you, Sir, here s the band and seal of the duke. You know the character, I doubt not; and the signet is not strange to you.

Prov. I know them both.

Duke. The contents of this is the return of the duke; you shall anon over-read it at your pleasure; where you shall find, within these two days he will be here. This is a thing, that Angelo knows not: for he this very day receives letters of strange tenor; perchance, of the duke's death; perchance, entering into some monastery: but, by chance, nothing of what is writ. Look, the unfolding star calls up the shepherd; Put not yourself into amazement, how these things should be: all difficulties are but easy when they are known. Call your executioner, and off with Barnardine's head: I will give him a present shrift, and advise him, for a better place. Yet you are amazed; but this shall absolutely resolve you. Come away; it is almost clear dawn. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-Another Room in the same.

Enter CLOWN.

Clo. I am as well acquainted here, as I was in our house of profession: one would think, it were mistress Over-done's own house, for here be many of her old customers. First, here's young master Rash ; he's in for a commodity of brown paper and old ginger, ninescore and seventeen pounds; of which he made five marks ready money: marry, then, ginger was not much in request, for the old women were all dead. Then is there here one master Caper, at the suit of master Three-pile the mercer, for some four suits of peach-colour'd satin, which now peaches him a beggar. Then bave we here young Dizy, and young master Deep-vow, and master Copper-spur, and master Starvelackey the rapier and dagger-man, and young Drop-heir that kill'd lusty Pudding, and master Forthright the tilter, and brave master Shoe-tie the great traveller, and wild Half-can that stabb'd Pots, and, I think, forty more; all great doers in our trade, and are now for the Lord's sake.

Enter ABHORSON.

Abhor. Sirrah, bring Barnardine hither.

Duke. Sir, induced by my charity, and bearing how hastily you are to depart, I am come to advise you, comfort you, and pray with you.

Barnar. Friar, not I; I have been drinking hard all night, and I will have more time to prepare me, or they shal! beat out my brains with billets: I will not consent to die this day, that's certain.

Duke. O Sir, you must: and therefore, I beseech you,

Look forward on the journey you shall go. Barnar. I swear I will not die to-day for any man's persuasion.

Duke. But hear you,——

Barnar. Not a word; if you have any thing to say to me, come to my ward; for thence will not I to-day. [Exit.

And, to transport him in the mind he is,
Were damnable.

Prov. Here in the prison, father,
There died this morning of a cruel fever
One Ragozine, a most notorious pirate,
A man of Claudio's years; his beard and head,
Just of his colour: What if we do omit
This reprobate, till he were well inclin'd;
And satisfy the deputy with the visage
Of Ragozine, more like to Claudio?
Duke. Oh! 'tis an accident that heaven pro-
vides ;
Despatch it presently; the hour draws on
Prefix'd by Angelo: See this be done,
And sent according to command; while I
Persuade this rude wretch willingly to die.
Prov. This shall be done, good father, pre-

sently.

Abhor. What, ho, Barnardine !

Barnar. [Within.] A pox o' your throats! Who makes that noise there? What are you? Clo. Your friends, Sir; the hangman: You must be so good, Sir, to rise and be put to death.

Barnar. [Within.] Away, you rogue, away; I am sleepy.

Abhor. Tell him, he must awake, and that quickly too.

Clo. Pray, master Barnardine, awake till you are executed, and sleep afterwards.

Abhor. Go in to him, and fetch him out. Clo. He is coming, Sir, he is coming; I hear his straw rustle.

The under generation, ⚫ you shall find
Your safety manifested.

Prov. I am your free dependant.
Duke. Quick, despatch,

And send the head to Angelo. [Exit PROVOST,
Now will I write letters to Angelo,-
The provost, he shall bear them, whose con-

tents

Shall witness to him, I am near at home;
And that, by great injunctions, I am bound
To enter publicly: him, I'll desire
To meet me at the consecrated fount,
A league below the city; and from thence,
By cold gradation and weal-balanced form,
We shall proceed with Angelo.

eyes.

Duke. You shall not be admitted to his sight. Isab. Unhappy Claudio! Wretched Isabel ! Injurious world! Most damned Angelo!

Duke. This nor hurts him, nor profits you a jot:

Forbear it therefore; give your cause to heaven.
Mark what I say; which you shall find
By every syllable, a faithful verity:

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

SCENE IV.-A Room in ANGELO's House. Enter ANGELO and ESCALUS.

Escal. Every letter he hath writ hath disvouch'd other.

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

Escal. I guess not.

Ang. And why should we proclaim it in an hour before his entering, that if any crave redress of injustice, they should exhibit their petitions in the street?

Escal. He shows his reason for that: to have

your wisdom

In that good path that I would wish it go;
And you shall have your bosom on this wretch,
Grace of the duke, revenges to your heart,
And general honour.

Isab. I am directed by you.

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

At Mariana's house to night. Her cause, and yours,

I'll perfect him withal; and he shall bring you Before the duke; and to the head of Angelo Accuse him home, and home. For my poor self, I am combined by a sacred vow,

And shall be absent. Wend + you with this letter:

Command these fretting waters from your eyes With a light heart; trust not mine holy order, If I pervert your course.-Who's here?

Enter LUCIO.

Lucio. Good even! Friar, where is the provost ?

Duke. Not within, Sir.

Lucio. O pretty Isabella, I am pale at mine heart, to see thine eyes so red: thou must be patient; I am fain to dine and sup with water and bran; I dare not for my head fill my belly; one fruitful meal would set me to't: But they say the duke will be here to-morrow. By my troth, Isabel, I lov'd thy brother: if the old fantastical duke of dark corners had been at home, he had [Exit ISABELLA. Duke. Sir, the duke is marvellous little beholden to your reports; but the best is, he lives not in them.

lived.

Lucio. Friar, thou knowest not the duke so well as I do he's a better woodman than thou takest him for.

Duke. Well, you'll answer this one day. Fare ye well.

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

Duke. You have told me too many of him already, Sir, if they be true; if not true, none were enough.

Lucio. I was once before him for getting a wench with child.

Duke. Did you such a thing?

Lucio. Yes, marry, did I: but was fain to forswear it they would else have married me to tho ten medlar.

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

devices hereafter, which shall then have no power to stand against us.

Ang. Well, I beseech you, let it be proclaim'd :
Betimes i'the morn, I'll call you at your house :
Give notice to such men of sort and suit, t
As are to meet him.

Escal. I shall, Sir, fare you well.
Ang. Good night.-

[Eait.

This deed unshapes me quite, makes me unpreg.

nant,

And dull to all proceedings. A deflower'd maid!
And by an eminent body, that enforc'd
The law against it!-But that her tender shame
Will not proclaim against her maiden loss,
How might she tongue me? Yet reason dares t
her ?-no;

For my authority bears a credent ý bulk,
That no particular scandal once can touch,
But it confounds the breather. He should have
liv'd,

Save that his riotous youth, with dangerous sense,

Might, in the times to come, have ta'en revenge
By so receiving a dishonour'd life,
With ransom of such shame. 'Would yet he had
liv'd!

Alack, when once our grace we have forgot, Nothing goes right; we would, and we would [Exit.

not.

SCENE V.-Fields without the Town. Enter DUKE in his own habit, and Friar PETER.

Duke. These letters at fit time deliver me. [Giving letters. The provost knows our purpose, and our plot. The matter being afoot, keep your instruction, And hold you ever to our special drift; Though sometimes you do blench ¶ from this to that,

As cause doth minister. Go, call at Flavius' house,

And tell him where I stay: give the like notice,
To Valentinus, Rowland, and to Crassus,
And bid them bring the trumpets to the gate;
But send me Flavius first.

F. Peter. It shall be speeded well.

Enter VARRIUS.

[Exit FRIAR.

I would say the truth; but to accuse him so,
That is your part; yet I'm advis'd to do it:
He says, to veil full purpose.

Mari. Be rul'd by him.

Isab. Besides, he tells me, that, if paradventure

He speak against me on the adverse side,

I should not think it strange; for 'tis a physic,
That's bitter to sweet end.

Mari. I would, friar Peter-
Isab. O peace; the friar is come.

Enter Friar PETER.

SCENE I.-A public Place near the City Gate.

MARIANA, (veiled,) ISABELLA, and PETER, at a distance. Enter at opposite doors, DUKE, VARRIUS, Lords; ANGELO, ESCALUS, LUCIO, PROVOST, Officers, and Citizens. Duke. My very worthy cousin, fairly met:Our old and faithful friend, we are glad to see you.

Ang. and Escal. Happy return be to your royal grace!

Duke. Many and hearty thankings to
both.

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

Ang. You make my bouds still greater.

you

Ang. And she will speak most bitterly, and strange.

Isab. Most strange, but yet most truly, will
I speak :

That Angelo's forsworn; is it not strange?
That Angelo's a murderer; is't not strange !
That Angelo is an adulterous thief,

An bypocrite, a virgin violator;
Is it not strange, and strange ?

Duke. Nay, ten times strange.
Isab. It is not truer he is Angelo,
Than this is all as true as it is strange ;
Nay, it is ten times true; for truth is truth
To the end of reckoning.

Duke. Away with her:-Poor soul,

She speaks this in the infirmity of sense.
Isab. O prince, I conjure thee, as thou be
liev'st

There is another comfort than this world,
That thou neglect me not, with that opinion
That I am touch'd with madness: inake not
impossible

That which but seems unlike: 'tis not impossi ble,

But one, the wicked'st caitiff on the ground,
May seem as shy, as grave, as just, as absolute,
As Angelo; even so may Angelo,

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

Duke. By mine honesty,

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

Isab. O gracious duke,

Isab. I am the sister of one Claudio. Condemn'd upon the act of fornication

should wrong it,

To lock it in the wards of covert bosom,
When it deserves with characters of brass
A forted residence, 'gainst the tooth of time,
And razure of oblivion: Give me your hand,
And let the subjects see, to make them know
That outward courtesies would fain proclaim
Favours that keep within.-Come, Escalus;
You must walk by us on our other hand ;-
And good supporters are you.

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

Isab. Justice, O royal duke! Vail regard

your

Upon a wrong'd, I'd fain have said, a maid!
O worthy prince, dishonour not your eye
By throwing it on any other object,

Till you have heard me in my true complaint
And give me justice, justice, justice, justice !
Duke. Relate your wrongs: In

whom? Be brief:

I, in probation of a sisterbood,

Was sent to by my brother: One Lucio
As then the messenger ;-

Lucio. That's I, an't like your grace:

I come to her from Claudio, and desir'd her
To try her gracious fortune with lord Angelo,
For her poor brother's pardon.

Isab. That's he, indeed.

Duke. You were not bid to speak.

Lucio. No, my good lord;

Nor wish'd to hold my peace.

Duke. I wish you now then;

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

Lucio. I warrant your honour.

Duke. The warrant's for yourself; take heed to it.

Isab. This gentleman told somewhat of my

tale.

what? By

Lucio. Right.

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

Isab. I went

To this pernicious caitiff deputy.

Duke. That's somewhat madly spoken. Isab. Pardon it;

The phrase is to the matter.

[wrong

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

As there is sense in truth, and truth in virtue,
I am affianc'd this man's wife, as strongly
As words could make up vows: and, my good
lord,

But Tuesday night last gone, in his garden-house,
He knew nie as a wife: As this is true
Let me in safety raise me from my knees;
Or else for ever be confixed here,
A marble monument !

Ang. I did but smile till now;
Now, good my lord, give me the scope of justice;
My patience here is touch'd: I do perceive,
These poor informal women are no more
But instruments of some more mightier member,
That sets them on: Let me have way, my lord,
To find this practice + out.

Duke. Ay, with my heart;

And punish them unto your height of pleasure.
Thou foolish friar; and, thou pernicious woman,
Compact with her that's gone! think'st thou, thy
oaths,
[saint,
Though they would swear down each particular
Were testimonies against bis worth and credit,
That's seal'd in approbation ?-You, lord Escalus,
Sit with my cousin; lend him your kind pains
To find out this abuse, whence 'tis derived.-
There is another friar that set them on;
Let him be sent for.

Escal. The duke's in us; and we will hear you. Look, you speak justly.

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

Lucio. This is the rascal: this is he I spoke of. Escal. Why, thou 'unreverend and unhallow'd friar !

Is't not enough, thou hast suborn'd these women
To accase this worthy man; but, in foul mouth,
And in the witness of his proper ear,
To call him villain?

[self;

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

Dare no more stretch this finger of mine, than he
Dare rack his own; his subject am I not,
Nor here provincial: My business in this state
Made me a looker-on here in Vienna,

Where I have seen corruption boil and bubble,
Till it o'er-run the stew: laws, for all faults:

he, indeed,

Hath set the women on to this complaint:

Your provost knows the place where he abides, And he may fetch him.

Duke. Go, do it instantly.

[Exit PROVOST. And you, my noble and well-warranted cousin, Whom it concerns to hear this matter forth, $ Do with your injuries as seems you best, In any chastisement: 1 for a while Will leave you; but stir not you, till you have Determined upon these slanderers.

[well

Escal. My lord, we'll do it thoroughly.-[Exit DUKE.] Siguior Lucio, did not you say, you knew that friar Lodowick to be a dishonest person ?

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

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

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

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

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

Re-enter Officers, with ISABELLA, the DUKE, in the Friar's habit, and PROVOST. Escal. I will go darkly to work with her. Lucio. That's the way for women are light at midnight.

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

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

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

Lucio. Mum.

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

Duke. 'Tis false.

Escal. How! know you where you are? Duke. Respect to your great place! and let the devil

Be sometime honour'd for his burning throne :Where is the duke? 'tis he should hear me speak:

• Crazy.

tutes

Stand like the forfeits in a barber's shop,
As much in mock as mark.

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

Ang. What can you vouch against him, signior Lucio?

Is this the man that you did tell us of?

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

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

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

Duke. Most notedly, Sir.

Lucio. Do you so, Sir? And was the duke a flesh-monger, a fool, and a coward, as you then reported him to be ?

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

Lucio. O thou damnable fellow! Did not I pluck thee by the nose, for thy speeches? Duke. I protest, I love the duke, as I love myself.

Ang. Hark! how the villain would close now, after his treasonable abuses.

Escal. Such a fellow is not to be talk'd withal: -Away with him to prison :-Where is the provost-Away with him to prison; lay bolts enough upon him: let him speak no more:-Away with those giglots too, and with the other confederate companion.

[The PROVOST lays hands on the DUKE. Duke. Stay, Sir; stay a while. Ang. What resists he? Help him, Lucio. Lucio. Come, Sir; come, Sir; come, Sir; foh, Sir: Why, you bald-pated, lying rascal! you must be hooded, must you? Show your knave's visage, with a pox to you! show your sheepbiting face, and be hang'd an hour! Will't not off?

[Pulls off the Friar's hood, and discovers the DUKE.

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

First, Provost, let me cail these gentle three :-Sneak not away, Sir; [76 LuCIO.] for the friar and you

Must have a word anon :-lay hold on him. Lucio. This may prove worse than hanging. Duke. What you have spoke, I pardon; sit you down.[TO ESCALUS.

↑ Conspiracy.

1 To the end.

Refer back.

+ Accountable.

I Wantons.