SCENE II
The same.Enter DON JOHN and BORACHIO.
D. John.
It is so; the Count Claudio shall
marry the daughter of Leonato.
Bora.
Yea, my lord; but I can cross it.
D. John.
Any bar, any cross, any impediment
will be medicinable to me: I am sick
in displeasure to him, and whatsoever comes
athwart his affection ranges evenly with mine.
How canst thou cross this marriage?
Bora.
Not honestly, my lord; but so covertly (10)
that no dishonesty shall appear in me.
D. John.
Show me briefly how.
Bora.
I think I told your lordship a year
since, how much I am in the favor of Margaret,
the waiting gentlewoman to Hero.
D. John.
I remember.
Bora.
I can, at any unseasonable instant of
the night, appoint her to look out at her lady's
chamber-window.
D. John.
What life is in that, to be the (20)
death of this marriage?
Bora.
The poison of that lies in you to
temper. Go you to the prince your brother;
spare not to tell him that he hath wronged his
honor in marrying the renowned Claudio—
whose estimation do you mightily hold up—to
a contaminated stale, such a one as Hero.
D. John.
What proof shall I make of that?
Bora.
Proof enough to misuse the prince,
to vex Claudio, to undo Hero and kill Leonato. (30)
Look you for any other issue?
D. John.
Only to despite them, I will endeavor any thing.
Bora.
Go, then; find me a meet hour to
draw Don Pedro and the Count Claudio alone:
tell them that you know that Hero loves me;
intend a kind of zeal both to the prince and
Claudio, as,—in love of your brother's honor,
who hath made this match, and his friend's
reputation, who is thus like to be cozened with
the semblance of a maid,—that you have discovered (40)
thus. They will scarcely believe this
without trial: offer them instances; which
shall bear no less likelihood than to see me at
her chamber-window, hear me call Margaret
Hero, hear Margaret term me Claudio; and
bring them to see this the very night before
the intended wedding,—for in the meantime I
will so fashion the matter that Hero shall be
absent,—and there shall appear such seeming
truth of Hero's disloyalty that jealousy shall (50)
be called assurance and all the preparation
overthrown.
D. John.
Grow this to what adverse issue
it can, I will put it in practice. Be cunning in
the working this, and thy fee is a thousand
ducats.
Bora.
Be you constant in the accusation,
and my cunning shall not shame me.
D. John.
I will presently go learn their day
of marriage. [Exeunt.
