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

Mari. I would, friar Peter -
ISAB.

O, peace; the friar is come.

Enter Friar PETER.

F. Peter. Come, I have found you out a stand

nio it fit, Where you may have such vantage on the duke, He shall not pass you: Twice have the trumpets

founded; The generous' and gravest citizens Have hent the gates, and

very

near upon The duke is ent'ring; therefore hence, away.

(Exeunt.

4

Enter Friar Peter. ] This play has two friars, either of whom might singly have served. I should therefore imagine, that Friar Thomas, in the fift a&, might be changed, without any harm, to Friar Peter; for why should the Duke unnecessarily trust two in an affair which required only one? The name of Friar Thomas is never mentioned in the dialogue, and therefore seems arbitrarily placed at the head of the scene. Johnson.

s. The generous, &c.] i, e. the most noble, &c. Generous is here used in its Latin sense. " l'irgo generosa et nobilis." Cicero. Shakspeare uses it again in Othello :

the generous isanders " By you invited

STEEVENS. 6 Have hent the gates, ] Have seized or taken poffeffion of the gates. JOHNSON. So, in Sir A. Gorges' translation of the 4th book of Lucan:

--- did prevent

" His foes, ere they the hills had hent. " Again, in T. Heywood's Rape of Lucrece, 1630 :

4. Lament thee, Roman land,

" The king is from thee hent." Again, in the black-letter Romance of Syr Eglamoure of Artogs, no date :

" But with the childe homeward gan ryde
1. That fro the gryffon was hent.

A publick Place near the City Gate. MARIANA (veild) ISABELLA, and PETER, at a dif

tance. Enter at oppofite 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 you 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, Fore-running more requital. ANG.

You make my bonds still greater.
DUKE. O, your desert speaks loud; and I 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 ·

Again, in the ancient metrical Romance of Syr Guy of Warwick, b. l. no date :

* Some by the arms hent good Guy, " &c. Again,

" And some by the bridle him hent." Senser often uses the word hend for to jeize or take, and overher.de for to overtake. STEEVENS.

Hent, henten, hende, (says Junius, in his Etymologicon, ) Chanceto eft, capere, affequi, prehendere, arripere, ab A. S. hendan.

MALONE,

That outward courtesies would fain proclaim
Favours that keep within.—Come, Efcalus ;
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 your regard?
Upon a wrong’d, I'd fain have said, a maid!
(worthy prince, dishonour not your eye
By throwing it on any other object,
Till

you have heard me in my true complaint, And given me justice, justice, justice, justice! DUKE. Relate your wrongs : In what? By whom?

Be brief:
Here is lord Angelo fhall give you justice;
Reveal yourself to him.
ISAB.

0, worthy duke,
You bid me seek redemption of the devil :
Hear me yourself; for that which I must speak
Must either punish me, not being believ'd,
Or wring redress from you: hear me, O, hear me,

here.

woman.

INSON.

7 Vail your regard - ] That is, withdraw your thoughts from higher things , let your notice descend upon a wronged

To vail is to lower. JOHNS This is one of the few expresions which might have been borrowed from the old play of Promos and Calandra, 1578:

vail thou thine ears.
So, in Stanynurft's translation of the 4th Book of Virgil's Æncid:

Phrygio liceat servire marito.
• Let Dido vail her heart to bed-fellow Trojan. "

STEEVENS.
Thus also, in Hamlet :

« Do not for cver, with thy vailed lids,

Scek for thy noble father in the duft." Henley.