Speeches (Lines) for Messenger in "Much Ado About Nothing"

Leonato. I learn in this letter that Don Peter of Arragon
comes this night to Messina.

Messenger. He is very near by this: he was not three leagues off
when I left him.

Leonato. How many gentlemen have you lost in this action?

Messenger. But few of any sort, and none of name.

Leonato. A victory is twice itself when the achiever brings
home full numbers. I find here that Don Peter hath
bestowed much honour on a young Florentine called Claudio.

Messenger. Much deserved on his part and equally remembered 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
bettered expectation than you must expect of me to
tell you how.

Leonato. He hath an uncle here in Messina will be very much
glad of it.

Messenger. 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.

Leonato. Did he break out into tears?

Messenger. In great measure.

Beatrice. I pray you, is Signior Mountanto returned from the
wars or no?

Messenger. I know none of that name, lady: there was none such
in the army of any sort.

Hero. My cousin means Signior Benedick of Padua.

Messenger. O, he's returned; and as pleasant as ever he was.

Leonato. Faith, niece, you tax Signior Benedick too much;
but he'll be meet with you, I doubt it not.

Messenger. He hath done good service, lady, in these wars.

Beatrice. You had musty victual, and he hath holp to eat it:
he is a very valiant trencherman; he hath an
excellent stomach.

Messenger. And a good soldier too, lady.

Beatrice. And a good soldier to a lady: but what is he to a lord?

Messenger. A lord to a lord, a man to a man; stuffed with all
honourable virtues.

Beatrice. Alas! he gets nothing by that. In our last
conflict four of his five wits went halting off, and
now is the whole man governed with one: so that if
he have wit enough to keep himself warm, let him
bear it for a difference between himself and his
horse; for it is all the wealth that he hath left,
to be known a reasonable creature. Who is his
companion now? He hath every month a new sworn brother.

Messenger. Is't possible?

Beatrice. Very easily possible: he wears his faith but as
the fashion of his hat; it ever changes with the
next block.

Messenger. I see, lady, the gentleman is not in your books.

Beatrice. No; an he were, I would burn my study. But, I pray
you, who is his companion? Is there no young
squarer now that will make a voyage with him to the devil?

Messenger. He is most in the company of the right noble Claudio.

Beatrice. O Lord, he will hang upon him like a disease: he
is sooner caught than the pestilence, and the taker
runs presently mad. God help the noble Claudio! if
he have caught the Benedick, it will cost him a
thousand pound ere a' be cured.

Messenger. I will hold friends with you, lady.

Beatrice. No, not till a hot January.

Messenger. Don Pedro is approached.

Leonato. Drink some wine ere you go: fare you well.

Messenger. My lord, they stay for you to give your daughter to
her husband.

Benedick. First, of my word; therefore play, music. Prince,
thou art sad; get thee a wife, get thee a wife:
there is no staff more reverend than one tipped with horn.

Messenger. My lord, your brother John is ta'en in flight,
And brought with armed men back to Messina.