Comedies of William Shakespeare Ver. 1.00 Part II (C) COPYRIGHT 1987 by The Neutral Zone ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ------------------------------------------------------------- THE MERCHANT OF VENICE Cast of Characters Main Characters ANTONIO, the merchant of Venice, is willing to risk his life to help his friend's courtship. BASSANIO borrows Antonio's money with nearly fatal consequences for his friend, but chooses the right box and wins a bride. PORTIA, Bassinio's bride, shows that women can be shrewd as well as beautiful. She makes a skillful and convincing lawyer. GRATIANO accompanies his friend, Bassinio, to Belomont where he, too, finds a wife. LORENZO, Antonio's friend, wins Shylock's daughter for a bride. JESSICA, Shylock's daughter, deserts her father, taking a goodly share of his treasure with her. SHYLOCK, the money lender, is so bent on a bloodthirsty revenge that he is caught in his own trap. LAUNCELOT Gobbo leaves Shylock's service for Bassanio's. Supporting Characters --------------------- BALTHAZAR, Portia's servant THE DUKE OF VENICE, who cannot abrogate his own laws LEONARDO, Bassanio's servant OLD GOBBO, Launcelot's father THE PRINCE OF ARRAGON THE PRINCE OF MOROCCO SALANIO, SALARINO, and SALERIO, Anotonio's friends. STEPHANO, Portia's servant TUBAL, Shylock's friend (Attendants, Nobles of Venice, Officers of the Court, Servants) (PLACE: Venice and Belmont) BACKGROUND. This play was first printed in 1600 but was probably acted between 1594 and 1597. The plot, for the most part, comes from a story collection. "Il Pecorone", written by Giovanni Fiorentino in 1378. Portia's plan for selecting her suitor can be traced to a story in the "Gesta Romanorum," a medieval collection of tales translated in 1577. Minor details such as Jessica's part were probably suggested by similar situations in Marlowe's "Jew of Malta"; and a lost play, "The Jew", mentioned by Stephen Gosson in his "School of Abuse" in 1579 may well have already incorporated the various story elements into a form roughly approximating that of the play as we know it. ACT BY ACT ANALYSIS ------------------- ACT I. Antonio, though his own money it tied up in a shipping ventures, promises to help his friend Bassanio raise a large sum to be used in wooing the fair Portia (i). Portia's dead father has extracted a promise from the girl that she select her husband by means of a lottery in which prospective suitors must choose correctly from three boxes- one of gold, one of silver, and one of lead. None of the suitors besieging her pleases Portia except Bassanio (ii), who with Antonio's help has now arranged to borrow three thousand ducats from Shylock, the money lender. Despite Bassanio's protest, Antonio agrees to forfeit a pound of flesh if the loan plus interest is not repaid in time. This condition the wily Shylock pretends merely part of a merry jest, though he really hates Antonio for several reasons: Antonio is a Christian; Antonio lends money without interest; and Antonio has reviled Shylock as a usurer (iii). ACT II. Launcelot Gobbo leaves Shylock's service for that of Bassanio (ii). When he tells Shylock's daughter, Jessica, that he is leaving, she gives him a letter to deliver to Lorenzo, his new master's guest (iii). Lorenzo receives the letter and tells his friends that Jessica is planning to elope with him. He plans a masque and street parade which will pass her house and give her an opportunity to slip away (iv). When Shylock leaves home that evening to attend a banquet with the "prodigal Christian," he cautions Jessica to guard his treasures well and warns her not to watch the masquers who, Launcelot has told her, will pass by (v). Jessica, however joins the paraders, disguised as a boy, and succeeds in eloping with Lorenzo (vi). Since Shylock suspects Antonio's friends are worried about the money lender's reprisal when they hear rumors that Antonio's ships are being lost in storms (viii). Meanwhile, in Belmont, the Prince of Morrocco (vii) and the Prince of Arragon (ix) try their luck at choosing the right box and Portia for a bride- both fail. ACT III. Now Bassanio enters the lottery; he chooses the right box, Portia pledges her troth with the ring. Gratiano announces his love for Nerissa, Portia's waiting woman, and she accepts him (ii). Back in Venice Shylock laments his daughter's desertion, swearing to avenge himself upon Antonio if the chance presents itself. He listens carefully when his countryman, Tubal, brings news of mounting disasters among Antonio's ships (i). As the disaster multiplies, Salerio is sent to Belmont with a letter for Bassanio-a letter that tells of Antonio's total bankruptcy. Though Portia offers to pay twenty times the forfeit, her friends tell her that Shylock has already refused payment; avid to avenge upon the hated Christian, he insists upon his pound of flesh. In order to help her new husband's friend, Portia sends Bassanio with money to attempt, at least, to save Antonio (ii). After Bassanio leaves, Portia entrusts her estate to Lorenzo. She and Nerissa, she says, plan to "live in prayer and contemplation" at a nunnery until Bassanio returns. The wily girl then sends a letter to her cousin, Dr. Bellario, a learned jurist; and she and Nerissa follow their husbands to Venice, disguised as men (iv). While Lorenzo and Jessica pass the time in felicitous repose in Belmont (v), Shylock prepares to spring his trap upon the unfortunate Antonio. He taunts Antonio in the street; even the Duke, he says, cannot save Antonio now, since to abate the law would impeach the reputation of Venice for justice (iii). ACT IV. In court, the Duke requests mercy for Antonio, but Shylock is adamant: mercy does not interest him, he insists upon justice. Now Portia enters the case, disguised as Balthazar, a learned young judge, bearing a letter of recommendation from her cousin, Dr. Bellario. She also asks Shylock for mercy and offers him three times his amount due- still he refuses. Now Portia springs her trap. Shylock may have his pound of flesh she says, but if he takes one drop of blood, he shall lose all his hands in forfeit. Shylock, realizing that he is trapped, is now willing to accept money instead of flesh; but Portia insists that he shall have only the penalty if he refuses the payment. Furthermore, she warns, if he takes the smallest fraction too much or too little, he shall die and all his goods shall be forfeit to the state. Refused even his principal, Shylock attempts to slink from the court, but now Portia tells him of another law; it is decreed, she says, that if any alien attempts to take the life of a Venetian, one-half of his goods shall go to him upon whom the attempt was made, the other half to the state, and his life shall be at the mercy of the Duke. The Duke spares his life but takes his half of the estate. Antonio says that he will be content with one- half of his share provided that Shylock bequeath remaining estate to Lorenzo at his death; but before he will grant this concession, he says, Shylock must become a Christian. Pressed to take payment for her skillful defense of Antonio, Portia asks for the ring she has formerly given Bassanio. Though he protests, Bassanio finally parts with the love token (i). Nerissa, also disguised, tells Portia that she will see if she can persuade Gratiano to part with the ring she has formerly given him (ii). ACT V. Portia and Nerissa return to Belmont, pretending that they are merely coming back from the nunnery. Nerissa upbraids Gratiano for not having the ring she gave him. Now Portia pretends to find that Bassanio's ring, too, is gone. She scolds hem first; then she and Nerissa produce the rings. After they tease their husbands by telling them that they had slept with the doctor and his clerk in return for the tokens, they finally reveal that Portia was the learned Doctor Balthazar and Nerissa his clerk (i). ------------------------------------------------------------- THE TAMING OF THE SHREW Cast of Characters Main Characters PETRUCHIO, a madcap fellow, is more than a match for the bad tempered Katherine. KATHERINE, the bad-tempered sister, is not only tamed herself but lectures other erring brides. LUCENTIO poses as schoolmaster to win Bianca. BIANCA, the younger sister, is as amiable as the elder is shrewish. TRANIO, Lucentio's servant, doubles admirable for his master. BAPTISTA insists that his daughter Katherine marry before Bianca. Supporting Characters --------------------- CURTIS, Petruchio's servant GREMIO, another suitor of Bianca GRUMIO, Petruchio's servant BIONDELLO, Lucentio's servant A LORD A PENDANT CHRISTOPHER SLY, a tinker VINCENTIO, Lucentio's father WIDOW, Hortensio's bride (Hostess,Page,Players,Huntsmen,Tailor,Haberdasher,Servants) (PLACE: Padua and Petruchio's house in the country) BACKGROUND. The first printed form of this play is that of the First Folio (1623). It was probably presented about 1594, though dates as early as 1592 and as late as 1602 have been suggested. A similar play, "The Taming of A Shrew", of unknown authorship, presented in 1594, is probably the immediate source for the play, though some scholars believe that the earlier play was also written by Shakespeare and that "A Shrew" is merely and early version of "The Shrew". ACT BY ACT ANALYSIS ------------------- INTRODUCTION: (A Prologue.) Christopher Sly, a vagabond tinker, lies dead drunk before an alehouse. A passing lord, seeing him there, decides a joke upon the wretch will make good sport. He orders his followers to scoop the fellow up, place him in the best bed in the lord's best room, cover him with jewels and surround him with servants. Bartholomew, his page, is to dress as a women and play "wife" to the tinker (i). When Sly awakens, his "servants" persuade him that he has slept for fifteen years. Now players whom the lord has engaged enter and present to Sly "The Taming of the Shrew" (ii). ACT I. Baptista, a rich Padua merchant, has two daughters. The elder daughter, Katherine, has a violently disagreeable disposition; and no suitors have appeared for her hand. But Baptista insists that the beautiful and amiable younger daughter, Bianca, shall not marry until her elder sister has married. Lucentio, a newcomer to Padua, falls in love with Bianca at first sight and plans to gain access to her by posing as a schoolteacher, while his servant shall impersonate his master (i). Hortensio, another suitor, plans to gain access to Bianca by posing as a musician. Now Petruchio enters Padua in search of a rich wife, and Hortensio and Gremio (suitors for Bianca) arrange for him to meet the shrewish sister, whom he believes he can tame. ACT II. Petruchio calls upon his prospective father-in-law. He brings Hortensio with him, disguised as a musician. The two are accompanied by the other suitor, Gremio, who believes that Lucentio is presenting Gremio's case to Bianca. Hortensio's musical endeavors are cut short by Kate, who hangs his lute about his ears. Petruchio attempts to take Katherine by storm; and, after they battle merrily, he tells Baptista that they will marry on the following Sunday. The way is now cleared for Bianca to marry. Baptista, to settle things among the quarreling lovers, tells them that the one who offers the greatest dowry shall marry Bianca. Tranio (disguised as Lucentio) makes the largest offer, Bianca agrees to accept his offer providing Lucentio's father will give assurance for it. Now Tranio tries to think of someone to impersonate Lucentio's father (i). ACT III. Lucentio, disguised as as a schoolteacher, introduces himself to Bianca. Hortensio does likewise while pretending to give a music lesson. Hortensio, who supposes Lucentio to be a simple pendant, is worried that the teacher may become a serious rival (i). Meanwhile Katherine makes ready for the wedding. Petruchio, however fails to appear and Katherine weeps bitter tears of shame and rage. When the tardy groom finally makes his appearance, both he and his servant are wearing fantastic clothing. Petruchio's garb shocks the whole assemblage, but he insists on keeping it on for the wedding. He acts wildly throughout the wedding, and after the ceremonies he announces, that he is leaving before the wedding feast, a thing unthinkable. Katherine objects with something of her old spirit, but Petruchio forces her to go with him (ii). ACT IV. Petruchio brings Kate to his home, where he abuses his servants, and keeps her from eating by pretending the meat is burned. Then the wild bridegroom takes Kate to her room and keeps her awake with his abuse. These strange actions are part of a plan to tame her (i). As a further step he humiliates her by pretending to disapprove of her new wardrobe and by forcing her to journey back to her father's house in old clothes (iii). On the way they meet Vincentio, journeying to Padua to see his son, Lucentio (v). Back in Padua Hortensio sees that Bianca loves the disguised pendant and leaves his own disguise, scornfully condemning Bianca for leaving a "a gentleman" and making a "a god" of "such a cullion." Hortensio finally vows not to court her any more but instead to marry a wealthy widow. The wily Tranio now carries out his plan to find a pseudo-father to guarantee Lucentio's dowry. He tricks an old man into pretending that he is Vincentio, the father, by telling him he will be put to death if he does not comply (ii). Baptista accepts the false Vincentio and they agree to arrange a dowry. But Lucentio's servants advise their master to keep his disguise a little while longer. They further advise him to slip away with Bianca and marry her secretly while the others think that he is escorting her to dinner (iv). ACT V. Petruchio and the real Vincentio arrive at Lucentio's house in Padua, where Vincentio is refused admittance by the pseudo-Vincentio. Now Lucentio appears in his own guise, safely wedded to Bianca, and asks pardon of his father and new father-in-law. He confesses the whole trick (i). Everything being settled amicably, all parties gather to banquet at Lucentio's house. After being twitted fo marrying a shrew, Petruchio wagers that his wife is the most obedient of all the new brides. Both Lucentio and Hortensio send for their wives, but both refuse to come. Katherine not only comes at once when Petruchio sends for her, a most thoroughly tamed shrew, but she also upbraids the other brides for not obeying their husbands and recites a moral lecture on the proper behavior of wives (ii). ------------------------------------------------------------- THE MERRY WIVES OF WINSOR Cast of Characters Main Characters SIR JOHN FALSTAFF, a fat and thoroughly roguish knight, gets his deserts when he attempts to woo the merry wives of Windsor. MRS. PAGE The merry wives, teach a jealous husband and a fat MRS. FORD rogue a lesson, though Mrs. Page cannot secure the suitor of her choice for her daughter. MR. FORD learns that jealousy is a bad business. MR. PAGE trusts his wife completely, but gets an unexpected son-in-law. MRS. QUICKLY plays both ends against the middle and promises to help all parties concerned with their complicated love matches. ANNE PAGE by trickery gets the lover of her choice. FENTON, Anne Page's beloved. SHALLOW, a country justice, fails to help Slender's cause. ABRAHAM SLENDER, Page's choice for his daughter's hand and Shallow's cousin. DOCTER CAIUS is backed by Mrs. Page in his suit for Anne. SIR HUGH EVANS makes an abortive attempt to fight a duel with Dr. Caius. HOST of the Garter Inn, a genial, roguish fellow. PISTOL, Nym, and Bardolph, followers of Falstaff and even greater rogues than their master. Supporting Characters --------------------- WILLIAM PAGE, Page's son. ROBIN, FALSTAFF'S boy. JOHN RUGBY, Dr. Caius' servant. PETER SIMPLE, Slender's servant (Servants to Page and Ford) (PLACE: Windsor and the surrounding neighborhood.) BACKGROUND: This play appeared in two quarto editions (both much garbled) before the First Folio edition in 1623. There is a tradition dating from the eighteenth century that the play was written at the express command of Queen Elizabeth. It is usually believed, too, that "The Merry Wives" is a reworked version of an earlier play. The most likely source of the play is "The Tale of the Two Lovers of Pisa Newes out of Purgatory" (1590). ACT BY ACT ANALYSIS ------------------- ACT I. Justice Shallow and Sir Hugh Evans wish to arrange a marriage between Mistress Anne Page (who has a good dowry) and Abraham Slender, Shallow's cousin (i). Evans sends a letter to Mistress Quickly, asking her to intercede with Miss Page on Slender's behalf (ii). Meanwhile, at the Garter inn, the roguish Sir John Falstaff is also making amorous plans. He will, he says, make love to both Mrs. ford (who he has heard rules her husband's house) and to Mrs. Page, who also "bears the purse" of her family. He sends letters to the two women (iii). Mrs. Quickly receives Evans' letter and promises to help Slender all she can, though it turns out a little later that she has already promised another suitor, Fenton, the same thing. But the bearer of the letter is discovered by Dr. Caius, Mrs. Quickly's master, who also loves Anne Page. The irate doctor sends a message to Evans, the author of the letter, challenging him to a dual (iv). ACT II. Mrs. Ford and Mrs. Page receive love letters from Falstaff and plan to hatch a plot against this "greasy knight"; but meanwhile Page and Ford are warned by Pistol and Nym that Falstaff plans to woo their wives. Ford, a very jealous man, arranges to be introduced to Falstaff as "Brook," (i) and when he meets the knight he offers to pay Falstaff to make love to Mrs. Ford; not trusting his wife, he wishes to test her. When Falstaff agrees and Ford finds he already has an appointed with her, the jealous husband is furious. He immediately plans to surprise Falstaff with his wife. Just before this, Mrs. Quickly has come to Falstaff from Mrs. Ford and Mrs. Page with a message that Ford will be away from home between ten and eleven so that Falstaff can meet her at that time. Mrs. Page, she says, wants Falstaff to send his servant Robin as a go-between to arrange a meeting (ii). Dr. Caius has been waiting in a field to meet Sir Hugh Evans. The host of the Garter, sensing a fine sport, offers to lead Caius to Anne Page's house (iii). ACT III. The host, however, leads him to another field, where Sir Hugh Evans is waiting. The dual dissolves when the host confesses that he has purposely directed the antagonists to wait in different places, and the two make peace, vowing revenge upon the roguish host for his trick (i). Returning from the "dueling" field, the party meets the jealous Ford, who is his way to (he thinks) surprise his wife with the villainous Falstaff (ii). Mrs. Page and Mrs. Ford have in the meantime, planned a warm reception for the "greasy knight." While Falstaff is making impassioned speeches to Mrs. Ford, Mrs. Page rushes in to warn the couple that Ford is approaching with officers. Falstaff is hidden in a basket of dirty laundry, and servants carry it away to dump it (as had been previously arranged by the two women) in a foul ditch along the Thames (iii). At Page's house, Fenton (whom Anne really loves), is rebuffed by Anne's father, who prefers Slender as a suitor. But Mrs. Page's apparent friendliness toward Fenton promises another complication (iv). Falstaff, drying out at the Garter Inn, receives Mrs. Quickly, who apologizes for his plight and arranges another rendezvous with Mrs. Ford. Falstaff, unsuspecting, passes this information to "Mr. Brook," the real Mr. Ford. Ford, now in a paroxysm of jealous rage, swears that he will catch the guilty pair this time (v). ACT IV. After Mrs. Page learns that Falstaff has gone to Mrs. Ford's (i), she again comes to warn her friend of the jealous husband's approach. This time the merry wives dress the errant knight as Mrs. Ford's maid's aunt in order to slip him out of the house. Ford comes again, together with his friends, and this time searches the laundry basket but, of course finds nothing. Spying the knight dressed as the fat old women, whom he hates, Ford beats him soundly and drives him away (ii). Now the wives tell their husbands of the plot, and the whole group decides to catch the fat knight once more. Falstaff will be asked to meet the merry wives in a wood, disguised as a wood nymph, with horns on his head. Anne Page as the queen of the fairies, accompanied by a group of children disguised as sprites, will surround Falstaff and pinch him black and blue. Then, when he has told the truth about the whole affair, he will be "mocked home to Windsor" (iv). So Mrs. Quickly bears Falstaff yet another letter (v). Now it transpires that more will happen in the wood than Mrs. Ford or Mrs. Page had planned. Fenton bears a tale to the host of the Garter. Page, he says, has instructed his daughter to slip away with Slender during the excitement and to marry him immediately. Mrs. Page has instructed Anne to slip away with Dr. Caius and to marry him. Both parents have arranged for the girl to wear distinctive dress so that the suitors will recognize her. But she and Fenton have arranged to slip her off together, fooling both parents, and the host arranges to furnish a minister to marry them (vi). ACT V. Falstaff, the insatiable, arranges with Mrs. Quickly for the last meeting (i). In the wood, Slender and Page arrange for Slender's abduction of Anne (ii), while Mrs. Page and Dr. Caius are also completing their plans (iii), and Sir Hugh Evans is giving some last minute coaching to the "fairies" (iv). Falstaff arrives and meets the merry wives; then the fairies descend upon him. While the "fairies" are tormenting the luckless knight, Slender and Caius each slip off with a boy they believe to be Anne Page. She, however, runs away with Fenton. The merry wives and their husbands approach Falstaff-a dejected rogue now-and reveal their true identity. Slender and Caius both return and tell how they were deceived. When Anne and Fenton come back, married, they find Page a forgiving father; and at Mrs. Page's suggestion, the party troops away to "laugh this sport o'er by a country fire" (v). ------------------------------------------------------------ MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING Cast of Characters Main Characters CLAUDIO, a young lord of Florence, too easily believes ill of his sweetheart and almost loses her. HERO, Claudio's sweetheart, pretends death to chasten her lover. BENEDICK, a young lord of Padua, engages in a good deal of raillery with Beatrice before he succumbs to her. BEATRICE finally accepts Benedick, but she will not quite admit publicly that she loves him. DON PEDRO proves a worthy friend of Claudio, though he too, believes that Hero has played Claudio false. DON JOHN, Pedro's illegitimate brother, an evil, envious man, almost wrecks the lives of Claudio and Hero. LEONATO, Hero's father and Beatrice's uncle, refuses to believe evil of his daughter. Supporting Characters --------------------- ANTONIO, Leonto's brother BALTHASAR, follower of Don Pedro BORACHIO, follower of Don John A BOY CONRADE, follower of Don John DOGBERRY, a constable FRIAR FRANCIS MARGARET, Hero's waiting woman A SEXTON URSULA, Hero's waiting woman VERGES, a headborough (Messengers, Watchmen, Attendants) (PLACE: Messina) BACKGROUND. Much Ado About Nothing was first published as a quarto in 1600, after being performed during the winter of 1598-1599. Its chief source is the twenty-second tale in a collection of Italian "Novella" by Matteo Bandello, while the subplot is original with Shakespeare. ACT BY ACT ANALYSIS ------------------- ACT I. Benedick and Claudio come to Messina from the wars. Claudio promptly falls in love with Hero, while Benedick takes up an old game of bickering with Beatrice. Don Pedro, the military superior of the young men, promises to intercede with Leonato, Hero's father, on behalf of Claudio-in fact to make Claudio's proposal to Hero for him (i). Leonato is informed of the young man's intentions and is well pleased (ii). But when Don Pedro's bastard brother, John, hears of Claudio's intentions he rails against the young man and plans to block his marriage plans if possible (iii). ACT II. John, helped by his man Borachio, immediately tries to thwart Claudio's plans. While, during a masquerade, Don Pedro is approaching Hero on Claudio's behalf, John comes to Claudio, who he pretends to think is Benedick. He tells Claudio that Don Pedro is really wooing Hero for himself and asks the pretended Benedick to dissuade Pedro from such a course, saying that Hero is unworthy. Pedro, though, summons Claudio and tells him that he has won Hero for the hopeful lover; and, elated by his success as a matchmaker, Pedro says that he will now make a match for Beatrice and Benedick (i). John now tries another plan to impersonate Hero, then be discovered in a compromising situation with him (ii). Meanwhile Leonato and Claudio are helping Pedro arrange a match between Benedick and Beatrice. They, knowing Benedick is listening, chat for his benefit-Beatrice, they say, loves him. Benedick immediately begins to suspect double meanings in Beatrice's barbed remarks (iii). ACT III. Hero and Ursula play the same game with Beatrice, he is completely taken in and immediately resolves to tame her own contemptuous spirit (i). John, intent upon his evil work, now tells Claudio that Hero is unfaithful, and the young man swears that if she is untrue he will shame her before the congregation on their wedding day (ii). But while Borachio and Conrade, his accomplice, are discussing Borachio's evil deed, they are overheard and captured by two watchmen, Dogberry and Verges (iii). The next day Hero prepares for the wedding ceremony, helped by her ladies in waiting (iv), while the watchmen tell Leonato of Borachio and Conrade. They wish Leonato to examine the culprits; but he, busy with the coming wedding, puts them off and tells them to examine the fellows themselves (v). ACT IV. Claudio, true to his promise, (thinking Hero guilty) denounces her and shames her before the congregation. The poor girl swoons, and when Claudio and Pedro leave, they think her dead. The friar who was to perform the ceremony suggests that Leonato continue to pretend that Hero is dead while they investigate the case. Her supposed death, too, will soften Claudio's heart, and turn public censure to pity. Benedick now admits his love for Beatrice and she for him. She asks him, as a favor, to kill Claudio. At first he refuses and, as usual, she berates him (i). Dogberry and Verges examine Borachio and Conrade, who confess and implicate John. John, they say, has already fled. The sexton orders the knaves bound and brought before Leonato (ii). ACT V. Now Claudio's friends turn against him. Leonato, Antonio, and Benedick all challenge Claudio to duel, accusing him of murdering the innocent Hero. When Dogberry and Verges bring in the rogues, Leonato tells Claudio that he must broadcast Hero's innocence to the people, then marry Leonato's niece whom he has never seen (i). Meanwhile, Beatrice is writing verses to Benedick. When he comes to her and tells her that he has challenged Claudio, she tells Benedick that she loves him (ii). Claudio places an epitaph on Hero's tomb, telling of her innocence and tragic death (iii). and comes to marry Leonato's niece as he promised. Hero, masked enters with her maid in waiting. Claudio, thinking that she is Leonato's niece, swears to marry her. At a tense moment, she unmasks and reveals herself as Hero. Beatrice now publicly accepts Benedick, not so much, she says jokingly, that she loves him, but to save his life, for she heard that he was "in a consumption." A messenger enters and announces the capture of the evil John (iv).  heard that he was "in a consumption