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 6 me, and how I reply'd;
(For this was of much length,) the vile conclusion
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.

Duke.

This is most likely!

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 cut 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 64 !-Heaven shield your grace from

woe,

As I, thus wrong'd, hence unbelieved go!

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 medling 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 friar, belike!

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.

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 medler,

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 villainously; believe it.
F. Peter. Well, he in time may come to clear him

self;

But at this instant he is sick, my lord,

Of a strange fever: Upon his mere request,

(Being come to knowledge that there was complaint Intended 'gainst lord Angelo,) came I hither,

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 wo-

man;

(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 at 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 cause.-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.

Are nothing then :-Neither maid, widow, nor wife? 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 somè

cause

To prattle for himself.

Lucio. Well, my lord.

Mari. My lord, I do confess I ne'er was married; And, I confess, besides, I am no maid:

I have known my husband; yet my husband knows

not,

That ever he knew me.

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.

Ang. My lord, I must confess, I know this woman; And, five years since, there was some speech of mar

riage

Betwixt myself and her: which was broke off,

Partly, for that her promised proportions