Borachio.
D. Jo.
It is so; the count Claudio shall marry the
daughter of Leonato.
Bor.
Yea, my lord; but I can cross it.
D. Jo.
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?
Bor.
Not honestly, my lord; but so covertly, that
no dishonesty shall appear in me.
D. Jo.
Shew me briefly how.
Bor.
I think I told your lordship, a year since, how
much I am in the favour of Margaret, the waiting-gentlewoman
to Hero:
D. Jo.
I remember.
Bor.
I can, at any unseasonable instant of the
night, appoint her to look out at her lady's chamber-window.
D. Jo.
What life is in that, to be the death of this
marriage?
Bor.
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. Jo.
What proof shall I make of that?
Bor.
Proof enough, to misuse the prince, to vex
Claudio, to undo Hero, and kill Leonato: Look you for
any other issue?
D. Jo.
Only to despite them, I will endeavour any
thing.
Bor.
Go then, find me a meet hour to draw Don
-- 30 --
Pedro note, 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 a love note of your
brother's honour, who hath made this match; and his
friend's reputation, who is thus like to be cozen'd with
the semblance of a maid,—that you have discover'd
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 Claudio14Q0164;
and bring them to see this, the very night before
the intended wedding: for, in the mean time, I will so
fashion the matter, that Hero shall be absent; and there
shall appear such seeming truth note of her disloyalty note, that
jealousy shall be call'd assurance, and all the preparation
overthrown.
D. Jo.
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.
Bor.
Be you constant note in the accusation, and my
cunning shall not shame me.
D. Jo.
I will presently go learn their day of marriage.
[Exeunt.
Edward Capell [1767], Mr William Shakespeare his comedies, histories, and tragedies, set out by himself in quarto, or by the Players his Fellows in folio, and now faithfully republish'd from those Editions in ten Volumes octavo; with an introduction: Whereunto will be added, in some other Volumes, notes, critical and explanatory, and a Body of Various Readings entire (Printed by Dryden Leach, for J. and R. Tonson [etc.], London) [word count] [S10601].
