The Complete Works of Shakespeare

Ang. What can you vouch against him Sigmor Lucio?

Lucio. Cucullus non facit monachum: honest in nothing but in his clothes; and one that hath spoke most villainous 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, here 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.

poor souls,

Boldly, at least: but O,

Come you to seek the lamb here of the fox? Good night to your redress. 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 unhallowed friar!

Is't not enough thou hast suborn'd these women,
To accuse this worthy man? but, in foul mouth,
And in the witness of his proper ear,
To call him villain? and then to glance from him
To the duke himself, to tax him with injustice?
Take him hence; to the rack with him:-We'll

touze you

Joint by joint, but we will know his purpose: What! unjust?

Duke. Be rot so hot: 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'errun the stew: laws, for all faults;
But faults so countenanc'd, that the strong statutes
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.

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

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 giglots too, and with the other confederate companion. [The Provost lays hands on the DUKE Duke. Stay, sir; stay awhile.

Ang. What! resists he? Help him, Lucio. Lucio. Come, sir; come, sir; come, sir; foh, sir: why, you baldpated lying rascal! you must be hooded, must you? Show your knave's visage, with a pox to you! show your sheeping face, and be hanged 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.

Sneak not away, sir; [to LUCIO] for the friar and you First, provost, let me bail these gentle three :Must have a word anon :-lay hold on him.

Laco. This may prove worse than hanging. Duke. What you have spoke, I pardon; sit you down. [To ESCALUS. We'll borrow place of him--Sir, by your leave: [To ANG.

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.

Duke. Come hither, Mariana :— 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. [Exeunt ANG., MARI., PETER, and Prov. Escal. My lord, I am more amaz'd at his dishonour, Than at the strangeness of it

Duke,

MEASURE FOR MEASURE.

Come hither, Isabel:
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.

1sab.

O give me pardon, That I, your vassal, have employ'd and pain'd Your unknown sovereignty.

Duke.

You are pardon'd, Isabel :
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 obscur'd 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,

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

So happy is your brother.

Re-enter ANGELO, MARIANA, PETER, and Provost.
Isab.
I do, my lord.

Duke. For this new-married man, approaching

here,

Whose salt imagination yet hath wrong'd
Your well-defended honour, you must pardon

For Mariana's sake: but as he adjudg'd your
brother

(Being criminal, in double violation

Of sacred chastity, and of promise-breach
Thereon, dependent, for your brother's life),
The very mercy of the law cries out
Most audible, even from his proper tongue,
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;
Away with him.

Mari.
O, my most gracious lord,
I hope you will not mock me with a husband!
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.
[Kneeling.
Mari. Gentle my liege,—
Duke.
You do but lose your labour;
Away with him to death.-Now, sir [to LUCIO], to
you.

Mari. O, my good lord!-Sweet Isabel, take my
part;

Lena 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.

Isabel.

Mar.
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.
Most bounteous sir, [Kneeling
Look, if it please you, on this man condemn'd,
As if my brother liv'd: I partly think,
A due sincerity govern'd his deeds,
Till he did look on me; since it is so,
Let him not die: My brother had but justice
In that he did the thing for which he died:
For Angelo,

His act did not o'ertake his bad intent;
And must be buried but as an intent
That perish'd by the way: thoughts are no subjects
Intents but merely thoughts.

Mari.

Merely, my lord.
Duke. Your suit's unprofitable: stand up, I say
I have bethought me of another fault:-
Provost, how came it Claudio was beheaded
At an unusual hour?
It was commanded so.
Prov
Duke. Had you a special warrant for the deed?
Prov. No, my good lord; it was by private

message.

Duke. For which I do discharge you of your office: Give up your keys.

Prov.

Pardon me, noble lord.
I thought it was a fault, but knew it not;
Yet did repent me, after more advice:
For testimony wherof, one in the prison,
That should by private orders else have died,
I have reserv'd alive.

Duke.

What's he?

His name is Barnardine.
Prov.
Duke. I would thou hadst done so by Claudio.-
Go, fetch him hither; let me look upon him.
[Exit Provost.

Escal. I am sorry, one so learned and so wise
As you, Lord Angelo, have still appear'd,
Should slip so grossly, both in the heat of blood,
And lack of temper'd judgment afterward.

Ang. I am sorry that such sorrow I procure:
And so deep sticks it in my penitent heart,
That I crave death more willingly than mercy;
'T is my deserving, and I do entreat it.

Re-enter Provost, BARNARDINE, CLAUDIO, and
JULIET.

Duke. Which is that Barnardine?

This, my lord.
Prov.
Duke. There was a friar told me of this man:-
Sirrah, thou art said to have a stubborn soul,
That apprehends no further than this world,
And squar'st thy life according. Thou'rt con
demn'd;

But, for those earthly faults, I quit them all;
And pray thee, take this mercy to provide
For better times to coine:-Fiiar, advise him,
I leave him to your hand.- What muffled fellow's
that?

Prov. This is anothe⚫ prisoner that I sav'd,
That should have died when Claudio lost his head,
As like almost to Claudio as himself.

[Unmuffles CLAUDIO. Duke. If he be like your brother [to ISABELLA].

for his sake

Is he pardon'd: And, for your lovely sake,
Give me your hand, and say you will be mine;
He is my brother 50: But fitter time for that.
By this, Lord Ang-lo perceives he's safe;
Methinks, I see a quick'ning in his eye:-
Well, Angelo, your evil quits you well:
Look that you love your wife; her worth, worth
⚫ yours.-

I find an apt remission in myself:

And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon:You, sirrah [to LUCIO], that knew me for a fool, a coward,

One all of luxury, an ass, a madman;
Wherein have I so deserv'd of you,
That you extol me thus?

Lucio. '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 whipped.

Duke. Whipp'd first, sir, and hang'd after. Proclaim it, provost, round about the city; If any woman's wrong'd by this lewd fellow, (As I have heard him swear himself there's one Whom he begot with child), let her appear, And he shall marry her: the nuptial finish'd, Let him be whipp'd and hang'd.

Lucio. I beseech your highness, do not marry me to a whore! Your highness said even now, I made you a duke; good my lord, do not recompense me in making me a cuckold.

Duke. Upon mine honour, thou shalt marry her Thy slanders I forgive; and therewithal Remit thy other forfeits:-Take him to prison: And see our pleasure herein executed.

Lucio. Marrying a punk, my lord, is pressing to death, whipping, and hanging.

Duke. Slandering a prince deserves it.She, Claudio, that you wrong'd, look you restore. Joy to you, Mariana!-love her, Angelo; I have confess'd her, and I know her virtue. Thanks, good friend Escalus, for thy much goodness. There's more behind that is more gratulate. Thanks, provost, for thy care and secresy; We shall employ thee in a worthier place:Forgive him, Angelo, that brought you home The head of Ragozine for Claudio's; The offence pardons itself.-Dear Isabel, I have a motion much imports your good Whereto if you'll a willing ear incline, What's mine is yours and what is yours is mine So, bring us to our palace; where we'll show What's yet behind, that's meet you all should know [Exeunt

[graphic][ocr errors][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

SCENE I.-Street in Messina.

Enter LEONATO, HERO, BEATRICE, and others, with a Messenger.

Leon. I learn in this letter, that Don Pedro of Arragon comes this night to Messina.

Mess. He is very near by this; he was not three leagues off when I left him.

Leon. How many gentlemen have you lost in this action?

Mess. But few of any sort, and none of name. Leon. A victory is twice itself when the achiever brings home full numbers. I find here, that Don Pedro hath bestowed much honour on a young Florentine, called Claudio.

Mess. Much deserved on his part, and equally remembered by Don Pedro: He hath borne himself beyond the promise of his age; doing, in the figure of a lamb, the feats of a lion: he hath, indeed, better bettered expectation than you must expect of me to tell you how.

Leon. He hath an uncle here in Messina will be very much glad of it.

Mess. I have already delivered him letters, and there appears much joy in him; even so much that joy could not show itself modest enough without a badge of bitterness.

Leon. Did he break out into tears?
Mess. In great measure.

Leon. A kind overflow of kindness: There are no faces truer than those that are so washed. How much better is it to weep at joy, than to joy at weeping!

Beat. I pray you, is Signior Montanto returned from the wars, or no?

Mess. I know none of that name, lady; there was none such in the army of any sort.

Leon. What is he that you ask for, niece?
Hero. My cousin means Signior Benedick of
Padua.

Mess. O, he's returned, and as pleasant as ever he was.

Beat. He set up here his bills here in Messina, and challenged Cupid at the flight: and my uncle's fool, reading the challenge, subscribed for Cupid, and challenged him at the bird-bolt. I pray you, how many hath he killed and eaten in these wars? But how many hath he killed? for, indeed, I promised to eat all of his killing.

Leon. Faith, niece, you tax Signior Benedick too much; but he'll be meet with you, I doubt it not. Mess. He hath done good service, lady, in these

wars.

Beat. You had musty victual, and he hath holp to eat it: he's a very valiant trencherman, he hath an excellent stomach.

Mess. And a good soldier, too, lady.

Beat. And a good soldier to a lady:-But what is he to a lord?

Mess. A lord to a lord, a man to a man; stuffed with all honourable virtues.

Beat. It is so, indeed: he is no less than a stuffed man: but for the stuffing,-Well, we are all mortal. Leon. You must not, sir, mistake my niece: there is a kind of merry war betwixt Signior Benedick and her: they never meet but there's a skirmish of wit between them.

Beat. Alas! he gets nothing by that. In our last conflict, four of his five wits went halting off, and now is the whole man governed with one: so that if he have wit enough to keep himself warm. let him bear it for a difference between himself Who is and his horse; for it is all the wealth that he hath He hath every month a left, to be known a reasonable creature. his companion now? new sworn brother. Mess. Is't possible?

Beat. Very easily possible: he wears his faith but as the fashion of his hat; it ever changes with the next block.

Mess. I see, lady, the gentleman is not in your books.

Beat. No: an he were, I would burn my study. But, I pray you, who is his companion? Is there no young squarer now, that will make a voyage with him to the devil?

Mess. He is most in the company of the right noble Claudio.

Beat. O Lord! he will hang upon him like a
disease: he is sooner caught than the pestilence,
God help the
and the taker runs presently mad.
noble Claudio! if he have caught the Benedick,
Mess. I will hold friends with you, lady.
it will cost him a thousand pound ere he be cured.
Beat. Do, good friend.

Leon. You'll ne'er run mad, niece.
Beat. No, not till a hot January.
Mess. Don Pedro is approached.

Claud. Is she not a modest young lady?

D. Pedro. You embrace your charge too willingly. I think this is your daughter.

80.

Leon. Her mother hath many times told me

Bene. Were you in doubt that you asked her? Leon. Signior Benedick, no; for then were you a child.

D. Pedro. You have it full, Benedick: we may guess by this what you are, being a man. Truly, the lady fathers herself:-Be happy, lady! for you

are like an honourable father.

Bene. If Signior Leonato be her father, she would not have his head on her shoulders for all Messina, as like him as she is.

Beat. I wonder that you will still be talking, Benedick; nobody marks you.

Bene. What, my dear Lady Disdain! are you yet living?

Beat. Is it possible Disdain should die, while she hath such meet food to feed it as Signior Benedick? Courtesy itself must convert to disdain if you come in her presence.

Bene. Then is courtesy a turncoat :-But it is certain I am loved of all ladies, only you excepted: and I would I could find in my heart that I had not a hard heart: for, truly, I love none.

Beat. A dear happiness to women; they would else have been troubled with a pernicious suitor. I thank God, and my cold blood, I am of your humour for that; I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow, than a man swear he loves me!

Bene. God keep your ladyship still in that mind! so some gentleman or other shall 'scape a predestinate scratched face.

Beat. Scratching could not make it worse, an 't were such a face as yours were.

Bene. Well, you are a rare parrot-teacher. Beat. A bird of my tongue is better than a beast of yours.

Bene. I would my horse had the speed of your tongue; and so good a continuer: But keep your way o' God's name; I have done.

Beat. You always end with a jade's trick; I know you of old.

D. Pedro. This is the sum of all: Leonato, Signior Claudio, and Signior Benedick,-my dear friend Leonato hath invited you all. I tell him we shall stay here at the least a month; and he heartily prays some occasion may detain us longer : I dare swear he is no hypocrite, but prays from his heart.

Leon. If you swear, my lord, you shall not be forsworn.-Let me bid you welcome, my lord: being reconciled to the prince your brother, I owe you all duty.

D. John. I thank you: I am not of many words, but I thank you.

Leon. Please it your grace lead on?

D. Pedro. Your hand, Leonato; we will go together. [Exeunt all but BENE. and CLAUD. Cland. Benedick, didst thou note the daughter of Signior Leonato?

Bene. I noted her not but I looked on her.

Bene. Do you question me as an honest man should do, for my simple true judgment; or woula you have me speak after my custom, as being a professed tyrant to their sex?

Claud. No, I pray thee, speak in sober judgment. Bene. Why, i' faith, methinks she's too low for a high praise, too brown for a fair praise, and too little for a great praise: only this commendation I can afford her: that were she other than she is, she were unhandsome; and being no other but as

she is, I do not like her.

Claud. Thou thinkest I am in sport; I pray thee, tell me truly how thou likest her.

Bene. Would you buy her, that you inquire after her?

Claud. Can the world buy such a jewel? Bene. Yea, and a case to put it into. But speak you this with a sad brow? or do you play the flouting Jack; to tell us Cupid is a good harefinder, and Vulcan a rare carpenter? Come, in what key shall a man take you, to go in the song? Claud. In mine eye she is the sweetest lady that ever I looked on.

Bene. I can see yet without spectacles, and I see no such matter: there's her cousin, an she were not possessed with a fury, exceeds her as much in beauty as the first of May doth the last of December. But I hope you have no intent to turn husband; have you?

Claud. I would scarce trust myself, though I had sworn the contrary, if Hero would be my wife.

Bene. Is't come to this, i'faith? Hath not the world one man but he will wear his cap with suspicion? Shall I never see a bachelor of threescore again? Go to, i'faith: an thou wilt needs thrust thy neck into a yoke, wear the print of it, and sigh away Sundays. Look, Don Pedro is returned to seek you.

Re-enter DoD PEDRO.

D. Pedro. What secret hath held you here, that you followed not to Leonato's?

Bene. I would your grace would constrain me to tell.

D. Pedro. I charge thee on thy allegiance. Bene. You hear, Count Claudio: I can be secret as a dumb man, I would have you think so; but on my allegiance,-mark you this, on my alle giance:-He is in love. With who?-now that is your grace's part.-Mark, how short his answer is:-With Hero, Leonato's short daughter.

Claud. If this were so, so were it uttered. Bene. Like the old tale, my lord: "it is not so, nor 'twas not so; but, indeed, God forbid it should be so."

Claud. If my passion change not shortly, God forbid it should be otherwise.

D. Pedro. Amen, if you love her; for the lady is very well worthy.

Claud. You speak this to fetch me in, my lord. D. Pedro. By my troth, I speak my thought Claud. And in faith, my lord, I spoke mine. Bene. And by my two faiths and troths, my lord, I spoke mine.

Claud. That I love her, I feel.

D. Pedro. That she is worthy, I know.

Bene. That I neither feel how she should be loved, nor know how she should be worthy, is the opinion that fire cannot melt out of me; I will die in it at the stake.

D. Pedro. Thou wast ever an obstinate heretio in the despite of beauty.

« Anterior Continuar »

Livros

The Complete Works of Shakespeare: With a Critical Biography