Escal. Slander to the state! Away with him to prison! Ang. What can you vouch against him, Signior Lucio? Is this the man that you did tell us of?

Lucio. 'Tis he, my lord. Come hither, goodman baldpate: do you know me?

325

Duke. I remember you, sir, by the sound of your voice: I met you at the prison, in the absence of the Duke. Lucio. O, did you so? And do you remember what you said of the Duke?

Duke. Most notedly, sir.

330

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

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

336

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

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

341

Escal. Such a fellow is not to be talked withal. Away with him to prison! Where is the provost ? Away with him to prison! lay bolts enough upon him: let him speak no more. Away with those giglets too, and with the other confederate companion!

Duke. [To the Provost] Stay, sir; stay awhile.
Ang. What, resists he? Help him, Lucio.

346

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

353

[Pulls off the friar's hood, and discovers the Duke. Duke. Thou art the first knave that e'er madest a Duke.

First, provost, let me bail these gentle three.
[To Lucio] Sneak not away, sir; for the friar and you
Must have a word anon. Lay hold on him.

Lucio. This may prove worse than hanging.

355

Duke. [To Escalus] What you have spoke I pardon:

sit you down:

We'll borrow place of him. [To Angelo] Sir, by your leave.

Hast thou or word, or wit, or impudence,

That yet can do thee office? If thou hast,

Rely upon it till my tale be heard,

And hold no longer out.

Ang.

O my dread lord,

I should be guiltier than my guiltiness,
To think I can be undiscernible,

When I perceive your Grace, like power divine,
Hath look'd upon my passes. Then, good prince,

No longer session hold upon my shame,
But let my trial be mine own confession:
Immediate sentence then, and sequent death,
Is all the grace I beg.

Come hither, Mariana.

361

365

370

Say, wast thou e'er contracted to this woman?

Ang. I was, my lord.

Duke. Go take her hence, and marry her instantly.

Do you the office, friar; which consummate,
Return him here again. Go with him, provost.

376

[Exeunt Angelo, Mariana, Friar Peter and Provost. Escal. My lord, I am more amazed at his dishonour

Than at the strangeness of it.

Duke.

Come hither, Isabel.

380

Your friar is now your prince: as I was then
Advertising and holy to your business,

Not changing heart with habit, I am still

Attorney'd at your service.

Isab.

O, give me pardon,

That I, your vassal, have employ'd and pain'd

Your unknown sovereignty!

Duke.

You are pardon'd, Isabel: 385

And now, dear maid, be you as free to us.

Your brother's death, I know, sits at your heart;

And you may marvel why I obscured myself,
Labouring to save his life, and would not rather
Make rash remonstrance of my hidden power
Than let him so be lost. O most kind maid,

It was the swift celerity of his death,
Which I did think with slower foot came on,
That brain'd my purpose. But, peace be with him!
That life is better life, past

fearing death,

390

395

Than that which lives to fear: make it your comfort,

So happy is your brother.

Isab.

I do, my lord.

Re-enter ANGELO, MARIANA, FRIAR PETER, and PROVOST.

Duke. For this new-married man, approaching here,

Whose salt imagination yet hath wrong'd

Your well-defended honour, you must pardon

400

For Mariana's sake: but as he adjudged your brother,

'An Angelo for Claudio, death for death!'

Haste still pays haste, and leisure answers leisure;
Like doth quit like, and MEASURE still FOR MEASURE.

Then, Angelo, thy fault's thus manifested;
Which, though thou wouldst deny, denies thee vantage.
We do condemn thee to the very block
Where Claudio stoop'd to death, and with like haste.

410

Mari.

O my most gracious lord,

Away with him!

I hope you will not mock me with a husband.

415

Duke. It is your husband mock'd you with a husband.

Consenting to the safeguard of your honour,
I thought your marriage fit; else imputation,
For that he knew you, might reproach your life,
And choke your good to come: for his possessions,

Although by confiscation they are ours,
We do instate and widow you withal,

To buy you a better husband.

Mari.

O my dear lord,

I crave no other, nor no better man.

Duke. Never crave him; we are definitive.

Mari. Gentle my liege,

Duke.

420

425

[Kneeling.

You do but lose your labour. Away with him to death! [To Lucio] Now, sir, to you. Mari. O my good lord! Sweet Isabel, take my part;

Lend me your knees, and all my life to come
I'll lend you all my life to do you service.

Duke. Against all sense you do importune her:
Should she kneel down in mercy of this fact,
Her brother's ghost his paved bed would break,
And take her hence in horror.

Sweet Isabel, do yet but kneel by me;

Hold up your hands, say nothing, I'll speak all.
They say, best men are moulded out of faults;
And, for the most, become much more the better
For being a little bad: so may my husband.
O Isabel, will you not lend a knee?

Duke. He dies for Claudio's death.
Isab.

430

435

440

Most bounteous sir, [Kneeling.