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 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 favour 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 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 honour 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?
-- 28 --
Bora.
Proof enough to misuse the prince, to vex Claudio,
to undo Hero, and kill Leonato. Look you for any
other issue?
D. John.
Only to despite them, I will endeavour any
thing.
Bora.
Go, then; find me a meet hour to draw Don note 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 note of your brother's honour, who hath
made this match, and his friend's reputation, who is thus
like to be cozened with the semblance of a maid,—that note you
have discovered thus. They will scarcely note 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 note; and
bring them to see this the very night before the intended
wedding,—for in the meantime I will so note fashion the matter
that Hero shall be absent,—and there shall appear such
seeming truth note of Hero's note disloyalty, that jealousy shall 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 note constant in the accusation, and my cunning
shall not shame me.
D. John.
I will presently go learn their day of marriage.
[Exeunt.
-- 29 --
note
William Aldis Wright [1863–1866], The works of William Shakespeare edited by William George Clark... and John Glover [and William Aldis Wright] (Macmillan and Co., London) [word count] [S10701].