Borachio.
John.
It is so: the count Claudio shall marry the
daughter of Leonato.
Bora.
Yea, my lord; but I can cross it.
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.
-- 213 --
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.
John.
I remember.
Bora.
I can, at any unseasonable instant of the night,
appoint her to look out at her lady's chamber-window.
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.
John.
What proof shall I make of that?
Bora.
Proof enough to misuse the prince, to vex
Claudio, to undo Hero, and kill Leonato. Look you for
any other issue?
John.
Only to despite them I will endeavour 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
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 you have discovered 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 11Q01718 note; 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
-- 214 --
truth of Hero's disloyalty, 11Q0172 that jealousy shall be call'd
assurance, and all the preparation overthrown.
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.
John.
I will presently go learn their day of marriage.
[Exeunt.
J. Payne Collier [1842–1844], The works of William Shakespeare. The text formed from an entirely new collation of the old editions: with the various readings, notes, a life of the poet, and a history of the Early English stage. By J. Payne Collier, Esq. F.S.A. In eight volumes (Whittaker & Co. [etc.], London) [word count] [S10101].
