Act 2, Scene 2: The same

SCENE II. The same.

    Enter DON JOHN and BORACHIO

DON JOHN

    It is so; the Count Claudio shall marry the
    daughter of Leonato.

BORACHIO

    Yea, my lord; but I can cross it.

DON 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?

BORACHIO

    Not honestly, my lord; but so covertly that no
    dishonesty shall appear in me.

DON JOHN

    Show me briefly how.

BORACHIO

    I think I told your lordship a year since, how much
    I am in the favour of Margaret, the waiting
    gentlewoman to Hero.

DON JOHN

    I remember.

BORACHIO

    I can, at any unseasonable instant of the night,
    appoint her to look out at her lady's chamber window.

DON JOHN

    What life is in that, to be the death of this marriage?

BORACHIO

    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.

DON JOHN

    What proof shall I make of that?

BORACHIO

    Proof enough to misuse the prince, to vex Claudio,
    to undo Hero and kill Leonato. Look you for any
    other issue?

DON JOHN

    Only to despite them, I will endeavour any thing.

BORACHIO

    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; 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 be called
    assurance and all the preparation overthrown.

DON JOHN

    Grow this to what adverse issue it can, I will put
    it in practise. Be cunning in the working this, and
    thy fee is a thousand ducats.

BORACHIO

    Be you constant in the accusation, and my cunning
    shall not shame me.

DON JOHN

    I will presently go learn their day of marriage.

    Exeunt