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Duke.
It is no other.
Show your wisdom, daughter, in your close patience.
Isab. O, I will to him, and pluck out his eyes.
Duke, You shall not he admitted to his sight.
Isab. Unhappy Claudio! Wretched Isabel!
Injurious world! Most damned Angelo!

Duke. This nor hurts him, nor protits you a jot:
Forbear it therefore ; give your cause to heaven.
Mark what I say; which you shall find,
By every syllable, a faithful verity;

[eyes;

The duke comes home to-morrow ;-nay, dry your
One of our convent, and his confessor,
Gives me this instance: Already he hath carried
Notice to Escalus and Angelo;

Who do prepare to meet him at the gates,
There to give up their power. If you can, pace your
In that good path that I would wish it go; [wisdom
And you shall have your bosom on this wretch,
Grace of the duke, revenges to your heart,
And general honour.

Isab.

I am directed by you.

Duke. This letter then to friar Peter give; "Tis that he sent me of the duke's return: Say, by this token, I desire his company

At Mariana's house to-night. Rer cause, and yours,
I'll perfect him withal; and he shall bring you
Before the duke; and to the head of Angelo
Accuse him home, and home. For my poor self,
I am combined by a sacred vow,

And shall be absent. Wend you with this letter:
Command these fretting waters from your eyes
With a light heart; trust not my holy order,
If I pervert your course.-Who's here ?

Lucio.

Enter Lucio.

This deed unshapes me quite, makes me unpregnant,
Aud duil to all proceedings. A deflower'd maid!
And by an eminent body, that enforc'd
The law against it !-But that her tender shame
Will not proclaim against her maiden loss,
How might she tongue me? Yet reason dares her?-
For my authority bears a credent bulk,
[no :
That no particular scandal once can touch,
But it confounds the breather. He should have liv'd,
Save that his riotous youth, with dangerous sense,
Might, in the times to come have ta'en revenge,
By so receiving a dishonour'd life,

With ransom of such shame. 'Would yet he had
Alack, when once our grace we have forgot, [liv'd!
Nothing goes right; we would, and we would not.
[Exit.

SCENE V. Fields without the Town.
Enter Duke in his own Habit, and Friar Peter.
Duke. These letters at fit time deliver me.

[Giving Letters.
The provost knows our purpose, and our plot.
The matter being afoot, keep your instruction,
And hold you ever to our special drift;
Though sometimes you do blench from this to that,,
As cause doth minister. Go, call at Flavius' house,
And tell him where I stay; give the like notice
To Valentinus, Rowland, and to Crassus,
And bid them bring the trumpets to the gate;
But send me Flavius first.
F. Peter.

It shall be speeded well. (Exit.

Enter Varrius.

Duke. I thank thee, Varrius; thou hast made good

haste:

Come, we will walk There's other of our friends
Will greet us here anon, my gentle Varrius. [Exeunt.
SCENE VI. Street near the City Gate.
Enter Isabella and Mariana.

Good even!
Friar, where is the provost?
Duke.
Not within, sir.
Lucio. O, pretty Isabella, I am pale at mine heart,
to see thine eyes so red: thou must be patient: I am
fain to dine and sup with water and bran; I dare not
for my head fill my belly; one fruitful meal would I would say the truth; but to accuse him so,
Isab. To speak so indirectly, I am loath;
set me to't: Bat they say the duke will be here to-That is your part: yet I am advis'd to do it;
morrow. By my troth, Isabel, I lov'd thy brother: He says, to veil full purpose.
if the old fantastical duke of dark corners had been
at home, he had lived.
[Exit Isabella,

Duke. Sir, the duke is marvellous little beholden to your reports; but the best is he lives not in them. Lucio. Friar, thou knowest not the duke so well as I do he's a better woodman than thou takest him for. Duke. Well, you'll answer this one day. Fare ye well.

Lucio. Nay, tarry; I'll go along with thee; I can tell thee pretty tales of the duke.

Duke. You have told me too many of them already, sir, if they be true; if not true, none were enough, Lucio. I was once before him for getting a wench

with child.

Duke. Did you such a thing?

Lucic. Yes, marry, did I: but was fain to forswear it; they would else have married me to the rotten medlar.

Duke. Sir, your company is fairer than honest: Rest you well.

Lucio. By my troth, I'll go with thee to the lane's
end: If bawdy talk offend you, we'll have very little
of it: Nay, friar, I am a kind of bur, I shall stick.
[Exeunt.

SCENE IV. A Room in Angelo's House.
Enter Angelo and Escalus,
Escal. Every letter he hath writ hath disvouch'd
other.

Ang. In most uneven and distracted manner. His actions show much like to madness: pray heaven, his wisdom be not tainted! And why meet him at the gates, and re-deliver our authorities there!

Escal, I guess not.

Ang. And why should we proclaim it in an hour before his entering, that, if any crave redress of injustice, they should exhibit their petitions in the street? Escal. He shows his reason for that: to have a despatch of complaints; and to deliver us from devices hereafter, which shall then have no power to stand against us.

Ang. Well, I beseech you, let it be proclaim'd:
Betimes i'the morn, I'll call you at your house :
Give notice to such men of sort and suit,
As are to meet him.
Escal.
I shall, sir: fare you well, [Exit.
Ang. Good night.-

Mari.

Be rul'd by him.
He speak against me on the adverse side,
Isab. Besides, he tells me, that, if peradventure
I should not think it strange: for 'tis a physic,
That's bitter to sweet end.

Mari. I would, friar Peter-
Isab.

O, peace; the friar is come.
Enter Friar Peter.

F. Peter. Come, I have found you out a stand most fit,
Where you may have such vantage ou the duke,
He shall not pass you: Twice have the trumpets
The generous and gravest citizens [sounded,

Have bent the gates, and very near upon
The duke is ent'ring; therefore hence, away. [Exeunt.

ACT V.

SCENE 1. A public Place near the City Gate.
Mariana (veiled), Isabella, and Peter, at a distance.
Enter, at opposite Doors, Duke, Varrius, Lords,
Angelo, Escalus, Lucio, Provost, Officers, and
Citizens.

Duke. My very worthy cousin, fairly met:-
Our old and faithful friend, we are glad to see you.
Ang. and Escal. Happy return be to your royal

grace!

Duke. Many and hearty thankings to you both.
We have made inquiry of you; and we hear
Cannot but yield you forth to public thanks,
Such goodness of your justice, that our soul
Forerunning more requital.

Ang.
You make my bonds still greater.
To lock it in the wards of covert bosom, [wrong it,
Duke. O, your desert speaks loud; and I should
When it deserves with characters of brass
A forted residence, 'gainst the tooth of time,
And razure of oblivion: Give me your hand,
That outward courtesies would fain proclaim
And let the subject see, to make them know
Favours that keep within.-Come, Escalus;
You must walk by us on our other hand;-
And good supporters are you.

Peter and Isabella come forward.
F. Peter. Now is your time; speak loud, and
kneel before him.

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Here is lord Angelo shall give you justice;
Reveal yourself to him.

Isab.
O, worthy duke,
You bid me seek redemption of the devil:
Hear me yourself; for that which I must speak
Must either punish me, not being believ'd, [here.
Or wring redress from you hear me, O, hear me,
Ang. My lord, her wits, I fear me, are not firm:
She hath been a suitor to me for her brother,
Cut off by course of justice.
Isab.
By course of justice!
Ang. And she will speak most bitterly, and strange.
Isab. Most strange, but yet most truly, will I speak:
That Angelo's forsworn; is it not strange!
That Angelo's a murderer; is't not strange ?
That Angelo is an adulterous thief,
An hypocrite, a virgin-violator;
Is it not strange, and strange?
Duke.

I now begin with grief and shame to utter:
He would not, but by gift of my chaste body
To his concupiscible intemperate lust,
Release my brother; and, after much debatement,
My sisterly remorse confutes mine honour,

And I did yield to him: But the next morn betimes,
His purpose surfeiting, he sends a warrant
For my poor brother's head.

This is most likely!

Duke.
Isab. O, that it were as like, as it is true!
Duke. By heaven, fond wretch, thou know'st not
what thou speak'st;

Or else thou art suborn'd against his honour,
In hateful practice: First, his integrity
Stands without blemish :-next, it imports no reason,
That with such vehemency he should pursue
Faults proper to himself: if he had so offended,
He would have weigh'd thy brother by himself,
And not have out him off: Some one hath set you on :
Confess the truth, and say by whose advice
Thou cam'st here to complain.

Isab.
And is this all?
Then, oh, you blessed ministers above,
Keep me in patience; and, with ripen'd time,
Unfold the evil which is here wrapt up

In countenance !-Heaven shield your grace from woe,

Nay, ten times strange. As I, thus wrong'd, hence unbelieved go!

Isab. It is not truer he is Angelo,
Than this is all as true as it is strange:
Nay, it is ten times true; for truth is truth
To the end of reckoning.
Duke.
Away with her :-Poor soul,
She speaks this in the infirmity of sense.
Isab. O prince, I conjure thee, as thou believ'st
There is another comfort than this world,
That thou neglect me not, with that opinion
That I am touch'd with madness: make not impossible
That which but seems unlike: 'tis not impossible
But one, the wicked'st caitiff on the ground,
May seem as shy, as grave, as just, as absolute,
As Angelo; even so may Angelo,

In all his dressings, characts, titles, forms,
Be an arch-villain: believe it, royal prince,
If he be less, he's nothing; but he's more,
Had I more name for badness.

Duke.

By mine honesty,
If she be mad (as I believe no other),
Her madness hath the oddest frame of sense,
Such a dependency of thing on thing,
As e'er I heard in madness.

Isab.
O, gracious duke,
Harp not on that; nor do not banish reason
For inequality: but let your reason serve
To make the truth appear, where it seems hid;
And hide the false, seems true.

[say?

Duke.
Many that are not mad,
Have, sure, more lack of reason.-What would you
Isab. I am the sister of one Claudio,
Condemn'd upon the act of fornication
To lose his head; condemn'd by Angelo;

I, in probation of a sisterhood,

Was sent to by my brother: One Lucio

;

Duke. I know, you'd fain be gone:-An officer !
To prison with her :-Shall we thus permit
A blasting and a scandalous breath to fall
On him so near us? This needs must be a practice.
Who knew of your intent, and coming hither?
Isab. One that I would were here, friar Lodowick.
Duke. A ghostly father, belike:-Who knows that
Lodowick?

Lucio. My lord, I know him; 'tis a meddling friar;
I do not like the man; had he been lay, my lord,
For certain words he spake against your grace
In your retirement, I had swing'd him soundly.
Duke. Words against me? This' a good fríar, be-
And to set on this wretched woman here
Against our substitute! Let this friar be found.
Lucio. But yesternight, my lord, she and that friar
I saw them at the prison: a saucy friar,

A very scurvy fellow.

F. Peter.

[like !

Blessed be your royal grace!
I have stood by, my lord, and I have heard
Your royal ear abus'd: First, hath this woman
Most wrongfully accus'd your substitute:
Who is as free from touch or soil with her,
As she from one ungot.

Duke.
We did believe no less.
Know you that friar Lodowick, that she speaks of?
F. Peter. I know him for a man divine and holy!
Not scurvy, nor a temporary meddler,
As he's reported by this gentleman;
And, on my trust, a man that never yet
Did, as he vouches, misreport your grace.

Lucio. My lord, most villanously; believe it.
F. Peter. Well, he time may come to clear him-
But at this instant he is sick, my lord,

[self;

Of a strange fever; Upon his mere request
(Being come to knowledge that there was complaint

As then the messengerhat's I, an't like your grace: Intended 'gainst lord Angelo), came I hither,

Lucio.

I came to her from Claudio, and desir'd her

To try her gracious fortune with lord Angelo,
Fer her poor brother's pardon.
Isab.

That's he indeed.
Duke. You were not bid to speak.
Lucio.

Nor wish'd to hold my peace.

Duke.

No, my good lord;

I wish you now then;
Pray you, take note of it: and when you have
A business for yourself, pray heaven, you then
Be perfect.

Lucio. I warrant your honour.

Duke. The warrant's for yourself; take heed to it.
Isab. This gentleman told somewhat of my tale.
Lucio. Right.

Duke. It may be right; but you are in the wrong
To speak before your time.-Proceed.
Isab.
I went

To this pernicious caitiff deputy.
Duke. That's somewhat madly spoken.
Isab.

The phrase is to the matter.

Pardon it;

Duke. Mended again: the matter:-proceed.
Isab. In brief,-to set the needless process by,
How I persuaded, how I pray'd, and kneel'd,
How he refell'd me, and how I reply'd;
(For this was of much length), the vile conclusion

To speak, as from his mouth, what he doth know
Is true, and false; and what he with his oath,
And all probation, will make up full clear,

Whensoever he's convented. First, for this woman;
(To justify this worthy nobleman,

So vulgarly and personally accus'd),

Her shall you hear disproved to her eyes,
Till she herself confess it.

Duke.

Good friar, let's hear it. [Isabella is carried off, guarded: and Mariana comes forward.

Do you not smile as this, lord Angelo?
O heaven! the vanity of wretched fools!
Give us some seats.-Come, cousin Angelo;
In this I'll be impartial; be you judge
Of your own canse.-Is this the witness, friar?
First, let her show her face; and, after, speak.
Mari. Pardon, my lord; I will not show my face,
Until my husband bid me.
Duke.

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Lucio. My lord, she may be a punk; for many of them are neither maid, widow, nor wife.

Duke. Silence that fellow: I would, he had some
To prattle for himself.
[cause
Mari. My lord, I do confess I ne'er was married;
And I confess, besides, I am no maid:

Lucio. Well, my lord.

I have known my husband: yet my husband knows
That ever he knew me.

[not, Lucio. He was drunk then, my lord; it can be no better.

Duke. For the benefit of silence, 'would thou wert

so too.

Lucio. Well, my lord.

Duke. This is no witness for lord Angelo.
Mari. Now I come to't, my lord:

She, that accuses him of fornication,

In self-same manner doth accuse my husband;
And charges him, my lord, with such a time,
When I'll depose I had him in mine arms,.
With all the effect of love.

Ang.

Charges she more than me?

Mari. Not that I know.
Duke.
No you say, your husband.
Mari. Why, just, my lord, and that is Angelo,
Who thinks, he knows, that he ne'er knew my body,
But knows, he thinks, that he knows Isabel's.
Ang. This is a strange abuse :-Let's see thy face.
Mari. My husband bids me; Now I will unmask.
[Unveiling.

This is that face, thou cruel Angelo,
Which, once thou swor'st, was worth the looking on :"
This is the hand, which, with a vow'd contract,
Was fast belock'd in thine: this is the body
That took away the match from Isabel,

And did supply thee at thy garden-house,
In her imagin'd person.

Duke.

Know you this woman?

Lucio. Carnally, she says.
Duke.

Sirrah, no more.

Lucio. Enough, my lord.
Ang. My lord, I must confess, I know this woman;
And, five years since, there was some speech of marri-
Betwixt myself and her; which was broke off, [age
Partly, for that her promised proportions
Came short of composition; but, in chief,
For that her reputation was disvalued
In levity since which time of five years,

I never spake with her, saw her, nor heard from her,
Upon my faith and honour.

Mari.

Noble prince,

As there comes light from heaven, and words from
breath,

As there is sense in truth, and truth in virtue,
I am afhane'd this man's wife, as strongly

As words could make up vows: and, my good lord,
But Tuesday night last gone, in his garden-house,
He knew me as a wife: As this is true,

Let me in safety raise me from my knees;
Or else for ever be confixed here,
A marble monument!

Ang.

I did but smile till now;
Now, good my lord, give me the scope of justice;
My patience here is touch'd: I do perceive,
These poor informal women are no more
But instruments of some more mightier member,
That sets them on: Let me have way, my lord,
To find this practice out.
Duke.
Ay, with my heart;
And punish them unto your height of pleasure.-
Thou foolish friar; and thou pernicious woman,
Compact with her that's gone! think 'st thou, thy oaths,"
Though they would swear down each particular saint,
Were testimonies against his worth and credit,
That's seal'd in approbation?-You, lord Escalus,
Sit with my consin; lend him your kind pains
To find out this abuse, whence 'tis derived.-
There is another friar that set them on;
Let him be sent for.

[indeed,

F. Peter. Would he were here, my lord; for he,
Hath set the women on to this complaint:
Your provost knows the place where he abides,
And he may fetch him.

Duke. Go, do it instantly.

[Exit Provost.

And you, my noble and well-warranted cousin,
Whom it concerns to hear this matter forth,
Do with your injuries as seems you best,

In any chastisement: I for awhile

Will leave you; but stir not you, till you have well
Determined upon these slanderers.

Escal. My lord, we'll do it thoroughly.-[ Exit Duke.]

Signior Lucio, did not you say, you knew that friar
Lodowick to be a dishonest person?

Lucio. Cucullus non facit monachum: honest in nothing, but in his clothes; and one that hath spoke. most villanous speeches of the duke.

Escal. We shall entreat you to abide here till he come, and enforce them against him: we shall find this friar a notable fellow.

Lucio. As any in Vienna, on my word.

Escal. Call that same Isabel here once again; [To an Attendant] I would speak with her: Pray you, my lord, give me leave to question; you shall see how I'll handle her.

Lucio. Not better than he, by her own report.
Escal. Say you?

Lucio. Marry, sir, I think if you handled her privately, she would sooner confess; perchance, publicly she'll be ashamed.

Re-enter Officers, with Isabella; the Duke, in the
Friar's Habit, and Provost.

Escal. I will go darkly to work with her.

Lucio. That's the way; for women are light at midnight.

Escal. Come on, mistress: [To Isabella] here's a gentlewoman denies all that you have said.

Lucio. My lord, here comes the rascal I spoke of; here, with the provost.

Escal. In very good time: speak not you to him, till we call upon you. Lucio. Mum.

Escal. Come, sir: Did you set these women on to slander lord Angelo? they have confess'd you did. Duke. 'Tis false.

Escal. How I know you where you are?

Duke. Respect to your great place! and let the devil
Be sometime honour'd for his burning throne :-
Where is the duke? 'tis he should hear me speak.
Escal. The duke's in us; and we will hear you speak:
Look, you speak justly.

Duke. Boldly, at least:-But, O, poor souls,
Come you to seek the lamb here of the fox?
Good night to your redress. Is the duke gone?
Then is your cause gone too.
The duke's unjust,
Thus to retort your manifest appeal,
And put your trial in the villain's mouth,
Which here you come to accuse.

Lucio. This is the rascal; this is he I spoke of.
Escal. Why, thou unreverend and unhallow'd friar!
Is't not enough, thou hast suborn'd these women
To accuse this worthy man; but, in foul mouth,
And in the witness of his proper ear,
To call him villain?

And then to glance from him to the duke himself;
To tax him with injustice-Take him hence;
To the rack with him :-We'll touze you joint by joint,
But we will know this purpose:-What! unjust!
Duke. Be not so hot the duke

Dare no more stretch this finger of mine, than he
Dare rack his own; his subject am I not,
Nor here provincial: My business in this state
Made me a looker-on here in Vienna,
Where I have seen corruption boil and bubble,
Till it o'er-run the stew laws, for all faults;
But faults so countenane'd, that the strong statutes
Stand like the forfeits in a barber's shop,
As much in mock as mark.

Escal, Slander to the state! Away with him to prison.

Ang. What can you vouch against him, signior Lucio? Is this the man that you did tell us of?

Lucio. 'Tis he, my lord. Come hither, goodman bald-pate: Do you know me!

Duke. I remember you, sir, by the sound of your voice I met you at the prison, in the absence of the duke.

Lucio. O, did you so? And do you remember what you said of the duke?

Duke. Most notedly, sir.

Lucio. Do you so, sir? And was the duke a fleshmonger, a fool, and a coward, as you then reported him to be?

Duke. You must, sir, change persons with me, ere you make that my report: you, indeed, spoke so of him; and much more, much worse.

Lucio. O thou damnable fellow! Did not I pluck thee by the nose, for thy speeches ?

Duke. I protest I love the duke, as I love myself. Ang. Hark! how the villain would close now, after his treasonable abuses.

Escal. Such a fellow is not to be talk'd withal:

Away with him to prison:-Where is the provost? Away with him to prison; lay bolts enough upon him; let him speak no more. Away with those giglots too, and with the other confederate companion.

[The Provost lays Hands on the Duke. Duke. Stay, sir; stay a while.

Ang. What! resists he? Help him, Lucio. Lucio. Come, sir; come, sir; come, sir: foh, sir; Why, you bald-pated, lying rascal! you must be hooded, must you? Show your knave's visage, with a pox to you! show your sheep-biting face, and be hang'd an hour! Will't not off?

[Pulls off the Friar's Hood, and discovers the Duke.

Duke. Thou art the first knave, that e'er made a duke.

First, provost, let me bail these gentle three:
Sneak not away, si. ; [To Lucio] for the friar and you
Must have a word anon :-lay hold on him.
Lucio. This may prove worse than hanging..
Duke. What you have spoke, I pardon; sit you
down.
[To Escalus.
We'll borrow place of him :-Sir, by your leave:
[To Angelo.

Hast thou or word, or wit, or impudence,
That yet can do thee office? If thou hast,
Rely upon it till my tale be heard,
And hold no longer out.

Ang.

O my dread lord,

I should be guiltier than my guiltiness,
To think I can be undiscernible,
When I perceive, your grace, like power divine,
Hath look'd upon my passes: Then, good prince,
No longer session hold upon my shame,
But let my trial be mine own confession;
Immediate sentence then, and sequent death,
Is all the grace I beg.

Duke.

Come hither, Mariana :-Say, wast thou e'er contracted to this woman! Ang. I was, my lord.

Duke. Go, take her hence, and marry her instantly.--Do you the office, friar; which consummate, Return him here again:-Go with him, Provost.

[Exeunt Angelo, Mariana, Peter, and Provost. Escal. My lord, I am more amaz'd at his dishonour, Than at the strangeness of it.

Duke. Come hither, Isabel : Your friar is now your prince: As I was then Advertising, and holy to your business, Not changing heart with habit, I am still Attorney'd at your service.

Isab.

O, give me pardon,
That I, your vassal, have employ'd and pain'd
Your unknown sovereignty.
Duke.

You are pardon'd, Isabel:
And now, dear maid, be you as free to us.
Your brother's death, I know, sits at your heart;
And you may marvel, why I obscur'd myself,
Labouring to save his life; and would not rather
Make rash remonstrance of my hidden power,
Than let him so be lost: O, most kind maid,
It was the swift celerity of his death,
Which I did think with slower foot came on,
That brain'd my purpose: But, peace be with him!
That life is better life, past fearing death,
Than that which lives to fear: make it your comfort,
So happy is your brother.

Re-enter Angelo, Mariana, Peter, and Provost.
Isab.
I do, my lord.

Duke. For this new-married man, approaching here,
Whose salt imagination yet hath wrong'd
Your well-defended honour, you must pardon
For Mariana's sake: but as he adjudg'd your brother
(Being criminal, in double violation

Of sacred chastity, and of promise-breach,
Thereon dependent, for your brother's life),
The very mercy of the law cries out

Most audible, even from his proper tongue,
An Angelo for Claudio, death for death.
Haste still pays haste, and leisure answers leisure;
Like doth quit like, and Measure still for Measure.
Then, Angelo, thy fault's thus manifested:
Which though thou wouldst deny, denies thee vantage:
We do condemn thee to the very block
Where Claudio stoop'd to death, and with like haste;-
Away with him.
Mari.

O, my most gracious lord,
I hope you will not mock me with a husband!
Duke. It is your husband mock'd you with a hus-
Consenting to the safeguard of your honour, [band:

I thought your marriage fit; else imputation,
For that he knew you, might reproach your life,
And choke your good to come: for his possessions,
Although by confiscation they are ours,
We do instate and widow you withal,
To buy you a better husband.
Mari.

Duke.

O, my dear lord,

crave no other, nor no better man. Duke. Never crave him; we are definitive. Mari. Gentle, my liege, [Kneeling. You do but lose your labour: Away with him to death.-Now, sir, [To Lucio] to yon. Mari. O, my good lord!-Sweet Isabel, take my part: Lend me your knees, and all my life to come I'll lend you, all my life to do you service. Duke. Against all sense you do importane her: Should she kneel down, in mercy of this fact, Her brother's ghost his paved bed would break, And take her hence in horror. Mari. Isabel, Sweet Isabel, do yet but kneel by me; Hold up your hands, say nothing, I'll speak all. They say, best men are moulded out of faults; And, for the most, become much more the better For being a little bad: so may my husband. O, Isabel will you not lend a knee? Duke. He dies for Claudio's death! Isab.

Most bounteous sir, [Kneeling..

Look, if it please you, on this man condemn'd,
As if my brother liv'd: I partly think,

A due sincerity govern'd his deeds,

Till he did look on me; since it is so,
Let him not die: My brother had but justice,
In that he did the thing for which he died:
For Angelo,

His act did not o'ertake his bad intent;
And must be buried but as an intent
That perish'd by the way: thoughts are no subjects;
Intents but merely thoughts.

Mari.

Merely, my lord. Duke. Your suit's unprofitable; stand up, I say.I have bethought me of another fault: Provost, how came it, Claudio was beheaded At an unusual hour?

Prov.

It was commanded so. Duke. Had you a special warrant for the deed? Prov. No, my good lord; it was by private message. Duke. For which I do discharge you of your office: Give up your keys.

Prov.

Pardon me, noble lord:

I thought it was a fault, but knew it not;
Yet did repent me, after more advice:
For testimony whereof, one in the prison,
That should by private order else have died,
I have reserv'd alive.
Duke.
What's he?
Prov.
His name is Barnardine.
Duke. I would thou had'st done so by Claudio.-
Go, fetch him hither; let me look upon him.
[Exit Provost.

Escal. I am sorry one so learned and so wise
As you, lord Angelo, have still appear'd,
Should slip so grossly, both in the heat of blood,
And lack of temper'd judgment afterward.

Ang. I am sorry, that such sorrow I procure:
And so deep sticks it in my penitent heart,
That I crave death more willingly than mercy :
"Tis my deserving, and I do entreat it.
Re-enter Provost, Barnardine, Claudio, and Juliet.
Duke. Which is that Barnardine ?
Prov.
This, my lord.
Duke. There was a friar told me of this man;-
Sirrah, thou art said to have a stubborn soul,
That apprehends no further than this world,
And squar'st thy life according. Thou'rt condemn'd;
But, for those early faults, I quit them all;
And pray thee, take this mercy to provide
For better times to come :- -Friar, advise him;

I leave him to your hand.-What muffled fellow's that?
Prov. This is another prisoner, that I say 'd,
That should have died when Claudio lost his head;
As like almost to Claudio, as himself.

[Unmuffles Claudio. Duke. If he be like your brother, [To Isabella] for his sake

Is he pardon'd; And, for your lovely sake,
Give me your hand, and say you will be mine,
He is my brother too: But litter time for that.
By this, lord Angelo perceives he's safe:

Methinks, I see a quick'ning in his eye:-
Well, Angelo, your evil quits you well:
Look that you love your wife; her worth, worth
I find an apt remission in myself:
[yours.
And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon;
You, sirrah, [To Lucio] that knew me for a fool, a
coward,

One all of luxury, an ass, a madman;
Wherein have I so deserved of you,
That you extol me thas?

Lucio. 'Faith, my lord, I spoke it but according to
the trick: If you will hang me for it, you may, but I
had rather it would please you, I might be whipp'd.
Duke. Whipp'd first, sir, and hang'd after.-
Proclaim it, provost, round about the city;
If any woman's wrong'd by this lewd fellow
(As I have heard him swear himself, there's one
Whom he begot with child), let her appear,
And he shall marry her: the nuptial finish'd,
Let him be whipp'd and hang'd.

Lucio. I beseech your highness, do not marry me to a whore! Your highness said even now, I made you a duke: good my lord, do not recompense me, in making me a cuckold.

Duke. Upon mine honour, thou shalt marry her.
Thy slanders I forgive and therewithal
Remit thy other forfeits :-Take him to prison.
And see our pleasure herein executed.

Lucio. Marrying a punk, my lord, is pressing to death, whipping, and hanging.

Duke. Sland'ring a prince deserves it.-
She, Claudio, that you wrong'd, look you restore.--
Joy to you, Mariana!-love her, Angelo;
I have confess'd her, and I know her virtue.-
Thanks, good friend Escalus, for thy much goodness:
There's more behind, that is more gratulate.
Thanks, provost, for thy care, and secrecy;
We shall employ thee in a worthier place:-
Forgive him, Angelo, that brought you home
The head of Ragozine for Claudio's;
The offence pardons itself.-Dear Isabel,

have a motion much imports your good;
Whereto if you'll a willing ear incline,
What's mine is your's, and what is your's is mine:-
So, bring us to our palace; where we'll show
What's yet behind, that's meet you all should know,
[Exeunt.

[blocks in formation]

ACT I.

SCENE I. Before Leonato's House.

Enter Leonato, Hero, Beatrice, and others, with a
Messenger.

Leon. I LEARN in this letter, that Don Pedro
Arragon, comes this night to Messina.

of

Mess. He is very near by this; he was not three leagues off when I left him.

Leon. How many gentlemen have you lost in this action?

Mess. But few of any sort, and none of name. Leon. A victory is twice itself, when the achiever brings home full numbers. I find here, that Don Pedro hath bestowed much honour on a young Florentine, called Claudio.

Mess. Much deserved on his part, and equally remembered by Don Pedro: he hath borne himself beyond the promise of his age; doing, in the figure of a lamb, the feats of a lion: he hath, indeed, better bettered expectation, than you must expect of me to tell you how.

Leon. He hath an uncle here in Messina will be very much glad of it.

Mess. I have already delivered him letters, and there appears much joy in him; even so much, that joy could not show itself modest enough, without a badge of bitterness.

Leon. Did he break out into tears?

Mess. In great measure.

Leon. A kind overflow of kindness: There are no faces truer than those that are so washed. How much better is it to weep at joy, than to joy at weeping? Beat. I pray you, is signior Moutanto returned from the wars, or no?

Mess. I know none of that name, lady; there was none such in the army of any sort.

Leon. What is he that you ask for, niece!
Hero. My consin means signior Benedick of Padua.

Mess. O, he is returned; and as pleasant as ever he was.

Beat. He set up his bills here in Messina, and challenged Cupid at the flight and my uncle's fool, reading the challenge, subscribed for Cupid, and challenged him at the bird-bolt.-I pray you, how many hath he killed and eaten in these wars? But how

many hath he killed? for, indeed, I promised to eat all of his killing.

Leon. Faith, niece, you tax signior Benedick too much; but he'll be meet with you, I doubt it not. Mess. He hath done good service, lady, in these

wars.

Beat. You had musty victual, and he hath holp to eat it: he is a very valiant trencher-man, he hath an excellent stomach.

Mess. And a good soldier too, lady.

Beat. And a good soldier to a lady;-But what is he to a lord?

Mess. A lord to a lord, a man to a man; stuffed with all honourable virtues.

Beat. It is so, indeed; he is no less than a stuffed man: but for the stuffing,-Well, we are all mortal.

Leon. You must not, sir, mistake my niece: there is a kind of merry war betwixt signior Benedick and her they never meet, but there is a skirmish of wit between them.

Beat. Alas, he gets nothing by that. In our last conflict, four of his five wits went halting off, and now is the whole man governed with one so that if he have wit enough to keep himself warm, let him bear it for a difference between himself and his horse: for it is all the wealth that he hath left, to be known a reasonabie creature.-Who is his companion now? He bath every month a new sworn brother.

Mess. Is it possible!

Beat. Very easily possible: he wears his faith but as the fashion of his hat, it ever changes with the next block.

Mess. I see, lady, the gentleman is not in your books.

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