Act II, Scene ii:
Another Room in Leonato's House.

[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 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?

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 anything.

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 a

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 mean time, 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.

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.]