1 Gent. But most of all agreeing with the proclamation, Lucio. Away; let's go learn the truth of it.

Manet Bawd.

f

[Exeunt.

Bawd. Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat, what with the gallows, and what with poverty, I am cuftom-fhrunk. How now? what's the news with you?

Enter Clown.

Clown. Yonder man is carry'd to prifon.

Bawd. Well, what has he done?

Clown. A woman.

Bawd. But what's his offence?

Clown. Groping for trouts in a peculiar river. Bawd. What, is there a maid with child by him? Clown. No; but there's a woman with maid by him: You have not heard of the proclamation, have you?

Bawd. What proclamation, man?

Clown. All houfes in the fuburbs of Vienna muft be pluck'd down.

Bawd. And what shall become of those in the city? Clown. They fhall ftand for feed: they had gone down too, but that a wife burgher put in for them.

Bawd. But fhall all our houses of refort in the fuburbs be pull'd down?

Clown. To the ground, mistress.

Bawd. Why, here's a change, indeed, in the commonwealth! What shall become of me?

Clown. Come; fear not you: good counsellors lack no clients though you change your place, you need not change your trade; I'll be your tapfter ftill. Courage; there will be pity taken on you: you that have worn your eyes almost out in the fervice, you will be confidered.

f the fweat,]-the fweating fickness; or the method of treating a cer& peculiar]-of private property.

tain disease.

Bawd.

Bawd. What's to do here, Thomas Tapfter? Let's withdraw.

Clown. Here comes fignior Claudio, led by the provoft to prifon and there's madam Juliet.

[Exeunt Bawd and Clown.

III.

SCENE

Enter Provoft, Claudio, Juliet, and Officers; Lucio and two

Gentlemen.

Claud. Fellow, why doft thou show me thus to the world? Bear me to prifon, where I am committed.

Prov. I do it not in evil difpofition,

But from lord Angelo by special charge.

Claud. Thus can the demi-god, authority,

Make us pay down for our offence by weight.-
The words of heaven;-on whom it will, it will;
On whom it will not, fo; yet ftill 'tis juft.

[Exeunt Officer and Juliet. Lucio. Why, how now, Claudio? whence comes this restraint?

Claud. From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty: As furfeit is the father of much fast,

So every scope by the immoderate use

Turns to restraint: Our natures do pursue,

(Like rats that 'ravin down their proper bane) A thirsty evil; and, when we drink, we die,

Lucio. If I could fpeak fo wifely under an arrest, I would fend for certain of my creditors: And yet, to say

hby weight.]-the full penalty.

iThe words of heaven ;]-of the old law, requiring an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth," he thinks exemplified in himfelf-The fword-which ftrikes as heaven commands. Romans ix. 15—18. ravin down]-devour greedily.

k

every fcope]-licentious fally.

1

the truth, I had as lief have the foppery of freedom, as the morality of imprisonment.What's thy offence, Claudio?

Claud. What, but to speak of, would offend again.

Lucio. What is it? murder?

Lucio. A hundred, if they'll do you any good.

Is lechery fo look'd after?

Claud. Thus ftands it with me,-Upon a true contract,

I got poffeffion of Julietta's bed;

You know the lady; fhe is faft my wife,

Save that we do the " denunciation lack

Of outward order: this we came not to,
Only for propagation of a dower

n

Remaining in the coffer of her friends;

From whom we thought it meet to hide our love,
Till time had made them for us. But it chances,
The ftealth of our most mutual entertainment,
With character too grofs, is writ on Juliet.
Lucio. With child, perhaps?

Claud. Unhappily, even fo.

And the new deputy now for the duke,-
Whether it be the fault and glimpse of newness;
Or whether that the body public be

A horfe whereon the governor doth ride,
Who, newly in the feat, that it may know

m denunciation]-due folemnization.

n propagation]-a report propagated.

moft mutual]-intimate, moft freely confented to on both fides.

P faulty glimpfe-a fault arifing from the glare of novel authority, or

a flight acquaintance with the duties of his new office.

He

He can command, lets it ftraight feel the fpur:
Whether the tyranny be in his place,

Or in his eminence that fills it up,

I ftagger in : But this new governor
Awakes me all the enrolled penalties,

Which have, like unfcour'd armour, hung by the wall,

3

So long, that fourteen zodiacks have gone round,
And none of them been worn; and, for a name,

t

Now puts the drowsy and neglected act

Freshly on me :-'tis, furely, for a name.

Lucio. I warrant, it is: and thy head ftands fo "tickle on thy fhoulders, that a milk-maid, if she be in love, may figh it off. Send after the duke, and appeal to him.

Claud. I have done so, but he's not to be found.

I pr'ythee, Lucio, do me this kind fervice:
This day my fifter should the cloister enter,
And there receive her approbation:

W

Acquaint her with the danger of my state;
Implore her, in my voice, that fhe make friends
To the ftrict deputy; bid herself assay him;
I have great hope in that: for in her youth

X

There is a prone and fpeechlefs dialect,

Such as moves men; befide, she hath profperous art
When she will play with reafon and discourse,

And well fhe can perfuade.

Lucio. I pray, fhe may as well for the encouragement of the like, which elfe would stand under grievous impo

t

But]-be these things as they may.

Awakes me]-Revives in my instance.

nineteen.

for a name,]-to gain the credit of an impartial difpenfer of justice. "tickle]-ticklish.

w receive her approbation :]—commence her novitiate.

X

* prone and speechlefs dialect,]-prompt-natural, though dumb elo

quence.

"The filence often of pure innocence
"Perfuades, when speaking fails."

WINTER'S TALE, A& II, S. 2. Paul.

Y impofition ;]-mulet imposed.

T 3

fition;

fition; as for the enjoying of thy life, who I would be forry should be thus foolishly loft at a game of 'tick-tack. I'll to her.

Claud. I thank you, good friend Lucio.

Enter Duke and Friar Thomas.

Duke. No; holy father; throw away that thought ;→→ Believe not that the 'dribbling dart of love

с

Can pierce a compleat bofom: why I defire thee

To give me fecret harbour, hath a purpose

More grave and wrinkled than the aims and ends
Of burning youth.

Fri. May your grace speak of it?

Duke. My holy fir, none better knows than you How I have ever lov'd the life remov'd;

d

And held in idle price to haunt affemblies,
Where youth, and coft, and witlefs bravery keeps.
I have deliver'd to lord Angelo

(A man of 'stricture, and firm abstinence)
My abfolute power and place here in Vienna,
And he supposes me travell❜d to Poland;
For fo I have ftrew'd it in the common ear,
And so it is receiv'd: Now, pious fir,

touch and take.' "" -a game at tables.

a Within two hours;]-you may expect my return.

b

dribbling-feeble.

d

life remov'd;]-retirement.

tricture,]-ftrictness.

You