SCENE I.
An orchard before Leonato\'s house.
[Enter Leonato (Governor of Messina), Hero (his Daughter), and
Beatrice (his Niece), with a Messenger.]
Leon. 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 honour on a
young Florentine called Claudio.
Mess. Much deserv\'d on his part, and equally rememb\'red 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 bett\'red
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; even 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 wash\'d. How much better is it to weep at joy than to joy at
weeping!
Beat. I pray you, is Signior Mountanto return\'d 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 Signior Benedick of Padua.