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you； for out o' question you were born in a merry hour。
Beat。 No； sure； my lord； my mother cried； but then there was a star
danc'd； and under that was I born。 Cousins； God give you joy！
Leon。 Niece； will you look to those things I told you of？
Beat。 I cry you mercy； uncle； By your Grace's pardon。 ＇Exit。＇
Pedro。 By my troth； a pleasant…spirited lady。
Leon。 There's little of the melancholy element in her； my lord。 She is
never sad but when she sleeps； and not ever sad then； for I have heard my
daughter say she hath often dreamt of unhappiness and wak'd herself with
laughing。
Pedro。 She cannot endure to hear tell of a husband。
Leon。 O； by no means！ She mocks all her wooers out of suit。
Pedro。 She were an excellent wife for Benedick。
Leon。 O Lord； my lord！ if they were but a week married； they would
talk themselves mad。
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Pedro。 County Claudio； when mean you to go to church？
Claud。 To…morrow； my lord。 Time goes on crutches till love have all
his rites。
Leon。 Not till Monday； my dear son； which is hence a just sevennight；
and a time too brief too； to have all things answer my mind。
Pedro。 Come； you shake the head at so long a breathing； but I warrant
thee； Claudio； the time shall not go dully by us。 I will in the interim
undertake one of Hercules' labours； which is； to bring Signior Benedick
and the Lady Beatrice into a mountain of affection th' one with th' other。 I
would fain have it a match； and I doubt not but to fashion it if you three
will but minister such assistance as I shall give you direction。
Leon。 My lord； I am for you； though it cost me ten nights' watchings。
Claud。 And I； my lord。
Pedro。 And you too； gentle Hero？
Hero。 I will do any modest office； my lord； to help my cousin to a
good husband。
Pedro。 And Benedick is not the unhopefullest husband that I know。
Thus far can I praise him： he is of a noble strain； of approved valour； and
confirm'd honesty。 I will teach you how to humour your cousin； that she
shall fall in love with Benedick； and I； ＇to Leonato and Claudio＇ with your
two helps； will so practise on Benedick that； in despite of his quick wit and
his queasy stomach； he shall fall in love with Beatrice。 If we can do this；
Cupid is no longer an archer； his glory shall be ours； for we are the only
love…gods。 Go in with me； and I will tell you my drift。
＇Exeunt。＇
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MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
SCENE II。
A hall in Leonato's house。
＇Enter ＇Don＇ John and Borachio。＇
John。 It is so。 The Count Claudio shall marry the daughter of Leonato。
Bora。 Yea； my lord； but I can cross it。
John。 Any bar； any cross； any impediment will be med'cinable 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。
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。
John。 I remember。
Bora。 I can； at any unseasonable instant of the night； appoint her to
look out at her lady's chamber window。
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。
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？
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； asin love of your brother's honour；
who hath made this match； and his friend's
reputation； who is thus like to be cozen'd with the semblance of a
maidthat you have discover'd 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
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MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
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 call'd assurance and all the
preparation overthrown。
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。
John。 I will presently go learn their day of marriage。
＇Exeunt。＇
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SCENE III。
Leonato's orchard。
＇Enter Benedick alone。＇
Bene。 Boy！
＇Enter Boy。＇
Boy。 Signior？
Bene。 In my chamber window lies a book。 Bring it hither to me in he
orchard。
Boy。 I am here already； sir。
Bene。 I know that； but I would have thee hence and here again。 （Exit
Boy。） I do much wonder that one man； seeing how much another man is a
fool when he dedicates his behaviours to love； will； after he hath laugh'd at
such shallow follies in others； become the argument of his own scorn by
falling in love； and such a man is Claudio。 I have known when there was
no music with him but the drum and the fife； and now had he rather hear
the tabor and the pipe。 I have known when he would have walk'd ten mile
afoot to see a good armour； and now will he lie ten nights awake carving
the fashion of a new doublet。 He was wont to speak plain and to the
purpose； like an honest man and a soldier； and n