Isab.
O, gracious duke,
Harp not on that: nor do not banish reason
For inequality2; but let your reason serve
To make the truth appear, where it seems hid;
And hide the false, seems true.3

Duke.

Have, sure, more lack of reason.

Many that are not mad,
What would you say?

Isab. I am sister of one Claudio,
Condemn'd upon the act of fornication
To lose his head; condemn'd by Angelo:
I, in probation of a sisterhood,

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

Lucio.

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

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

Isab.

Duke. You were not bid to speak.
Lucio.

Nor wish'd to hold my peace.

Duke.

That's he, indeed.

No, my good lord;

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.
Lucio. Right.

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

Isab.

To this pernicious caitiff deputy.

2

Duke. That's somewhat madly spoken.

· do not banish reason

I went

For inequality:] Do not suppose I am mad, because I speak passionately and unequally. MALONE.

3 And hide the false, seems true.] i. e. which seems true.

Isab.

Pardon it;

Proceed.

The phrase is to the matter.

Duke. Mended again: the matter;

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 conclusion
I now begin with grief and shame to utter:
He would not, but by gift of my chaste body
To his concupiscible intemperate lust,

Release my brother; and, after much debatement,
My sisterly remorse confutes mine honour,

And I did yield to him: But the next morn betimes,
His purpose surfeiting, he sends a warrant

For my poor brother's head.

Duke.

This is most likely !

Isab. O, that it were as like as it is true!

Duke. By heaven, fond wretch, thou know'st not what thou speak'st;

Or else thou art suborn'd against his honour,

In hateful practice': First, his integrity

Stands without blemish: - next, it imports no reason,
That with such vehemency he should pursue
Faults proper to himself: if he had so offended,
He would have weigh'd thy brother by himself,
And not have cut him off: Some one hath set you on;
Confess the truth, and say by whose advice
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

4 How he refell'd me,] To refell is to refute.

5 My sisterly remorse-] i. e. pity.

6

-fond wretch,} Fond wretch is foolish wretch!

7 In hateful practice:] Practice was used by the old writers for

any unlawful or insidious stratagem.

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.
-Who knew of your intent, and coming hither?

Isab. One that I would were here, friar Lodowick.
Duke. A ghostly father, belike: Who knows that
Lodowick?

Lucio. My lord, I know him; 'tis a medling friar; I do not like the man had he been lay, my lord, For certain words he spake against your grace In your retirement, I had swing'd him soundly.

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 saucy friar,

A very scurvy fellow.

F. Peter:

Blessed be your royal grace!
I have stood by, my lord, and I have heard
Your royal ear abus'd: First, hath this woman
Most wrongfully accus'd your substitute;

Who is as free from touch or soil with her,

As she from one ungot.

Dukes

We did believe no less.

Know you that friar Lodowick, that she speaks of?
F. Peter. I know him for a man divine and holys
Not scurvy, nor a temporary medler,

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.

F. Peter. Well, he in time may come to clear himself;

• In countenance ] i. e. false appearance, hypocrisy.

9

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
Intended ’gainst lord Angelo,) came Ihither,
To speak, as from his mouth, what he doth know
Is true, and false; and what he with his oath,
And all probation, will make up full clear,

Whensoever he's convented. First, for this woman; (To justify this worthy nobleman,

2

So vulgarly and personally accus'd,)

Her shall you hear disproved to her eyes,
Till she herself confess it.

Dulce.

Good friar, let's hear it.
[ISABELLA 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,
In this I'll be impartial3; be you judge

Of your own cause.

Is this the witness, friar? First, let her show her face; and, after, speak.

Mari. Pardon, my lord; I will not show my face, Until husband bid me.

my

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.

9 his mere request,] i. e. his absolute request.

1 Whensoever he's convented,] i. e. cited, summoned.

2 So vulgarly-] i. e. publickly.

3 In this I'll be impartial;] Impartial was sometimes used in the sense of partial.

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.

Lucio. He was drunk then, my lord: it can be no better.

too.

Duke. For the benefit of silence, 'would thou wert so

Lucio. Well, my lord.

Duke. This is no witness for lord Angelo.
Mari. Now I come to't, my lord:

She, that accuses him of fornication,

In self-same manner doth accuse my husband;
And charges him, my lord, with such a time,
When I'll depose I had him in mine arms,
With all the effect of love.

Ang.

Mari. Not that I know.

Duke.

Charges she more than me?

No? you say, your husband.

Mari. Why, just, my lord, and that is Angelo, Who thinks, he knows, that he ne'er knew my 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: This is the hand, which with a vow'd contract,

Was fast belock'd in thine: this is the body

That took away the match from Isabel,
And did supply thee at thy garden-house,
In her imagin'd person.

Duke.

Lucio. Carnally, she says.

Duke.

VOL. II.

Know you

this woman

?

Sirrah, no more.

N