ACT I. SCENE I. — An Apartment in the Duke's Palace. Enter Duke, ESCALUS, and Lords. Duke. Escalus, Esc. My lord. Duke. Of government the properties to unfold, Would seem in me t'affect speech and discourse, Since I am put to know, that your own science Exceeds in that the lists of all advice My strength can give you: Then no more remains But that to your sufficiency, as your worth is able, And let them work. The nature of our people, Our city's institutions, and the terms For common justice, y'are as pregnant in As art and practice hath enriched any That we remember: There is our commission, | How it goes with us, and do look to know Ang. From which we would not have you warp. Call hither, That does affect it. Once more, fare you well. I say, bid come before us Angelo. What figure of us think you he will bear? Lent him our terror, drest him with our love, There is a kind of character in thy life, As if we had them not. Spirits are not finely touch'd Both thanks and use; but I do bend my speech Hold, therefore, Angelo: In our remove, be thou at full ourself; Live in thy tongue and heart: Old Escalus, Ang. The heavens give safety to your purposes! Esc. Lead forth, and bring you back in happiness! Duke. I thank you. - Fare you well. [Exit. Esc. I shall desire you, sir, to give me leave To have free speech with you; and it concerns me To look into the bottom of my place: A power I have, but of what strength and nature, I am not yet instructed. Ang. 'Tis so with me:-Let us withdraw together, And we may soon our satisfaction have Touching that point. Esc. I'll wait upon your honour. SCENE II. A Street. Enter Lucio, and two Gentlemen. [Exeunt. Lucio. If the duke, with the other dukes, come not to composition with the king of Hungary, why then all the dukes fall upon the king. 1st Gent. Heaven grant us its peace; but not the king of Hungary's! 2d Gent. Amen. Lucio. Thou concludest like the sanctimonious pirate, that went to sea with the ten commandments, but scraped one out of the table. 2d Gent. Thou shalt not steal? Lucio. Ay, that he razed. 1st Gent. Why, 'twas a commandment to command the captain and all the rest from their functions; they put forth to steal: there's not a soldier of us all, that, in the thanksgiving before meat, doth relish the petition well that prays for peace. 2d Gent. I never heard any soldier dislike it. Lucio. I believe thee; for, I think, thou never wast where grace was said. But see, where Madam Mitigation comes. Enter Mrs. OVERDONE. Overdone. There's one yonder, arrested and carried to prison, was worth five thousand of you all. 1st. Gent. Who's that, I pray thee? Overd. Marry sir, that's Claudio, Signior Claudio. 1st Gent. Claudio to prison! 'tis not so. Overd. Nay, but I know 'tis so: I saw him arrested; saw him carried away; and, which is more, within these three days his head's to be chopped off. Lucio. But, after all this fooling, I would not have it so: art thou sure of this? Claud. No. [ Lucio. A hundred, if they'll do y Claud. Thus stands it with me: I got possession of Julietta's bed; Lucio. I warrant, it is: and thy tickle on thy shoulders, that a milk-1 in love, may sigh it off. Send after appeal to him. Claud. I have done so, but he's n I pr'ythee, Lucio, do me this kind so This day my sister should the cloiste And there receive her approbation: Acquaint her with the danger of my Implore her, in my voice, that she m To the strict deputy: bid herself ass I have great hope in that: for in her There is a prone and speechless diale Such as moves men: beside, she hath When she will play with reason and And well she can persuade. Lucio. I pray, she may: as well ragement of the like, which else wou grievous imposition; as for the enjoy who I would be sorry should be thus I'll to her. Claud. I thank you, good friend I SCENE IV.A Monast Enter Duke and Friar THO Duke. No; holy father; throw away Believe not that the dribbling dart of Can pierce a complete bosom: why To give me secret harbour, hath a pu How I have ever lov'd the life remov'd; (A man of stricture and firm abstinence) Duke. We have strict statutes, and most biting laws, (The needful bits and curbs for head-strong steeds,) Becomes more mock'd than fear'd: so our decrees, I have on Angelo impos'd the office; Supply me with the habit, and instruct me Is more to bread than stone: Hence shall we see, SCENE V. - A Nunnery. Enter ISABELLA and FRANCISCA. [Exeunt. Isab. And have you nuns no further privileges ? Fran. Are not these large enough? Isab. Yes, truly: I speak not as desiring more; But rather wishing a more strict restraint Upon the sisterhood, the votarists of saint Clare. Lucio. Ho! Peace be in this place! [Within. Isab. Who's that which calls? Fran. It is a man's voice: Gentle Isabella, Turn you the key, and know his business of him; You may, I may not; you are yet unsworn: When you have vow'd, you must not speak with Or if you show your face, you must not speak. He calls again; I pray you answer him. [Exit FRANCISCA. Isab. Peace and prosperity! Who is't that calls? Enter LUCIO. Lucio. Hail, virgin, if you be ; as those cheek-roses Proclaim you are no less! Can you so stead me, As bring me to the sight of Isabella, A novice of this place, and the fair sister The rather, for I now must make you know Lucio. Gentle and fair, your brother kindly greets The duke is very strangely gone from hence; By those that know the very nerves of state, Lucio. Isab. Alas! what poor ability's in me To do him good? 1 Do not make a jest of me. 2 In few and true words. 3 Sentenced, Whom I would save, had a most noble father. (Whom I believe to be most straight in virtue,) Ang. 'Tis one thing to be tempted, Escalus, The jury, passing on the prisoner's life, Enter Provost and a Servant. Serv. He's hearing of a cause; he will come straight. I'll tell him of you. Prov. Pray you, do. [Erit Servant.] I'll know his pleasure; may be, he will relent: Ang. Enter ANGELO. Now, what's the matter, Provost? Prov. Is it your will Claudio shall die tomorrow? Ang. Did I not tell thee, yea? hadst thou not order? Why dost thou ask again? Guiltier than him they try: What's open made to To some more fitter place; and that with speed. justice, That justice seizes. What know the laws, That thieves do pass on thieves? 'Tis very pregnant, The jewel that we find, we stoop and take it, We tread upon, and never think of it. For I have had such faults; but rather tell me, [Exeunt ANGELO and Provost. Escal. Well, heaven forgive him; and forgive Well; what's your suit? Ang Isab. There is a vice that most I do abhor, And most desire should meet the blow of justice; For which I would not plead, but that I must; For which I must not plead, but that I am At-war, 'twixt will, and will not. Ang. Isab. I have a brother is condemn'd to die: Prov. Heaven give thee moving graces! Well; the matter? | Those many had not dar'd to do that evil, O just, but severe law! I had a brother then. - Heaven keep your honour! [Retiring. to him Lucio. [To ISAB.] Give't not o'er so: Kneel down before him, hang upon his gown; Isab. Must he needs die? Maiden, no remedy, Isab. Yes; I do think that you might pardon him. If so, your heart were touch'd with that remorse Ang. He's. sentenc'd: 'tis too late. Isab. I would to heaven I had your potency, Lucio. Ay, touch him: there's the vein. [Aside. Isab. Alas! alas! Why, all the souls that were, were forfeit once; Ang. It should be thus with him;-he must die to-morrow. He's not prepar'd for death! Good, good my lord, bethink you : Who is it that hath died for this offence? There's many have committed it. Lucio. Ay, well said. Ang. The law hath not been dead, though it hath slept: Yet show some pity. Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven, Luc. O, to him, to him, wench: he will relent; Prov. Pray heaven she win him! Isab. We cannot weigh our brother with yourself: Great men may jest with saints: 'tis wit in them; But, in the less, foul profanation. Lucio. Thou'rt in the right, girl; more o' that. Lucio. Art advis'd o'that? more on't. That skins the vice o' the top: Go to your bosom; Ang. She speaks, and 'tis Such sense, that my sense breeds with it. Fare you well. morrow. Come again to |