William Shakespeare: Much Ado About Nothing

ACT 3. 3. Scene III. A Street. (continued)

BORACHIO.
Not so neither; but know, that I have to-night wooed Margaret, the
Lady Hero's gentlewoman, by the name of Hero: she leans me out at her
mistress' chamber-window, bids me a thousand times good night,--I
tell this tale vilely:--I should first tell thee how the prince,
Claudio, and my master, planted and placed and possessed by my master
Don John, saw afar off in the orchard this amiable encounter.

CONRADE.
And thought they Margaret was Hero?

BORACHIO.
Two of them did, the prince and Claudio; but the devil my master, knew
she was Margaret; and partly by his oaths, which first possessed them,
partly by the dark night, which did deceive them, but chiefly by my
villany, which did confirm any slander that Don John had made, away
went Claudio enraged; swore he would meet her, as he was appointed,
next morning at the temple, and there, before the whole congregation,
shame her with what he saw o'er night, and send her home again without
a husband.

FIRST WATCH.
We charge you in the prince's name, stand!

SECOND WATCH.
Call up the right Master Constable. We have here recovered the most
dangerous piece of lechery that ever was known in the commonwealth.

FIRST WATCH.
And one Deformed is one of them: I know him, a' wears a lock.

CONRADE.
Masters, masters!

SECOND WATCH.
You'll be made bring Deformed forth, I warrant you.

CONRADE.
Masters,--

FIRST WATCH.
Never speak: we charge you let us obey you to go with us.

BORACHIO.
We are like to prove a goodly commodity, being taken up of these
men's bills.

CONRADE.
A commodity in question, I warrant you. Come, we'll obey you.

[Exeunt.]