They talked about how Beatrice had “an enraged affection” for me. Beatrice of all people! The way she talks and acts around me I would have thought she despised me, but now I find out that she is in love with me! It is just too much to take in. They said that the reason she dares not tell me of her love is that I would “make but a sport of it, and torment the poor lady worse”. They discussed her many good qualities and listening to them really made me realize what an extraordinary and fine woman she is, I am honoured to have her love. The conversation soon came to a close and the three men left, leaving me to ponder what I had just heard.
I soon decided I would return Beatrice’s affection, I think I have always loved her but I have only just started listening to my heart. It is almost as if listening to Claudio’s conversation today has opened a door in my heart and let my true feelings for Beatrice free. All this time we have been hiding our love by mocking each other, pretending that we loathe one another. We human beings show our feelings in the most peculiar ways…
I am convinced that what I heard today was the truth, the three spoke of how Hero believed that Beatrice would, “surely … die, if he love her not” and such like. Hero would not lie, Don Pedro and Claudio perhaps, but never Hero. I sat in the orchard pondering this for a while longer until Beatrice of all people, came to fetch me for dinner. She kept up her hostile pretence but I could see signs of love in her, I am sure of it.
I think it is time I changed my appearance a little, I remember Beatrice saying how she “could not endure a husband with a beard on his face” and so maybe it is about time this filthy fur ball went. It has been stuck to my chin, repelling Beatrice, for far too long. I think I will also reconsider my style of clothing, something more magnificent and sophisticated is far more likely to attract the apple of my eye, the fair Beatrice. I have no doubt I will start acting very differently too from now on, love is an amazing and beautiful thing that softens even the most stubborn and hard of hearts. I am so in love with Beatrice, I cannot believe how lucky I am to have her love. I cannot wait to see her again, but most of all, I cannot wait to hold her in my arms as my wife…
