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It is so; the Count Claudio shall marry the daughter of Leonato.
It’s true; Count Claudio will marry Leonato’s daughter.
Yea, my lord; but I can cross it.
Yes, my lord; but I can ruin it.
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?
Any obstacle, any interference, any hindrance will work for me: I’m disgusted with him, and anything that hurts his feelings will help mine. How can you stop this marriage?
Not honestly, my lord; but so covertly that no dishonesty shall appear in me.
Not honestly, my lord; but secretly enough that no dishonesty will be seen in me.
Show me briefly how.
Show me quickly how.
I think I told your lordship a year since, how much I am in the favour of Margaret, the waiting gentlewoman to Hero.
I think I told you a year ago how much I’m in favor with Margaret, Hero’s waiting maid.
I remember.
I remember.
I can, at any unseasonable instant of the night, appoint her to look out at her lady’s chamber window.
I can, at any late hour of the night, have her look out of her lady’s bedroom window.
What life is in that, to be the death of this marriage?
What’s the point of that? How will it ruin the marriage?
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.
The damage is yours to control. Go to your brother the prince; don’t hesitate to tell him that he’s dishonoring himself by marrying the famous Claudio—whom you hold in high regard—to a tainted woman like Hero.
What proof shall I make of that?
What proof do I have for that?
Proof enough to misuse the prince, to vex Claudio, to undo Hero and kill Leonato. Look you for any other issue?
Enough proof to deceive the prince, to trouble Claudio, to ruin Hero, and kill Leonato. Are you looking for any other results?
Only to despite them, I will endeavour any thing.
Just to spite them, I’ll do anything.
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.
Then go, find the right time to get Don Pedro and Count Claudio alone: tell them that you know Hero loves me; act as if you’re concerned for both the prince and Claudio, as if, in your loyalty to your brother’s honor, who arranged this match, and to your friend’s reputation, who is about to be tricked into thinking he’s marrying a virgin, you’ve uncovered this secret. They won’t believe it without evidence: give them examples; ones that are as convincing as seeing me at her window, hearing me call Margaret "Hero," hearing Margaret call me "Claudio"; and bring them to see this the night before the wedding, for by then I’ll have arranged it so Hero will be absent—and the appearance of Hero’s betrayal will be so strong that jealousy will feel like certainty, and the whole plan will fall apart.
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.
Whatever happens, I’ll go through with it. Be smart about this, and your reward will be a thousand ducats.
Be you constant in the accusation, and my cunning shall not shame me.
Stick to the accusation, and my plan won’t fail.
I will presently go learn their day of marriage.
I will go find out when their wedding is.