There is a masked ball to celebrate the end of the war and the engagement (= fidanzamento) of Claudio to Hero. But Don Pedro’s brother, Don John, is jealous of all this happiness. He thinks a plot with other two soldiers, Borachio and Conrade, to trick (= ingannare) Claudio. He wants Claudio to believe that Hero betrays (is not loyal = tradisce) him. Hero’s maid, Margaret – who does not know of the plot – is seen while speaking to Boracho at night in Hero’s bedroom, while Claudio and Don Pedro are watching. Claudio thinks that the girl is Hero. At the wedding Claudio accuses Hero and leaves her apparently dead from shock. Hero’s father, Beatrice and Benedick, surprised, decide to unveil (=svelare) the truth. With the help of the priest they make everybody think that Hero is really dead. Meanwhile the village constable, Dogberry, and his assistants have arrested Borachio and Conrade. They surprised the two while speaking about the trick played to Claudio and the Duke. This information is given to Leonato and Don Pedro. But Leonato wants to have satisfaction: he forces Claudio who feels guilty (= colpevole) for Hero’s dead to accept to marry Leonato’s ‘niece’, a girl he has never seen before. During the ceremony the ‘niece’ shows her real face: she is Hero. Benedick and Beatrice announce that they will be married too together with Hero and Claudius. Don John is captured while escaping.