That sets them on: Let me have way, my Lord, To find this practice out, Duke. Ay, with my heart; And punish them unto your height of plea sure. Thou foolish friar; and thou pernicious woman, 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, Let him be sent for. F. 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 Determined upon these slanderers. Escal. My Lord, we'll do it thouroughly. [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 hath 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. 3 Escal. Call that same Isabel here once again; [To an Attendant.] I would speak with her 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. A Lucio. Marry, Sir, I think, if you handled her privately, she would sooner confess; perchance, publickly she'll be ashamed. Re-enter Officers, with ISABELLA; the Duke, in the Friar's habit, and Provost.1875 A 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 slauder 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 Be sometime, honour'd for his burning throne: Where is the Duke? is he should hear me speak. Escal. The Duke's. in us; and we will hear you speak: Look, you speak justly. But, O, poor souls, Duke. Boldly, at least: Come you to seek the lamb here of the fox? Good night to your redress. Is the Duke gone? And put your trial in the villain's mouth, Lucio. This is the rascal; this is he I spoke of. Escal. Why, thou unreverend and unhallow'd fria!! Is't not enough, thou hast suborn'd these women To accuse this worthy man; but, in foul mouth, And in the witness of his proper ear, To call him villain? And then to glance from him to the Duke himself; To tax him with injustice? Take him hence; To the rack with him: We'll touze you joint Dare no more stretch this finger of mine, than he Dare rack his own; his subject am I not, Nor here provincial: My business in this state Made me a looker on here in Vienna, Where I have seen corruption boil and bubble, Till it o'er-run the stew: laws, for all faults; But faults 8 countenanc'd, that the strong sta tutes Stand like the forfeits in a barber's shop, As much in mock as mark. Escal., Slauder to the state! Away with him to prison. 176 MEASURE FOR MEASURE, Ang. What can you vouch against him, Signior Lucio? Is this the man, that you did tell us of ? Lucio. 'Tis he, my Lord. Come hither, goodman bald-pate; Do you know me? Duke. I remember you, Sir, by the sound of your voice: I met you at the prison, in the ab sence of the Duke. Lucio. O, did you so? And do you remember what you said of the Duke? Duke. Most notedly, Sir. Lucio. Do you so, Sir? And was the Duke a Aleshmonger, a fool, and a coward, as you then reported him to be? Duke. You must, Sir, change persons with me, ere you make that my report: you, indeed, spoke so of him; and much more, much worse. Lucio. O thou damnable fellow! Did not I pluck thee by the nose, for thy speeches ? Duke. I protest, I love the Duke, myself. as I love ン Ang. Hark! how the villain would close : nów, after his treasonable abuses. Escal. Such a fellow is not to be talk'd withal: Away with him to prison:: Where is the provost? Away with him to prison; lay bolts enough upon him: let him speak no more: Away with those giglots 100, and with the other confederate companion [The Provost lays hands on the DUKE. Duke. Stay, Sir; stay a while.. Ang. What! resists he? Help him, Lucio. Lucio. Come, Sir; come, Sir; come, Sir; foh, Sir: Why, you bald-pated, lying rascal! you must be hooded, must you?. Show your knave's visage, with a pox to you! show your sheep biting face, and be hang'd an hour! Will' not off? [Pulls off the friar's hood, and discovers the DUKE. Duke. Thou art the first knave, that c'er made a Duke. First, Provost, let me bail these gentle threè : ' Sneak not away, Sir; [To Lucio.] for the friar and you ཎ། Must have a word anon: lay hold of him.' Lucio. This may prove worse than hanging. Duke. What you have spoke, I pardon; sit you [To ESCALUS. We'll borrow place of him: Sir, by your leaves down. Hast thou or word, or wit, or impudence, Ang. O my dread Lord," I should be guiltier than my guiltiness, When I perceive, your Grace, like power divine, But let my trial be, mine own confession; Duke. Come hither, Mariana: Say, wast thou e'er contracted to this woman? Ang. I was, my Lord. Duke. Go take her hence, and marry her ia. Do you the office, friar; which consummate,, Return him here again: -- Go with him, Provost. [Exeunt ANGELO, MARIANA, PETER, and Provost. VOL. II. 12 |