Imagens das páginas
PDF
ePub
[blocks in formation]

Enter Elbow, Froth, Clown, Officers, &c. Elb. Come, bring them away if these be good people in a commonweal, that do nothing but use their abuses in common houses, I know no law: bring them away.

Ang. How now, sir! what's your name? and what's the matter?

Elb. If it please your honour, I am the poor duke's constable, and my name is Elbow; I do lean upon justice, sir, and do bring in here before your good honour two notorious benefactors.

Ang. Benefactors? Well; what benefactors are they are they not malefactors?

Elb. If it please your honour, I know not well what they are but precise villains they are, that I am sure of; and void of all profanation in the world, that good Christians ought to have.

Escal. This comes off well; here's a wise officer.
Ang. Go to: what quality are they of! E.bow is
your name? Why dost thon not speak, Elbow?
Clo. He cannot, sir; he's out at elbow.

[blocks in formation]

your honour,

Escal. How! thy wife?

[blocks in formation]

Clo. Why, very well, I hope here be truths: he, sir, sitting, as I say, in a lower chair, sir:-'twas in the Bunch of Grapes, where, indeed, you have a delight to sit have you not?

Froth. I have so; because it is an open room, and good for winter.

Clo. Why, very well then; -I hope here be truths.
Ang. This will last out a night in Kussia,
When nights are longest there I'll take my leave,
And leave you to the hearing of the cause;
Hoping, you'll find good cause to whip them all.
Escal. I think no less good-morrow to your lord-
ship.
[Exit Angelo.
Now, sir, come on, what was done to Elbow's wife,

once more?

Clo. Once, sir!? there was nothing done to her once.
Elb. I beseech you, sir, ask him what this man did

to my wife.

Clo. I beseech your honour, ask me.

Escal. Well, sir: what did this gentleman to her?
Clo. I beseech you, sir, look in this gentleman's
face: Good master Froth, look upon his honour; 'tis
for a good purpose: doth your honour mark his face?
Escal. Ay, sir, very well.
Clo. Nay, I beseech you, mark it well.
Escal. Well, I do so.

Clo. Doth your honour see any harm in his face?
Escal. Why, no.

Clo. I'll be suppos'd upon a book, his face is the worst thing about him good then; if his face be the worst thing about him, how could master Froth do the constable's wife any harm? I would know that of your honour.

Escal. He's in the right: constable, what say you

to it?

Elb. First, an it like you, the house is a respected

Elb. Ay, sir; whom, I thank heaven, is an honest house; next, this is a respected fellow; and his mis

woman,

Escal. Dost thou detest her therefore ?

Elb. I say, sir, I will detest myself also, as well as she, that this house, if it be not a bawd's house, it is pity of her life, for it is a naughty house.

Escal. How dost thou know that, constable?

Elb. Marry, sir, by my wife; who, if she had been a woman cardinally given, might have been accused in fornication, adultery, and all uncleanliness there. Escal. By the woman's means!

Elb. Ay, sir, by mistress Over-done's means: but as she spit in his face, so she defied him.

tress is a respected woman.

Clo. By this hand, sir, his wife is a more respected person than any of us all.

Elb. Varlet, thou liest thou liest, wicked varlet: the time is yet to come, that she was ever respected with man, woman, or child.

Clo. Sir, she was respected with him before he married with her.

Escal, Which is the wiser here? justice, or iniquity? Is this true?

Elb. O thou caitiff! O thou var'et! O thou wicked Hannibal! I respected with her, before I was married to her! If ever I was respected with her, or she with

Clo. Sir, if it please your honour, this is not so.
Elb. Prove it before these varlets here, thou home, let not your worship think me the poor duke's

nourable man, prove it. ourable

Escal. Do you hear how he misplaces? [To Angelo. Clo. Sir, she came in great with child; and longing (saving your honour's reverence) for stew'd prunes: sir, we had but two in the house, which at that very distant time stood, as it were, in a fruit-dish, a dish of some three-pence: your honours have seen such dishes: they are not China dishes, but very good dishes.

Escal. Go to, go to no matter for the dish, sir. Clo. No, indeed, sir, not of a pin; you are therein in the right; but, to the point as I say, this mistress Elbow, being, as I say, with child, and being great belly'd, and longing, as I said, for prunes; and having but two in the dish, as I said, master Froth here, this very man, having eaten the rest, as I said, and, as I say, paying for them very honestly; -for, as you know, master Froth, I could not give you three-pence again.

Froth. No, indeed.

Clo. Very well: you being then, if you be remember'd, cracking the stones of the foresaid prunes.

Froth. Ay, so I did, indeed.

Clo. Why, very well: 1 telling you, then, if you be remember'd, that such a one, and such a one, were past cure of the thing you wot of, unless they kept very good diet, as I told you.

Froth. All this is true.

Clo. Why, very well then.

officer:-Prove this, thou wicked Hannibal, or I'll have mine action of battery 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 good 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 wicked varlet now, what's come upon thee; thou art to continue now, thou varlet; thou art to continue.

Escal. Where were you born, friend? [To Froth.
Froth. Here in Vienna, sir.

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! Come hither to me, master Froth 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 taphouse, 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 hum 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 allowed 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 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.

Escal. Thank you, good Pompey: and, in requital of your prophecy, hark you, I advise 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 Cæsar 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 met No, no; let carman whip his jade; The valiant heart's not whipt out o 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 years 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:

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

Isab. I have a brother is condemn'd to die: I do beseech you, let it be his fault, And not my brother.

Prov.

Heaven give thee moving graces!

Ang. Condemn the fault, and not the actor of it! Why, every fault's condemn'd, ere it be done : Mine were the very cipher of a function, To find the faults, whose fine stands in record, And let go by the actor. Isab.

O just, but severe law! I had a brother then. Heaven keep your honour! [Retiring.

Lucio. [To Isab.] Give't not o'er so: to him again, entreat him;

Kneel down before him, hang upon his gown;
You are too cold if you should need a pin,
You could not with more tame a tongue desire it:
To him, I say.

Isab. Must he needs die?
Ang.

Maiden, no remedy. Isab. Yes; I do think that you might pardon him, And neither heaven, nor man, grieve at the mercy. Ang. I will not do't. Isab.

But can you, if you would? Ang. Look, what I will not, that I cannot do. Isab. But might you do't, and do the world no

[blocks in formation]

Ang.

He's sentenc'd; 'tis too late.

[To Isabella.

Lucio. You are too cold.
Isab. Too late? why, no; I, that do speak a word,

May call it back again: Well, believe this,
No ceremony that to great ones 'longs,

Not the king's crown, nor the deputed sword,
The marshal's truncheon, nor the judge's robe,
Become them with one half so good a grace,
As mercy does. If he had been as you,

And you as he, you would have slipt like him;
But he, like you, would not have been so stern.
Ang. Pray you, be gone.

Isab. I would to heaven I had your potency,
And you were Isabel! should it then be thus?
No; I would tell what 'twere to be a judge,
And what a prisoner.

Lucio. Ay, touch him there's the vein. [Aside. Ere sun-rise; prayers from preserved souls, Ang. Your brother is a forfeit of the law,

And you but waste your words.

Isab.

Alas! alas!

[blocks in formation]

Ang.

Be you content, fair maid: It is the law, not I, condemns your brother: Were he my kinsman, brother, or my son,

It should be thus with him; he must die to-morrow. Isab. To-morrow! O, that's sudden! Spare him, spare him:

He's not prepar'd for death! Even for our kitchens We kiil the fowl of season; shall we serve heaven With less respect than we do minister

To our gross selves? Good, good my lord, bethink Who is it that hath died for this offence ?

There's many have committed it.

Lucio.

[you:

Ay, well said.

[slept:

Ang. The law hath not been dead, though it hath Those many had not dar'd to do that evil, If the first mau that did the edict infringe, Had answer'd for his deed: now, 'tis awake; Takes note of what is done; and, like a prophet, Looks in a glass, that shows what future evils (Either now, or by remissness new-conceiv'd, And so in progress to be hatch'd and born), Are now to have no successive degrees,

But, where they live, to end.

Isab.

Yet show some pity.

Ang. I show it most of all, when I show justice; For then I pity those I do not know,

Which a dismiss'd offence would after gall;

And do him right, that, answering one foul wrong, Lives not to act another. Be satisfied;

Your brother dies to-morrow be content.

Isab. So you must be the first, that gives this senAnd he, that suffers O, it is excellent

[tence:

To have a giant's strength; but it is tyrannous To use it like a giant.

Lucio.

That's well said.

Isab. Could great men thunder

As Jove himself does, Jove would ne'er be quiet,

For every pelting, petty officer,

Would use his heaven for thunder; nothing but thun Merciful heaven!

[der.

Thou rather, with thy sharp and sulphurons bolt,
Split'st the unwedgeable and gnarled oak,

Than the soft myrtle-O, but man, proud man!
Drest in a little brief authority;

Most ignorant of what he's most assur'd,
His glassy essence, like an angry ape,

Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven,
As make the angeis weep who, with our spleens,
Would all themselves laugh mortal.

Lucio. O, to him, to him, wench: he will relent;
He's coming, I perceive't.
Prov.

Pray heaven, she win him!

Isab. We cannot weigh our brother with ourself: Great men may jest with saints: 'tis wit in them; But, in the less, foul profanation.

Lucio. Thou'rt in the right, girl; more o'that. Isab. That in the captain's but a choleric word, Which in the soldier is flat blasphemy. Lucio. Art advis'd o'that? more on't. Ang. Why do you put these se sayings sa Isab. Because authority, though it err gh it Hath yet a kind of medicine in itself, That skins the vice o'the top. Go to your bosom; Knock there; and ask your heart, what it doth know

[blocks in formation]

Such sense, that my sense breeds with it. Fare you Isab. Gentle my lord, turn back.

[well.

Ang. I will bethink me: Come again to-morrow. Isab. Hark how I'll bribe you: Good my lord, turn Ang. How! bribe me ! [back. Isab. Ay, with such gifts, that heaven shall share Lucio. Yo You had marr'd all else. [with you. Isab. Not with fond shekels of the tested gold, Or stones, whose rates are either rich or poor, As fancy values them but with true prayers, That shall be up in heaven, and enter there,

[blocks in formation]

[Exeunt Lucio, Isabella, and Provost.
From thee; even from thy virtue!-
What's this? what's this? Is this her fault, or mine?
The tempter, or the tempted, who sins most? Ha!
Not she; nor doth she tempt: but it is I,
That lying by the violet, in the sun,
Do, as the carrion does, not as the flower,
Corrupt with virtuous season. Can it be,
That modesty may more betray our sense
Than woman's lightness? Having waste ground
Shall we desire to raze the sanctuary,
[enough,
And pitch our evils there? O, fie, fie, fie,
What dost thon? or what art thou, Angelo?
Dost thou desire her foully, for those things
That make her good? O, let her brother live:
Thieves for their robbery have authority,
When judges steal themselves. What? do I love her,
That I desire to hear her speak again,

And feast upon her eyes? What is't I dream on?
O cunning enemy, that, to catch a saint,
With saints dost bait thy hook! Most dangerous
Is that temptation, that doth goad us on
To sin in loving virtue never could the strumpet
With all her double vigour, art, and nature,
Once stir my temper; but this virtuous maid
Subdues me quite;-Ever, till now,
When men were fond, I smil'd, and wonder'd how.

[blocks in formation]

Duke. Then was your sin of heavier kind than his. Juliet, I do confess it, and repent it, father. [pent,

Duke. 'Tis meet so, daughter: But lest you do reAs that the sin hath brought you to this shame,Which sorrow is always toward ourselves, not heaven; Showing, we'd not spare heaven, as we love it, But as we stand in fear,

Juliet. I do repent me, as it is an evil;

And take the shame with joy.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

To have it added to the faults of mine,
And nothing of your, answer.
Ang.

Nay, but hear me: Your sense pursues not mine: either you are ignorant, Or seem so, craftily; and that's not good.

Isab. Let me be ignorant, and in nothing good,
But graciously to know I am no better.

When it doth tax itself as these black masks
Ang. Thus wisdom wishes to appear most bright,
Proclaim an enshield beauty ten times louder
Than beauty could displayed. But mark me;
To be received plain, I'll speak more gross:
Your brother is to die.

Isab. So.

Ang. And his offence is so, as it appears
Accountant to the law upon that pain.
Isab. True.

Ang. Admit no other way to save his life
(As I subscribe not that, nor any other,
But in the loss of question), that you, his sister,
Finding yourself desired of such a person,
Whose credit with the judge, or own great place,
Could fetch your brother from the manacles
Of the all-binding law; and that there were
No earthly mean to save him, but that either
must ist lay down the treasures of your body

You

To this supposed, or else let him suffer;
What would you do?

Isab. As much for my poor brother, as myself:
That is, Were I under the terms of death,
The impression of keen whips I'd wear as rubies,

And strip myself to death, as to a bed

That longing I have been sick for, ere I'd yield

My body up to shame.

Ang.

Then must your brother die.

Isab. And 'twere the cheaper way:
Better it were, a brother died at once,
Than that a sister, by redeeming him,

Should die for ever.

Ang. Were not you then as cruel as the sentence

That you have slander'd so?

you

Isab. Ignomy in ransom, and free pardon,

Are of two houses: lawful mercy is
Nothing akin to foul redemption.

Ang. You seem'd of late to make the law a tyrant,
And rather prov'd the sliding of your brother
A merriment than a vice.

Isab. O, pardon me, my lord; it oft falls out,
To have what we'd have, we speak not what we mean:
I something do excuse the thing I hate,

For his advantage that I dearly love.

Ang. We are all frail.

Isab.

Else let my brother die,

If not a feodary, but only he,
Owe, and succeed by weakness.

Ang.

Nay, women are frail too.

Isab. Ay, as the glasses where they view themselves;

That his soul sicken not.

Which are as easy broke as they make forms.

In profiting by them. Nay, call us ten times frail;

For we are soft as our complexions are,

[blocks in formation]

Ang. Ha! Fie, these filthy vices! It were as good Women!-Help heaven! men their creation mar To pard pardon him, that hath from nature stolen

A man already made, as to remit

Their saucy sweetness, that do coin heaven's image, And credulous to false prints.

In stamps that are forbid: 'tis all as easy

Falsely to take away a life true made,

As to put mettle in restrained means,

To make a false one.

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

And from this testimony of your own sex
(Since, I suppose, we are made to be no stronger
Than faults may shake our frames), let me be bold;
I do arrest your words; Be that you are,

That is, a woman; if you be more, you're none;
If you be one (as you are well express'd

By all external warrants), show it now,

By putting on the destin'd livery.

Isab. I have no tongue but one gentle my lord, Let me entreat you speak the former language.

Ang. Plainly conceive, I love you.

Isab. My brother did love Juliet; and you tell me,

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

Lay by all nicety, and prolixious blushes,

Isab. Why, as all comforts are; most good in deed: Lord Angelo, having affairs to heaven,

That banish what they sue for; redeem thy brother Intends you for his swift embassador,

By yielding up thy body to my will;

Or else he must not only die the death,

Where you shall be an everlasting leiger:

But thy unkindness shall his death draw ont

Therefore your best appointment make with speed; To-morrow you set on.

To lingering sufferance: answer me to-morrow,

Claud.

Is there no remedy?

Or, by the affection that now guides me most,

I'll prove a tyrant to him: As for you,

Say what you can, my false o'erweighs your true.[ Exit. Isab. To whom shall I complain? Did I tell this,

Who would believe me? O perilous mouths,

That bear in them one and the self-same tongue,
Either of condemnation or approof!
Bidding the law make court'sy to their will;
Hooking both right and wrong to the appetite,
To follow as it draws: I'll to my brother:
Though he hath fallen by prompture of the blood,
Yet hath he in him such a mind of honour,
That had he twenty heads to tender down
On twenty bloody blocks, he'd yield them up,
Before his sister should her body stoop
To such abhorr'd pollution.

Then Isabel, live chaste, and, brother, die:
More than our brother is our chastity.

I'll tell him yet of Angelo's request,

Isab. None, but such remedy, as, to save a head,

To cleave a heart in twain.
Claud.

But is there any?

Isab. Yes, brother, you may live;

There is a devilish merey in the judge,
If you'il implore it, that will free your life,
But fetter you till death.

Claud.

Perpetual durance?

Isab. Ay, just, perpetual durance; a restraint, Though all the world's vastidity you had, To a determin'd scope. Cloud.

But in what nature?

Isab. In such a one as (you consenting to't) Would bark your honour from that trunk you bear, And leave you naked. Claut.

Let me know the point. Isab. O, I do fear thee, Claudio; and I quake Lest thou a feverous life shouldst entertain, And six or seven winters more respect

And fit his mind to death, for his soul's rest. [Exit. Than a perpetual honour. Dar'st thou die?

[blocks in formation]

And yet run'st toward him still: Thou art not noble; For all the accomodations that thou bear'st,

Are nurs'd by baseness: Thou art by no means valiant;

For thou dost fear the soft and tender fork

Of a poor worm: Thy best of rest is sleep,

And that thou oft provok'st; yet grossly fear'st

Thy death, which is no more. Thou art not thyself;

For thou exist'st on many a thousand grains
That issue out of dust: Happy thou art not;

For what thou hast not, still thou striv'st to get;

And what thou hast, forget'st: Thou art not certain;

For thy complexion shifts to strange effects,

After the moon If thou art rich, thou art poor;

For, like an ass, whose back with ingots bows,
Thou bear'st thy heavy riches but a journey,

And death unloads thee: Friend hast thou none;

For thine own bowels, which do call thee sire,

The mere effusion of thy proper loins,

[age;

Do curse the gout, serpigo, and the rheum,
For ending thee no sooner: Thou hast nor youth, nor
But, as it were, an after-dinner's sleep,
Dreaming on both for all thy blessed youth
Becomes as aged, and doth beg the alms
Of palsied eld; and when thou art old, and rich,
Thou hast neither heat, affection, limb, nor beauty,
To make thy riches pleasant. What's yet in this,
That bears the name of life? Yet in this life

Lie hid more thousand deaths yet death we fear,
That makes these odds all even.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

Isab. There spake my brother; there my father's

Did utter forth a voice! Yes, thou must die:
Thou art too noble to conserve a life

In base appliances. This outward-sainted deputy,

Whose settled visage and deliberate word
Nips youth i'the head, and follies doth enmew,
As falcon doth the fowl, is yet a devil;

His filth within being cast, he would appear
A pond as deep as hell.
Claud.

The princely Angelo?

Isab. O, 'tis the cunning livery of hell,

The damned'st body to invest and cover

In princely guards! Dost thon think, Claudio,
If I would yield him my virginity,
Thou might'st be freed?

Claud.

O, heavens! it cannot be.

[blocks in formation]

Isab. Be ready, Claudio, for your death to-morrow. Claud. Yes. Has he affections in him,

That thus can make him bite the law by the nose, When he would force it? Sure it is no sin;

Or of the deadly seven it is the least.

Isab. Which is the least!

Claud. If it were damnable, he, being so wise,

Why, would he for the momentary trick

Be perdurably fin'd?-O, Isabel!

Isab. What says my brother?

[blocks in formation]

Isab. And shamed life a hateful.

Claud. Ay, but to die, and go we know not where;

To lie in cold obstruction, and to rot;

This sensible warm motion to become
A kneaded clod; and the delighted spirit
To bathe in fiery floods, or to reside
In thrilling regions of thick-ribbed ice;
To be imprison'd in the viewless winds,
And blown with restless violence round about
The pendent world; or to be worse than worst
Of those, that lawless and incertain thoughts
Imagine howling!'tis too horrible!
The weariest and most loathed worldly life,
That age, ache, penury, and imprisonment

« AnteriorContinuar »