Escal. Which is the wiser here? Justice or Iniquity? Is this true?,

Elb. O thou caitiff! O thou varlet! O thou wicked Hannibal! I respected with her, before I was married to her? If ever I was respected with her, or she with me, let not your Worship think me the poor Duke's officer: Prove this, thou wicked Hannibal, or I'll have mine action of bat tery on thee.

Escal. If he took you a box o'the ear, you might have your action of slander too.

Elb. Marry, I thank your Worship for it: What is't your Worship's pleasure I should do with this wicked caitiff?

Escal. Truly, officer, because he hath some offences in him, that thou wouldst discover if thou couldst, let him continue in his courses, till thou know'st what they are.

Elb. Marry, I thank your Worship for it: Thou seest, thou wicket varlet now, what's come upon thee; thou art to continue now, thou varlet; thou art to continue.

Escal. Where were you born, friend?

Froth. Here in Vienna, Sir.

[TO FROTH.

Escal. Are you of fourscore pounds a year? Froth. Yes, and't please you, Sir,

Escal. So. What trade are you of, Sir?

[To the Clown.

Clo. A tapster; a poor widow's, tapster.

Escal. Your mistress's name?

Clo. Mistress Over-done.

Escal. Hath she had any more than one husband? Clo. Nine, Sir; Over-done by the last.

Escal. Nine ! Froth.

Come hither to me,

master

Master Froth, I would not have you

acquainted with tapsters; they will draw you, master Froth, and you will hang them: Get you gone, and let me hear no more of you.

Froth. I thank your Worship: For mine own part, I never come into any room in a tap-house, but I am drawn in.

Escal. Well; no more of it, master Froth: farewell. [Exit FROTH.] Come you hither to me, master tapster; what's your name, master tapster?

Clo. Pompey.

Escal. What else?

Clo. Bum, Sir.

Escal. Troth, and your bum is the greatest thing about you; so that,' in the beastliest sense, you are Pompey the great. Pompey, you are partly a bawd, Pompey, howsoever you colour it in being a tapster. Are you not? come, tell me true; it shall be the better for you.

Clo. Truly, Sir, I am a poor fellow, that would live.

Escal. How would you live, Pompey? by being a bawd? What do you think of the trade Pompey? is it a lawful trade?

Clo. If the law would allow it, Sir.

Escal. But the law will not allow it, Pompey; nor it shall not be alloweft in Vienna.

Clo. Does your Worship mean to geld and spay all the youth in the city?

Escal. No, Pompey.

Clo. Truly, Sir, in my poor opinion, they will to't then if your Worship will take order for the drabs and the knaves, you need not to fear the bawds.

Escal. There are pretty orders beginning, I can tell you it is but heading and hanging.

Clo. If you head and hang all that offend that way but for ten year together, you'll be glad to give out a commission for more heads. If this law hold out in Vienna ten year, I'll rent the fairest house in it, after three pence a bay: If you live to see this come to pass, say, Pompey told you so.

-

I advise

Escal. Thank you, good Pompey: and, in requital of your prophecy, hark you, you, let me not find you before me again upon any complaint whatsoever, no, not for dwelling where you do; if I do, Pompey, I shall beat you To your tent, and prove a shrewd Caesar to you; in plain dealing, Pompey, I shall have you whipt: so for this time, Pompey, fare you well.

Clo. I thank your Worship for your good counsel; but I shall follow it, as the flesh and fortune shall better determine.

Whip me? No, no; let carman whip his jade; The valiant heart's not whipt out of his trade.

[Exit. Escal. Come hither to me, master Elbow; come hither, master constable. How long have you been in this place of constable?

Elb. Seven year and a half, Sir.

Escal. I thought, by your readiness in the office, you had continued in it some time: You say, seven years together?

Elb. And a half, Sir.

Escal. Alas! it hath been great pains to you! They do you wrong to put you so oft upon't: Are there not men in your ward sufficient to serve it?

Elb. Faith, Sir, few of any wit in such matters: as they are chosen, they are glad to choose. me for them; I do it for some piece of money, and go through with all.

Escal. Look you, bring me in the names of some six or seven, the most sufficient of your parish.

Elb. To your Worship's house, Sir?

Escal. To my house: Fare you well. [Exit ELBOW.] What's o'clock, think you?

Just. Eleven, Sir.

Escal. I pray you home to dinner with me.
Just. I humbly thank you.

Escal. It grieves me for the death of Claudio; But there's no remedy.

Just. Lord Angelo is severe.

Escal. It is but needful:

Mercy is not itself, that oft looks so;

Pardon is still the nurse of second woe:

Enter Provost, and a Servant.

Serv. He's hearing of a cause; he will come straight.

I'll tell him of you.

Prov. Pray you, do. [Exit Servant.] I'll know` His pleasure; may be, he will relent: Alas,

He hath but as offended in a dream!

All sects, all ages smack of this vice; and he
To die for it!

Enter ANGELO.

Ang. Now, what's the matter, provost?

Prov. Is it your will Claudio shall die to morrow?

Ang. Did I not tell thee, yea? had'st thou not order

Why dost thou ask again?

Prov, Lest I might be too rash:

Under your good correction, I have seen,
When, after execution, judgement hath
Repented o'er his doom.

Ang. Go to; let that be mine:

Do you your office, or give up your place,
And you shall well be spar'd.

Prov. I crave your Honour's pardon.

What shall be done, Sir, with the groaning Juliet? She's very near her hour.

Ang. Dispose of her

To some more fitter place; and that with speed.

Re-enter Servant.

Serv. Here is the sister of the man condemn'd, Desires access to you.

Ang. Hath he a sister?

Prov. Ay, my good Lord; a very virtuous maid, And to be shortly of the sisterhood,

If not already.

Ang. Well, let her be admitted. [Exit Servant. See you, the fornicatress be 'remov'd;

Let her have needful, but not lavish, means;
There shall be order for it.

Enter LUCIO and ISABELLA.

Prov. Save your Honour!

[Offering to retire.

Ang. Stay a little while.

-

[To. ISAB.] You are welcome: What's your will?

Isab. I am a woeful suitor to your Honour.

Please but your Honour hear me.

Ang. Well; what's your suit?