Summary

Act Two opens immediately before the masked ball, as Hero and Beatrice discuss the perfect man in front of Leonato. Beatrice has not been happy with what she's seen of men, and she proclaims that she will never marry. During the ball itself, she ends up dancing with Benedick. At first, she seems to suspect that her dance partner is he, but then she appears to believe his protests that he is not. She then goes on to berate Benedick and his sense of humor (as well as his self-conception) to her partner - who is, of course, Benedick! Meanwhile, Don Pedro and Hero dance, Hero thinking that he is Claudio. She is wooed by his language. At the end of the ball, Don John talks to Claudio, claiming that he heard Don Pedro professing love to Hero on his own behalf. Claudio, upset...