and sup

my

with water and bran; I dare not for head fill my belly; one fruitful meal would set me to 't. But they say the duke will be here to-morrow. By my troth, Isabel, I loved thy brother; if the old fantastical duke of dark corners had been at home, he had lived. [Exit Isabella. Duke. Sir, the duke is marvellous little beholding to your reports; but the best is, he lives not in them.

ye well.

159

Lucio. Friar, thou knowest not the duke so well as I do; he's a better woodman than thou takest him for. Duke. Well, you'll answer this one day. Fare Lucio. Nay, tarry; I'll go along with thee. thee pretty tales of the duke.

I can tell

Duke. You have told me too many of him already, sir, if they be true; if not true, none were enough.

Lucio. I was once before him for getting a wench with child.

Duke. Did you such a thing?

Lucio. Yes, marry, did I; but I was fain to forswear it: they would else have married me to the rotten medlar. Duke. Sir, your company is fairer than honest. well.

Rest you

171

Lucio. By my troth, I'll go with thee to the lane's end. If bawdy talk offend you, we 'll have very little of it. Nay, friar, I am a kind of burr; I shall stick.

SCENE IV. A Room in Angelo's House.

Enter ANGELO and ESCALUS.

[Exeunt.

Escalus. Every letter he hath writ hath disvouched other. Angelo. In most uneven and distracted manner. His actions show much like to madness; pray heaven his wisdom be not tainted! And why meet him at the gates, and redeliver our authorities there?

Escalus. I guess not.

Angelo. And why should we proclaim it in an hour before

his entering, that if any crave redress of injustice, they should exhibit their petitions in the street?

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Escalus. He shows his reason for that: to have a dispatch of complaints, and to deliver us from devices hereafter, which shall then have no power to stand against us.

Angelo. Well, I beseech you, let it be proclaimed betimes i' the morn; I'll call you at your house. Give notice to such men of sort and suit as are to meet him.

Escalus. I shall, sir. Fare you well.

Angelo. Good night.

[Exit Escalus.
This deed unshapes me quite, makes me unpregnant
And dull to all proceedings. A deflower'd maid!
And by an eminent body that enforc'd

The law against it! But that her tender shame
Will not proclaim against her maiden loss,

How might she tongue me!

Yet reason dares her no;

For my authority bears so credent bulk,

That no particular scandal once can touch

But it confounds the breather. He should have liv'd,
Save that his riotous youth, with dangerous sense,
Might in the times to come have ta'en revenge,
By so receiving a dishonour'd life

With ransom of such shame. Would yet he had liv'd!
Alack, when once our grace we have forgot,
Nothing goes right; we would, and we would not.

SCENE V. Fields without the Town.

Enter DUKE in his own habit, and FRIAR Peter.

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[Exit.

Duke. These letters at fit time deliver me. [Giving letters. The provost knows our purpose and our plot.

The matter being afoot, keep your instruction,

And hold you ever to our special drift,

Though sometimes you do blench from this to that,

As cause doth minister. Go call at Flavius' house,

And tell him where I stay: give the like notice
To Valentinus, Rowland, and to Crassus,
And bid them bring the trumpets to the gate;
But send me Flavius first.

Friar Peter.

It shall be speeded well. [Exit.

Enter VARRIUS.

Duke. I thank thee, Varrius; thou hast made good haste. Come, we will walk. There's other of our friends Will greet us here anon, my gentle Varrius.

SCENE VI. Street near the City Gate.

Enter ISABELLA and MARIANA.

Isabella. To speak so indirectly I am loath. I would say the truth; but to accuse him so, That is your part: yet I am advis'd to do it, He says, to veil full purpose.

Mariana.

Be rul'd by him.

Isabella. Besides, he tells me that, if peradventure He speak against me on the adverse side,

I should not think it strange; for 't is a physic

That's bitter to sweet end.

Mariana. I would Friar Peter

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[Exeunt.

Isabella.

O, peace! the friar is come.

Enter FRIAR PETER.

Friar Peter. Come, I have found you out a stand most fit, Where you may have such vantage on the duke,

II

He shall not pass you. Twice have the trumpets sounded; The generous and gravest citizens

Have hent the gates, and very near upon

The duke is entering: therefore, hence, away!

[Exeunt.

MARIANA veiled, ISABELLA, and FRIAR PETER, at their stand.
Enter DUKE, VARRIUS, Lords, ANGELO, ESCALUS, LUCIO,
PROVOST, Officers, and Citizens, at several doors.

Duke. My very worthy cousin, fairly met !--
Our old and faithful friend, we are glad to see you.

Angelo. Happy return be to your royal grace!

Escalus.

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,
Forerunning more requital.

Angelo.

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 subject see, to make them know
That outward courtesies would fain proclaim
Favours that keep within.-Come, Escalus,
You must walk by us on our other hand;
And good supporters are you.

FRIAR PETER and ISABELLA come forward.

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Friar Peter. Now is your time; speak loud and kneel before him.

Isabella. Justice, O royal duke! Vail your regard
Upon a wrong'd, I would fain have said, a maid!
O 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!

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Duke. Relate your wrongs; in what? by whom? be brief. Here is Lord Angelo shall give you justice;

Reveal yourself to him.

Isabella.

O worthy duke,

You bid me seek redemption of the devil.

Hear me yourself; for that which I must speak

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