change the discourse, Ursula said: 'And when are you to be married,
madam?' Hero then told her, that she was to be married to Claudio the
next day, and desired she would go in with her, and look at some new
attire, as she wished to consult with her on what she would wear on
the morrow. Beatrice, who had been listening with breathless
eagerness to this dialogue, when they went away, exclaimed: 'What
fire is in mine ears? Can this be true? Farewell, contempt and scorn,
and maiden pride, adieu! Benedick, love on! I will requite you, taming
my wild heart to your loving hand.'

It must have been a pleasant sight to see these old enemies converted
into new and loving friends, and to behold their first meeting after
being cheated into mutual liking by the merry artifice of the good-
humoured prince. But a sad reverse in the fortunes of Hero must now
be thought of. The morrow, which was to have been her wedding-day,
brought sorrow on the heart of Hero and her good father Leonato.

The prince had a half-brother, who came from the wars along with
him to Messina. This brother (his name was Don John) was a
melancholy, discontented man, whose spirits seemed to labour in the
contriving of villanies. He hated the prince his brother, and he hated
Claudio, because he was the prince's friend, and determined to prevent
Claudio's marriage with Hero, only for the malicious pleasure of
making Claudio and the prince unhappy; for he knew the prince had
set his heart upon this marriage, almost as much as Claudio himself;
and to effect this wicked purpose, he employed one Borachio, a man
as bad as himself, whom he encouraged with the offer of a great
reward. This Borachio paid his court to Margaret, Hero's attendant;
and Don John, knowing this, prevailed upon him to make Margaret
promise to talk with him from her lady's chamber window that night,