Shall thereby be the sweeter. Reason thus with life :If I do lose thee, I do lose a thing That none but fools would keep: a breath thou art, That do this habitation, where thou keep'st, And yet run'st toward him still: thou art not noble; Are nurs'd by baseness: thou art by no means valiant; For thou dost fear the soft and tender fork Of a poor worm: thy best of rest is sleep, And that thou oft provok'st, yet grossly fear'st That issue out of dust: happy thou art not; For what thou hast not, still thou striv'st to get, And hug it in mine arms. And death unloads thee: friend hast thou none; For thine own bowels, which do call thee sire, Isab. There spake my brother: there my father's grave The mere effusion of thy proper loins, Do curse the gout, serpigot, and the rheum, Did utter forth a voice. Yes, thou must die: Thou art too noble to conserve a life For ending thee no sooner: thou hast nor youth, nor age, In base appliances. This outward-sainted deputy, But, as it were, an after-dinner's sleep, Whose settled visage and deliberate word Dreaming on both; for all thy boasted2 youth Becomes as aged, and doth beg the alms Nips youth i' the head, and follies doth enmew As falcon doth the fowl, is yet a devil; Of palsied eld: and when thou art old and rich, Thou hast neither heat, affection, limb, nor beauty, To make thy riches pleasant. What's yet in this, That bears the name of life? Yet in this life Lie hid more thousand deaths, yet death we fear, That makes these odds all even. Claud. To sue to live, I find, I seek to die, His filth within being cast, he would appear A pond as deep as hell. Claud. The priestly Angelo ? Isab. O, 't is the cunning livery of hell, The damned'st body to invest and cover In priestly garb !5 Dost thou think, Claudio, I humbly thank you. If I would yield him my virginity, And, seeking death, find life: let it come on. Isab. [Without.] What, ho! Peace here; grace and good company! [welcome. Prov. Who's there? come in the wish deserves a Enter ISABELLA. Duke. Dear sir, ere long I'll visit you again. Claud. Most holy sir, I thank you. Isab. My business is a word or two with Claudio. Prov. And very welcome. Look, signior; here's your sister. Thou might'st be freed. Claud. O, heavens! it cannot be. Isab. Yes, he would give 't thee from this rank offence, So to offend him still. This night's the time Thou shalt not do 't. Isab. Be ready, Claudio, for your death to-morrow. That thus can make him bite the law by the nose, Isab. Which is the least? Claud. If it were damnable, he being so wise, Why would he for the momentary trick Be perdurably fin'd?- Isabel! Isab. What says my brother? Death is a fearful thing Isab. And shamed life a hateful. Claud. Ay, but to die, and go we know not where; To lie in cold obstruction, and to rot; A kneaded clod; and the delighted spirit To bathe in fiery floods, or to reside In thrilling region of thick-ribbed ice; To be imprison'd in the viewless winds, And blown with restless violence round about 1 A kind of tetter. 2 blessed: in f. e. 3 Resident embassador. 4 f. e. princely; Knight: precise suggests de-lighted, that is, removed from light. 5 f. e.: guards. 6 Knight Isab. O, you beast! Is 't not a kind of incest to take life From thine own sister's shame? What should I think? Ne'er issu'd from his blood. Take my defiance: Claud. Nay, hear me, Isabel. O, fie, fie, fie! Thy sin 's not accidental, but a trade. [Going. O hear me, Isabella! Re-enter DUKE. Duke. Vouchsafe a word, young sister; but one word. Duke. Might you dispense with your leisure, I would by and by have some speech with you: the satisfaction I would require, is likewise your own benefit. Isab. I have no superfluous leisure: my stay must be stolen out of other affairs; but I will attend you a while. Duke. [TO CLAUDIO.] Son, I have overheard what hath passed between you and your sister. Angelo had never the purpose to corrupt her; only he hath made an essay of her virtue, to practise his judgment with the disposition of natures. She, having the truth of honour in her, hath made him that gracious denial which he is most glad to receive: I am confessor to Angelo, and I know this to be true; therefore, prepare yourself to death. Do not satisfy your resolution with hopes that are fallible; to-morrow you must die. Go; to your knees, and make ready. Claud. Let me ask my sister pardon. I am so out of love with life, that I will sue to be rid of it. Duke. Hold you there: farewell. [Exit CLAUDIO. Provost, a word with you. Prov. What's your will, father? Duke. That now you are come, you will be gone. Leave me awhile with the maid: my mind promises with my habit no loss shall touch her by my company. Prov. In good time. [Exit Provost. Isab. I am now going to resolve him. I had rather my brother die by the law, than my son should be unlawfully born. But O, how much is the good duke deceived in Angelo! If ever he return, and I can speak to him, I will open my lips in vain, or discover his government. Duke. That shall not be much amiss; yet, as the matter now stands, he will avoid your accusation: he made trial of you only. Therefore, fasten your ear on my advisings: to the love I have in doing good a remedy presents itself. I do make myself believe, that you may most uprighteously do a poor wronged lady a merited benefit, redeem your brother from the angry law, do no stain to your own gracious person, and much please the absent duke, if, peradventure, he shall ever return to have hearing of this business. Isab. Let me hear you speak farther. I have spirit to do any thing that appears not foul in the truth of my spirit. Duke. Virtue is bold, and goodness never fearful. Have you not heard speak of Mariana, the sister of Frederick, the great soldier who miscarried at sea? Isab. I have heard of the lady, and good words went with her name. Duke. Her should this Angelo have married; he was affianced to her by oath, and the nuptial appointed: between which time of the contract, and limit of the solemnity, her brother Frederick was wrecked at sea, having in that perish'd vessel the dowry of his sister. But mark how heavily this befel to the poor gentlewoman: there she lost a noble and renowned brother, in his love toward her ever most kind and natural; with him the portion and sinew of her fortune, her marriage-dowry; with both, her combinates husband, this well-seeming Angelo. Isab. Can this be so? Did Angelo so leave her? Duke. Left her in her tears, and dried not one of them with his comfort; swallowed his vows whole, pretending in her discoveries of dishonour: in few, bestowed her on her own lamentation, which she yet wears for his sake, and he, as marble to her tears, is washed with them, but relents not. Isab. What a merit were it in death to take this poor maid from the world! What corruption in this life, that it will let this man live!-But how out of this can she avail ? Duke. It is a rupture that you may easily heal; and the cure of it not only saves your brother, but keeps you from dishonour in doing it. Isab. Show me how, good father. Duke. This fore-named maid hath yet in her the continuance of her first affection: his unjust unkindness, that in all reason should have quenched her love, hath, like an impediment in the current, made it more violent and unruly. Go you to Angelo: answer his requiring with a plausible obedience: agree with his demands to the point; only refer yourself to this advantage, -first, that your stay with him may not be long, that the time may have all shadow and silence Duke. The hand that hath made you fair hath made in it, and the place answer to convenience. This you good; the goodness that is chief in beauty makes being granted in course, and now follows all: we shall beauty brief in goodness; but grace, being the soul of advise this wronged maid to stead up your appointment, your complexion, shall keep the body of it ever fair. go in your place; if the encounter acknowledge itself The assault, that Angelo hath made to you, fortune hereafter, it may compel him to her recompense; and hath convey'd to my understanding; and, but that here by this is your brother saved, your honour unfrailty hath examples for his falling, I should wonder tainted, the poor Mariana advantaged, and the corat Angelo. How will you do to content this substitute, The maid will I frame, and make and to save your brother ? If you think well to carry this, as 1 Wildness, ungrafted. 2 cheap: in f. e. 3 Contracted. rupt deputy scaled. you may, the doubleness of the benefit defends the deceit from reproof. What think you of it? Isab. The image of it gives me content already, and, I trust, it will grow to a most prosperous perfection. Duke. It lies much in your holding up. Haste you speedily to Angelo: if for this night he entreat you to his bed, give him promise of satisfaction. I will preFees this thre sently to St. Luke's; there, at the moated grange, resides this dejected Mariana: at that place call upon me, and despatch with Angelo, that it may be quickly. Isab. I thank you for this comfort. Fare you well, good father. [Exeunt. SCENE II. - The Street before the Prison. Enter DUKE, as a Friar; to him ELBOW, Clown, and Officers. Elb. Nay, if there be no remedy for it, but that you will needs buy and sell men and women like beasts, we shall have all the world drink brown and white bastard.1 Duke. O, heavens! what stuff is here? Clo. 'T was never merry world, since, of two usances, 2 the merriest was put down, and the worser allow'd by order of law a furr'd gown to keep him warm; and furr'd with fox and lamb-skins too, to signify that craft, being richer than innocency, stands for the facing. Elb. Come your way, sir.- Bless you, good father friar. Duke, And you, good brother father. What offence hath this man made you, sir? Elb. Marry, sir, he hath offended the law: and, sir, we take him to be a thief too, sir; for we have found upon him, sir, a strange pick-lock, which we have sent to the deputy. Duke. Fie, sirrah: a bawd, a wicked bawd ! So stinkingly depending? Go mend, go mend. Clo. Indeed, it does stink in some sort, sir; but yet, sir, I would prove Duke. Nay, if the devil have given thee proofs for sin, Thou wilt prove his. Take him to prison, officer : Correction and instruction must both work, Ere this rude beast will profit. Elb. He must before the deputy, sir; he has given him warning. The deputy cannot abide a whoremaster: if he be a whoremonger, and comes before him, he were as good go a mile on his errand. Duke. That we were all, as some would seem to be, From our faults, as faults from seeming, free! Enter LUCIO. Elb. His neck will come to your waist, a cord, sir. Clo. I spy comfort: I cry, bail. Here's a gentleman, and a friend of mine. Duke. Still thus, and thus: still worse! Lucio. How doth my dear morsel, thy mistress? Procures she still? Ha! Clo. Troth, sir, she hath eaten up all her beef, and she is herself in the tub. Lucio. Why, 't is good; it is the right of it; it must be so: ever your fresh whore, and your powder'd bawd: an unshunn'd consequence; it must be so. Art going to prison, Pompey? Clo. Yes, faith, sir. Lucio. Why, 't is not amiss, Pompey. Farewell. Go; say, I sent thee thither. For debt, Pompey, or how? Elb. For being a bawd, for being a bawd. Lucio. Well, then imprison him. If imprisonment be the due of a bawd, why, 't is his right: bawd is he, doubtless, and of antiquity too; bawd-born. Farewell, good Pompey: commend me to the prison, Pompey. You will turn good husband now, Pompey; you will keep the house. Clo. I hope, sir, your good worship will be my bail. Lucio. No, indeed, will I not, Pompey; it is not the wear. I will pray, Pompey, to increase your bondage: if you take it not patiently, why, your mettle is the more. Adieu, trusty Pompey. - Bless you, friar. Duke. And you. Lucio. Does Bridget paint still, Pompey? Ha! Lucio. Then, Pompey, nor now. --- What news abroad, [Exeunt ELBOW, Clown, and Officers. What news, friar, of the duke ? Duke. I know none. Can you tell me of any ? Lucio. Some say, he is with the emperor of Russia; other some, he is in Rome: but where is he, think you? Duke. I know not where; but wheresoever, I wish him well. Lucio. It was a mad fantastical trick of him, to steal from the state, and usurp the beggary he was never born to. Lord Angelo dukes it well in his absence: he puts transgression to 't. Duke. He does well in 't. Lucio. A little more lenity to lechery would do no harm in him: something too crabbed that way, friar. Duke. It is too general a vice, and severity must cure it. Lucio. Yes, in good sooth, the vice is of a great kindred: it is well allied; but it is impossible to extirp it quite, friar, till eating and drinking be put down. They say, this Angelo was not made by man and woman, after the downright way of creation: is it true, think you? Duke. How should he be made then? Lucio. Some report, a sea-maid spawn'd him; some, that he was begot between two stock-fishes; but it is certain, that when he makes water, his urine is congeal'd ice: that I know to be true; and he is a motion ingenerative, that's infallible. Duke. You are pleasant, sir, and speak apace. Lucio. How now, noble Pompey! What, at the wheels of Cæsar? Art thou led in triumph? What, is there none of Pygmalion's images, newly made woman, to be had now, for putting the hand in the pocket and extracting it clutch'd? What reply? Ha! What the rebellion of a cod-piece to take away the life of a say'st thou to this tune, matter, and method? Is 't not man? Would the duke that is absent have done this? drown'd i' the last rain? Ha! What say'st thou, Ere he would have hang'd a man for the getting a troth ? Is the world as it was, man? Which is the hundred bastards, he would have paid for the nursing way? Is it sad, and few words, or how? The trick a thousand. He had some feeling of the sport: he of it? knew the service, and that instructed him to mercy. 1 Ital. bastardo, a sweet wine made of raisins. 2 usuries: in f. e. 3 trot: in f. e. Duke. I never heard the absent duke much detected1 for women: he was not inclined that way. Lucio. O, sir! you are deceived. Duke. 'T is not possible. Lucio. Who? not the duke? yes, your beggar of fifty; and his use was, to put a ducat in her clack-dish. The duke had crotchets in him: he would be drunk too; that let me inform you. Duke. You do him wrong, surely. Lucio. Sir, I was an inward of his. A shy fellow was the duke; and, I believe, I know the cause of his withdrawing. Duke. What, I pr'ythee, might be the cause? Lucio. No, pardon;-'t is a secret must be lock'd within the teeth and the lips; but this I can let you understand, the greater file of the subject held the duke to be wise. Duke. Wise? why, no question but he was. fellow. Duke. Either this is envy in you, folly, or mistaking: the very stream of his life, and the business he hath helmed, must, upon a warranted need, give him a better proclamation. Let him be but testimonied in his own bringings forth, and he shall appear to the envious a scholar, a statesman, and a soldier. Therefore, you speak unskilfully; or, if your knowledge be more, it is much darken'd in your malice. Lucio. Sir, I know him, and I love him. Duke. Love talks with better knowledge, and knowledge with dearer love. Lucio. Come, sir, I know what I know. Duke. I can hardly believe that, since you know not what you speak. But, if ever the duke return, (as our prayers are he may,) let me desire you to make your answer before him: if it be honest you have spoke, you have courage to maintain it. I am bound to call upon you; and, I pray you, your name. Lucio. Sir, my name is Lucio, well known to the duke. Duke. He shall know you better, sir, if I may live to report you. Lucio. I fear you not. Duke. O! you hope the duke will return no more, or you imagine me too unhurtful an opposite. But, indeed, I can do you little harm; you'll forswear this again. Lucio. I'll be hang'd first: thou art deceived in me, friar. But no more of this. Canst thou tell, if Claudio die to-morrow, or no? Duke. Why should he die, sir? Lucio. Why? for filling a bottle with a tun-dish. I would, the duke, we talk of, were return'd again: this ungenitur'd agent will unpeople the province with continency; sparrows must not build in his house-eaves, Enter ESCALUS, Provost, Bawd, and Officers. Escal. Go: away with her to prison! Bawd. Good my lord, be good to me; your honour is accounted a merciful man: good my lord. Escal. Double and treble admonition, and still forfeit in the same kind? This would make mercy swear, and play the tyrant. Prov. A bawd of eleven years' continuance, may it please your honour. Bawd. My lord, this is one Lucio's information against me. Mistress Kate Keep-down was with child by him in the duke's time: he promised her marriage; his child is a year and a quarter old, come Philip and Jacob. I have kept it myself, and see how he goes about to abuse me! Escal. That fellow is a fellow of much licence:-let him be called before us. -Away with her to prison! Go to; no more words. [Exeunt Bawd and Officers.] Provost, my brother Angelo will not be alter'd; Claudio must die to-morrow. Let him be furnished with divines, and have all charitable preparation: if my brother wrought by my pity, it should not be so with him. Prov. So please you, this friar hath been with him, and advised him for the entertainment of death. Escal. Good even, good father. Duke. Bliss and goodness on you. Escal. Of whence are you? Duke. Not of this country, though my chance is now To use it for my time: I am a brother Of gracious order, late come from the See, In special business from his holiness. Escal. What news abroad i' the world? Duke. None, but that there is so great a fever on goodness, that the dissolution of it must cure it: novelty is only in request; and as it is as dangerous to be aged in any kind of course, as it is virtuous to be constant in any undertaking, there is scarce truth enough alive to make societies secure, but security enough to make fellowships accurs'd. Much upon this riddle runs the wisdom of the world. This news is old enough, yet it is every day's news. I pray you, sir, of what disposition was the duke? Escal. One that, above all other strifes, contended especially to know himself. Duke. What pleasure was he given to? Escal. Rather rejoicing to see another merry, than merry at any thing which profess'd to make him rejoice: a gentleman of all temperance. But leave we him to his events, with a prayer they may prove prosperous, and let me desire to know how you find Claudio prepared. I am made to understand, that you have lent him visitation. Duke. He professes to have received no sinister measure from his judge, but most willingly humbles himself to the determination of justice; yet had he because they are lecherous. The duke yet would have framed to himself, by the instruction of his frailty, dark deeds darkly answer'd; he would never bring many deceiving promises of life, which I, by my good them to light: would he were return'd! Marry, this leisure, have discredited to him, and now is he resolved Claudio is condemn'd for untrussing. Farewell, good to die. friar; I pr'ythee, pray for me. The duke, I say to thee again, would eat mutton on Fridays. He's now Farewell. Duke. No might nor greatness in mortality Can censure 'scape: back-wounding calumny The whitest virtue strikes. What king so strong, Can tie the gall up in the slanderous tongue? 3 Escal. You have paid the heavens the due of your function, and the prisoner the very debt of your calling. I have labour'd for the poor gentleman to the extremest shore of my modesty; but my brother justice have I found so severe, that he hath forced me to tell him, he is indeed-justice. Duke. If his own life answer the straitness of his proceed proceeding, it shall become him well; wherein if he chance to fail, he hath sentenced himself. [well. Escal. I am going to visit the prisoner. Fare you But who comes here? 1 Suspected. 2 Number of the subjects. 3 The words "the due of": not in f. e. Duke. Peace be with you! O, what may man within him hide, [Exeunt ESCALUS and Provost. Though angel on the outward side! He, who the sword of heaven will bear, How may likeness, made in crimes, ACT IV. SCENE I.-A Room at the moated Grange. SONG. Take, O! take those lips away, That so sweetly were forsworn; 3 [Exit. Isab. I have ta'en a due and wary note upon't: Duke. Mari. Break off thy song, and haste thee quick That stays upon me; whose persuasion is, away: Here comes a man of comfort, whose advice Enter DUKE. I cry you mercy, sir; and well could wish Let me excuse me, and believe me so, I come about my brother. 'T is well borne up. I have not yet made known to Mariana [Exit Boy. A word of this. - What, ho! within! come forth. My mirth it much displeas'd, but pleas'd my woe. Duke. 'T is good though music oft hath such a charm, To make bad good, and good provoke to harm. I pray you, tell me, hath any body inquired for me here to-day? much upon this time have I promis'd here to meet. Mari. You have not been inquired after: I have sat here all day. Isab. He hath a garden circummur'd with brick, Whose western side is with a vineyard back'd; This other doth command a little door, Which from the vineyard to the garden leads; There have I made my promise upon the heavy Middle of the night to call upon him. Re-enter MARIANA. Duke. Do you persuade yourself that I respect you? Who hath a story ready for your ear. I shall attend your leisure: but make haste; Will't please you walk aside? [Exeunt MARIANA and ISABELLA. Duke. O place and greatness! millions of false eyes Re-enter MARIANA and ISABELLA. Welcome! How agreed! Isab. She'll take the enterprise upon her, father, Duke. Nor, gentle daughter, fear you not at all. Duke. But shall you on your knowledge find this He is your husband on a pre-contract: To bring you thus together, 't is no sin, way? 1 and virtue go: in f. e. 2 Making: in f. e. a second stanza, as follows. It is attributed to 3 This song is found in Beaumont and Fletcher's Bloody Brother, Act V., Sc. II., with Shakespeare in the spurious Ed. of his Poems, printed in 1640. Hide, oh, hide those hills of snow, Which thy frozen bosom bears, On whose tops the pinks that grow 4 Boarded. 5 Knight, following the old eds., transfers this word to the beginning of the next line. 6 these: in f. e. |