Much Ado About Nothing, Act 2, Scene 2

It is so; the Count Claudio shall marry the daughter of Leonato.

So it's settled: Count Claudio is going to marry Leonato's daughter.

Yea, my lord; but I can cross it.

Yes, my lord, but I can block 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 block, any hindrance will be medicine to me. I am sick with resentment against him, and whatever gets in the way of what he wants suits me exactly. How can you block this marriage?

Not honestly, my lord; but so covertly that no dishonesty shall appear in me.

Not honestly, my lord, but so secretly that no dishonesty will show in me.

Show me briefly how.

Tell 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 your lordship, a year ago, how much I am in favour with Margaret, Hero's waiting gentlewoman.

I remember.

I remember.

I can, at any unseasonable instant of the night, appoint her to look out at her lady’s chamber window.

At any odd hour of the night I choose, I can arrange for her to lean out of her lady's bedroom window.

What life is in that, to be the death of this marriage?

What life is there in that, to be the death of this 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 poison in it is for you to mix. Go to the Prince your brother; don't hold back from telling him that he has damaged his honour by marrying the famous Claudio — whose reputation you praise highly — to a polluted whore, someone like Hero.

What proof shall I make of that?

What proof will I give of that?

Proof enough to misuse the Prince, to vex Claudio, to undo Hero, and kill Leonato. Look you for any other issue?

Proof enough to deceive the Prince, to torment Claudio, to ruin Hero, and to kill Leonato. Are you looking for any other outcome?

Only to despite them, I will endeavour anything.

Just to spite them, I will attempt 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.

Go then. Find me a suitable time to get Don Pedro and Count Claudio alone. Tell them you know that Hero loves me. Pretend a kind of concern for both the Prince and Claudio — that out of care for your brother's honour, since he arranged this match, and for his friend's reputation, since he is about to be tricked by the appearance of a virgin — you have found this out. They will hardly believe it without a test: offer them evidence, which will look no less convincing than seeing me at her bedroom window, hearing me call Margaret Hero, hearing Margaret call me Claudio. And bring them to see this the very night before the planned wedding, because in the meantime I will arrange matters so that Hero will be away; and Hero's unfaithfulness will seem so true that suspicion will be called certainty, and all the preparations will be ruined.

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.

However badly this turns out, I will put it into action. Be clever in carrying it out, and your payment is a thousand ducats.

Be you constant in the accusation, and my cunning shall not shame me.

You be firm in the accusation, and my cleverness will not let me down.

I will presently go learn their day of marriage.

I'll go right now and find out the day of their marriage.