And yet my nature never in the sight, Supply me with the habit, and instruct me SCENE V.—A Nunnery. Enter ISABELLA and FRANCISCA. Fran. Are not these large enough? Fran. It is a man's voice: Gentle Isabella, Or, if you show your face you must not speak. Enter LuCIO. Lucio. Hail, virgin, if you be; as those cheek roses Proclaim you are no less! Can you so stead me, Isab. Why her unhappy brother? let me ask; Lucio. Gentle and fair, your brother kindly Not to be weary with you, he's in prison. Lucio. For that, which, if myself might be| his judge, He should receive his punishment in thanks : Isab. Sir, make me not your story.t I would not-though 'tis my familiar sin Isab. You do blaspheme the good, in mock- Lucio. Do not believe it. Fewness and truth, Your brother and his lover have embrac'd: To teeming foison;* even so her plenteous womb Lucio. Is she your cousin? Isab. Adoptedly; as school-maids change By vain though apt affection. Isab. O, let him marry her! The duke is very strangely gone from hence; Isab. Alas! what poor ability's in me Lucio. Assay the power you have. And make us lose the good we oft might win, Isab. I will about it straight; ACT II. [Exeunt. (Whom I believe to be most strait in virtue,) That, in the working of your own affections, Had time coher'd* with place, or place with wishing, Or that the resolute acting of your blood Could have attain'd the effect of your own purpose, Whether you had not sometime in your life Err'd in this point which now you censure him, And pull'd the law upon you. Ang. 'Tis one thing to be tempted, Escalus, Another thing to fall. I not deny, The jury, passing on the prisoner's life, May in the sworn twelve, have a thief or two Guiltier than him they try: What's open made to justice, That justice seizes. What know the law s, That thieves do passt on thieves? "Tis very pregnant,‡ The jewel that we find, we stoop and take it, Prov. Here, if it like your honour. Be executed by nine to-morrow morning: [Exit PROVOST. Escal. Well, heaven forgive him; and forgive us all! Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall: Some run from brakes of vice, and answer none; And some condemned for a fault alone. Enter ELBOW, FROTH, CLOWN, Officers, &c. Elb. Come, bring them away: if these be good people in a common-weal,** that do nothing but use their abuses in common houses, I know no law; bring them away. Ang. How now, Sir! What's your name? and what's the matter? Elb. If it please your honour, I am the poor duke's constable, and my name is Elbow; I do lean upon justice, Sir, and do bring in here before your good honour two notorious benefactors. Ang. Benefactors? Well; what benefactors are they are they not malefactors? Elb. If it please your honour, I know not well what they are: but precise villains they are, that I am sure of; and void of all profanation in the world, that good Christians ought to have. Escal, This comes off well ;tt here's a wise officer. Escal. How know you that? Elb. My wife, Sir, whom I detest* before heaven and your honour, Escal. How! thy wife? Elb. Ay, Sir; whom, I thank heaven, is an honest woman, Escal. Dost thou detest her therefore? Elb. I say, Sir, I will detest myself also, as well as she, that this house, if it be not a bawd's house, it is pity of her life, for it is a naughty house. Escal. How dost thou know that, constable? Elb. Marry, Sir, by my wife; who, if she had been a woman cardinally given, might have been accused in fornication, adultery, and all uncleanliness there. Escal. By the woman's means? Elb. Ay, Sir, by mistress Over-done's means: but as she spit in his face, so she defied him. Clo. Sir, if it please your honour, this is not Clo. No, indeed, Sir, not of a pin; you are therein in the right: but to the point; As I say, this mistress Elbow, being, as I say, with child, and being great belly'd, and longing, as I said, for prunes; and having but two in the dish, as I said, master Froth here, this very man, hav ing eaten the rest, as I said, and, as I say, paying for them very honestly,-for, as you know, master Froth, I cou'd not give you threepence again. Froth. No, indeed. Clo. Very well: you being then, if you be remember'd, cracking the stones of the foresaid prunes. Froth. Ay, so I did, indeed. Clo. Why, very well: I, telling you then, if you be remember'd, that such a one, and such a one, were past cure of the thing you wot of, unless they kept very good diet, as I told you. Froth. All this is true. Clo. Why, very well then. Escal. Come, you are a tedious fool: to the that he hath cause to complain of? Come me to purpose. What was done to Elbow's wife, what was done to her. Clo. Sir, your honour cannot come to that yet. Escal. No, Sir, nor I mean it not. Clo. Sir, but you shall come to it, by your Ang. Go to: What quality are they of? El-master Froth here, Sir; a man of fourscore honour's leave: And, I beseech you, look into bow is your name? Why dost thou not speak, Elbow? pound a year; whose father died at Hallowmas:-Was't not at Hallowmas master Froth? Froth. All-hollondt eve. He, Sir, sitting, as I say, in a lower‡ chair, Clo. Why, very well; I hope here be truths: Sir;-'twas in the Bunch of Grapes, where, indeed, you have a delight to sit : Have you not? Froth. I have so; because it is an open room, and good for winter. Clo. Why, very well then ;-I hope here be truths. * For protests ↑ Eve of All Saints day. Easy. Ang. This will last out a night, in Russia, When nights are longest there: I'll take my leave, And leave you to the hearing of the cause : Hoping, you'll find good cause to whip them all. Escal. I think no less: Good morrow to your lordship. [Exit ANGELO. Now, Sir, come on: What was done to Elbow's wife, once more? Clo. Once, Sir? there was nothing done to her once. Elb. I beseech you, Sir, ask him what this man did to my wife. Clo. I beseech your honour, ask me. to her? Clo. I beseech you, Sir, look in this gentleman's face: Good master Froth, look upon his honour; 'tis for a good purpose: Doth your honour mark his face? Escal. Ay, Sir, very well. Clo. Nay, I beseech you, mark it well. Clo. Doth your honour, see any harm in his face? Escal. Why, no. Clo. I'll be supposed* upon a book, his face is the worst thing about him: Good then; if his face be the worst thing about him, how could master Froth do the constable's wife any harm? I would know that of your honour. Escal. He's in the right: Constable, what say you to it? Elb. First, and it like you, the house is a respected house; next, this is a respected fellow; and his mistress is a respected woman. Clo. By this hand, Sir, his wife is a more respected person than any of us all. Elb. Varlet, thou liest; thou liest, wicked varlet: the time is yet to come, that she was ever respected with man, woman, or child. Clo. Sir, she was respected with him before he married with her. Escal. Which is the wiser here? Justice, or Iniquity? Is this true? Elb. O thou caitiff! O thou varlet! O thou wicked Hannibal ! I respected with her, before I was married to her? If ever I was respected with her, or she with me, let not your worship think me the poor duke's officer:Prove this, thou wicked Hannibal, or I'll have mine action of battery on thee. : Escal. If he took you a box o'ear, you might have your action of slander too. Elb. Marry, I thank your good worship for it: What is't your worship's pleasure I should do with this wicked caitiff? Escal. Truly, officer, because he hath some offences in him, that thou wouldst discover if thou couldst, let him continue in his courses, till thou know'st what they are. Elb. Marry, I thank your worship for it :Thou seest, thou wicked varlet now, what's come upon thee; thou art to continue now, thou varlet; thou art to continue. Escal. Where were you born, friend? [TO FROTH. Froth. Here in Vienna, Sir. Escal. Are you of fourscore pounds a year? Froth. Yes, and't please you, Sir. Escal. So. What trade are you of, Sir? [To the CLOWN. Clo. A tapster; a poor widow's tapster. Escal. Your mistress's name? Clo. Mistress Over-done. *Deposed, sworn. † Constable or clown. For cannibal. Escal. Hath she had any more than one hus band. Froth. Clo. Nine, Sir; Over-done by the last. Escal. Nine!-Come hither to me, master Master Froth, I would not have you acquainted with tapsters; they will draw you, master Froth, and you will hang them: Get you gone, and let me hear no more of you. Froth. I thank your worship: For my own part, I never come into any room in a taphouse, but I am drawn in. Escal. Well; no more of it, master Froth: farewell. [Exit FROTH.]-Come you hither to me, master tapster; what's your name, mas, ter tapster? Clo. Pompey. Escal. What else? Clo. Bum, Sir. Escal. "Troth, and your bum is the greatest thing about you; so that, in the beastliest sense, you are Pompey the great. Pompey, you are partly a bawd, Pompey, howsoever you colour it in being a tapster. Are you not?"come, tell me true; it shall be the better for you. Clo. Truly, Sir, I am a poor fellow, that would live. Escal. How would you live Pompey? by being a bawd? What do you think of the trade, Pompey? is it a lawful trade? Clo. If the law would allow it, Sir. Escal. But the law will not allow it, Pompey; nor it shall not be allowed in Vienna. Clo. Does your worship mean to geld and spay all the youth in the city? Escal. No, Pompey. Clo. Truly, Sir, in my poor opinion, they will to't then: If your worship will take order* for the drabs and the knaves, you need not to fear the bawds. Escal. There are pretty orders beginning, I can tell you: It is but heading and hanging. Clo. If you head and hang all that offend that way but fer ten year together, you'll be glad to give out a commission for more heads. If this law hold in Vienna ten year, I'll rent the fairest house in it, after threepence a bay: If you live to see this come to pass, say, Pompey told you so. Escal. Thank you, good Pompey: and, in requital of your prophecy, hark you,-I advise you, let me not find you before me again upon any complaint whatsoever, no, not for dwelling where you do; if I do, Pompey, I shall beat you to your tent, and prove a shrewd Cæsar to you; in plain dealing, Pompey, I shall have you whipt: so, for this time, Pompey, fare you Ang. Now, what's the matter, provost ? Prov. Is it your will Claudio shall die tomorrow? Ang. Did I not tell thee, yea? hadst thou not Why dost thou ask again? [order? Prov. Lest I might be too rash: Ang. Go to; let that be mine: Do you your office, or give up your place, Prov. I crave your honour's pardon.What shall be done, Sir, with the groaning She's very near her hour. Ang. Dispose of her [Juliet? To some more fitter place; and that with speed. Re-enter SERVANT. Serv. Here is the sister of the man condemn'd, Desires access to you. Ang. Hath he a sister? Kneel down before him, hang upon his gown; Isab. Must he needs die? him, [it: Isab. Yes; I do think that you might pardon [mercy. And neither heaven, nor man, grieve at the Ang. I will not do't. Isab. But can you, if you would? Ang. Look, what I will not, that I cannot do. Isab. But might you do't, and do the world no wrong, If so your heart were touch'd with that remorse* As mine is to him? Ang. He's sentenc'd; 'tis too late. Lucio. You are too cold. [TO ISABELLA. Isab. Too late? why, no; I, that do speak a word, May call it back again: Well believe + this; Isab. I would to heaven I had your potency, And you were Isabel! should it then be thus? No; I would tell what 'twere to be a judge, And what a prisoner. Lucio. Ay, touch him: there's the vein. [Aside. Ang. Your brother is a forfeit of the law, And you but waste your words. Isab. Alas! alas! Why, all the souls that were, were forfeit once; Prov. Ay, my good lord; a very virtuous maid, Found out the remedy: How would you be, And to be shortly of a sisterhood, If not already. Ang. Well, let her be admitted. [Exit. SERV. See you, the fornicatress be remov❜d; Let her have needful, but not lavish, means; There shall be order for it. Enter LUCIO and ISABELLA. Prov. Save your honour! [Offering to retire. Ang. Stay a little while.-[To ISAB.] You are welcome: What's your will? Isab. I am a woful suitor to your honour, Please but your honour hear me. Ang. Well; what's your suit? Isab. There is a vice, that most I do abhor. And most desire should meet the blow of justice; For which I would not plead, but that I must; For which I must not plead, but that I am At war, 'twixt will, and will not. Ang. Well; the matter? If He, which is the top of judgement, should But judge you as you are? O, think on that; And mercy then will breathe within your lips, Like man new made. Ang. Be you content, fair maid; It is the law, not I, condemns your brother: Lucio. Ay, well said. Ang. The law hath not been dead, though it Those many had not dar'd to do that evil, Isab. Yet show some pity. Ang. I show it most of all, when I show justice; For then I pity those I do not know, Lives not to act another. Be satisfied; Isab. So you must be the first, that gives this sentence; And he, that suffers: O, it is excellent Lucio. That's well said. Isab. Could great men thunder As Jove himself does,Jove would ne'er be quiet, Thou rather, with thy sharp and sulphurous bolt, Split'st the unwedgeable and gnarledt oak, ourself: Lucio. O, to him, to him, wench: he will re- Lucio. Art advis'd o' that? more on't. Hath yet a kind of medicine in itself, That skins the vice o' the top: Go to your Knock there; and ask your heart, what it doth Let it not sound a thought upon your tongue Ang. She speaks, and 'tis Such sense, that my sense breeds with it.- Isab. Gentle my lord, turn back. Lucio. You had marr'd all, else. Isab. Not with fond shekels of the tested* gold, Or stones, whose rates are either rich, or poor, As fancy values them: but with true prayers, That shall be up at heaven, and enter there, Ere sunrise; prayers from preservedt souls, From fasting maids, whose minds are dedicate To nothing temporal. Ang. Well come to me To-morrow. Lucio. Go to; it is well; away. [Aside to ISABELLA. Isab. Heaven keep your honour safe! Ang. Amen for I Am that way going to temptation, Isab. At what hour to-morrow [Aside. [Exeunt Lucio, ISABELLA, and PROVOST. Ang. From thee; even from thy virtue !— What's this? what's this? Is this her fault, or mine? [Ha! Shall we desire to raze the sanctuary, That I desire to hear her speak again, SCENE III-A Room in a Prison. Enter DUKE, habited like a Friar, and PROVOST Duke. Hail to you, provost! so, I think you are. Prov. I am the provost: What's your will, good friar? Duke. Bound by my charity, and my bless'd I come to visit the afflicted spirits [order, Here in the prison: do me the common right To let me see them; and to make me know The nature of their crimes, that I may minister To them accordingly. Prov. I would do more than that, if more were needful. |