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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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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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MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
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 now is he turn'd
orthography； his words are a very fantastical banquetjust so many
strange dishes。 May I be so converted and see with these eyes？ I cannot
tell； I think not。 I will not be sworn but love may transform me to an
oyster； but I'll take my oath on it； till he have made an oyster of me he
shall never make me such a fool。 One woman is fair； yet I am well；
another is wise； yet I am well； another virtuous； yet I am well； but till all
graces be in one woman； one woman shall not come in my grace。 Rich she
shall be； that's certain； wise； or I'll none； virtuous； or I'll never cheapen her；
fair； or I'll never look on her； mild； or come not near me； noble； or not I for
an angel； of good discourse； an excellent musician； and her hair shall be of
what colour it please God。 Ha； the Prince and Monsieur Love！ I will hide
me in the arbour。 ＇Hides。＇
＇Enter Don Pedro； Leonato； Claudio。＇
＇Music within。＇
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Pedro。 Come； shall we hear this music？
Claud。 Yea； my good lord。 How still the evening is； As hush'd on
purpose to grace harmony！
Pedro。 See you where Benedick hath hid himself？
Claud。 O； very well； my lord。 The music ended； We'll fit the kid…fox
with a pennyworth。
＇Enter Balthasar with Music。＇
Pedro。 Come； Balthasar； we'll hear that song again。
Balth。 O； good my lord； tax not so bad a voice To slander music any
more than once。
Pedro。 It is the witness still of excellency To put a strange face on his
own perfection。 I pray thee sing； and let me woo no more。
Balth。 Because you talk of wooing； I will sing； Since many a wooer
doth commence his suit To her he thinks not worthy； yet he wooes； Yet
will he swear he loves。
Pedro。 Nay； pray thee come； Or if thou wilt hold longer argument； Do
it in notes。
Balth。 Note this before my notes： There's not a note of mine that's
worth the noting。
Pedro。 Why； these are very crotchets that he speaks！ Note notes；
forsooth； and nothing！ ＇Music。＇
Bene。 ＇aside＇ Now divine air！ Now is his soul ravish'd！ Is it not strange
that sheep's guts should hale souls out of men's bodies？ Well； a horn for
my money； when all's done。
＇Balthasar sings。＇
The Song。
Sigh no more； ladies； sigh no more！ Men were deceivers ever； One
foot in sea； and one on shore； To one thing constant never。 Then sigh not
so； But let them go； And be you blithe and bonny； Converting all your
sounds of woe Into Hey nonny； nonny。 Sing no more ditties； sing no moe；
Of dumps so dull and heavy！ The fraud of men was ever so； Since summer
first was leavy。 Then sigh not so； &c。 Pedro。 By my troth； a good song。
Balth。 And an ill singer； my lord。
Pedro。 Ha； no； no； faith！ Thou sing'st well enough for a shift。
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Bene。 ＇aside＇ An he had been a dog that should have howl'd thus； they
would have hang'd him； and I pray God his bad voice bode no mischief。 I
had as live have heard the night raven； come what plague could have come
after it。
Pedro。 Yea； marry。 Dost thou hear； Balthasar？ I pray thee get us some
excellent music； for to…morrow night we would have it at the Lady Hero's
chamber window。
Balth。 The best I can； my lord。
Pedro。 Do so。 Farewell。
＇Exit Balthasar ＇with Musicians。＇
Come hither； Leonato。 What was it you told me of to…day？ that your
niece Beatrice was in love with Signior Benedick？
Claud。 O； ay！…＇Aside to Pedro＇ Stalk on； stalk on； the fowl sits。 I did
never think that lady would have loved any man。
Leon。 No； nor I neither； but most wonderful that she should so dote on
Signior Benedick； whom she hath in all outward behaviours seem'd ever to
abhor。
Bene。 ＇aside＇ Is't possible？ Sits the wind in that corner？
Leon。 By my troth； my lord； I cannot tell what to think of it； but that
she loves him with an enraged affection。 It is past the infinite of thought。
Pedro。 May be she doth but counterfeit。
Claud。 Faith； like enough。
Leon。 O God； counterfeit？ There was never counterfeit of passion
came so near the life of passion as she discovers it。
Pedro。 Why； what effects of passion shows she？
Claud。 ＇aside＇ Bait the hook well！ This fish will bite。
Leon。 What effects； my lord？ She will sit youyou heard my daughter
tell you how。
Cl