Arrival to Messina

As I suspected, Don Pedro continued with his action for I saw a messenger riding in the direction of Messina. Even though Don Pedro told of the news shortly after, the word of going to Messina had spread to everybody. Everybody was thrilled by the gossip of going to Messina and all shouted into the sky with glee. The trip to Messina was pleasant with everyone happy as can be. When we arrived, we were greeted by Leonato, but also by Beatrice. Oh, how she angers me. Nothing do I do, but only does she mock me, so I join in to defend my honor over what, a WOMAN as evil as the devil himself. Shortly after, I was quite shocked by what Claudio said after everyone left us alone. He said that he had an eye for Hero, the daughter of Leonato, and asked me what I think of her. I didn’t know what to say. I mean, I don’t want to upset my best friend since he proclaims that he is in love with her. I answered truthfully, for he asked for the truth, and I say “she is…unhandsome… [and] I do not like her” (17). He continued blabbering about how “the world [could not] buy such a jewel” and how she is “the sweetest lady that every [he has] looked on” (17). He even plans to marry her even after just glancing at her, not even haven spoken a word to her. Poor Claudio. He does not know what he has gotten himself into. I mean he is in LOVE, what more do I have to say. He isn’t even in love with a beautiful lady which is the worst part. Shortly after we were talking, Don Pedro came in asking why we were not with the group and stayed back. As I cannot tell a secret of a close friend, but have close dedication to the Prince, I was forced to tell that Claudio had fallen in love with Hero. The Prince and Claudio talk about Hero and how she is worthy, resulting in the Prince agreeing to woo Hero at the dance after dinner for him since Claudio is too shy to do so himself. All us, men of the army were masked, allowing none to know who was who. Margaret, the waiting gentlewoman of Hero, and I had a humorous conversation that makes me laugh right now. But now my feelings have shifted for I fondly remember the conversation that I had with Beatrice. Since she did not know who I was, she said awful things that she would not say to my face and that hurt me. Why “Lady Beatrice should know me, and not know me! The Prince’s fool! Ha, it may be I go under that title because I am merry. Yea, but so I am apt to do myself wrong. I am not so reputed! It is the base, though bitter, disposition of Beatrice that puts the world into her person and so gives me out. Well, I’ll be revenged as I may” (49). “O, she misused me past the endurance of a block! [She said that]… I was duller than a great thaw [and how] every word [she speaks] stabs… I would not marry her” even if she was the last person alive (51). I don’t think that anyone would even want to marry her in fact, so much that she is evil. If she ever was to date any sane or insane man, the man would not handle any more than a minute with her. Enough with Beatrice! After talking with her, I was told by Don Pedro to get Claudio for the wooing had been successful. When I approached Claudio, he seemed so melancholy, and he left as I was saying that Don Pedro had wooed Hero for him. Don Pedro came to me confused, asking what had happened. I said what I thought, which was that he believed that Don Pedro had wooed Hero for himself. I soon left since Beatrice was inching her way toward us, and I could not bear another insult from her. As I lie on my bed writing in this very same journal, I spoke with Claudio who seemed happier than I ever had seen him. He shouted that he was to marry Hero in a week, and how a week was far too long to wait. He soon stopped and grew weary, as everyone else had become.