a Accuse him home, and home. For my poor self, Will not proclaim against her maiden loss, her?-no: liy'd, (sense, Save that his riotous youth, with dangerous Lucio. Good even! Might, in the times to come, have ta'en revenge, Friar, where is the provost ? By so receiving a dishonour'd life, Duke. Not within, Sir. With ransom of such shame. 'Would yet he Lucio. O, pretty Isabella, I am pale at mine had liv'd! heart, to see thine eyes so red: thou must be Alack, when once our grace we have forgot, patient: I am fain to dine and sup with water Nothing goes right; we would, and we would and bran; I dare not for my head fill my belly, not. (Exit. one fruitful meal would set me to't: But they say the duke will be here to-morrow. By my SCENE V.-Fields without the Town. troth, Isabel, I lov'd thy brother : if the old Enter DUKE in his own habit,and Friar PETER. fantastical duke of dark corners had been at Duke. These letters at fit time deliver me. home, he had lived. [Exit IsabelLA. Duke. Sir, the duke is marvellous little be- The provost knows our purpose, and our plot, [Giving letters. holden to your reports ; but the best is, he lives The matter being afoot, keep your instruction, not in them. And hold you ever to our special drift; Lucio. Friar, thou knowest not the duke so well as I do: he's a better woodman than thou Though sometimes you do blenchợ from this to that, (house, takest him for. Duke. Well, you'll answer this one day. And tell him where I stay: give the like notice, As cause doth minister. Go, call at Flavius' Fare ye well. Lucio. Nay, tarry; I'll go along with thee; And bid them bring the trumpets to the gate; To Valentinus, Rowland, and to Crassus, I can tell thee pretty tales of the duke. But send me Flavius first, Duke. You have told me too many of him F. Peter. It shall be speeded well. already, Sir, if they be true; if not true, none were enough. [Exit FRIAR. Lucio. I was once before him for getting a Enter VARRIUS. wench with child. Duke. I thank thee, Varrius ; thou hast made Duke. Did you such a thing? good haste : Lucio. Yes, marry, did I : but was fain to Come, we will walk: There's other of our friends forswear it; they would else have married me Will greet us here anon, my gentle Varrius. to the rotten medlar. [Exeunt. Duke. Sir, your company is fairer than ho SCENE VI.—Street near the City Gate. nest: Rest you well. Enter ISABELLA and MARIANA. Lucio. By my troth, I'll go with thee to the lane's end: If bawdy talk offend you, we'll Isab. To speak so indirectly, I am loath ; have very little of it: Nay, friar, I am a kind I would say the truth; but to accuse him so, of burr, I shall stick. [Exeunt. That is your part: yet I'm advised to do it; He says, to veil fullll purpose. Mari. Be rul'd by him. Isab. Besides, he tells me, that, if peradyenEscal. Every letter he hath writ hath dis ture rouchat other. Ang. In most uneven and distracted manner. I should not think it strange ; for 'tis a physic, He speak against me on the adverse side, His actions show much like to madness : pray That's bitter to sweet end. heaven, his wisdom be not tainted! And why Mari. I would, friar Petermeet him at the gates, and re-deliver our authorities there? Isab. O, peace; the friar is come. Escal. I guess not. Enter Friar PETER. Ang. And why should we proclaim it in an F. Peter. Come, I have found you out a stand hour before his entering, that, if any crave most fit, (duke, redress of injustice, they should exhibit their where you may have such vantages on the petitions in the street? He shall not pass you; Twice have the trumEscal. He shows his reason for that : to have pets sounded; a despatch of complaints; and to deliver us The generous** and gravest citizens from devices hereafter, which shall then have Have hentit the gates, and very near upon no power to stand against us. The duke is ent’ring; therefore hence, away. Ang. Well, I beseech you,let it be proclaim'd: Exeunt. ACT V. SCENEI.--A public place near the City Gate. you well. [Erit. Ang. Good night. MARIANA, (veiled,) ISABELLA, and Peter, at This deed unshapes me quite, makes me un- a distance. Enter at opposite doors, DUKE, pregnant, VARRIUS, Lords ; ANGELO, ESCALUS, Lo- * Calls, challenges her to do it. Start oft. 1 Contradicted. | Figure and rank. || Availtul. II Advantage. ** Most noble. Seized. : * Utterer. * Go. you say? Duke. My very worthy cousin, fairly met :- In all his dressings,* characts, titles, forms, Our old and faithful friend, we are glad to see Be an arch-villain : believe it, royal prince, you. If he be less, he's nothing; but he's more, Ang. and Escal. Happy return be to your Had I more name for badness. royal grace! Duke. By mine honesty, Duke. Many and hearty thankings to you If she be mad, (as I believe no other,) both. Her madness hath the oddest frame of sense, We have made inquiry of you; and we hear Such a dependency of thing on thing, Such goodness of your justice, that our soul As e'er I heard in madness. Cannot but yield you forth to public thanks, Isab. O, gracious duke, Forerunning more requital. Harp not on that; nor do not banish reason Ang. You make my bonds still greater. For inequality : but let your reason serve Duke. O, your desert speaks loud; and I To make the truth appear, where it seems hid; should wrong it, And hide the false, seems true. To lock it in the wards of covert bosom, Duke. Many that are not mad, When it deserves, with characters of brass, Have, sure, more lack of reason.—What would A forted residence 'gainst the tooth of time, And razure of oblivion : Give me your hand, Isab. I am the sister of one Claudio, And let the subject see, to make them know Condemn'd, upon the act of fornication, That outward courtesies would fain proclaim To lose his head : condemn'd by Angelo: Favours that keep within.-Come, Escalus ; I, in probation of a sisterhood, You must walk by us on our other hand; Was sent to by my brother: One Lucio, And good supporters are you. As then the messenger Lucio. That's I, an't like your grace: PETER and ISABELLA come forward. I came to her from Claudio, and desir'd her F. Peter. Now is your time; speak loud, and To try her gracious fortune with lord Angelo, kneel before him. For her poor brother's pardon. Isab. Justice, 0 royal duke! Vail* your Isab. That's he, indeed. regard Duke. You were not bid to speak. Nor wish'd to hold my peace. Duke. I wish you now then; Till you have heard me in my true complaint, Pray you, take note of it; and when you have And give me justice, justice, justice, justice ! A business for yourself, pray heaven, you then Duke. Relate your wrongs: In what? By Be perfect. whom? Be brief: Lucio. I warrant your honour. Here is lord Angelo shall give you justice; Duke. The warrant's for yourself; take heed Reveal yourself to him. to it. Isab. O, worthy duke, Isab. This gentleman told somewhat of my You bid me seek redemption of the devil: tale. Hear me yourself; for that which I must speak Lucio. Right. (wrong Must either punish me, not being believ'd, Duke. It may be right; but you are in the Or wring redress from you: hear me, o, hear To speak before your time.-Proceed. me, here, Isab. I went Ang. My lord, her wits, I fear me, are not To this pernicious caitiff deputy. firm: Duke. That's somewhat madly spoken. She hath been a suitor to me for her brother, Isab. Pardon it; Cut off by course of justice. The phrase is to the matter. Isab. By course of justice! Duke. Mended again: the matter;-Proceed. Ang. And she will speak most bitterly and Isab. In brief,—to set the needless process by, strange. How I persuaded, how I pray'd, and kneelid, Isab. Most strange, but yet most truly, will How he refell’dt me, and how I reply'd; I speak : (For this was of much length,) the vile concluThat Angelo's forsworn; is it not strange? sion That Angelo's a murderer; is't not strange? I now begin with grief and shame to utter: That Angelo is an adulterous thief, He would not, but by gift of my chaste body An hypocrite, a virgin-violator; To his concupiscible intemperate lust, (ment, Is it not strange, and strange? Release my brother; and, after much debateDuke. Nay, ten times strange. My sisterly remorsef confutes mine honour, Isab. It is not truer he is Angelo, And I did yield to him: But the next morn Than this is all as true as it is strange: betimes, Nay, it is ten times true; for truth is truth His purpose surfeiting, he sends a warrant To the end of reckoning. For my poor brother's head. Duke. Away with her :-Poor soul, Duke. This is most likely! She speaks this in the infirmity of sense. Isab. O, that it were as like, as it is true! Isab. O prince, I conjure thee, as thou be- Duke. By heaven, fonds wretch, thou know'st liev'st not what thou speak'st; There is another comfort than this world, Or else thou art suborn'd against his honour, That thou neglect me not, with that opinion In hateful practice :|| First, his integrity That I am touch'd with madness: make not Stands without blemish :-next it imports no impossible [ble, reason, * Habits and characters of office. Pity. from wo, some cause . And not have cut him off: Some one hath set Mari. Pardon, my lord; I will not show my (face, Mari. No, my lord. Isab. And is this all? Duke. Are you a maid? Then, oh, you blessed ministers above, Mari. No, my lord. Keep me in patience; and, with ripend time, Duke. A widow, then? Unfold the evil which is here wrapt up Mari. Neither, my lord. In countenance !-Heaven shield your grace Duke. Why, you (wife? Are nothing then :-Neither maid, widow, nor Duke. Silence that fellow: I would, he had Mari. My lord, I do confess, I ne'er was I have known my husband; yet my husband knows not, that Lodowick? That ever he knew me. Lucio. My lord, I know him; 'tis a medling Lucio. He was drunk then, my lord; it can friar; [lord, be no better. Mari. Now I come to't, my lord: When I'll depose I had him in mine arms, Ang. Charges she more than me? Mari. Not that I know. body, As she from one ungot. But knows he thinks, that he knows Isabel's. Duke. We did believe no less. [of? Ang. This is a strange abuse :*_Let's see Know you that friar Lodowick, that she speaks thy face. F. Peter. I know him for a man divine and Mari. My husband bids me; now I will unNot scurvy, nor a temporary medler, [holy; måsk. [Unveiling As he's reported by this gentleman ; This is that face, thou cruel Angelo, [on: This is the hand, which, with a vow'd contráct, And did supply thee at thy garden-house, In her imagin'd person. Duke. Sirrah, no more. (marriage For that her reputation was disvalued Her shall you hear disproved to her eyes, In levity: since which time of five years, Till she herself confess it. I never spake with her, saw her, nor heard from Duke. Good friar, let's hear it. Upon my faith and honour. [her, Mari. Noble prince, As there comes light from heaven, and words from breath, I am affianc'd this man's wife, as strongly lord, (house, First, let her show her face; and after speak. But Tuesday night last gone, in his garden He knew me as a wife: As this is true * Convened. 2 woman † Simple. * Beat. Publicly. * Decention Her fortune fell ghort. Let me in safety raise me from my knees; Duke. Respect to your great place! and let the devil Be sometime honour'd for his burning throne: speak: Good night to your redress. Is the duke gone? Lucio. This is the rascal; this is he I spoke of. Though they would swear down each parti- Escal. Why, thou unreverend and unhallow'd cular saint, friar! And in the witness of his proper ear, (self ; To the rack with him :-We'll touze you joint F. Peter. Would he were here, my lord; for by joint, (just? he, indeed, But we will know this purpose : What? un- Dare rack his own; his subject am I not, But faults so countenanc'd, that the strong statutes Escal. My lord, we'll do it thoroughly.-Exit As much in mock as mark. to prison. person? Ang. What can you vouch against him, sigLucio. Cucullus non facit monachum : honest nior Lucio ? in nothing, but in his clothes; and one that is this the man that you did tell us of? hath spoke most villainous speeches of the duke. Lucio. 'Tis he, my lord. Come hither, good Escal. We shall entreat you to abide here man bald-pate: Do you know me? till he come, and enforce them against him; we Duke. I remember you, Sir, by the sound of shall find this friar a notable fellow. your voice: I met you at the prison, in the abLucio. As any in Vienna, on my word. sence of the duke. Escal. Call that same Isabel here once again; Lucio. O, did you so? And do you remember To an Attendant.] I would speak with her: what you said of the duke? Pray you, my lord, give me leave to question; Duke. Most notedly, Sir. you shall see how I'll handle her. Lucio. Do you so, Sir? And was the duke a Lucio. Not better than he, by her own report. flesh-monger, a fool, and a coward, as you then Escal. Say you? reported him to be? Lucio. Marry, Sir, I think, if you handled her Duke. You must, Sir, change persons with privately, she would sooner confess ; perchance, me, ere you make that my report: you, indeed, publicly she'll be ashamed. spoke so of him; and much more, much worse. Lucio. O thou damnable fellow! Did not I Re-enter Oficers, with ISABELLA, the Duke, in pluck thee by the nose, for thy speeches? the Friar's habit, and Provost. Duke. I protest, I love the duke, as I love myEscal. I will go darkly to work with her. self. Lucio. That's the way; for women are light Ang. Hark! how the villain would close now, at midnight. after his treasonable abuses. Escal. Come on, mistress : [To ISABELLA. Escal. Such a fellow is not to be talk'd withhere's a gentlewoman denies all that you have al:-Away with him to prison :- Where is the said. provost?--Away with him to prison ; lay bolts Lucio. My lord, here comes the rascal I spoke enough upon him : let him speak no more :of ; here with the provost. Away with those giglotsf too, and with the Escal. In very good time: speak not you to other confederate companion. him, till we call upon you. [The Provost lays hands on the DUKE.) Lucio. Mum. Duke. Stay, Sir; stay a while. Escal. Come, Sir: Did you get these women Ang. What! resists he? Help him, Lucio. on to slander lord Angelo? they have confess'd Lucio. Come, Sir; come, Sir; come, Sir; you did. foh, Sir: Why, you bald-pated, lying rascal ! Duke. "Tis false. you must be hooded, must you ? Show your Escal. How! know you where you are ? knave's visage, with a pox to you! show your and you you down. а sheep-biting face, and be hang'd an hour! Thereon dependant, for your brother's life,) Will't not off? The very mercy of the law cries ont (Pulls off the Friar's hood, and discovers Most audible, even from his proper* tongue, the DUKE. An Angelo for Claudio, death for death. Duke. Thou art the first knave,that e'er made Haste still pays haste, and leisure answers a duke. leisure; sure. First, Provost, let me bail these gentle three :-- Like doth quit like, and Measure still for MeaSneak not away, Sir; (To Lucro.] for the friar Then, Angelo, thy fault's thus manifested ; Which though thou would'st deny, denies the Must have a word anon :-lay hold on him. vantage: Lucio. This may prove worse than hanging. We do condemn thee to the very block Duke. What you have spoke, I pardon ; sit Where Claudio stoop'd to death, and with like [To Escalus. Away with him. (haste ;We'll borrow place of him :-Sir, by your Mari. O, my most gracious lord, leave : [TO ANGELO. I hope you will not mock me with a husband! Hast thou or word, or wit, or impudence, Duke. It is your husband mock'd you with a That yet can do thee office?* If thou hast, husband : Rely upon it till my tale be heard, Consenting to the safeguard of your honour, And hold no longer out. I thought your marriage fit; else imputation, Ang. O my dread lord, For that he knew you, might reproach your life, I should be guiltier than my guiltiness, And choke your good to come: for his possesTo think I can be undiscernible, Although by confiscation they are ours, (sions, When I perceive, your grace,like power divine, We do instate and widow you withal, Hath look'd upon my passes :t Then, good To buy you a better husband. prince, Mari. O, my dear lord, No longer session hold upon my shame, I crave no other, nor no better man. But let my trial be mine own confession; Duke. Never crave him ; we are definitive. Immediate sentence then, and sequentt death, Mari. Gentle, my liege,- (Kneeling, Is all the grace I beg. Duke. You do but lose your labour ; Duke. Come hither, Mariana : Away with him to death.-Now, Sir, to you. Say, wast thou e'er contracted to this woman? [To Lucio. Ang. I was, my lord. Mari. O, my good lord !-Sweet Isabel, take Duke. Go take her hence, and marry her in my part: stantly.--. Lend me your knees, and all my life to come Do you the office, friar; which consummate, I'll lend you, all my life to do you service. Return him here again:-Go with him, Provost. Duke. Against all senset you do importune [Exeunt AngeLO, MARIANA, PETER, her: and PROVOST. Should she kneel down, in mercy of this fact, Escal. My lord, I am more amaz! at his dis- Her brother's ghost his paved bed would break, Than at the strangeness of it. (honour, And take her hence in horror, Duke. Come hither, Isabel : Mari. Isabel, Your friar is now your prince: As I was then Sweet Isabel, do yet but kneel by me; Advertising, and holy to your business, Hold up your hands, say nothing, I'll speak all. Not changing heart with habit, I am still They say, best men are moulded out of faults; Attorney'd at your service. And, for the most, become much more the Isab. O, give me pardon, better That I, your vassal, have employ'd and pain’d For being a little bad : so may my husband. Your unknown sovereignty. 0, Isabel! will you not lend a knee? Duke. You are pardond, Isabel : Duke. He dies for Claudio's death. And now, dear maid, be you as free to us. Isab. Most bounteous Sir, [Kneeling Your brother's death, I know, sits at your heart; Look, if it please you, on this man condemnd, And you may marvel, why I obscur'd myself," As if my brother liv'd: 1 partly think, Labouring to save his life; and would not A due sincerity governd his deeds, rather Till he did look on me; since it is so, For Angelo, That perish'd by the way: thoughts are no That life is better life, past fearing death, Intents but merely thoughts. (subjects; Than that which lives to fear: make it your Mari. Merely, my lord. So happy is your brother. (comfort, Duke. Your suit's unprofitable; stand up, I sayRe-enter ANGELO, MARIANA, PETER, and I have bethought me of another fault:PROVOST Provost, how came it, Claudio was beheaded Isab. I do, my lord. At an unusual hour? Duke. For this new-married man, approach- Prov. It was commanded so. ing here, Duke. Had you a special warrant for the deed? Whose salt imagination yet hath wronged Prov. No, my good lord; it was by private Your well-defended honour, you must pardon message. For Mariana's sake: but as he adjudg'd your Duke. For which I do discharge you of your (Being criminal, in double violation [brother, Give up your keys. [office : Of sacred chastity, and of promise-breach, Prov. Pardon me, noble lord : I thought it was a fault, but knew it not; Service. Devices. Following. Attentive. * Angelo's own torte. | Reason and affection. : |