782Ioh. It is so, the Count Claudio shal marry the daugh-

783ter of Leonato.

784Bora. Yea my Lord, but I can crosse it.

785Iohn. Any barre, any crosse, any impediment, will be

786medicinable to me, I am sicke in displeasure to him, and

787whatsoeuer comes athwart his affection, ranges euenly

788with mine, how canst thou crosse this marriage?

789Bor. Not honestly my Lord, but so couertly, that no

790dishonesty shall appeare in me.

791Iohn. Shew me breefely how.

792Bor. I thinke I told your Lordship a yeere since, how

793much I am in the fauour of Margaret, the waiting gentle-

794woman to Hero.

795Iohn. I remember.

796Bor. I can at any vnseasonable instant of the night,

797appoint her to look out at her Ladies chamber window.

798Iohn. What life is in that, to be the death of this mar-

799riage?

800Bor. The poyson of that lies in you to temper, goe

801you to the Prince your brother, spare not to tell him, that

802hee hath wronged his Honor in marrying the renowned

803Claudio, whose estimation do you mightily hold vp, to a

804contaminated stale, such a one as Hero.

805Iohn. What proofe shall I make of that?

806Bor. Proofe enough, to misuse the Prince, to vexe

807Claudio, to vndoe Hero, and kill Leonato, looke you for a-

808ny other issue?

809Iohn. Onely to despight them, I will endeauour any

810thing.

811Bor. Goe then, finde me a meete howre, to draw on

812Pedro and the Count Claudio alone, tell them that you

813know that Hero loues me, intend a kinde of zeale both

814to the Prince and Claudio (as in a loue of your brothers

815honor who hath made this match) and his friends repu-

816tation, who is thus like to be cosen'd with the semblance

817of a maid, that you haue discouer'd thus: they will scarce-

818ly beleeue this without triall: offer them instances which

819shall beare no lesse likelihood, than to see mee at her

820chamber window, heare me call Margaret, Hero; heare

821Margaret terme me Claudio, and bring them to see this

822the very night before the intended wedding, for in the

823meane time, I will so fashion the matter, that Hero shall

824be absent, and there shall appeare such seeming truths of

825Heroes disloyaltie, that iealousie shall be cal'd assurance,

826and all the preparation ouerthrowne.

827Iohn. Grow this to what aduerse issue it can, I will

828put it in practise: be cunning in the working this, and

829thy fee is a thousand ducates.

830Bor. Be thou constant in the accusation, and my cun-

831ning shall not shame me.

832Iohn. I will presentlie goe learne their day of marri-

833age. Exit.