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diff --git a/2238-0.txt b/2238-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8abab2e --- /dev/null +++ b/2238-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3913 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 2238 *** + + +Executive Director's Notes: + +In addition to the notes below, and so you will *NOT* think all +the spelling errors introduced by the printers of the time have +been corrected, here are the first few lines of Hamlet, as they +are presented herein: + + Barnardo. Who's there? + Fran. Nay answer me: Stand & vnfold +your selfe + + Bar. Long liue the King + + * * * * * + +As I understand it, the printers often ran out of certain words +or letters they had often packed into a "cliche". . .this is the +original meaning of the term cliche. . .and thus, being unwilling +to unpack the cliches, and thus you will see some substitutions +that look very odd. . .such as the exchanges of u for v, v for u, +above. . .and you may wonder why they did it this way, presuming +Shakespeare did not actually write the play in this manner. . . . + +The answer is that they MAY have packed "liue" into a cliche at a +time when they were out of "v"'s. . .possibly having used "vv" in +place of some "w"'s, etc. This was a common practice of the day, +as print was still quite expensive, and they didn't want to spend +more on a wider selection of characters than they had to. + +You will find a lot of these kinds of "errors" in this text, as I +have mentioned in other times and places, many "scholars" have an +extreme attachment to these errors, and many have accorded them a +very high place in the "canon" of Shakespeare. My father read an +assortment of these made available to him by Cambridge University +in England for several months in a glass room constructed for the +purpose. To the best of my knowledge he read ALL those available +. . .in great detail. . .and determined from the various changes, +that Shakespeare most likely did not write in nearly as many of a +variety of errors we credit him for, even though he was in/famous +for signing his name with several different spellings. + +So, please take this into account when reading the comments below +made by our volunteer who prepared this file: you may see errors +that are "not" errors. . . . + +So. . .with this caveat. . .we have NOT changed the canon errors, +here is the Project Gutenberg Etext of Shakespeare's play. + +Michael S. Hart +Project Gutenberg +Executive Director + + * * * * * + +Scanner's Notes: + +What this is and isn't. This was taken from a copy of +Shakespeare's first folio and it is as close as I can come in +ASCII to the printed text. + +The elongated S's have been changed to small s's and the +conjoined ae have been changed to ae. I have left the spelling, +punctuation, capitalization as close as possible to the printed +text. I have corrected some spelling mistakes (I have put +together a spelling dictionary devised from the spellings of +the Geneva Bible and Shakespeare's First Folio and have unified +spellings according to this template), typo's and expanded +abbreviations as I have come across them. Everything within +brackets [] is what I have added. So if you don't like that you +can delete everything within the brackets if you want a purer +Shakespeare. + +Another thing that you should be aware of is that there are +textual differences between various copies of the first folio. So +there may be differences (other than what I have mentioned above) +between this and other first folio editions. This is due to the +printer's habit of setting the type and running off a number of +copies and then proofing the printed copy and correcting the type +and then continuing the printing run. The proof run wasn't thrown +away but incorporated into the printed copies. This is just the +way it is. The text I have used was a composite of more than 30 +different First Folio editions' best pages. + +David Reed + +===================================================================== + + + + +Measvre, For Measure + + +Actus primus, Scena prima. + +Enter Duke, Escalus, Lords. + + Duke. Escalus + + Esc. My Lord + + Duk. Of Gouernment, the properties to vnfold, +Would seeme in me t' affect speech & discourse, +Since I am put to know, that your owne Science +Exceedes (in that) the lists of all aduice +My strength can giue you: Then no more remaines +But that, to your sufficiency, as your worth is able, +And let them worke: The nature of our People, +Our Cities Institutions, and the Termes +For Common Iustice, y'are as pregnant in +As Art, and practise, hath inriched any +That we remember: There is our Commission, +From which, we would not haue you warpe; call hither, +I say, bid come before vs Angelo: +What figure of vs thinke you, he will beare. +For you must know, we haue with speciall soule +Elected him our absence to supply; +Lent him our terror, drest him with our loue, +And giuen his Deputation all the Organs +Of our owne powre: What thinke you of it? + Esc. If any in Vienna be of worth +To vndergoe such ample grace, and honour, +It is Lord Angelo. + +Enter Angelo. + + Duk. Looke where he comes + + Ang. Alwayes obedient to your Graces will, +I come to know your pleasure + + Duke. Angelo: +There is a kinde of Character in thy life, +That to th' obseruer, doth thy history +Fully vnfold: Thy selfe, and thy belongings +Are not thine owne so proper, as to waste +Thy selfe vpon thy vertues; they on thee: +Heauen doth with vs, as we, with Torches doe, +Not light them for themselues: For if our vertues +Did not goe forth of vs, 'twere all alike +As if we had them not: Spirits are not finely touch'd, +But to fine issues: nor nature neuer lends +The smallest scruple of her excellence, +But like a thrifty goddesse, she determines +Her selfe the glory of a creditour, +Both thanks, and vse; but I do bend my speech +To one that can my part in him aduertise; +Hold therefore Angelo: +In our remoue, be thou at full, our selfe: +Mortallitie and Mercie in Vienna +Liue in thy tongue, and heart: Old Escalus +Though first in question, is thy secondary. +Take thy Commission + + Ang. Now good my Lord +Let there be some more test, made of my mettle, +Before so noble, and so great a figure +Be stamp't vpon it + + Duk. No more euasion: +We haue with a leauen'd, and prepared choice +Proceeded to you; therefore take your honors: +Our haste from hence is of so quicke condition, +That it prefers it selfe, and leaues vnquestion'd +Matters of needfull value: We shall write to you +As time, and our concernings shall importune, +How it goes with vs, and doe looke to know +What doth befall you here. So fare you well: +To th' hopefull execution doe I leaue you, +Of your Commissions + + Ang. Yet giue leaue (my Lord,) +That we may bring you something on the way + + Duk. My haste may not admit it, +Nor neede you (on mine honor) haue to doe +With any scruple: your scope is as mine owne, +So to inforce, or qualifie the Lawes +As to your soule seemes good: Giue me your hand, +Ile priuily away: I loue the people, +But doe not like to stage me to their eyes: +Though it doe well, I doe not rellish well +Their lowd applause, and Aues vehement: +Nor doe I thinke the man of safe discretion +That do's affect it. Once more fare you well + + Ang. The heauens giue safety to your purposes + + Esc. Lead forth, and bring you backe in happinesse. + +Enter. + + Duk. I thanke you, fare you well + + Esc. I shall desire you, Sir, to giue me leaue +To haue free speech with you; and it concernes me +To looke into the bottome of my place: +A powre I haue, but of what strength and nature, +I am not yet instructed + + Ang. 'Tis so with me: Let vs withdraw together, +And we may soone our satisfaction haue +Touching that point + + Esc. Ile wait vpon your honor. + +Exeunt. + + +Scena Secunda. + +Enter Lucio, and two other Gentlemen. + + Luc. If the Duke, with the other Dukes, come not to +composition with the King of Hungary, why then all the +Dukes fall vpon the King + + 1.Gent. Heauen grant vs its peace, but not the King +of Hungaries + + 2.Gent. Amen + + Luc. Thou conclud'st like the Sanctimonious Pirat, +that went to sea with the ten Commandements, but +scrap'd one out of the Table + + 2.Gent. Thou shalt not Steale? + Luc. I, that he raz'd + + 1.Gent. Why? 'twas a commandement, to command +the Captaine and all the rest from their functions: they +put forth to steale: There's not a Souldier of vs all, that +in the thanks-giuing before meate, do rallish the petition +well, that praies for peace + + 2.Gent. I neuer heard any Souldier dislike it + + Luc. I beleeue thee: for I thinke thou neuer was't +where Grace was said + + 2.Gent. No? a dozen times at least + + 1.Gent. What? In meeter? + Luc. In any proportion: or in any language + + 1.Gent. I thinke, or in any Religion + + Luc. I, why not? Grace, is Grace, despight of all controuersie: +as for example; Thou thy selfe art a wicked +villaine, despight of all Grace + + 1.Gent. Well: there went but a paire of sheeres betweene +vs + + Luc. I grant: as there may betweene the Lists, and +the Veluet. Thou art the List + + 1.Gent. And thou the Veluet; thou art good veluet; +thou'rt a three pild-peece I warrant thee: I had as liefe +be a Lyst of an English Kersey, as be pil'd, as thou art +pil'd, for a French Veluet. Do I speake feelingly now? + Luc. I thinke thou do'st: and indeed with most painfull +feeling of thy speech: I will, out of thine owne confession, +learne to begin thy health; but, whilst I liue forget +to drinke after thee + + 1.Gen. I think I haue done my selfe wrong, haue I not? + 2.Gent. Yes, that thou hast; whether thou art tainted, +or free. + +Enter Bawde. + + Luc. Behold, behold, where Madam Mitigation comes. +I haue purchas'd as many diseases vnder her Roofe, +As come to + 2.Gent. To what, I pray? + Luc. Iudge + + 2.Gent. To three thousand Dollours a yeare + + 1.Gent. I, and more + + Luc. A French crowne more + + 1.Gent. Thou art alwayes figuring diseases in me; but +thou art full of error, I am sound + + Luc. Nay, not (as one would say) healthy: but so +sound, as things that are hollow; thy bones are hollow; +Impiety has made a feast of thee + + 1.Gent. How now, which of your hips has the most +profound Ciatica? + Bawd. Well, well: there's one yonder arrested, and +carried to prison, was worth fiue thousand of you all + + 2.Gent. Who's that I pray'thee? + Bawd. Marry Sir, that's Claudio, Signior Claudio + + 1.Gent. Claudio to prison? 'tis not so + + Bawd. Nay, but I know 'tis so: I saw him arrested: +saw him carried away: and which is more, within these +three daies his head to be chop'd off + + Luc. But, after all this fooling, I would not haue it so: +Art thou sure of this? + Bawd. I am too sure of it: and it is for getting Madam +Iulietta with childe + + Luc. Beleeue me this may be: he promis'd to meete +me two howres since, and he was euer precise in promise +keeping + + 2.Gent. Besides you know, it drawes somthing neere +to the speech we had to such a purpose + + 1.Gent. But most of all agreeing with the proclamatio[n] + + Luc. Away: let's goe learne the truth of it. + +Enter. + + Bawd. Thus, what with the war; what with the sweat, +what with the gallowes, and what with pouerty, I am +Custom-shrunke. How now? what's the newes with +you. + +Enter Clowne. + + Clo. Yonder man is carried to prison + + Baw. Well: what has he done? + Clo. A Woman + + Baw. But what's his offence? + Clo. Groping for Trowts, in a peculiar Riuer + + Baw. What? is there a maid with child by him? + Clo. No: but there's a woman with maid by him: +you haue not heard of the proclamation, haue you? + Baw. What proclamation, man? + Clow. All howses in the Suburbs of Vienna must bee +pluck'd downe + + Bawd. And what shall become of those in the Citie? + Clow. They shall stand for seed: they had gon down +to, but that a wise Burger put in for them + + Bawd. But shall all our houses of resort in the Suburbs +be puld downe? + Clow. To the ground, Mistris + + Bawd. Why heere's a change indeed in the Commonwealth: +what shall become of me? + Clow. Come: feare not you; good Counsellors lacke +no Clients: though you change your place, you neede +not change your Trade: Ile bee your Tapster still; courage, +there will bee pitty taken on you; you that haue +worne your eyes almost out in the seruice, you will bee +considered + + Bawd. What's to doe heere, Thomas Tapster? let's +withdraw? + Clo. Here comes Signior Claudio, led by the Prouost +to prison: and there's Madam Iuliet. + +Exeunt. + + +Scena Tertia. + +Enter Prouost, Claudio, Iuliet, Officers, Lucio, & 2.Gent. + + Cla. Fellow, why do'st thou show me thus to th' world? +Beare me to prison, where I am committed + + Pro. I do it not in euill disposition, +But from Lord Angelo by speciall charge + + Clau. Thus can the demy-god (Authority) +Make vs pay downe, for our offence, by waight +The words of heauen; on whom it will, it will, +On whom it will not (soe) yet still 'tis iust + + Luc. Why how now Claudio? whence comes this restraint + + Cla. From too much liberty, (my Lucio) Liberty +As surfet is the father of much fast, +So euery Scope by the immoderate vse +Turnes to restraint: Our Natures doe pursue +Like Rats that rauyn downe their proper Bane, +A thirsty euill, and when we drinke, we die + + Luc. If I could speake so wisely vnder an arrest, I +would send for certaine of my Creditors: and yet, to say +the truth, I had as lief haue the foppery of freedome, as +the mortality of imprisonment: what's thy offence, +Claudio? + Cla. What (but to speake of) would offend againe + + Luc. What, is't murder? + Cla. No + + Luc. Lecherie? + Cla. Call it so + + Pro. Away, Sir, you must goe + + Cla. One word, good friend: +Lucio, a word with you + + Luc. A hundred: +If they'll doe you any good: Is Lechery so look'd after? + Cla. Thus stands it with me: vpon a true contract +I got possession of Iulietas bed, +You know the Lady, she is fast my wife, +Saue that we doe the denunciation lacke +Of outward Order. This we came not to, +Onely for propogation of a Dowre +Remaining in the Coffer of her friends, +From whom we thought it meet to hide our Loue +Till Time had made them for vs. But it chances +The stealth of our most mutuall entertainment +With Character too grosse, is writ on Iuliet + + Luc. With childe, perhaps? + Cla. Vnhappely, euen so. +And the new Deputie, now for the Duke, +Whether it be the fault and glimpse of newnes, +Or whether that the body publique, be +A horse whereon the Gouernor doth ride, +Who newly in the Seate, that it may know +He can command; lets it strait feele the spur: +Whether the Tirranny be in his place, +Or in his Eminence that fills it vp +I stagger in: But this new Gouernor +Awakes me all the inrolled penalties +Which haue (like vn-scowr'd Armor) hung by th' wall +So long, that ninteene Zodiacks haue gone round, +And none of them beene worne; and for a name +Now puts the drowsie and neglected Act +Freshly on me: 'tis surely for a name + + Luc. I warrant it is: And thy head stands so tickle on +thy shoulders, that a milke-maid, if she be in loue, may +sigh it off: Send after the Duke, and appeale to him + + Cla. I haue done so, but hee's not to be found. +I pre'thee (Lucio) doe me this kinde seruice: +This day, my sister should the Cloyster enter, +And there receiue her approbation. +Acquaint her with the danger of my state, +Implore her, in my voice, that she make friends +To the strict deputie: bid her selfe assay him, +I haue great hope in that: for in her youth +There is a prone and speechlesse dialect, +Such as moue men: beside, she hath prosperous Art +When she will play with reason, and discourse, +And well she can perswade + + Luc. I pray shee may; aswell for the encouragement +of the like, which else would stand vnder greeuous imposition: +as for the enioying of thy life, who I would be +sorry should bee thus foolishly lost, at a game of ticketacke: +Ile to her + + Cla. I thanke you good friend Lucio + + Luc. Within two houres + + Cla. Come Officer, away. + +Exeunt. + + +Scena Quarta. + +Enter Duke and Frier Thomas. + + Duk. No: holy Father, throw away that thought, +Beleeue not that the dribling dart of Loue +Can pierce a compleat bosome: why, I desire thee +To giue me secret harbour, hath a purpose +More graue, and wrinkled, then the aimes, and ends +Of burning youth + + Fri. May your Grace speake of it? + Duk. My holy Sir, none better knowes then you +How I haue euer lou'd the life remoued +And held in idle price, to haunt assemblies +Where youth, and cost, witlesse brauery keepes. +I haue deliuerd to Lord Angelo +(A man of stricture and firme abstinence) +My absolute power, and place here in Vienna, +And he supposes me trauaild to Poland, +(For so I haue strewd it in the common eare) +And so it is receiu'd: Now (pious Sir) +You will demand of me, why I do this + + Fri. Gladly, my Lord + + Duk. We haue strict Statutes, and most biting Laws, +(The needfull bits and curbes to headstrong weedes,) +Which for this foureteene yeares, we haue let slip, +Euen like an ore-growne Lyon in a Caue +That goes not out to prey: Now, as fond Fathers, +Hauing bound vp the threatning twigs of birch, +Onely to sticke it in their childrens sight, +For terror, not to vse: in time the rod +More mock'd, then fear'd: so our Decrees, +Dead to infliction, to themselues are dead, +And libertie, plucks Iustice by the nose; +The Baby beates the Nurse, and quite athwart +Goes all decorum + + Fri. It rested in your Grace +To vnloose this tyde-vp Iustice, when you pleas'd: +And it in you more dreadfull would haue seem'd +Then in Lord Angelo + + Duk. I doe feare: too dreadfull: +Sith 'twas my fault, to giue the people scope, +'Twould be my tirrany to strike and gall them, +For what I bid them doe: For, we bid this be done +When euill deedes haue their permissiue passe, +And not the punishment: therefore indeede (my father) +I haue on Angelo impos'd the office, +Who may in th' ambush of my name, strike home, +And yet, my nature neuer in the sight +To do in slander: And to behold his sway +I will, as 'twere a brother of your Order, +Visit both Prince, and People: Therefore I pre'thee +Supply me with the habit, and instruct me +How I may formally in person beare +Like a true Frier: Moe reasons for this action +At our more leysure, shall I render you; +Onely, this one: Lord Angelo is precise, +Stands at a guard with Enuie: scarce confesses +That his blood flowes: or that his appetite +Is more to bread then stone: hence shall we see +If power change purpose: what our Seemers be. + +Enter. + + +Scena Quinta. + +Enter Isabell and Francisca a Nun. + + Isa. And haue you Nuns no farther priuiledges? + Nun. Are not these large enough? + Isa. Yes truely; I speake not as desiring more, +But rather wishing a more strict restraint +Vpon the Sisterhood, the Votarists of Saint Clare. + +Lucio within. + + Luc. Hoa? peace be in this place + + Isa. Who's that which cals? + Nun. It is a mans voice: gentle Isabella +Turne you the key, and know his businesse of him; +You may; I may not: you are yet vnsworne: +When you haue vowd, you must not speake with men, +But in the presence of the Prioresse; +Then if you speake, you must not show your face; +Or if you show your face, you must not speake. +He cals againe: I pray you answere him + + Isa. Peace and prosperitie: who is't that cals? + Luc. Haile Virgin, (if you be) as those cheeke-Roses +Proclaime you are no lesse: can you so steed me, +As bring me to the sight of Isabella, +A Nouice of this place, and the faire Sister +To her vnhappie brother Claudio? + Isa. Why her vnhappy Brother? Let me aske, +The rather for I now must make you know +I am that Isabella, and his Sister + + Luc. Gentle & faire: your Brother kindly greets you; +Not to be weary with you; he's in prison + + Isa. Woe me; for what? + Luc. For that, which if my selfe might be his Iudge, +He should receiue his punishment, in thankes: +He hath got his friend with childe + + Isa. Sir, make me not your storie + + Luc. 'Tis true; I would not, though 'tis my familiar sin, +With Maids to seeme the Lapwing, and to iest +Tongue, far from heart: play with all Virgins so: +I hold you as a thing en-skied, and sainted, +By your renouncement, an imortall spirit +And to be talk'd with in sincerity, +As with a Saint + + Isa. You doe blaspheme the good, in mocking me + + Luc. Doe not beleeue it: fewnes, and truth; tis thus, +Your brother, and his louer haue embrac'd; +As those that feed, grow full: as blossoming Time +That from the seednes, the bare fallow brings +To teeming foyson: euen so her plenteous wombe +Expresseth his full Tilth, and husbandry + + Isa. Some one with childe by him? my cosen Iuliet? + Luc. Is she your cosen? + Isa. Adoptedly, as schoole-maids change their names +By vaine, though apt affection + + Luc. She it is + + Isa. Oh, let him marry her + + Luc. This is the point. +The Duke is very strangely gone from hence; +Bore many gentlemen (my selfe being one) +In hand, and hope of action: but we doe learne, +By those that know the very Nerues of State, +His giuing-out, were of an infinite distance +From his true meant designe: vpon his place, +(And with full line of his authority) +Gouernes Lord Angelo; A man, whose blood +Is very snow-broth: one, who neuer feeles +The wanton stings, and motions of the sence; +But doth rebate, and blunt his naturall edge +With profits of the minde: Studie, and fast +He (to giue feare to vse, and libertie, +Which haue, for long, run-by the hideous law, +As Myce, by Lyons) hath pickt out an act, +Vnder whose heauy sence, your brothers life +Fals into forfeit: he arrests him on it, +And followes close the rigor of the Statute +To make him an example: all hope is gone, +Vnlesse you haue the grace, by your faire praier +To soften Angelo: And that's my pith of businesse +'Twixt you, and your poore brother + + Isa. Doth he so, +Seeke his life? + Luc. Has censur'd him already, +And as I heare, the Prouost hath a warrant +For's execution + + Isa. Alas: what poore +Abilitie's in me, to doe him good + + Luc. Assay the powre you haue + + Isa. My power? alas, I doubt + + Luc. Our doubts are traitors +And makes vs loose the good we oft might win, +By fearing to attempt: Goe to Lord Angelo +And let him learne to know, when Maidens sue +Men giue like gods: but when they weepe and kneele, +All their petitions, are as freely theirs +As they themselues would owe them + + Isa. Ile see what I can doe + + Luc. But speedily + + Isa. I will about it strait; +No longer staying, but to giue the Mother +Notice of my affaire: I humbly thanke you: +Commend me to my brother: soone at night +Ile send him certaine word of my successe + + Luc. I take my leaue of you + + Isa. Good sir, adieu. + +Exeunt. + + +Actus Secundus. Scoena Prima. + +Enter Angelo, Escalus, and seruants, Iustice. + + Ang. We must not make a scar-crow of the Law, +Setting it vp to feare the Birds of prey, +And let it keepe one shape, till custome make it +Their pearch, and not their terror + + Esc. I, but yet +Let vs be keene, and rather cut a little +Then fall, and bruise to death: alas, this gentleman +Whom I would saue, had a most noble father, +Let but your honour know +(Whom I beleeue to be most strait in vertue) +That in the working of your owne affections, +Had time coheard with Place, or place with wishing, +Or that the resolute acting of our blood +Could haue attaind th' effect of your owne purpose, +Whether you had not sometime in your life +Er'd in this point, which now you censure him, +And puld the Law vpon you + + Ang. 'Tis one thing to be tempted (Escalus) +Another thing to fall: I not deny +The Iury passing on the Prisoners life +May in the sworne-twelue haue a thiefe, or two +Guiltier then him they try; what's open made to Iustice, +That Iustice ceizes; What knowes the Lawes +That theeues do passe on theeues? 'Tis very pregnant, +The Iewell that we finde, we stoope, and take't, +Because we see it; but what we doe not see, +We tread vpon, and neuer thinke of it. +You may not so extenuate his offence, +For I haue had such faults; but rather tell me +When I, that censure him, do so offend, +Let mine owne Iudgement patterne out my death, +And nothing come in partiall. Sir, he must dye. + +Enter Prouost. + + Esc. Be it as your wisedome will + + Ang. Where is the Prouost? + Pro. Here if it like your honour + + Ang. See that Claudio +Be executed by nine to morrow morning, +Bring him his Confessor, let him be prepar'd, +For that's the vtmost of his pilgrimage + + Esc. Well: heauen forgiue him; and forgiue vs all: +Some rise by sinne, and some by vertue fall: +Some run from brakes of Ice, and answere none, +And some condemned for a fault alone. + +Enter Elbow, Froth, Clowne, Officers. + + Elb. Come, bring them away: if these be good people +in a Common-weale, that doe nothing but vse 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 poore Dukes +Constable, and my name is Elbow; I doe leane vpon Iustice +Sir, and doe bring in here before your good honor, +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 villaines they are, that I am sure of, +and void of all prophanation in the world, that good +Christians ought to haue + + Esc. This comes off well: here's a wise Officer + + Ang. Goe to: What quality are they of? Elbow is +your name? +Why do'st thou not speake Elbow? + Clo. He cannot Sir: he's out at Elbow + + Ang. What are you Sir? + Elb. He Sir: a Tapster Sir: parcell Baud: one that +serues a bad woman: whose house Sir was (as they say) +pluckt downe in the Suborbs: and now shee professes a +hot-house; which, I thinke is a very ill house too + + Esc. How know you that? + Elb. My wife Sir? whom I detest before heauen, and +your honour + + Esc. How? thy wife? + Elb. I Sir: whom I thanke heauen is an honest woman + + Esc. Do'st thou detest her therefore? + Elb. I say sir, I will detest my selfe also, as well as she, +that this house, if it be not a Bauds house, it is pitty of her +life, for it is a naughty house + + Esc. How do'st thou know that, Constable? + Elb. Marry sir, by my wife, who, if she had bin a woman +Cardinally giuen, might haue bin accus'd in fornication, +adultery, and all vncleanlinesse there + + Esc. By the womans meanes? + Elb. I sir, by Mistris Ouerdons meanes: but as she spit +in his face, so she defide him + + Clo. Sir, if it please your honor, this is not so + + Elb. Proue it before these varlets here, thou honorable +man, proue it + + Esc. Doe you heare how he misplaces? + Clo. Sir, she came in great with childe: and longing +(sauing your honors reuerence) for stewd prewyns; sir, +we had but two in the house, which at that very distant +time stood, as it were in a fruit dish (a dish of some three +pence; your honours haue seene such dishes) they are not +China-dishes, but very good dishes + + Esc. Go too: go too: no matter for the dish sir + + Clo. No indeede sir not of a pin; you are therein in +the right: but, to the point: As I say, this Mistris Elbow, +being (as I say) with childe, and being great bellied, and +longing (as I said) for prewyns: and hauing but two in +the dish (as I said) Master Froth here, this very man, hauing +eaten the rest (as I said) & (as I say) paying for them +very honestly: for, as you know Master Froth, I could not +giue you three pence againe + + Fro. No indeede + + Clo. Very well: you being then (if you be remembred) +cracking the stones of the foresaid prewyns + + Fro. I, so I did indeede + + Clo. Why, very well: I telling you then (if you be +remembred) that such a one, and such a one, were past +cure of the thing you wot of, vnlesse they kept very good +diet, as I told you + + Fro. All this is true + + Clo. Why very well then + + Esc. Come: you are a tedious foole: to the purpose: +what was done to Elbowes wife, that hee hath cause to +complaine of? Come me to what was done to her + + Clo. Sir, your honor cannot come to that yet + + Esc. No sir, nor I meane it not + + Clo. Sir, but you shall come to it, by your honours +leaue: And I beseech you, looke into Master Froth here +sir, a man of foure-score pound a yeare; whose father +died at Hallowmas: Was't not at Hallowmas Master +Froth? + Fro. Allhallond-Eue + + Clo. Why very well: I hope here be truthes: he Sir, +sitting (as I say) in a lower chaire, Sir, 'twas in the bunch +of Grapes, where indeede you haue a delight to sit, haue +you not? + Fro. I haue so, because it is an open roome, and good +for winter + + Clo. Why very well then: I hope here be truthes + + Ang. This will last out a night in Russia +When nights are longest there: Ile take my leaue, +And leaue you to the hearing of the cause; +Hoping youle finde good cause to whip them all. + +Enter. + + Esc. I thinke no lesse: good morrow to your Lordship. +Now Sir, come on: What was done to Elbowes +wife, once more? + Clo. Once Sir? there was nothing done to her once + + Elb. I beseech you Sir, aske him what this man did to +my wife + + Clo. I beseech your honor, aske me + + Esc. Well sir, what did this Gentleman to her? + Clo. I beseech you sir, looke in this Gentlemans face: +good Master Froth looke vpon his honor; 'tis for a good +purpose: doth your honor marke his face? + Esc. I sir, very well + + Clo. Nay, I beseech you marke it well + + Esc. Well, I doe so + + Clo. Doth your honor see any harme in his face? + Esc. Why no + + Clo. Ile be supposd vpon a booke, his face is the worst +thing about him: good then: if his face be the worst +thing about him, how could Master Froth doe the Constables +wife any harme? I would know that of your +honour + + Esc. 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 Mistris is +a respected woman + + Clo. By this hand Sir, his wife is a more respected person +then any of vs all + + Elb. Varlet, thou lyest; thou lyest wicked varlet: the +time is yet to come that shee was euer respected with +man, woman, or childe + + Clo. Sir, she was respected with him, before he married +with her + + Esc. Which is the wiser here; Iustice or Iniquitie? Is +this true? + Elb. O thou caytiffe: O thou varlet: O thou wicked +Hanniball; I respected with her, before I was married +to her? If euer I was respected with her, or she with me, +let not your worship thinke mee the poore Dukes Officer: +proue this, thou wicked Hanniball, or ile haue +mine action of battry on thee + + Esc. If he tooke you a box o'th' eare, you might haue +your action of slander too + + Elb. Marry I thanke your good worship for it: what +is't your Worships pleasure I shall doe with this wicked +Caitiffe? + Esc. Truly Officer, because he hath some offences in +him, that thou wouldst discouer, if thou couldst, let him +continue in his courses, till thou knowst what they are + + Elb. Marry I thanke your worship for it: Thou seest +thou wicked varlet now, what's come vpon thee. Thou +art to continue now thou Varlet, thou art to continue + + Esc. Where were you borne, friend? + Froth. Here in Vienna, Sir + + Esc. Are you of fourescore pounds a yeere? + Froth. Yes, and't please you sir + + Esc. So: what trade are you of, sir? + Clo. A Tapster, a poore widdowes Tapster + + Esc. Your Mistris name? + Clo. Mistris Ouerdon + + Esc. Hath she had any more then one husband? + Clo. Nine, sir: Ouerdon by the last + + Esc. Nine? come hether to me, Master Froth; Master +Froth, I would not haue you acquainted with Tapsters; +they will draw you Master Froth, and you wil hang them: +get you gon, and let me heare no more of you + + Fro. I thanke your worship: for mine owne part, I +neuer come into any roome in a Tap-house, but I am +drawne in + + Esc. Well: no more of it Master Froth: farewell: +Come you hether to me, Mr. Tapster: what's your name +Mr. Tapster? + Clo. Pompey + + Esc. What else? + Clo. Bum, Sir + + Esc. Troth, and your bum is the greatest thing about +you, so that in the beastliest sence, you are Pompey the +great; Pompey, you are partly a bawd, Pompey; howsoeuer +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 poore fellow that would liue + + Esc. How would you liue Pompey? by being a bawd? +what doe you thinke of the trade Pompey? is it a lawfull +trade? + Clo. If the Law would allow it, sir + + Esc. But the Law will not allow it Pompey; nor it +shall not be allowed in Vienna + + Clo. Do's your Worship meane to geld and splay all +the youth of the City? + Esc. No, Pompey + + Clo. Truely Sir, in my poore opinion they will too't +then: if your worship will take order for the drabs and +the knaues, you need not to feare the bawds + + Esc. There is 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 for ten yeare together; you'll be glad to giue out a +Commission for more heads: if this law hold in Vienna +ten yeare, ile rent the fairest house in it after three pence +a Bay: if you liue to see this come to passe, say Pompey +told you so + + Esc. Thanke you good Pompey; and in requitall of +your prophesie, harke you: I aduise you let me not finde +you before me againe vpon any complaint whatsoeuer; +no, not for dwelling where you doe: if I doe Pompey, I +shall beat you to your Tent, and proue a shrewd Cæsar +to you: in plaine dealing Pompey, I shall haue you whipt; +so for this time, Pompey, fare you well + + Clo. I thanke your Worship for your good counsell; +but I shall follow it as the flesh and fortune shall better +determine. Whip me? no, no, let Carman whip his Iade, +The valiant heart's not whipt out of his trade. + +Enter. + + Esc. Come hether to me, Master Elbow: come hither +Master Constable: how long haue you bin in this place +of Constable? + Elb. Seuen yeere, and a halfe sir + + Esc. I thought by the readinesse in the office, you had +continued in it some time: you say seauen yeares together + + Elb. And a halfe sir + + Esc. Alas, it hath beene great paines to you: they do +you wrong to put you so oft vpon't. Are there not men +in your Ward sufficient to serue it? + Elb. 'Faith sir, few of any wit in such matters: as they +are chosen, they are glad to choose me for them; I do it +for some peece of money, and goe through with all + + Esc. Looke you bring mee in the names of some sixe +or seuen, the most sufficient of your parish + + Elb. To your Worships house sir? + Esc. To my house: fare you well: what's a clocke, +thinke you? + Iust. Eleuen, Sir + + Esc. I pray you home to dinner with me + + Iust. I humbly thanke you + + Esc. It grieues me for the death of Claudio +But there's no remedie: + Iust. Lord Angelo is seuere + + Esc. It is but needfull. +Mercy is not it selfe, that oft lookes so, +Pardon is still the nurse of second woe: +But yet, poore Claudio; there is no remedie. +Come Sir. + +Exeunt. + + +Scena Secunda. + +Enter Prouost, Seruant. + + Ser. Hee's hearing of a Cause; he will come straight, +I'le tell him of you + + Pro. 'Pray you doe; Ile know +His pleasure, may be he will relent; alas +He hath but as offended in a dreame, +All Sects, all Ages smack of this vice, and he +To die for't? + +Enter Angelo. + + Ang. Now, what's the matter Prouost? + Pro. Is it your will Claudio shall die to morrow? + Ang. Did not I tell thee yea? hadst thou not order? +Why do'st thou aske againe? + Pro. Lest I might be too rash: +Vnder your good correction I haue seene +When after execution, Iudgement hath +Repented ore his doome + + Ang. Goe to; let that be mine, +Doe you your office, or giue vp your Place, +And you shall well be spar'd + + Pro. I craue your Honours pardon: +What shall be done Sir, with the groaning Iuliet? +Shee's very neere her howre + + Ang. Dispose of her +To some more fitter place; and that with speed + + Ser. Here is the sister of the man condemn'd, +Desires accesse to you + + Ang. Hath he a Sister? + Pro. I my good Lord, a very vertuous maid, +And to be shortlie of a Sister-hood, +If not alreadie + + Ang. Well: let her be admitted, +See you the Fornicatresse be remou'd, +Let her haue needfull, but not lauish meanes, +There shall be order for't. + +Enter Lucio and Isabella. + + Pro. 'Saue your Honour + + Ang. Stay a little while: y'are welcome: what's your will? + Isab. I am a wofull Sutor to your Honour, +'Please but your Honor heare me + + Ang. Well: what's your suite + + Isab. There is a vice that most I doe abhorre, +And most desire should meet the blow of Iustice; +For which I would not plead, but that I must, +For which I must not plead, but that I am +At warre, twixt will, and will not + + Ang. Well: the matter? + Isab. I haue a brother is condemn'd to die, +I doe beseech you let it be his fault, +And not my brother + + Pro. Heauen giue thee mouing graces + + Ang. Condemne the fault, and not the actor of it, +Why euery fault's condemnd ere it be done: +Mine were the verie Cipher of a Function +To fine the faults, whose fine stands in record, +And let goe by the Actor + + Isab. Oh iust, but seuere Law: +I had a brother then; heauen keepe your honour + + Luc. Giue't not ore so: to him againe, entreat him, +Kneele downe before him, hang vpon his gowne, +You are too cold: if you should need a pin, +You could not with more tame a tongue desire it: +To him, I say + + Isab. Must he needs die? + Ang. Maiden, no remedie + + Isab. Yes: I doe thinke that you might pardon him, +And neither heauen, nor man grieue at the mercy + + Ang. I will not doe't + + Isab. But can you if you would? + Ang. Looke what I will not, that I cannot doe + + Isab. But might you doe't & do the world no wrong +If so your heart were touch'd with that remorse, +As mine is to him? + Ang. Hee's sentenc'd, tis too late + + Luc. You are too cold + + Isab. Too late? why no: I that doe speak a word +May call it againe: well, beleeue this +No ceremony that to great ones longs, +Not the Kings Crowne; nor the deputed sword, +The Marshalls Truncheon, nor the Iudges Robe +Become them with one halfe so good a grace +As mercie does: If he had bin as you, and you as he, +You would haue slipt like him, but he like you +Would not haue beene so sterne + + Ang. Pray you be gone + + Isab. I would to heauen I had your potencie, +And you were Isabell: should it then be thus? +No: I would tell what 'twere to be a Iudge, +And what a prisoner + + Luc. I, touch him: there's the veine + + Ang. Your Brother is a forfeit of the Law, +And you but waste your words + + Isab. Alas, alas: +Why all the soules that were, were forfeit once, +And he that might the vantage best haue tooke, +Found out the remedie: how would you be, +If he, which is the top of Iudgement, should +But iudge you, as you are? Oh, thinke on that, +And mercie then will breathe within your lips +Like man new made + + Ang. Be you content, (faire Maid) +It is the Law, not I, condemne your brother, +Were he my kinsman, brother, or my sonne, +It should be thus with him: he must die to morrow + + Isab. To morrow? oh, that's sodaine, +Spare him, spare him: +Hee's not prepar'd for death; euen for our kitchins +We kill the fowle of season: shall we serue heauen +With lesse respect then we doe minister +To our grosse-selues? good, good my Lord, bethink you; +Who is it that hath di'd for this offence? +There's many haue committed it + + Luc. I, well said + + Ang. The Law hath not bin dead, thogh it hath slept +Those many had not dar'd to doe that euill +If the first, that did th' Edict infringe +Had answer'd for his deed. Now 'tis awake, +Takes note of what is done, and like a Prophet +Lookes in a glasse that shewes what future euils +Either now, or by remissenesse, new conceiu'd, +And so in progresse to be hatch'd, and borne, +Are now to haue no successiue degrees, +But here they liue to end + + Isab. Yet shew some pittie + + Ang. I shew it most of all, when I show Iustice; +For then I pittie those I doe not know, +Which a dismis'd offence, would after gaule +And doe him right, that answering one foule wrong +Liues not to act another. Be satisfied; +Your Brother dies to morrow; be content + + Isab. So you must be y first that giues this sentence, +And hee, that suffers: Oh, it is excellent +To haue a Giants strength: but it is tyrannous +To vse it like a Giant + + Luc. That's well said + + Isab. Could great men thunder +As Ioue himselfe do's, Ioue would neuer be quiet, +For euery pelting petty Officer +Would vse his heauen for thunder; +Nothing but thunder: Mercifull heauen, +Thou rather with thy sharpe and sulpherous bolt +Splits the vn-wedgable and gnarled Oke, +Then the soft Mertill: But man, proud man, +Drest in a little briefe authoritie, +Most ignorant of what he's most assur'd, +(His glassie Essence) like an angry Ape +Plaies such phantastique tricks before high heauen, +As makes the Angels weepe: who with our spleenes, +Would all themselues laugh mortall + + Luc. Oh, to him, to him wench: he will relent, +Hee's comming: I perceiue't + + Pro. Pray heauen she win him + + Isab. We cannot weigh our brother with our selfe, +Great men may iest with Saints: tis wit in them, +But in the lesse fowle prophanation + + Luc. Thou'rt i'th right (Girle) more o'that + + Isab. That in the Captaine's but a chollericke word, +Which in the Souldier is flat blasphemie + + Luc. Art auis'd o'that? more on't + + Ang. Why doe you put these sayings vpon me? + Isab. Because Authoritie, though it erre like others, +Hath yet a kinde of medicine in it selfe +That skins the vice o'th top; goe to your bosome, +Knock there, and aske your heart what it doth know +That's like my brothers fault: if it confesse +A naturall guiltinesse, such as is his, +Let it not sound a thought vpon your tongue +Against my brothers life + + Ang. Shee speakes, and 'tis such sence +That my Sence breeds with it; fare you well + + Isab. Gentle my Lord, turne backe + + Ang. I will bethinke me: come againe to morrow + + Isa. Hark, how Ile bribe you: good my Lord turn back + + Ang. How? bribe me? + Is. I, with such gifts that heauen shall share with you + + Luc. You had mar'd all else + + Isab. Not with fond Sickles of the tested-gold, +Or Stones, whose rate are either rich, or poore +As fancie values them: but with true prayers, +That shall be vp at heauen, and enter there +Ere Sunne rise: prayers from preserued soules, +From fasting Maides, whose mindes are dedicate +To nothing temporall + + Ang. Well: come to me to morrow + + Luc. Goe to: 'tis well; away + + Isab. Heauen keepe your honour safe + + Ang. Amen. +For I am that way going to temptation, +Where prayers crosse + + Isab. At what hower to morrow, +Shall I attend your Lordship? + Ang. At any time 'fore-noone + + Isab. 'Saue your Honour + + Ang. From thee: euen from thy vertue. +What's this? what's this? is this her fault, or mine? +The Tempter, or the Tempted, who sins most? ha? +Not she: nor doth she tempt: but it is I, +That, lying by the Violet in the Sunne, +Doe as the Carrion do's, not as the flowre, +Corrupt with vertuous season: Can it be, +That Modesty may more betray our Sence +Then womans lightnesse? hauing waste ground enough, +Shall we desire to raze the Sanctuary +And pitch our euils there? oh fie, fie, fie: +What dost thou? or what art thou Angelo? +Dost thou desire her fowly, for those things +That make her good? oh, let her brother liue: +Theeues for their robbery haue authority, +When Iudges steale themselues: what, doe I loue her, +That I desire to heare her speake againe? +And feast vpon her eyes? what is't I dreame on? +Oh cunning enemy, that to catch a Saint, +With Saints dost bait thy hooke: most dangerous +Is that temptation, that doth goad vs on +To sinne, in louing vertue: neuer could the Strumpet +With all her double vigor, Art, and Nature +Once stir my temper: but this vertuous Maid +Subdues me quite: Euer till now +When men were fond, I smild, and wondred how. + +Enter. + + +Scena Tertia. + +Enter Duke and Prouost. + + Duke. Haile to you, Prouost, so I thinke you are + + Pro. I am the Prouost: whats your will, good Frier? + Duke. Bound by my charity, and my blest order, +I come to visite the afflicted spirits +Here in the prison: doe 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 + + Pro. I would do more then that, if more were needfull + +Enter Iuliet. + +Looke here comes one: a Gentlewoman of mine, +Who falling in the flawes of her owne youth, +Hath blisterd her report: She is with childe, +And he that got it, sentenc'd: a yong man, +More fit to doe another such offence, +Then dye for this + + Duk. When must he dye? + Pro. As I do thinke to morrow. +I haue prouided for you, stay a while +And you shall be conducted + + Duk. Repent you (faire one) of the sin you carry? + Iul. I doe; and beare the shame most patiently + + Du. Ile teach you how you shal araign your conscie[n]ce +And try your penitence, if it be sound, +Or hollowly put on + + Iul. Ile gladly learne + + Duk. Loue you the man that wrong'd you? + Iul. Yes, as I loue the woman that wrong'd him + + Duk. So then it seemes your most offence full act +Was mutually committed + + Iul. Mutually + + Duk. Then was your sin of heauier kinde then his + + Iul. I doe confesse it, and repent it (Father.) + Duk. 'Tis meet so (daughter) but least you do repent +As that the sin hath brought you to this shame, +Which sorrow is alwaies toward our selues, not heauen, +Showing we would not spare heauen, as we loue it, +But as we stand in feare + + Iul. I doe repent me, as it is an euill, +And take the shame with ioy + + Duke. There rest: +Your partner (as I heare) must die to morrow, +And I am going with instruction to him: +Grace goe with you, Benedicite. + +Enter. + + Iul. Must die to morrow? oh iniurious Loue +That respits me a life, whose very comfort +Is still a dying horror + + Pro. 'Tis pitty of him. + +Exeunt. + + +Scena Quarta. + +Enter Angelo. + + An. When I would pray, & think, I thinke, and pray +To seuerall subiects: heauen hath my empty words, +Whilst my Inuention, hearing not my Tongue, +Anchors on Isabell: heauen in my mouth, +As if I did but onely chew his name, +And in my heart the strong and swelling euill +Of my conception: the state whereon I studied +Is like a good thing, being often read +Growne feard, and tedious: yea, my Grauitie +Wherein (let no man heare me) I take pride, +Could I, with boote, change for an idle plume +Which the ayre beats for vaine: oh place, oh forme, +How often dost thou with thy case, thy habit +Wrench awe from fooles, and tye the wiser soules +To thy false seeming? Blood, thou art blood, +Let's write good Angell on the Deuills horne +'Tis not the Deuills Crest: how now? who's there? + +Enter Seruant. + + Ser. One Isabell, a Sister, desires accesse to you + + Ang. Teach her the way: oh, heauens +Why doe's my bloud thus muster to my heart, +Making both it vnable for it selfe, +And dispossessing all my other parts +Of necessary fitnesse? +So play the foolish throngs with one that swounds, +Come all to help him, and so stop the ayre +By which hee should reuiue: and euen so +The generall subiect to a wel-wisht King +Quit their owne part, and in obsequious fondnesse +Crowd to his presence, where their vn-taught loue +Must needs appear offence: how now faire Maid. + +Enter Isabella. + + Isab. I am come to know your pleasure + + An. That you might know it, wold much better please me, +Then to demand what 'tis: your Brother cannot liue + + Isab. Euen so: heauen keepe your Honor + + Ang. Yet may he liue a while: and it may be +As long as you, or I: yet he must die + + Isab. Vnder your Sentence? + Ang. Yea + + Isab. When, I beseech you: that in his Reprieue +(Longer, or shorter) he may be so fitted +That his soule sicken not + + Ang. Ha? fie, these filthy vices: It were as good +To pardon him, that hath from nature stolne +A man already made, as to remit +Their sawcie sweetnes, that do coyne heauens Image +In stamps that are forbid: 'tis all as easie, +Falsely to take away a life true made, +As to put mettle in restrained meanes +To make a false one + + Isab. 'Tis set downe so in heauen, but not in earth + + Ang. Say you so: then I shall poze you quickly. +Which had you rather, that the most iust Law +Now tooke your brothers life, and to redeeme him +Giue vp your body to such sweet vncleannesse +As she that he hath staind? + Isab. Sir, beleeue this. +I had rather giue my body, then my soule + + Ang. I talke not of your soule: our compel'd sins +Stand more for number, then for accompt + + Isab. How say you? + Ang. Nay Ile not warrant that: for I can speake +Against the thing I say: Answere to this, +I (now the voyce of the recorded Law) +Pronounce a sentence on your Brothers life, +Might there not be a charitie in sinne, +To saue this Brothers life? + Isab. Please you to doo't, +Ile take it as a perill to my soule, +It is no sinne at all, but charitie + + Ang. Pleas'd you to doo't, at perill of your soule +Were equall poize of sinne, and charitie + + Isab. That I do beg his life, if it be sinne +Heauen let me beare it: you granting of my suit, +If that be sin, Ile make it my Morne-praier, +To haue it added to the faults of mine, +And nothing of your answere + + Ang. Nay, but heare me, +Your sence pursues not mine: either you are ignorant, +Or seeme so crafty; and that's not good + + Isab. Let be ignorant, and in nothing good, +But graciously to know I am no better + + Ang. Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, +When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques +Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder +Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, +To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: +Your Brother is to dye + + Isab. So + + Ang. And his offence is so, as it appeares, +Accountant to the Law, vpon that paine + + Isab. True + + Ang. Admit no other way to saue his life +(As I subscribe not that, nor any other, +But in the losse of question) that you, his Sister, +Finding your selfe desir'd of such a person, +Whose creadit with the Iudge, or owne great place, +Could fetch your Brother from the Manacles +Of the all-building-Law: and that there were +No earthly meane to saue him, but that either +You must lay downe the treasures of your body, +To this supposed, or else to let him suffer: +What would you doe? + Isab. As much for my poore Brother, as my selfe; +That is: were I vnder the tearmes of death, +Th' impression of keene whips, I'ld weare as Rubies, +And strip my selfe to death, as to a bed, +That longing haue bin sicke for, ere I'ld yeeld +My body vp to shame + + Ang. Then must your brother die + + Isa. And 'twer the cheaper way: +Better it were a brother dide at once, +Then that a sister, by redeeming him +Should die for euer + + Ang. Were not you then as cruell as the Sentence, +That you haue slander'd so? + Isa. Ignomie in ransome, and free pardon +Are of two houses: lawfull mercie, +Is nothing kin to fowle redemption + + Ang. You seem'd of late to make the Law a tirant, +And rather prou'd the sliding of your brother +A merriment, then a vice + + Isa. Oh pardon me my Lord, it oft fals out +To haue, what we would haue, +We speake not what we meane; +I something do excuse the thing I hate, +For his aduantage that I dearely loue + + Ang. We are all fraile + + Isa. Else let my brother die, +If not a fedarie but onely he +Owe, and succeed thy weaknesse + + Ang. Nay, women are fraile too + + Isa. I, as the glasses where they view themselues, +Which are as easie broke as they make formes: +Women? Helpe heauen; men their creation marre +In profiting by them: Nay, call vs ten times fraile, +For we are soft, as our complexions are, +And credulous to false prints + + Ang. I thinke it well: +And from this testimonie of your owne sex +(Since I suppose we are made to be no stronger +Then faults may shake our frames) let me be bold; +I do arrest your words. Be that you are, +That is a woman; if you be more, you'r none. +If you be one (as you are well exprest +By all externall warrants) shew it now, +By putting on the destin'd Liuerie + + Isa. I haue no tongue but one; gentle my Lord, +Let me entreate you speake the former language + + Ang. Plainlie conceiue I loue you + + Isa. My brother did loue Iuliet, +And you tell me that he shall die for't + + Ang. He shall not Isabell if you giue me loue + + Isa. I know your vertue hath a licence in't, +Which seemes a little fouler then it is, +To plucke on others + + Ang. Beleeue me on mine Honor, +My words expresse my purpose + + Isa. Ha? Little honor, to be much beleeu'd, +And most pernitious purpose: Seeming, seeming. +I will proclaime thee Angelo, looke for't. +Signe me a present pardon for my brother, +Or with an out-stretcht throate Ile tell the world aloud +What man thou art + + Ang. Who will beleeue thee Isabell? +My vnsoild name, th' austeerenesse of my life, +My vouch against you, and my place i'th State, +Will so your accusation ouer-weigh, +That you shall stifle in your owne report, +And smell of calumnie. I haue begun, +And now I giue my sensuall race, the reine, +Fit thy consent to my sharpe appetite, +Lay by all nicetie, and prolixious blushes +That banish what they sue for: Redeeme thy brother, +By yeelding vp thy bodie to my will, +Or else he must not onelie die the death, +But thy vnkindnesse shall his death draw out +To lingring sufferance: Answer me to morrow, +Or by the affection that now guides me most, +Ile proue a Tirant to him. As for you, +Say what you can; my false, ore-weighs your true. + +Exit + + Isa. To whom should I complaine? Did I tell this, +Who would beleeue me? O perilous mouthes +That beare in them, one and the selfesame tongue, +Either of condemnation, or approofe, +Bidding the Law make curtsie to their will, +Hooking both right and wrong to th' appetite, +To follow as it drawes. Ile to my brother, +Though he hath falne by prompture of the blood, +Yet hath he in him such a minde of Honor, +That had he twentie heads to tender downe +On twentie bloodie blockes, hee'ld yeeld them vp, +Before his sister should her bodie stoope +To such abhord pollution. +Then Isabell liue chaste, and brother die; +``More then our Brother, is our Chastitie. +Ile tell him yet of Angelo's request, +And fit his minde to death, for his soules rest. + +Enter. + + +Actus Tertius. Scena Prima. + +Enter Duke, Claudio, and Prouost. + + Du. So then you hope of pardon from Lord Angelo? + Cla. The miserable haue no other medicine +But onely hope: I'haue hope to liue, and am prepar'd to +die + + Duke. Be absolute for death: either death or life +Shall thereby be the sweeter. Reason thus with life: +If I do loose thee, I do loose a thing +That none but fooles would keepe: a breath thou art, +Seruile to all the skyie-influences +That dost this habitation where thou keepst +Hourely afflict: Meerely, thou art deaths foole, +For him thou labourst by thy flight to shun, +And yet runst toward him still. Thou art not noble, +For all th' accommodations that thou bearst, +Are nurst by basenesse: Thou'rt by no meanes valiant, +For thou dost feare the soft and tender forke +Of a poore worme: thy best of rest is sleepe, +And that thou oft prouoakst, yet grosselie fearst +Thy death, which is no more. Thou art not thy selfe, +For thou exists on manie a thousand graines +That issue out of dust. Happie thou art not, +For what thou hast not, still thou striu'st to get, +And what thou hast forgetst. Thou art not certaine, +For thy complexion shifts to strange effects, +After the Moone: If thou art rich, thou'rt poore, +For like an Asse, whose backe with Ingots bowes; +Thou bearst thy heauie riches but a iournie, +And death vnloads thee; Friend hast thou none. +For thine owne bowels which do call thee, fire +The meere effusion of thy proper loines +Do curse the Gowt, Sapego, and the Rheume +For ending thee no sooner. Thou hast nor youth, nor age +But as it were an after-dinners sleepe +Dreaming on both, for all thy blessed youth +Becomes as aged, and doth begge the almes +Of palsied-Eld: and when thou art old, and rich +Thou hast neither heate, affection, limbe, nor beautie +To make thy riches pleasant: what's yet in this +That beares the name of life? Yet in this life +Lie hid moe thousand deaths; yet death we feare +That makes these oddes, all euen + + Cla. I humblie thanke you. +To sue to liue, I finde I seeke to die, +And seeking death, finde life: Let it come on. + +Enter Isabella. + + Isab. What hoa? Peace heere; Grace, and good companie + + Pro. Who's there? Come in, the wish deserues a +welcome + + Duke. Deere sir, ere long Ile visit you againe + + Cla. Most holie Sir, I thanke you + + Isa. My businesse is a word or two with Claudio + + Pro. And verie welcom: looke Signior, here's your +sister + + Duke. Prouost, a word with you + + Pro. As manie as you please + + Duke. Bring them to heare me speak, where I may be +conceal'd + + Cla. Now sister, what's the comfort? + Isa. Why, +As all comforts are: most good, most good indeede, +Lord Angelo hauing affaires to heauen +Intends you for his swift Ambassador, +Where you shall be an euerlasting Leiger; +Therefore your best appointment make with speed, +To Morrow you set on + + Clau. Is there no remedie? + Isa. None, but such remedie, as to saue a head +To cleaue a heart in twaine: + Clau. But is there anie? + Isa. Yes brother, you may liue; +There is a diuellish mercie in the Iudge, +If you'l implore it, that will free your life, +But fetter you till death + + Cla. Perpetuall durance? + Isa. I iust, perpetuall durance, a restraint +Through all the worlds vastiditie you had +To a determin'd scope + + Clau. But in what nature? + Isa. In such a one, as you consenting too't, +Would barke your honor from that trunke you beare, +And leaue you naked + + Clau. Let me know the point + + Isa. Oh, I do feare thee Claudio, and I quake, +Least thou a feauorous life shouldst entertaine, +And six or seuen winters more respect +Then a perpetuall Honor. Dar'st thou die? +The sence of death is most in apprehension, +And the poore Beetle that we treade vpon +In corporall sufferance, finds a pang as great, +As when a Giant dies + + Cla. Why giue you me this shame? +Thinke you I can a resolution fetch +From flowrie tendernesse? If I must die, +I will encounter darknesse as a bride, +And hugge it in mine armes + + Isa. There spake my brother: there my fathers graue +Did vtter forth a voice. Yes, thou must die: +Thou art too noble, to conserue a life +In base appliances. This outward sainted Deputie, +Whose setled visage, and deliberate word +Nips youth i'th head, and follies doth emmew +As Falcon doth the Fowle, is yet a diuell: +His filth within being cast, he would appeare +A pond, as deepe as hell + + Cla. The prenzie, Angelo? + Isa. Oh 'tis the cunning Liuerie of hell, +The damnest bodie to inuest, and couer +In prenzie gardes; dost thou thinke Claudio, +If I would yeeld him my virginitie +Thou might'st be freed? + Cla. Oh heauens, it cannot be + + Isa. Yes, he would giu't thee; from this rank offence +So to offend him still. This night's the time +That I should do what I abhorre to name, +Or else thou diest to morrow + + Clau. Thou shalt not do't + + Isa. O, were it but my life, +I'de throw it downe for your deliuerance +As frankely as a pin + + Clau. Thankes deere Isabell + + Isa. Be readie Claudio, for your death to morrow + + Clau. Yes. Has he affections in him, +That thus can make him bite the Law by th' nose, +When he would force it? Sure it is no sinne, +Or of the deadly seuen it is the least + + Isa. Which is the least? + Cla. If it were damnable, he being so wise, +Why would he for the momentarie tricke +Be perdurablie fin'de? Oh Isabell + + Isa. What saies my brother? + Cla. Death is a fearefull thing + + Isa. And shamed life, a hatefull + + Cla. I, but to die, and go we know not where, +To lie in cold obstruction, and to rot, +This sensible warme motion, to become +A kneaded clod; And the delighted spirit +To bath in fierie floods, or to recide +In thrilling Region of thicke-ribbed Ice, +To be imprison'd in the viewlesse windes +And blowne with restlesse violence round about +The pendant world: or to be worse then worst +Of those, that lawlesse and incertaine thought, +Imagine howling, 'tis too horrible. +The weariest, and most loathed worldly life +That Age, Ache, periury, and imprisonment +Can lay on nature, is a Paradise +To what we feare of death + + Isa. Alas, alas + + Cla. Sweet Sister, let me liue. +What sinne you do, to saue a brothers life, +Nature dispenses with the deede so farre, +That it becomes a vertue + + Isa. Oh you beast, +Oh faithlesse Coward, oh dishonest wretch, +Wilt thou be made a man, out of my vice? +Is't not a kinde of Incest, to take life +From thine owne sisters shame? What should I thinke, +Heauen shield my Mother plaid my Father faire: +For such a warped slip of wildernesse +Nere issu'd from his blood. Take my defiance, +Die, perish: Might but my bending downe +Repreeue thee from thy fate, it should proceede. +Ile pray a thousand praiers for thy death, +No word to saue thee + + Cla. Nay heare me Isabell + + Isa. Oh fie, fie, fie: +Thy sinn's not accidentall, but a Trade; +Mercy to thee would proue it selfe a Bawd, +'Tis best that thou diest quickly + + Cla. Oh heare me Isabella + + Duk. Vouchsafe a word, yong sister, but one word + + Isa. What is your Will + + Duk. Might you dispense with your leysure, I would +by and by haue some speech with you: the satisfaction I +would require, is likewise your owne benefit + + Isa. I haue no superfluous leysure, my stay must be +stolen out of other affaires: but I will attend you a while + + Duke. Son, I haue ouer-heard what hath past between +you & your sister. Angelo had neuer the purpose to corrupt +her; onely he hath made an assay of her vertue, to +practise his iudgement with the disposition of natures. +She (hauing the truth of honour in her) hath made him +that gracious deniall, which he is most glad to receiue: I +am Confessor to Angelo, and I know this to be true, therfore +prepare your selfe to death: do not satisfie your resolution +with hopes that are fallible, to morrow you +must die, goe to your knees, and make ready + + Cla. Let me ask my sister pardon, I am so out of loue +with life, that I will sue to be rid of it + + Duke. Hold you there: farewell: Prouost, a word +with you + + Pro. What's your will (father?) + Duk. That now you are come, you wil be gone: leaue +me a while with the Maid, my minde promises with my +habit, no losse shall touch her by my company + + Pro. In good time. + +Enter. + + Duk. The hand that hath made you faire, hath made +you good: the goodnes that is cheape in beauty, makes +beauty briefe in goodnes; but grace being the soule of +your complexion, shall keepe the body of it euer faire: +the assault that Angelo hath made to you, Fortune hath +conuaid to my vnderstanding; and but that frailty hath +examples for his falling, I should wonder at Angelo: how +will you doe to content this Substitute, and to saue your +Brother? + Isab. I am now going to resolue him: I had rather +my brother die by the Law, then my sonne should be vnlawfullie +borne. But (oh) how much is the good Duke +deceiu'd in Angelo: if euer he returne, and I can speake +to him, I will open my lips in vaine, or discouer his gouernment + + Duke. That shall not be much amisse: yet, as the matter +now stands, he will auoid your accusation: he made +triall of you onelie. Therefore fasten your eare on my +aduisings, to the loue I haue in doing good; a remedie +presents it selfe. I doe make my selfe beleeue that you +may most vprighteously do a poor wronged Lady a merited +benefit; redeem your brother from the angry Law; +doe no staine to your owne gracious person, and much +please the absent Duke, if peraduenture he shall euer returne +to haue hearing of this businesse + + Isab. Let me heare you speake farther; I haue spirit to +do any thing that appeares not fowle in the truth of my +spirit + + Duke. Vertue is bold, and goodnes neuer fearefull: +Haue you not heard speake of Mariana the sister of Fredericke +the great Souldier, who miscarried at Sea? + Isa. I haue heard of the Lady, and good words went +with her name + + Duke. Shee should this Angelo haue married: was affianced +to her oath, and the nuptiall appointed: between +which time of the contract, and limit of the solemnitie, +her brother Fredericke was wrackt at Sea, hauing in that +perished vessell, the dowry of his sister: but marke how +heauily this befell to the poore Gentlewoman, there she +lost a noble and renowned brother, in his loue toward +her, euer most kinde and naturall: with him the portion +and sinew of her fortune, her marriage dowry: with +both, her combynate-husband, this well-seeming +Angelo + + Isab. Can this be so? did Angelo so leaue her? + Duke. Left her in her teares, & dried not one of them +with his comfort: swallowed his vowes whole, pretending +in her, discoueries of dishonor: in few, bestow'd +her on her owne lamentation, which she yet weares for +his sake: and he, a marble to her teares, is washed with +them, but relents not + + Isab. What a merit were it in death to take this poore +maid from the world? what corruption in this life, that +it will let this man liue? But how out of this can shee auaile? + Duke. It is a rupture that you may easily heale: and the +cure of it not onely saues your brother, but keepes you +from dishonor in doing it + + Isab. Shew me how (good Father.) + Duk. This fore-named Maid hath yet in her the continuance +of her first affection: his vniust vnkindenesse +(that in all reason should haue quenched her loue) hath +(like an impediment in the Current) made it more violent +and vnruly: Goe you to Angelo, answere his requiring +with a plausible obedience, agree with his demands +to the point: onely referre your selfe to this aduantage; +first, that your stay with him may not be long: that the +time may haue all shadow, and silence in it: and the place +answere to conuenience: this being granted in course, +and now followes all: wee shall aduise this wronged +maid to steed vp your appointment, goe in your place: +if the encounter acknowledge it selfe heereafter, it may +compell him to her recompence; and heere, by this is +your brother saued, your honor vntainted, the poore +Mariana aduantaged, and the corrupt Deputy scaled. +The Maid will I frame, and make fit for his attempt: if +you thinke well to carry this as you may, the doublenes +of the benefit defends the deceit from reproofe. What +thinke you of it? + Isab. The image of it giues me content already, and I +trust it will grow to a most prosperous perfection + + Duk. It lies much in your holding vp: haste you speedily +to Angelo, if for this night he intreat you to his bed, +giue him promise of satisfaction: I will presently to S[aint]. +Lukes, there at the moated-Grange recides this deiected +Mariana; at that place call vpon me, and dispatch +with Angelo, that it may be quickly + + Isab. I thank you for this comfort: fare you well good +father. + +Enter. + +Enter Elbow, Clowne, Officers. + + Elb. Nay, if there be no remedy for it, but that you +will needes buy and sell men and women like beasts, we +shall haue all the world drinke browne & white bastard + + Duk. Oh heauens, what stuffe is heere + + Clow. Twas neuer merry world since of two vsuries +the merriest was put downe, and the worser allow'd by +order of Law; a fur'd gowne to keepe him warme; and +furd with Foxe and Lamb-skins too, to signifie, that craft +being richer then Innocency, stands for the facing + + Elb. Come your way sir: 'blesse you good Father +Frier + + Duk. 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 Theefe too Sir: for wee haue found +vpon him Sir, a strange Pick-lock, which we haue sent +to the Deputie + + Duke. Fie, sirrah, a Bawd, a wicked bawd, +The euill that thou causest to be done, +That is thy meanes to liue. Do thou but thinke +What 'tis to cram a maw, or cloath a backe +From such a filthie vice: say to thy selfe, +From their abhominable and beastly touches +I drinke, I eate away my selfe, and liue: +Canst thou beleeue thy liuing is a life, +So stinkingly depending? Go mend, go mend + + Clo. Indeed, it do's stinke in some sort, Sir: +But yet Sir I would proue + + Duke. Nay, if the diuell haue giuen thee proofs for sin +Thou wilt proue his. Take him to prison Officer: +Correction, and Instruction must both worke +Ere this rude beast will profit + + Elb. He must before the Deputy Sir, he ha's giuen +him warning: the Deputy cannot abide a Whore-master: +if he be a Whore-monger, and comes before him, +he were as good go a mile on his errand + + Duke. That we were all, as some would seeme to bee +From our faults, as faults from seeming free. + +Enter Lucio. + + Elb. His necke will come to your wast, a Cord sir + + Clo. I spy comfort, I cry baile: Here's a Gentleman, +and a friend of mine + + Luc. How now noble Pompey? What, at the wheels +of Cæsar? Art thou led in triumph? What is there none +of Pigmalions Images newly made woman to bee had +now, for putting the hand in the pocket, and extracting +clutch'd? What reply? Ha? What saist thou to this +Tune, Matter, and Method? Is't not drown'd i'th last +raine? Ha? What saist thou Trot? Is the world as it was +Man? Which is the way? Is it sad, and few words? +Or how? The tricke of it? + Duke. Still thus, and thus: still worse? + Luc. How doth my deere Morsell, thy Mistris? Procures +she still? Ha? + Clo. Troth sir, shee hath eaten vp all her beefe, and +she is her selfe in the tub + + Luc. Why 'tis good: It is the right of it: it must be +so. Euer your fresh Whore, and your pouder'd Baud, an +vnshun'd consequence, it must be so. Art going to prison +Pompey? + Clo. Yes faith sir + + Luc. Why 'tis not amisse Pompey: farewell: goe say +I sent thee thether: for debt Pompey? Or how? + Elb. For being a baud, for being a baud + + Luc. Well, then imprison him: If imprisonment be +the due of a baud, why 'tis his right. Baud is he doubtlesse, +and of antiquity too: Baud borne. Farwell good +Pompey: Commend me to the prison Pompey, you will +turne good husband now Pompey, you will keepe the +house + + Clo. I hope Sir, your good Worship wil be my baile? + Luc. No indeed wil I not Pompey, it is not the wear: +I will pray (Pompey) to encrease your bondage if you +take it not patiently: Why, your mettle is the more: +Adieu trustie Pompey. +Blesse you Friar + + Duke. And you + + Luc. Do's Bridget paint still, Pompey? Ha? + Elb. Come your waies sir, come + + Clo. You will not baile me then Sir? + Luc. Then Pompey, nor now: what newes abroad Frier? +What newes? + Elb. Come your waies sir, come + + Luc. Goe to kennell (Pompey) goe: +What newes Frier of the Duke? + Duke. I know none: can you tell me of any? + Luc. Some say he is with the Emperor of Russia: other +some, he is in Rome: but where is he thinke you? + Duke. I know not where: but wheresoeuer, I wish +him well + + Luc. It was a mad fantasticall tricke of him to steale +from the State, and vsurpe the beggerie hee was neuer +borne to: Lord Angelo Dukes it well in his absence: he +puts transgression too't + + Duke. He do's well in't + + Luc. A little more lenitie to Lecherie would doe no +harme in him: Something too crabbed that way, Frier + + Duk. It is too general a vice, and seueritie must cure it + + Luc. Yes in good sooth, the vice is of a great kindred; +it is well allied, but it is impossible to extirpe it quite, +Frier, till eating and drinking be put downe. They say +this Angelo was not made by Man and Woman, after +this downe-right way of Creation: is it true, thinke +you? + Duke. How should he be made then? + Luc. Some report, a Sea-maid spawn'd him. Some, +that he was begot betweene two Stock-fishes. But it +is certaine, that when he makes water, his Vrine is congeal'd +ice, that I know to bee true: and he is a motion +generatiue, that's infallible + + Duke. You are pleasant sir, and speake apace + + Luc. Why, what a ruthlesse thing is this in him, for +the rebellion of a Cod-peece, to take away the life of a +man? Would the Duke that is absent haue done this? +Ere he would haue hang'd a man for the getting a hundred +Bastards, he would haue paide for the Nursing a +thousand. He had some feeling of the sport, hee knew +the seruice, and that instructed him to mercie + + Duke. I neuer heard the absent Duke much detected +for Women, he was not enclin'd that way + + Luc. Oh Sir, you are deceiu'd + + Duke. 'Tis not possible + + Luc. Who, not the Duke? Yes, your beggar of fifty: +and his vse was, to put a ducket in her Clack-dish; the +Duke had Crochets in him. Hee would be drunke too, +that let me informe you + + Duke. You do him wrong, surely + + Luc. Sir, I was an inward of his: a shie fellow was +the Duke, and I beleeue I know the cause of his withdrawing + + Duke. What (I prethee) might be the cause? + Luc. No, pardon: 'Tis a secret must bee lockt within +the teeth and the lippes: but this I can let you vnderstand, +the greater file of the subiect held the Duke to be +wise + + Duke. Wise? Why no question but he was + + Luc. A very superficiall, ignorant, vnweighing fellow + Duke. Either this is Enuie in you, Folly, or mistaking: +The very streame of his life, and the businesse he +hath helmed, must vppon a warranted neede, giue him +a better proclamation. Let him be but testimonied in +his owne bringings forth, and hee shall appeare to the +enuious, a Scholler, a Statesman, and a Soldier: therefore +you speake vnskilfully: or, if your knowledge bee +more, it is much darkned in your malice + + Luc. Sir, I know him, and I loue him + + Duke. Loue talkes with better knowledge, & knowledge +with deare loue + + Luc. Come Sir, I know what I know + + Duke. I can hardly beleeue that, since you know not +what you speake. But if euer the Duke returne (as our +praiers are he may) let mee desire you to make your answer +before him: if it bee honest you haue spoke, you +haue courage to maintaine it; I am bound to call vppon +you, and I pray you your name? + Luc. Sir my name is Lucio, wel known to the Duke + + Duke. He shall know you better Sir, if I may liue to +report you + + Luc. I feare you not + + Duke. O, you hope the Duke will returne no more: +or you imagine me to vnhurtfull an opposite: but indeed +I can doe you little harme: You'll for-sweare this againe? + Luc. Ile be hang'd first: Thou art deceiu'd in mee +Friar. But no more of this: Canst thou tell if Claudio +die to morrow, or no? + Duke. Why should he die Sir? + Luc. Why? For filling a bottle with a Tunne-dish: +I would the Duke we talke of were return'd againe: this +vngenitur'd Agent will vn-people the Prouince with +Continencie. Sparrowes must not build in his house-eeues, +because they are lecherous: The Duke yet would +haue darke deeds darkelie answered, hee would neuer +bring them to light: would hee were return'd. Marrie +this Claudio is condemned for vntrussing. Farwell good +Friar, I prethee pray for me: The Duke (I say to thee +againe) would eate Mutton on Fridaies. He's now past +it, yet (and I say to thee) hee would mouth with a beggar, +though she smelt browne-bread and Garlicke: say +that I said so: Farewell. + +Enter. + + Duke. No might, nor greatnesse in mortality +Can censure scape: Back-wounding calumnie +The whitest vertue strikes. What King so strong, +Can tie the gall vp in the slanderous tong? +But who comes heere? + +Enter Escalus, Prouost, and Bawd. + + Esc. Go, away with her to prison + + Bawd. Good my Lord be good to mee, your Honor +is accounted a mercifull man: good my Lord + + Esc. Double, and trebble admonition, and still forfeite +in the same kinde? This would make mercy sweare +and play the Tirant + + Pro. A Bawd of eleuen yeares continuance, may it +please your Honor + + Bawd. My Lord, this is one Lucio's information against +me, Mistris Kate Keepe-downe was with childe by +him in the Dukes time, he promis'd her marriage: his +Childe is a yeere and a quarter olde come Philip and Iacob: +I haue kept it my selfe; and see how hee goes about +to abuse me + + Esc. That fellow is a fellow of much License: Let +him be call'd before vs, Away with her to prison: Goe +too, no more words. Prouost, my Brother Angelo will +not be alter'd, Claudio must die to morrow: Let him be +furnish'd with Diuines, and haue all charitable preparation. +If my brother wrought by my pitie, it should not +be so with him + + Pro. So please you, this Friar hath beene with him, +and aduis'd him for th' entertainment of death + + Esc. Good' euen, good Father + + Duke. Blisse, and goodnesse on you + + Esc. Of whence are you? + Duke. Not of this Countrie, though my chance is now +To vse it for my time: I am a brother +Of gracious Order, late come from the Sea, +In speciall businesse from his Holinesse + + Esc. What newes abroad i'th World? + Duke. None, but that there is so great a Feauor on +goodnesse, that the dissolution of it must cure it. Noueltie +is onely in request, and as it is as dangerous to be +aged in any kinde of course, as it is vertuous to be constant +in any vndertaking. There is scarse truth enough +aliue to make Societies secure, but Securitie enough to +make Fellowships accurst: Much vpon this riddle runs +the wisedome of the world: This newes is old enough, +yet it is euerie daies newes. I pray you Sir, of what disposition +was the Duke? + Esc. One, that aboue all other strifes, +Contended especially to know himselfe + + Duke. What pleasure was he giuen to? + Esc. Rather reioycing to see another merry, then +merrie at anie thing which profest to make him reioice. +A Gentleman of all temperance. But leaue wee him to +his euents, with a praier they may proue prosperous, & +let me desire to know, how you finde Claudio prepar'd? +I am made to vnderstand, that you haue lent him visitation + + Duke. He professes to haue receiued no sinister measure +from his Iudge, but most willingly humbles himselfe +to the determination of Iustice: yet had he framed +to himselfe (by the instruction of his frailty) manie deceyuing +promises of life, which I (by my good leisure) +haue discredited to him, and now is he resolu'd to die + + Esc. You haue paid the heauens your Function, and +the prisoner the verie debt of your Calling. I haue labour'd +for the poore Gentleman, to the extremest shore +of my modestie, but my brother-Iustice haue I found so +seuere, that he hath forc'd me to tell him, hee is indeede +Iustice + + Duke. If his owne life, +Answere the straitnesse of his proceeding, +It shall become him well: wherein if he chance to faile +he hath sentenc'd himselfe + + Esc I am going to visit the prisoner, Fare you well + + Duke. Peace be with you. +He who the sword of Heauen will beare, +Should be as holy, as seueare: +Patterne in himselfe to know, +Grace to stand, and Vertue go: +More, nor lesse to others paying, +Then by selfe-offences weighing. +Shame to him, whose cruell striking, +Kils for faults of his owne liking: +Twice trebble shame on Angelo, +To weede my vice, and let his grow. +Oh, what may Man within him hide, +Though Angel on the outward side? +How may likenesse made in crimes, +Making practise on the Times, +To draw with ydle Spiders strings +Most ponderous and substantiall things? +Craft against vice, I must applie. +With Angelo to night shall lye +His old betroathed (but despised:) +So disguise shall by th' disguised +Pay with falshood, false exacting, +And performe an olde contracting. + +Exit + +Actus Quartus. Scoena Prima. + +Enter Mariana, and Boy singing. + +Song. + +Take, oh take those lips away, +that so sweetly were forsworne, +And those eyes: the breake of day +lights that doe mislead the Morne; +But my kisses bring againe, bring againe, +Seales of loue, but seal'd in vaine, seal'd in vaine. + +Enter Duke. + + Mar. Breake off thy song, and haste thee quick away, +Here comes a man of comfort, whose aduice +Hath often still'd my brawling discontent. +I cry you mercie, Sir, and well could wish +You had not found me here so musicall. +Let me excuse me, and beleeue me so, +My mirth it much displeas'd, but pleas'd my woe + + Duk. 'Tis good; though Musick oft hath such a charme +To make bad, good; and good prouoake to harme. +I pray you tell me, hath any body enquir'd for mee here +to day; much vpon this time haue I promis'd here to +meete + + Mar. You haue not bin enquir'd after: I haue sat +here all day. + +Enter Isabell. + + Duk. I doe constantly beleeue you: the time is come +euen now. I shall craue your forbearance a little, may be +I will call vpon you anone for some aduantage to your +selfe + + Mar. I am alwayes bound to you. + +Enter. + + Duk. Very well met, and well come: +What is the newes from this good Deputie? + Isab. He hath a Garden circummur'd with Bricke, +Whose westerne side is with a Vineyard back't; +And to that Vineyard is a planched gate, +That makes his opening with this bigger Key: +This other doth command a little doore, +Which from the Vineyard to the Garden leades, +There haue I made my promise, vpon the +Heauy midle of the night, to call vpon him + + Duk. But shall you on your knowledge find this way? + Isab. I haue t'ane a due, and wary note vpon't, +With whispering, and most guiltie diligence, +In action all of precept, he did show me +The way twice ore + + Duk. Are there no other tokens +Betweene you 'greed, concerning her obseruance? + Isab. No: none but onely a repaire ith' darke, +And that I haue possest him, my most stay +Can be but briefe: for I haue made him know, +I haue a Seruant comes with me along +That staies vpon me; whose perswasion is, +I come about my Brother + + Duk. 'Tis well borne vp. +I haue not yet made knowne to Mariana + +Enter Mariana. + +A word of this: what hoa, within; come forth, +I pray you be acquainted with this Maid, +She comes to doe you good + + Isab. I doe desire the like + + Duk. Do you perswade your selfe that I respect you? + Mar. Good Frier, I know you do, and haue found it + + Duke. Take then this your companion by the hand +Who hath a storie readie for your eare: +I shall attend your leisure, but make haste +The vaporous night approaches + + Mar. Wilt please you walke aside. + +Enter. + + Duke. Oh Place, and greatnes: millions of false eies +Are stucke vpon thee: volumes of report +Run with these false, and most contrarious Quest +Vpon thy doings: thousand escapes of wit +Make thee the father of their idle dreame, +And racke thee in their fancies. Welcome, how agreed? + +Enter Mariana and Isabella. + + Isab. Shee'll take the enterprize vpon her father, +If you aduise it + + Duke. It is not my consent, +But my entreaty too + + Isa. Little haue you to say +When you depart from him, but soft and low, +Remember now my brother + + Mar. Feare me not + + Duk. Nor gentle daughter, feare you not at all: +He is your husband on a pre-contract: +To bring you thus together 'tis no sinne, +Sith that the Iustice of your title to him +Doth flourish the deceit. Come, let vs goe, +Our Corne's to reape, for yet our Tithes to sow. + +Exeunt. + + +Scena Secunda. + +Enter Prouost and Clowne. + + Pro. Come hither sirha; can you cut off a mans head? + Clo. If the man be a Bachelor Sir, I can: +But if he be a married man, he's his wiues head, +And I can neuer cut off a womans head + + Pro. Come sir, leaue me your snatches, and yeeld mee +a direct answere. To morrow morning are to die Claudio +and Barnardine: heere is in our prison a common executioner, +who in his office lacks a helper, if you will take +it on you to assist him, it shall redeeme you from your +Gyues: if not, you shall haue your full time of imprisonment, +and your deliuerance with an vnpittied whipping; +for you haue beene a notorious bawd + + Clo. Sir, I haue beene an vnlawfull bawd, time out of +minde, but yet I will bee content to be a lawfull hangman: +I would bee glad to receiue some instruction from +my fellow partner + + Pro. What hoa, Abhorson: where's Abhorson there? + +Enter Abhorson. + + Abh. Doe you call sir? + Pro. Sirha, here's a fellow will helpe you to morrow +in your execution: if you thinke it meet, compound with +him by the yeere, and let him abide here with you, if not, +vse him for the present, and dismisse him, hee cannot +plead his estimation with you: he hath beene a Bawd + + Abh. A Bawd Sir? fie vpon him, he will discredit our +mysterie + + Pro. Goe too Sir, you waigh equallie: a feather will +turne the Scale. + +Enter. + + Clo. Pray sir, by your good fauor: for surely sir, a +good fauor you haue, but that you haue a hanging look: +Doe you call sir, your occupation a Mysterie? + Abh. I Sir, a Misterie + + Clo. Painting Sir, I haue heard say, is a Misterie; and +your Whores sir, being members of my occupation, vsing +painting, do proue my Occupation, a Misterie: but +what Misterie there should be in hanging, if I should +be hang'd, I cannot imagine + + Abh. Sir, it is a Misterie + + Clo. Proofe + + Abh. Euerie true mans apparrell fits your Theefe + + Clo. If it be too little for your theefe, your true man +thinkes it bigge enough. If it bee too bigge for your +Theefe, your Theefe thinkes it little enough: So euerie +true mans apparrell fits your Theefe. +Enter Prouost. + + Pro. Are you agreed? + Clo. Sir, I will serue him: For I do finde your Hangman +is a more penitent Trade then your Bawd: he doth +oftner aske forgiuenesse + + Pro. You sirrah, prouide your blocke and your Axe +to morrow, foure a clocke + + Abh. Come on (Bawd) I will instruct thee in my +Trade: follow + + Clo. I do desire to learne sir: and I hope, if you haue +occasion to vse me for your owne turne, you shall finde +me y'are. For truly sir, for your kindnesse, I owe you a +good turne. + +Exit + + Pro. Call hether Barnardine and Claudio: +Th' one has my pitie; not a iot the other, +Being a Murtherer, though he were my brother. + +Enter Claudio. + +Looke, here's the Warrant Claudio, for thy death, +'Tis now dead midnight, and by eight to morrow +Thou must be made immortall. Where's Barnardine? + Cla. As fast lock'd vp in sleepe, as guiltlesse labour, +When it lies starkely in the Trauellers bones, +He will not wake + + Pro. Who can do good on him? +Well, go, prepare your selfe. But harke, what noise? +Heauen giue your spirits comfort: by, and by, +I hope it is some pardon, or repreeue +For the most gentle Claudio. Welcome Father. + +Enter Duke. + + Duke. The best, and wholsomst spirits of the night, +Inuellop you, good Prouost: who call'd heere of late? + Pro. None since the Curphew rung + + Duke. Not Isabell? + Pro. No + + Duke. They will then er't be long + + Pro. What comfort is for Claudio? + Duke. There's some in hope + + Pro. It is a bitter Deputie + + Duke. Not so, not so: his life is paralel'd +Euen with the stroke and line of his great Iustice: +He doth with holie abstinence subdue +That in himselfe, which he spurres on his powre +To qualifie in others: were he meal'd with that +Which he corrects, then were he tirrannous, +But this being so, he's iust. Now are they come. +This is a gentle Prouost, sildome when +The steeled Gaoler is the friend of men: +How now? what noise? That spirit's possest with hast, +That wounds th' vnsisting Posterne with these strokes + + Pro. There he must stay vntil the Officer +Arise to let him in: he is call'd vp + + Duke. Haue you no countermand for Claudio yet? +But he must die to morrow? + Pro. None Sir, none + + Duke. As neere the dawning Prouost, as it is, +You shall heare more ere Morning + + Pro. Happely +You something know: yet I beleeue there comes +No countermand: no such example haue we: +Besides, vpon the verie siege of Iustice, +Lord Angelo hath to the publike eare +Profest the contrarie. + +Enter a Messenger. + + Duke. This is his Lords man + + Pro. And heere comes Claudio's pardon + + Mess. My Lord hath sent you this note, +And by mee this further charge; +That you swerue not from the smallest Article of it, +Neither in time, matter, or other circumstance. +Good morrow: for as I take it, it is almost day + + Pro. I shall obey him + + Duke. This is his Pardon purchas'd by such sin, +For which the Pardoner himselfe is in: +Hence hath offence his quicke celeritie, +When it is borne in high Authority. +When Vice makes Mercie; Mercie's so extended, +That for the faults loue, is th' offender friended. +Now Sir, what newes? + Pro. I told you: +Lord Angelo (be-like) thinking me remisse +In mine Office, awakens mee +With this vnwonted putting on, methinks strangely: +For he hath not vs'd it before + + Duk. Pray you let's heare. + +The Letter. + +Whatsoeuer you may heare to the contrary, let Claudio be executed +by foure of the clocke, and in the afternoone Bernardine: +For my better satisfaction, let mee haue Claudios +head sent me by fiue. Let this be duely performed with a +thought that more depends on it, then we must yet deliuer. +Thus faile not to doe your Office, as you will answere it at +your perill. +What say you to this Sir? + Duke. What is that Barnardine, who is to be executed +in th' afternoone? + Pro. A Bohemian borne: But here nurst vp & bred, +One that is a prisoner nine yeeres old + + Duke. How came it, that the absent Duke had not +either deliuer'd him to his libertie, or executed him? I +haue heard it was euer his manner to do so + + Pro. His friends still wrought Repreeues for him: +And indeed his fact till now in the gouernment of Lord +Angelo, came not to an vndoubtfull proofe + + Duke. It is now apparant? + Pro. Most manifest, and not denied by himselfe + + Duke. Hath he borne himselfe penitently in prison? +How seemes he to be touch'd? + Pro. A man that apprehends death no more dreadfully, +but as a drunken sleepe, carelesse, wreaklesse, and +fearelesse of what's past, present, or to come: insensible +of mortality, and desperately mortall + + Duke. He wants aduice + + Pro. He wil heare none: he hath euermore had the liberty +of the prison: giue him leaue to escape hence, hee +would not. Drunke many times a day, if not many daies +entirely drunke. We haue verie oft awak'd him, as if to +carrie him to execution, and shew'd him a seeming warrant +for it, it hath not moued him at all + + Duke. More of him anon: There is written in your +brow Prouost, honesty and constancie; if I reade it not +truly, my ancient skill beguiles me: but in the boldnes +of my cunning, I will lay my selfe in hazard: Claudio, +whom heere you haue warrant to execute, is no greater +forfeit to the Law, then Angelo who hath sentenc'd him. +To make you vnderstand this in a manifested effect, I +craue but foure daies respit: for the which, you are to +do me both a present, and a dangerous courtesie + + Pro. Pray Sir, in what? + Duke. In the delaying death + + Pro. Alacke, how may I do it? Hauing the houre limited, +and an expresse command, vnder penaltie, to deliuer +his head in the view of Angelo? I may make my +case as Claudio's, to crosse this in the smallest + + Duke. By the vow of mine Order, I warrant you, +If my instructions may be your guide, +Let this Barnardine be this morning executed, +And his head borne to Angelo + + Pro. Angelo hath seene them both, +And will discouer the fauour + + Duke. Oh, death's a great disguiser, and you may +adde to it; Shaue the head, and tie the beard, and say it +was the desire of the penitent to be so bar'de before his +death: you know the course is common. If any thing +fall to you vpon this, more then thankes and good fortune, +by the Saint whom I professe, I will plead against +it with my life + + Pro. Pardon me, good Father, it is against my oath + + Duke. Were you sworne to the Duke, or to the Deputie? + Pro. To him, and to his Substitutes + + Duke. You will thinke you haue made no offence, if +the Duke auouch the iustice of your dealing? + Pro. But what likelihood is in that? + Duke. Not a resemblance, but a certainty; yet since +I see you fearfull, that neither my coate, integrity, nor +perswasion, can with ease attempt you, I wil go further +then I meant, to plucke all feares out of you. Looke +you Sir, heere is the hand and Seale of the Duke: you +know the Charracter I doubt not, and the Signet is not +strange to you? + Pro. I know them both + + Duke. The Contents of this, is the returne of the +Duke; you shall anon ouer-reade it at your pleasure: +where you shall finde within these two daies, he wil be +heere. This is a thing that Angelo knowes not, for hee +this very day receiues letters of strange tenor, perchance +of the Dukes death, perchance entering into some Monasterie, +but by chance nothing of what is writ. Looke, +th' vnfolding Starre calles vp the Shepheard; put not +your selfe into amazement, how these things should be; +all difficulties are but easie when they are knowne. Call +your executioner, and off with Barnardines head: I will +giue him a present shrift, and aduise him for a better +place. Yet you are amaz'd, but this shall absolutely resolue +you: Come away, it is almost cleere dawne. + +Enter. + + +Scena Tertia. + +Enter Clowne. + + Clo. I am as well acquainted heere, as I was in our +house of profession: one would thinke it were Mistris +Ouerdons owne house, for heere be manie of her olde +Customers. First, here's yong Mr Rash, hee's in for a +commoditie of browne paper, and olde Ginger, nine +score and seuenteene pounds, of which hee made fiue +Markes readie money: marrie then, Ginger was not +much in request, for the olde Women were all dead. +Then is there heere one Mr Caper, at the suite of Master +Three-Pile the Mercer, for some foure suites of Peachcolour'd +Satten, which now peaches him a beggar. +Then haue we heere, yong Dizie, and yong Mr Deepevow, +and Mr Copperspurre, and Mr Starue-Lackey the Rapier +and dagger man, and yong Drop-heire that kild lustie +Pudding, and Mr Forthlight the Tilter, and braue Mr +Shootie the great Traueller, and wilde Halfe-Canne that +stabb'd Pots, and I thinke fortie more, all great doers in +our Trade, and are now for the Lords sake. + +Enter Abhorson. + + Abh. Sirrah, bring Barnardine hether + + Clo. Mr Barnardine, you must rise and be hang'd, +Mr Barnardine + + Abh. What hoa Barnardine. + +Barnardine within. + + Bar. A pox o'your throats: who makes that noyse +there? What are you? + Clo. Your friends Sir, the Hangman: +You must be so good Sir to rise, and be put to death + + Bar. Away you Rogue, away, I am sleepie + + Abh. Tell him he must awake, +And that quickly too + + Clo. Pray Master Barnardine, awake till you are executed, +and sleepe afterwards + + Ab. Go in to him, and fetch him out + + Clo. He is comming Sir, he is comming: I heare his +Straw russle. + +Enter Barnardine. + + Abh. Is the Axe vpon the blocke, sirrah? + Clo. Verie readie Sir + + Bar. How now Abhorson? +What's the newes with you? + Abh. Truly Sir, I would desire you to clap into your +prayers: for looke you, the Warrants come + + Bar. You Rogue, I haue bin drinking all night, +I am not fitted for't + + Clo. Oh, the better Sir: for he that drinkes all night, +and is hanged betimes in the morning, may sleepe the +sounder all the next day. + +Enter Duke. + + Abh. Looke you Sir, heere comes your ghostly Father: +do we iest now thinke you? + Duke. Sir, induced by my charitie, and hearing how +hastily you are to depart, I am come to aduise you, +Comfort you, and pray with you + + Bar. Friar, not I: I haue bin drinking hard all night, +and I will haue more time to prepare mee, or they shall +beat out my braines with billets: I will not consent to +die this day, that's certaine + + Duke. Oh sir, you must: and therefore I beseech you +Looke forward on the iournie you shall go + + Bar. I sweare I will not die to day for anie mans perswasion + + Duke. But heare you: + Bar. Not a word: if you haue anie thing to say to me, +come to my Ward: for thence will not I to day. + +Exit + +Enter Prouost. + + Duke. Vnfit to liue, or die: oh grauell heart. +After him (Fellowes) bring him to the blocke + + Pro. Now Sir, how do you finde the prisoner? + Duke. A creature vnprepar'd, vnmeet for death, +And to transport him in the minde he is, +Were damnable + + Pro. Heere in the prison, Father, +There died this morning of a cruell Feauor, +One Ragozine, a most notorious Pirate, +A man of Claudio's yeares: his beard, and head +Iust of his colour. What if we do omit +This Reprobate, til he were wel enclin'd, +And satisfie the Deputie with the visage +Of Ragozine, more like to Claudio? + Duke. Oh, 'tis an accident that heauen prouides: +Dispatch it presently, the houre drawes on +Prefixt by Angelo: See this be done, +And sent according to command, whiles I +Perswade this rude wretch willingly to die + + Pro. This shall be done (good Father) presently: +But Barnardine must die this afternoone, +And how shall we continue Claudio, +To saue me from the danger that might come, +If he were knowne aliue? + Duke. Let this be done, +Put them in secret holds, both Barnardine and Claudio, +Ere twice the Sun hath made his iournall greeting +To yond generation, you shal finde +Your safetie manifested + + Pro. I am your free dependant. + +Enter. + + Duke. Quicke, dispatch, and send the head to Angelo +Now wil I write Letters to Angelo, +(The Prouost he shal beare them) whose contents +Shal witnesse to him I am neere at home: +And that by great Iniunctions I am bound +To enter publikely: him Ile desire +To meet me at the consecrated Fount, +A League below the Citie: and from thence, +By cold gradation, and weale-ballanc'd forme. +We shal proceed with Angelo. + +Enter Prouost. + + Pro. Heere is the head, Ile carrie it my selfe + + Duke. Conuenient is it: Make a swift returne, +For I would commune with you of such things, +That want no eare but yours + + Pro. Ile make all speede. + +Exit + +Isabell within. + + Isa. Peace hoa, be heere + + Duke. The tongue of Isabell. She's come to know, +If yet her brothers pardon be come hither: +But I will keepe her ignorant of her good, +To make her heauenly comforts of dispaire, +When it is least expected. + +Enter Isabella. + + Isa. Hoa, by your leaue + + Duke. Good morning to you, faire, and gracious +daughter + + Isa. The better giuen me by so holy a man, +Hath yet the Deputie sent my brothers pardon? + Duke. He hath releasd him, Isabell, from the world, +His head is off, and sent to Angelo + + Isa. Nay, but it is not so + + Duke. It is no other, +Shew your wisedome daughter in your close patience + + Isa. Oh, I wil to him, and plucke out his eies + + Duk. You shal not be admitted to his sight + + Isa. Vnhappie Claudio, wretched Isabell, +Iniurious world, most damned Angelo + + Duke. This nor hurts him, nor profits you a iot, +Forbeare it therefore, giue your cause to heauen. +Marke what I say, which you shal finde +By euery sillable a faithful veritie. +The Duke comes home to morrow: nay drie your eyes, +One of our Couent, and his Confessor +Giues me this instance: Already he hath carried +Notice to Escalus and Angelo, +Who do prepare to meete him at the gates, +There to giue vp their powre: If you can pace your wisdome, +In that good path that I would wish it go, +And you shal haue your bosome on this wretch, +Grace of the Duke, reuenges to your heart, +And general Honor + + Isa. I am directed by you + + Duk. This Letter then to Friar Peter giue, +'Tis that he sent me of the Dukes returne: +Say, by this token, I desire his companie +At Mariana's house to night. Her cause, and yours +Ile perfect him withall, and he shal bring you +Before the Duke; and to the head of Angelo +Accuse him home and home. For my poore selfe, +I am combined by a sacred Vow, +And shall be absent. Wend you with this Letter: +Command these fretting waters from your eies +With a light heart; trust not my holie Order +If I peruert your course: whose heere? + +Enter Lucio. + + Luc. Good' euen; +Frier, where's the Prouost? + Duke. Not within Sir + + Luc. Oh prettie Isabella, I am pale at mine heart, to +see thine eyes so red: thou must be patient; I am faine +to dine and sup with water and bran: I dare not for my +head fill my belly. One fruitful Meale would set mee +too't: but they say the Duke will be heere to Morrow. +By my troth Isabell I lou'd thy brother, if the olde fantastical +Duke of darke corners had bene at home, he had +liued + + Duke. Sir, the Duke is marueilous little beholding +to your reports, but the best is, he liues not in them + + Luc. Friar, thou knowest not the Duke so wel as I +do: he's a better woodman then thou tak'st him for + + Duke. Well: you'l answer this one day. Fare ye well + + Luc. Nay tarrie, Ile go along with thee, +I can tel thee pretty tales of the Duke + + Duke. You haue told me too many of him already sir +if they be true: if not true, none were enough + + Lucio. I was once before him for getting a Wench +with childe + + Duke. Did you such a thing? + Luc. Yes marrie did I; but I was faine to forswear it, +They would else haue married me to the rotten Medler + + Duke. Sir your company is fairer then honest, rest you +well + + Lucio. By my troth Ile go with thee to the lanes end: +if baudy talke offend you, wee'l haue very litle of it: nay +Friar, I am a kind of Burre, I shal sticke. + +Exeunt. + +Scena Quarta. + +Enter Angelo & Escalus. + + Esc. Euery Letter he hath writ, hath disuouch'd other + + An. In most vneuen and distracted manner, his actions +show much like to madnesse, pray heauen his wisedome +bee not tainted: and why meet him at the gates and deliuer +our authorities there? + Esc. I ghesse not + + Ang. And why should wee proclaime it in an howre +before his entring, that if any craue redresse of iniustice, +they should exhibit their petitions in the street? + Esc. He showes his reason for that: to haue a dispatch +of Complaints, and to deliuer vs from deuices heereafter, +which shall then haue no power to stand against +vs + + Ang. Well: I beseech you let it bee proclaim'd betimes +i'th' morne, Ile call you at your house: giue notice +to such men of sort and suite as are to meete him + + Esc. I shall sir: fareyouwell. + +Enter. + + Ang. Good night. +This deede vnshapes me quite, makes me vnpregnant +And dull to all proceedings. A deflowred maid, +And by an eminent body, that enforc'd +The Law against it? But that her tender shame +Will not proclaime against her maiden losse, +How might she tongue me? yet reason dares her no, +For my Authority beares of a credent bulke, +That no particular scandall once can touch +But it confounds the breather. He should haue liu'd, +Saue that his riotous youth with dangerous sense +Might in the times to come haue ta'ne reuenge +By so receiuing a dishonor'd life +With ransome of such shame: would yet he had liued. +Alack, when once our grace we haue forgot, +Nothing goes right, we would, and we would not. + +Enter. + + +Scena Quinta. + +Enter Duke and Frier Peter. + + Duke. These Letters at fit time deliuer me, +The Prouost knowes our purpose and our plot, +The matter being a foote, keepe your instruction +And hold you euer to our speciall drift, +Though sometimes you doe blench from this to that +As cause doth minister: Goe call at Flauia's house, +And tell him where I stay: giue the like notice +To Valencius, Rowland, and to Crassus, +And bid them bring the Trumpets to the gate: +But send me Flauius first + + Peter. It shall be speeded well. + +Enter Varrius. + + Duke. I thank thee Varrius, thou hast made good hast, +Come, we will walke: There's other of our friends +Will greet vs heere anon: my gentle Varrius. + +Exeunt. + + +Scena Sexta. + +Enter Isabella and Mariana. + + Isab. To speake so indirectly I am loath, +I would say the truth, but to accuse him so +That is your part, yet I am aduis'd to doe it, +He saies, to vaile full purpose + + Mar. Be rul'd by him + + Isab. Besides he tells me, that if peraduenture +He speake against me on the aduerse side, +I should not thinke it strange, for 'tis a physicke +That's bitter, to sweet end. + +Enter Peter. + + Mar. I would Frier Peter + Isab. Oh peace, the Frier is come + + Peter. Come I haue found you out a stand most fit, +Where you may haue such vantage on the Duke +He shall not passe you: +Twice haue the Trumpets sounded. +The generous, and grauest Citizens +Haue hent the gates, and very neere vpon +The Duke is entring: +Therefore hence away. + +Exeunt. + + +Actus Quintus. Scoena Prima. + +Enter Duke, Varrius, Lords, Angelo, Esculus, Lucio, Citizens at +seuerall +doores. + + Duk. My very worthy Cosen, fairely met, +Our old, and faithfull friend, we are glad to see you + + Ang. Esc. Happy returne be to your royall grace + + Duk. Many and harty thankings to you both: +We haue made enquiry of you, and we heare +Such goodnesse of your Iustice, that our soule +Cannot but yeeld you forth to publique thankes +Forerunning more requitall + + Ang. You make my bonds still greater + + Duk. Oh your desert speaks loud, & I should wrong it +To locke it in the wards of couert bosome +When it deserues with characters of brasse +A forted residence 'gainst the tooth of time, +And razure of obliuion: Giue we your hand +And let the Subiect see, to make them know +That outward curtesies would faine proclaime +Fauours that keepe within: Come Escalus, +You must walke by vs, on our other hand: +And good supporters are you. + +Enter Peter and Isabella. + + Peter. Now is your time +Speake loud, and kneele before him + + Isab. Iustice, O royall Duke, vaile your regard +Vpon a wrong'd (I would faine haue said a Maid) +Oh worthy Prince, dishonor not your eye +By throwing it on any other obiect, +Till you haue heard me, in my true complaint, +And giuen me Iustice, Iustice, Iustice, Iustice + + Duk. Relate your wrongs; +In what, by whom? be briefe: +Here is Lord Angelo shall giue you Iustice, +Reueale your selfe to him + + Isab. Oh worthy Duke, +You bid me seeke redemption of the diuell, +Heare me your selfe: for that which I must speake +Must either punish me, not being beleeu'd, +Or wring redresse from you: +Heare me: oh heare me, heere + + Ang. My Lord, her wits I feare me are not firme: +She hath bin a suitor to me, for her Brother +Cut off by course of Iustice + + Isab. By course of Iustice + + Ang. And she will speake most bitterly, and strange + + Isab. Most strange: but yet most truely wil I speake, +That Angelo's forsworne, is it not strange? +That Angelo's a murtherer, is't not strange? +That Angelo is an adulterous thiefe, +An hypocrite, a virgin violator, +Is it not strange? and strange? + Duke. Nay it is ten times strange? + Isa. It is not truer he is Angelo, +Then this is all as true, as it is strange; +Nay, it is ten times true, for truth is truth +To th' end of reckning + + Duke. Away with her: poore soule +She speakes this, in th' infirmity of sence + + Isa. Oh Prince, I coniure thee, as thou beleeu'st +There is another comfort, then this world, +That thou neglect me not, with that opinion +That I am touch'd with madnesse: make not impossible +That which but seemes vnlike, 'tis not impossible +But one, the wickedst caitiffe on the ground +May seeme as shie, as graue, as iust, as absolute: +As Angelo, euen so may Angelo +In all his dressings, caracts, titles, formes, +Be an arch-villaine: Beleeue it, royall Prince +If he be lesse, he's nothing, but he's more, +Had I more name for badnesse + + Duke. By mine honesty +If she be mad, as I beleeue no other, +Her madnesse hath the oddest frame of sense, +Such a dependancy of thing, on thing, +As ere I heard in madnesse + + Isab. Oh gracious Duke +Harpe not on that; nor do not banish reason +For inequality, but let your reason serue +To make the truth appeare, where it seemes hid, +And hide the false seemes true + + Duk. Many that are not mad +Haue sure more lacke of reason: +What would you say? + Isab. I am the Sister of one Claudio, +Condemnd vpon the Act of Fornication +To loose his head, condemn'd by Angelo, +I, (in probation of a Sisterhood) +Was sent to by my Brother; one Lucio +As then the Messenger + + Luc. That's I, and't like your Grace: +I came to her from Claudio, and desir'd her, +To try her gracious fortune with Lord Angelo, +For her poore Brothers pardon + + Isab. That's he indeede + + Duk. You were not bid to speake + + Luc. No, my good Lord, +Nor wish'd to hold my peace + + Duk. I wish you now then, +Pray you take note of it: and when you haue +A businesse for your selfe: pray heauen you then +Be perfect + + Luc. I warrant your honor + + Duk. The warrant's for your selfe: take heede to't + + Isab. This Gentleman told somewhat of my Tale + + Luc. Right + + Duk. It may be right, but you are i'the wrong +To speake before your time: proceed, + Isab. I went +To this pernicious Caitiffe Deputie + + Duk. That's somewhat madly spoken + + Isab. Pardon it, +The phrase is to the matter + + Duke. Mended againe: the matter: proceed + + Isab. In briefe, to set the needlesse processe by: +How I perswaded, how I praid, and kneel'd, +How he refeld me, and how I replide +(For this was of much length) the vild conclusion +I now begin with griefe, and shame to vtter. +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 yeeld to him: But the next morne betimes, +His purpose surfetting, he sends a warrant +For my poore brothers head + + Duke. This is most likely + + Isab. Oh that it were as like as it is true + + Duk. By heauen (fond wretch) y knowst not what thou speak'st, +Or else thou art suborn'd against his honor +In hatefull practise: first his Integritie +Stands without blemish: next it imports no reason, +That with such vehemency he should pursue +Faults proper to himselfe: if he had so offended +He would haue waigh'd thy brother by himselfe, +And not haue cut him off: some one hath set you on: +Confesse the truth, and say by whose aduice +Thou cam'st heere to complaine + + Isab. And is this all? +Then oh you blessed Ministers aboue +Keepe me in patience, and with ripened time +Vnfold the euill, which is heere wrapt vp +In countenance: heauen shield your Grace from woe, +As I thus wrong'd, hence vnbeleeued goe + + Duke. I know you'ld faine be gone: An Officer: +To prison with her: Shall we thus permit +A blasting and a scandalous breath to fall, +On him so neere vs? This needs must be a practise: +Who knew of your intent and comming hither? + Isa. One that I would were heere, Frier Lodowick + + Duk. A ghostly Father, belike: +Who knowes that Lodowicke? + Luc. My Lord, I know him, 'tis a medling Fryer, +I doe not like the man: had he been Lay my Lord, +For certaine words he spake against your Grace +In your retirment, I had swing'd him soundly + + Duke. Words against mee? this' a good Fryer belike +And to set on this wretched woman here +Against our Substitute: Let this Fryer be found + + Luc. But yesternight my Lord, she and that Fryer +I saw them at the prison: a sawcy Fryar, +A very scuruy fellow + + Peter. Blessed be your Royall Grace: +I haue stood by my Lord, and I haue heard +Your royall eare abus'd: first hath this woman +Most wrongfully accus'd your Substitute, +Who is as free from touch, or soyle with her +As she from one vngot + + Duke. We did beleeue no lesse. +Know you that Frier Lodowick that she speakes of? + Peter. I know him for a man diuine and holy, +Not scuruy, nor a temporary medler +As he's reported by this Gentleman: +And on my trust, a man that neuer yet +Did (as he vouches) mis-report your Grace + + Luc. My Lord, most villanously, beleeue it + + Peter. Well: he in time may come to cleere himselfe; +But at this instant he is sicke, my Lord: +Of a strange Feauor: vpon his meere request +Being come to knowledge, that there was complaint +Intended 'gainst Lord Angelo, came I hether +To speake as from his mouth, what he doth know +Is true, and false: And what he with his oath +And all probation will make vp full cleare +Whensoeuer he's conuented: First for this woman, +To iustifie this worthy Noble man +So vulgarly and personally accus'd, +Her shall you heare disproued to her eyes, +Till she her selfe confesse it + + Duk. Good Frier, let's heare it: +Doe you not smile at this, Lord Angelo? +Oh heauen, the vanity of wretched fooles. +Giue vs some seates, Come cosen Angelo, +In this I'll be impartiall: be you Iudge +Of your owne Cause: Is this the Witnes Frier? + +Enter Mariana. + +First, let her shew your face, and after, speake + + Mar. Pardon my Lord, I will not shew my face +Vntill my husband bid me + + Duke. What, are you married? + Mar. No my Lord + + Duke. Are you a Maid? + Mar. No my Lord + + Duk. A Widow then? + Mar. Neither, my Lord + + Duk. Why you are nothing then: neither Maid, Widow, +nor Wife? + Luc. My Lord, she may be a Puncke: for many of +them, are neither Maid, Widow, nor Wife + + Duk. Silence that fellow: I would he had some cause +to prattle for himselfe + + Luc. Well my Lord + + Mar. My Lord, I doe confesse I nere was married, +And I confesse besides, I am no Maid, +I haue known my husband, yet my husband +Knowes not, that euer he knew me + + Luc. He was drunk then, my Lord, it can be no better + + Duk. For the benefit of silence, would thou wert so to + + Luc. Well, my Lord + + Duk. This is no witnesse for Lord Angelo + + Mar. Now I come to't, my Lord. +Shee that accuses him of Fornication, +In selfe-same manner, doth accuse my husband, +And charges him, my Lord, with such a time, +When I'le depose I had him in mine Armes +With all th' effect of Loue + + Ang. Charges she moe then me? + Mar. Not that I know + + Duk. No? you say your husband + + Mar. Why iust, my Lord, and that is Angelo, +Who thinkes he knowes, that he nere knew my body, +But knows, he thinkes, that he knowes Isabels + + Ang. This is a strange abuse: Let's see thy face + + Mar. My husband bids me, now I will vnmaske. +This is that face, thou cruell Angelo +Which once thou sworst, was worth the looking on: +This is the hand, which with a vowd contract +Was fast belockt in thine: This is the body +That tooke away the match from Isabell, +And did supply thee at thy garden-house +In her Imagin'd person + + Duke. Know you this woman? + Luc. Carnallie she saies + + Duk. Sirha, no more + + Luc. Enough my Lord + + Ang. My Lord, I must confesse, I know this woman, +And fiue yeres since there was some speech of marriage +Betwixt my selfe, and her: which was broke off, +Partly for that her promis'd proportions +Came short of Composition: But in chiefe +For that her reputation was dis-valued +In leuitie: Since which time of fiue yeres +I neuer spake with her, saw her, nor heard from her +Vpon my faith, and honor + + Mar. Noble Prince, +As there comes light from heauen, and words fro[m] breath, +As there is sence in truth, and truth in vertue, +I am affianced this mans wife, as strongly +As words could make vp vowes: And my good Lord, +But Tuesday night last gon, in's garden house, +He knew me as a wife. As this is true, +Let me in safety raise me from my knees, +Or else for euer be confixed here +A Marble Monument + + Ang. I did but smile till now, +Now, good my Lord, giue me the scope of Iustice, +My patience here is touch'd: I doe perceiue +These poore informall women, are no more +But instruments of some more mightier member +That sets them on. Let me haue way, my Lord +To finde this practise out + + Duke. I, with my heart, +And punish them to your height of pleasure. +Thou foolish Frier, and thou pernicious woman +Compact with her that's gone: thinkst thou, thy oathes, +Though they would swear downe each particular Saint, +Were testimonies against his worth, and credit +That's seald in approbation? you, Lord Escalus +Sit with my Cozen, lend him your kinde paines +To finde out this abuse, whence 'tis deriu'd. +There is another Frier that set them on, +Let him be sent for + + Peter. Would he were here, my Lord, for he indeed +Hath set the women on to this Complaint; +Your Prouost knowes the place where he abides, +And he may fetch him + + Duke. Goe, doe it instantly: +And you, my noble and well-warranted Cosen +Whom it concernes to heare this matter forth, +Doe with your iniuries as seemes you best +In any chastisement; I for a while +Will leaue you; but stir not you till you haue +Well determin'd vpon these Slanderers. + +Enter. + + Esc. My Lord, wee'll doe it throughly: Signior Lucio, +did not you say you knew that Frier Lodowick to be a +dishonest person? + Luc. Cucullus non facit Monachum, honest in nothing +but in his Clothes, and one that hath spoke most villanous +speeches of the Duke + + Esc. We shall intreat you to abide heere till he come, +and inforce them against him: we shall finde this Frier a +notable fellow + + Luc. As any in Vienna, on my word + + Esc. Call that same Isabell here once againe, I would +speake with her: pray you, my Lord, giue mee leaue to +question, you shall see how Ile handle her + + Luc. Not better then he, by her owne report + + Esc. Say you? + Luc. Marry sir, I thinke, if you handled her priuately +She would sooner confesse, perchance publikely she'll be +asham'd. + +Enter Duke, Prouost, Isabella + + Esc. I will goe darkely to worke with her + + Luc. That's the way: for women are light at midnight + + Esc. Come on Mistris, here's a Gentlewoman, +Denies all that you haue said + + Luc. My Lord, here comes the rascall I spoke of, +Here, with the Prouost + + Esc. In very good time: speake not you to him, till +we call vpon you + + Luc. Mum + + Esc. Come Sir, did you set these women on to slander +Lord Angelo? they haue confes'd you did + + Duk. 'Tis false + + Esc. How? Know you where you are? + Duk. Respect to your great place; and let the diuell +Be sometime honour'd, for his burning throne. +Where is the Duke? 'tis he should heare me speake + + Esc. The Duke's in vs: and we will heare you speake, +Looke you speake iustly + + Duk. Boldly, at least. But oh poore soules, +Come you to seeke the Lamb here of the Fox; +Good night to your redresse: Is the Duke gone? +Then is your cause gone too: The Duke's vniust, +Thus to retort your manifest Appeale, +And put your triall in the villaines mouth, +Which here you come to accuse + + Luc. This is the rascall: this is he I spoke of + + Esc. Why thou vnreuerend, and vnhallowed Fryer: +Is't not enough thou hast suborn'd these women, +To accuse this worthy man? but in foule mouth, +And in the witnesse of his proper eare, +To call him villaine; and then to glance from him, +To th'Duke himselfe, to taxe him with Iniustice? +Take him hence; to th' racke with him: we'll towze you +Ioynt by ioynt, but we will know his purpose: +What? vniust? + Duk. Be not so hot: the Duke dare +No more stretch this finger of mine, then he +Dare racke his owne: his Subiect am I not, +Nor here Prouinciall: My businesse in this State +Made me a looker on here in Vienna, +Where I haue seene corruption boyle and bubble, +Till it ore-run the Stew: Lawes, for all faults, +But faults so countenanc'd, that the strong Statutes +Stand like the forfeites in a Barbers shop, +As much in mocke, as marke + + Esc. Slander to th' State: +Away with him to prison + + Ang. What can you vouch against him Signior Lucio? +Is this the man you did tell vs of? + Luc. 'Tis he, my Lord: come hither goodman bald-pate, +doe you know me? + Duk. I remember you Sir, by the sound of your voice, +I met you at the Prison, in the absence of the Duke + + Luc. Oh, did you so? and do you remember what you +said of the Duke + + Duk. Most notedly Sir + + Luc. Do you so Sir: And was the Duke a flesh-monger, +a foole, and a coward, as you then reported him +to be? + Duk. You must (Sir) change persons with me, ere you +make that my report: you indeede spoke so of him, and +much more, much worse + + Luc. Oh thou damnable fellow: did I not plucke thee +by the nose, for thy speeches? + Duk. I protest, I loue the Duke, as I loue my selfe + + Ang. Harke how the villaine would close now, after +his treasonable abuses + + Esc. Such a fellow is not to be talk'd withall: Away +with him to prison: Where is the Prouost? away with +him to prison: lay bolts enough vpon him: let him speak +no more: away with those Giglets too, and with the other +confederate companion + + Duk. Stay Sir, stay a while + + Ang. What, resists he? helpe him Lucio + + Luc. Come sir, come sir, come sir: foh sir, why you +bald-pated lying rascall: you must be hooded must you? +show your knaues visage with a poxe to you: show your +sheepe-biting face, and be hang'd an houre: Will't +not off? + Duk. Thou art the first knaue, that ere mad'st a Duke. +First Prouost, let me bayle these gentle three: +Sneake not away Sir, for the Fryer, and you, +Must haue a word anon: lay hold on him + + Luc. This may proue worse then hanging + + Duk. What you haue spoke, I pardon: sit you downe, +We'll borrow place of him; Sir, by your leaue: +Ha'st thou or word, or wit, or impudence, +That yet can doe thee office? If thou ha'st +Rely vpon it, till my tale be heard, +And hold no longer out + + Ang. Oh, my dread Lord, +I should be guiltier then my guiltinesse, +To thinke I can be vndiscerneable, +When I perceiue your grace, like powre diuine, +Hath look'd vpon my passes. Then good Prince, +No longer Session hold vpon my shame, +But let my Triall, be mine owne Confession: +Immediate sentence then, and sequent death, +Is all the grace I beg + + Duk. Come hither Mariana, +Say: was't thou ere contracted to this woman? + Ang. I was my Lord + + Duk. Goe take her hence, and marry her instantly. +Doe you the office (Fryer) which consummate, +Returne him here againe: goe with him Prouost. + +Enter. + + Esc. My Lord, I am more amaz'd at his dishonor, +Then at the strangenesse of it + + Duk. Come hither Isabell, +Your Frier is now your Prince: As I was then +Aduertysing, and holy to your businesse, +(Not changing heart with habit) I am still, +Atturnied at your seruice + + Isab. Oh giue me pardon +That I, your vassaile, haue imploid, and pain'd +Your vnknowne Soueraigntie + + Duk. You are pardon'd Isabell: +And now, deere Maide, be you as free to vs. +Your Brothers death I know sits at your heart: +And you may maruaile, why I obscur'd my selfe, +Labouring to saue his life: and would not rather +Make rash remonstrance of my hidden powre, +Then let him so be lost: oh most kinde Maid, +It was the swift celeritie of his death, +Which I did thinke, with slower foot came on, +That brain'd my purpose: but peace be with him, +That life is better life past fearing death, +Then that which liues to feare: make it your comfort, +So happy is your Brother. + +Enter Angelo, Maria, Peter, Prouost. + + Isab. I doe my Lord + + Duk. For this new-maried man, approaching here, +Whose salt imagination yet hath wrong'd +Your well defended honor: you must pardon +For Mariana's sake: But as he adiudg'd your Brother, +Being criminall, in double violation +Of sacred Chastitie, and of promise-breach, +Thereon dependant for your Brothers life, +The very mercy of the Law cries out +Most audible, euen from his proper tongue. +An Angelo for Claudio, death for death: +Haste still paies haste, and leasure, answers leasure; +Like doth quit like, and Measure still for Measure: +Then Angelo, thy fault's thus manifested; +Which though thou would'st deny, denies thee vantage. +We doe condemne thee to the very Blocke +Where Claudio stoop'd to death, and with like haste. +Away with him + + Mar. Oh my most gracious Lord, +I hope you will not mocke me with a husband? + Duk. It is your husband mock't you with a husband, +Consenting to the safe-guard of your honor, +I thought your marriage fit: else Imputation, +For that he knew you, might reproach your life, +And choake your good to come: For his Possessions, +Although by confutation they are ours; +We doe en-state, and widow you with all, +To buy you a better husband + + Mar. Oh my deere Lord, +I craue no other, nor no better man + + Duke. Neuer craue him, we are definitiue + + Mar. Gentle my Liege + + Duke. You doe but loose your labour. +Away with him to death: Now Sir, to you + + Mar. Oh my good Lord, sweet Isabell, take my part, +Lend me your knees, and all my life to come, +I'll lend you all my life to doe you seruice + + Duke. Against all sence you doe importune her, +Should she kneele downe, in mercie of this fact, +Her Brothers ghost, his paued bed would breake, +And take her hence in horror + + Mar. Isabell: +Sweet Isabel, doe yet but kneele by me, +Hold vp your hands, say nothing: I'll speake 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. +Oh Isabel: will you not lend a knee? + Duke. He dies for Claudio's death + + Isab. Most bounteous Sir. +Looke if it please you, on this man condemn'd, +As if my Brother liu'd: I partly thinke, +A due sinceritie gouerned his deedes, +Till he did looke on me: Since it is so, +Let him not die: my Brother had but Iustice, +In that he did the thing for which he dide. +For Angelo, his Act did not ore-take his bad intent, +And must be buried but as an intent +That perish'd by the way: thoughts are no subiects +Intents, but meerely thoughts + + Mar. Meerely my Lord + + Duk. Your suite's vnprofitable: stand vp I say: +I haue bethought me of another fault. +Prouost, how came it Claudio was beheaded +At an vnusuall howre? + Pro. It was commanded so + + Duke. Had you a speciall warrant for the deed? + Pro. No my good Lord: it was by priuate message + + Duk. For which I doe discharge you of your office, +Giue vp your keyes + + Pro. Pardon me, noble Lord, +I thought it was a fault, but knew it not, +Yet did repent me after more aduice, +For testimony whereof, one in the prison +That should by priuate order else haue dide, +I haue reseru'd aliue + + Duk. What's he? + Pro. His name is Barnardine + + Duke. I would thou hadst done so by Claudio: +Goe fetch him hither, let me looke vpon him + + Esc. I am sorry, one so learned, and so wise +As you, Lord Angelo, haue stil appear'd, +Should slip so grosselie, both in the heat of bloud +And lacke of temper'd iudgement afterward + + Ang. I am sorrie, that such sorrow I procure, +And so deepe sticks it in my penitent heart, +That I craue death more willingly then mercy, +'Tis my deseruing, and I doe entreat it. + +Enter Barnardine and Prouost, Claudio, Iulietta. + + Duke. Which is that Barnardine? + Pro. This my Lord + + Duke. There was a Friar told me of this man. +Sirha, thou art said to haue a stubborne soule +That apprehends no further then this world, +And squar'st thy life according: Thou'rt condemn'd, +But for those earthly faults, I quit them all, +And pray thee take this mercie to prouide +For better times to come: Frier aduise him, +I leaue him to your hand. What muffeld fellow's that? + Pro. This is another prisoner that I sau'd, +Who should haue di'd when Claudio lost his head, +As like almost to Claudio, as himselfe + + Duke. If he be like your brother, for his sake +Is he pardon'd, and for your louelie sake +Giue me your hand, and say you will be mine, +He is my brother too: But fitter time for that: +By this Lord Angelo perceiues he's safe, +Methinkes I see a quickning in his eye: +Well Angelo, your euill quits you well. +Looke that you loue your wife: her worth, worth yours +I finde an apt remission in my selfe: +And yet heere's one in place I cannot pardon, +You sirha, that knew me for a foole, a Coward, +One all of Luxurie, an asse, a mad man: +Wherein haue I so deseru'd of you +That you extoll me thus? + Luc. '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 whipt + + Duke. Whipt first, sir, and hang'd after. +Proclaime it Prouost round about the Citie, +If any woman wrong'd by this lewd fellow +(As I haue heard him sweare himselfe there's one +whom he begot with childe) let her appeare, +And he shall marry her: the nuptiall finish'd, +Let him be whipt and hang'd + + Luc. I beseech your Highnesse doe not marry me to +a Whore: your Highnesse said euen now I made you a +Duke, good my Lord do not recompence me, in making +me a Cuckold + + Duke. Vpon mine honor thou shalt marrie her. +Thy slanders I forgiue, and therewithall +Remit thy other forfeits: take him to prison, +And see our pleasure herein executed + + Luc. Marrying a punke my Lord, is pressing to death, +Whipping and hanging + + Duke. Slandering a Prince deserues it. +She Claudio that you wrong'd, looke you restore. +Ioy to you Mariana, loue her Angelo: +I haue confes'd her, and I know her vertue. +Thanks good friend, Escalus, for thy much goodnesse, +There's more behinde that is more gratulate. +Thanks Prouost for thy care, and secrecie, +We shall imploy thee in a worthier place. +Forgiue him Angelo, that brought you home +The head of Ragozine for Claudio's, +Th' offence pardons it selfe. Deere Isabell, +I haue a motion much imports your good, +Whereto if you'll a willing eare incline; +What's mine is yours, and what is yours is mine. +So bring vs to our Pallace, where wee'll show +What's yet behinde, that meete you all should know. + +The Scene Vienna. + +The names of all the Actors. + + Vincentio: the Duke. + Angelo, the Deputie. + Escalus, an ancient Lord. + Claudio, a yong Gentleman. + Lucio, a fantastique. + 2. Other like Gentlemen. + Prouost. + Thomas. 2. Friers. + Peter. + Elbow, a simple Constable. + Froth, a foolish Gentleman. + Clowne. + Abhorson, an Executioner. + Barnardine, a dissolute prisoner. + Isabella, sister to Claudio. + Mariana, betrothed to Angelo. + Iuliet, beloued of Claudio. + Francisca, a Nun. + Mistris Ouer-don, a Bawd. + +FINIS. + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 2238 *** |