Much Ado About Nothing

Hero and her servants Margaret and Ursula now play the same trick on Beatrice that the gentlemen played on Benedick: Pretending not to know she is hiding in the orchard, they talk loudly about how deeply Benedick is in love with Beatrice.

Their strategy is a little different. Whereas the men invented dramatic scenes of Beatrice pining away, the ladies mostly criticize Beatrice’s character, reflecting on how the “disdain and scorn” that “ride sparkling in her eyes” mean she will never love anyone, as she is too proud. Hero even says she will go counsel Benedick to turn his attention elsewhere if he doesn’t wish to be cruelly mocked.

When the ladies depart, congratulating themselves on a job well done, Beatrice emerges from her hiding place and vows to return Benedick’s love. Where Benedick’s love speech is many, many lines long, Beatrice’s is short and sweet. She simply and quickly vows to give up her pride, requite Benedick’s love, and acknowledge what she already knows—that he is a worthy man.