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ACT VI



Scene I

(Leonato’s House)

(Enter Leonato and Antonio)

Antonio: Brother, Brother!

Leonato: Antonio, why dost thou locate reason to awaken me at this hour?

Antonio: What mean thee by this hour? Leonato, midday is not the appropriate time for dreaming. A town of thine is to run, and thou must be out of your bed.

Leonato: How dost thou believe me to govern a town such as Messina in this state that thine eyes see?

Antonio: State of thine is nothing more than a simple ache acquired from the stress of recent happenings and that thou know.

Leonato: How can thou speak for my weaknesses Antonio? Of all the terrible dangers and troubles that befallen men, you believe my torture to be just an ache? Antonio, much more than an ache affects me this afternoon. I tell thee, that traitor, the prince’s brother is the origin of this curse of mine. The actions that have been committed by that beastly man nearly destroyed my house.

Antonio: But Leonato, all is well at the time. The shame of your daughter proved to have been a lie from the likes of Don John. Thou mustn’t worry of the past if nothing to worry arise.

Leonato: Not the same! It’s not the same Antonio! Even though a man of treachery allowed such anarchy to manifest, I hath still been sentenced to a great deal of pain.

Antonio: Very well brother of mine, I hath no reason to believe that a man as strong as yourself could endure the dangers that thee describe, but I shall let it be. In addition, I am sorry that my brother could not attend the celebration. Seven days and nights hath gone and the couples are as emotional as they were during the marriage.

Leonato: Of course, I do hope they apologize for my inability to attend, to say, I haven’t spoken to neither my niece nor daughter over these past few nights.

Antonio: I am of the utmost positivity that they hath forgiven you Leonato, I do pray however that you will permit thyself to see them off in a couple of days time.

Leonato: Of course I shall, a great time is to be had as a father, and as an uncle. Thank you for understanding my sickness Antonio and I would very much appreciate it if I could get some rest.

 Antonio: Yes my brother, I shall bring you a glass of water at sunset.                    (Exeunt)



Scene II

(Countryside)

(Enter Benedick, Beatrice, Hero, and Claudio)

Benedick: Beatrice, thou set for our leave to the lands of the unknown?

Beatrice: Yea, but let these events pass as water so as to get back our lives of every day.

Hero: My cousin, why dost thee appear so stricken with grief? Should this not be a time for happiness and joy to enrich this family?

Beatrice: Why must we travel to the ends of the lands to find a source of happiness? God knows of me I’d rather be on my way back to uncle and be happy on my own.

Claudio: Nay Beatrice, thou knowst the prince hath paid well for our safe journey and I’ll not be known a fool to hath turn away such a gracious offer.

Beatrice: and why dost the prince spend on us with such magnitude?

Claudio: A great man is Don Pedro and that man is no less than family to us.

Beatrice: Nay! Claudio, that man pities this family of ours for what hath been done by that brother of his. There has been no emotion that has escaped his soul.

Benedick: Hath thou argue till the sun set? We must be on our way as to not lose any of our precious time.

(Enter Don Pedro)

Claudio: Well observer what those words of yours have dragged in Beatrice, arrive has he. Why not thou request of him?

Pedro: Hero, Beatrice, so sorry am I. There hath been nothing to be done by me that could alter the unfolding events.

Benedick: What dost thou speak of sir? Explain thyself.

Pedro: As I transport Signior Leonato here, the man falls not too far from where we stand.

Hero: No! Is he not okay? I pray, Tell me that my father is well and that he is on his merry way to watch us depart.

Pedro: I fear not, young Hero.

Beatrice: Then lead us to him so as to see this for ourselves.                                   (Exeunt)



Scene III

(Leonato’s House)

(Enter Don Pedro and Claudio)

Claudio: The fault is that of my doing my friend. Signior Leonato is gone due to the likes of none other than me.

Pedro: Nay Claudio, none of these past events hath been held by thou words. Thou, as well as I knowst very well that we hath been deceived by the treachery and villainy of mine brother.

Claudio: Yea, but the lies hath portrayed through my voice and for that I am not but a murderer and nothing less.

Pedro: Claudio, gain knowledge of this writing that Leonato hath left for thou. Report to me once concluded what you hath gained from this letter and get on with thou day.

(Pedro Exits)

Leonato: Govern must be done by the trustworthy,
Where one man shall bow down to another.
Power must reside within those who love,
Who care, who wish for the best of the town.
Leonato, ruler of Messina
Who is I, shall not rule thee forever.
Events that hath taken place this past week,
Committed by none other than Don John
Hath left I in no condition to rule.
The final breath of I hath been foreseen.
Prefer I to see Don Pedro to rule,
But not be so as that man is the prince.
Next I see the power of Messina
To be in the lover of my daughter.

(Enter Beatrice)

Beatrice: Dogberry hath arrive with the prisoner Don John, will you be with us to observe the punishment that shall be inflicted upon that man?

Claudio: Shall I? Of course I shall, and this trial will be enjoyed.



(Exeunt)