for keeping me from gaining power over my brother. If there's any way I can spoil his life, I'll be overjoyed. You'll both help me, right?
 CONRAD
55 To the death, my lord.
CONRAD
Until the day we die, my lord.
 DON JOHN
  Let us to the great supper. Their cheer is the greater that I
  am subdued. Would the cook were o' my mind! Shall we go
  prove what's to be done?
DON JOHN
Let's go to this great feast. They'll be even happier now that my mood has lightened. It's too bad the cook doesn't think like me; she would have poisoned them all if she did. Should we go check out the scene?
 BORACHIO
  We'll wait upon your lordship.
BORACHIO
Lead the way, sir.
Exeunt
They all exit.

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