Isab. In brief,-to set the needless process by, (For this was of much length,) the vile conclusion Release my brother; and, after much debatement, For my poor brother's head. Duke. This is most likely ! Isab. O, that it were as like, as it is true! Or else thou art suborn'd against his honour, Stands without blemish :-next, it imports no reason, Faults proper to himself: if he had so offended, And not have cut him off: Some one hath set you on; Thou cam'st here to complain? Isab. And is this all? Then, oh, you blessed ministers above, Keep me in patience; and, with ripen'd time, Unfold the evil which is here wrapt up In countenance !-Heaven shield your grace from woe, As I, thus wrong'd, hence unbelieved go! Duke. I know, you'd fain be gone :-An officer! To prison with her:-Shall we thus permit A blasting and a scandalous breath to fall On him so near us? This needs must be a practice.5 Isab. One that I would were here, friar Lodowick. Lucio. My lord, I know him; 'tis a meddling friar ; I do not like the man: had he been lay, my lord, [4] Fond wretch is foolish wretch. STEEVENS. [5] Practice was used by the old writers for any unlawful or insidious stratagem. JOHNSON. For certain words he spake against your grace Duke. Words against me? This' a good friar, belike! And to set on this wretched woman here Against our substitute !-Let this friar be found. Lucio. But yesternight, my lord, she and that friar I saw them at the prison: a sawcy friar, A very scurvy fellow. Peter. Blessed be your royal grace! I have stood by, my lord, and I have heard Duke. We did believe no less. Know you that friar Lodowick, that she speaks of? As he's reported by this gentleman; And, on my trust, a man that never yet Did, as he vouches, misreport your grace. Lucio. My lord, most villainously; believe it. Peter. Well, he in time may come to clear himself; But at this instant he is sick, my lord, Of a strange fever: Upon his mere request, (Being come to knowledge that there was complaint To speak, as from his mouth, what he doth know So vulgarly and personally accus'd,) Her shall you hear disproved to her eyes, Till she herself confess it. Duke. Good friar, let's hear it. [ISAB. is carried [off guarded: and MARIANA comes forward. Do you not smile at this, lord Angelo ? O heaven! the vanity of wretched fools! Give us some seats.-Come, cousin Angelo ; Of Mari. Pardon, my lord; I will not show my face, Until my husband bid me. Duke. What, are you married? Mari. No, my lord. Duke. Are you a maid? Mari. No, my lord. Duke. A widow then? Mari. Neither, my lord. Duke. Why, you are nothing then : Neither maid, widow, nor wife? Lucio. My lord, she may be a punk; for many of them are neither maid, widow, nor wife. Duke. Silence that fellow: I would, he had some cause To prattle for himself. Lucio. Well, my lord. Mari. My lord, I do confess I ne'er was married; And, I confess, besides, I am no maid : I have known my husband; yet my husband knows not, That ever he knew me. Luc. He was drunk, then, my lord; it can be no better. Duke. This is no witness for lord Angelo. She, that accuses him of fornication, In self-same manner doth accuse my husband; Ang. Charges she more than me? Mari. Not that I know. ? Duke. No you say, your husband. Mari. Why, just, my lord, and that is Angelo, Who thinks, he knows, that he ne'er knew any body, But knows, he thinks, that he knows Isabel's. Ang. This is a strange abuse :-Let's see thy face. Mari. My husband bids me; now I will unmask. [Unveiling] This is that face, thou cruel Angelo, Which, once thou swor'st, was worth the looking on : That took away the match from Isabel, And did supply thee at thy garden-house, Duke. Know you this woman? Lucio. Carnally, she says. Duke. Sirrah, no more. Lucio. Enough, my lord. Ang. My lord, I must confess, I know this woman; And, five years since, there was some speech of marriage Betwixt myself and her; which was broke off, Partly, for that her promised proportions I never spake with her, saw her, nor heard from her, Mari. Noble prince, As there comes light from heaven,and words from breath, 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 me as a wife. As this is true Let me in safety raise me from my knees; A marble monument ! Ang. I did but smile till now; Now, good my lord, give me the scope of justice; But instruments of some more mightier member, Duke. Ay, with my heart; And punish them unto your height of pleasure.— Compact with her that's gone! think'st thou, thy oaths, Though they would swear down each particular saint, Were testimonies against his worth and credit, That's seal'd in approbation ?-You, lord Escalus, Let him be sent for. Peter. Would he were here, my lord; for 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, In any chastisement: I for a while Will leave you; but stir not you, till you have well Escal. My lord, we'll do it thoroughly. [Exit Duke.] -Signior Lucio, did not you say, you knew that friar Lodowick to be a dishonest person Lucio. Cucullus non facit monachum: honest in nothing, but in his clothes; and one that has 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; I would speak with her: [To an Attendant.]-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. 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 33 VOL. I. |