Act II, Scene 2

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, 765
  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. 770

• 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, 775
  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 780
  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 785
  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 790
  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: 795
  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 800
  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 805
  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. 810

[Exeunt]