versy: As for example; Thou thyself art a wicked villain, despite of all grace. 1 Gent. Well, there went but a pair of sheers between us.* Lucio. I grant; as there may between the lists and the velvet: Thou art the list. 1 Gent. And thou the velvet: thou art good velvet; thou art a three-pil'd piece, I warrant thee: I had as lief be a list of an English kersey, as be pil'd, as thou art pil'd, for a French velvet.† Do I speak feelingly now? Lucio. I think thou dost; and, indeed, with most painful feeling of thy speech: I will, out of thine own confession, learn to begin thy health; but, whilst I live, forget to drink after thee. 1 Gent. I think, I have done myself wrong; have I not? 2 Gent. Yes, that thou hast; whether thou art tainted or free. Lucio. Behold, behold, where madam Mitigation comes! I have purchased as many diseases under her roof, as come to— 2 Gent. To what, I pray? 1 Gent. Judge. 2 Gent. To three thousand dollars a year. 1 Gent. Ay, and more. Lucio. A French crown more. 1 Gent. Thou art always figuring diseases in me: but thou art full of error; I am sound. Lucio. Nay, not as one would say, healthy; but so sound, as things that are hollow: thy bones are hollow; impiety has made a feast of thee. Enter BAWD. 1 Gent. How now? Which of your hips has the most profound sciatica ? Bawd. Well, well; there's one yonder arrested, and carried to prison, was worth five thousand of you all. 1 Gent. Who's that, I pray thee? Bawd. Marry, Sir, that's Claudio, signior Claudio. 1 Gent. Claudio to prison! 'tis not so. Bawd. Nay, but I know 'tis so: I saw him arrested; saw him carried away; and, which is more, within these three days his head's to be chopped off. Lucio. But, after all this fooling, I would not have it so: Art thou sure of this? Bawd. I am too sure of it: and it is for getting madam Julietta with child. Lucio. Believe me, this may be: he promised to meet me two hours since; and he was ever precise in promise-keeping. 2 Gent. Besides, you know, it draws something near to the speech we had to such a purpose. 1 Gent. But most of all, agreeing with the proclamation. Lucio. Away; let's go learn the truth of it. [Exeunt LUCIO and GENTLEMEN. Bawd. Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat,§ what * A cut of the same cloth. † A jest on the loss of hair by the French disease. + Corona veneris. The sweating sickness. with the gallows, and what with poverty, I am custom-shrunk. How now? what's the news with you? Bawd. But what's his offence? Clo. Groping for trouts in a peculiar river. Bawd. What, is there a maid with child by him? Clo. No; but there's a woman with maid by him: You hav not heard of the proclamation, have you? Bawd. What proclamation, man? Clo. All houses in the suburbs of Vienna must be pluck'd down. Bawd. And what shall become of those in the city? Clo. They shall stand for seed: they had gone down too, but that a wise burgher put in for them. Bawd. But shall all our houses of resort in the suburbs be pulled down? Clo. To the ground, mistress. Bawd. Why, here's a change, indeed, in the commonwealth! What shall become of me? Clo. Come; fear not you; good counsellors lack no clients: though you change your place, you need not change your trade; I'll be your tapster still. Courage; there will be pity taken on you: you that have worn your eyes almost out in the service, you will be considered. Bawd. What's to do here, Thomas Tapster? Let's withdraw. Clo. Here comes signior Claudio, led by the provost to prison: and there's madam Juliet. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-The same. Enter PROVOST,* CLAUDIO, JULIET, and Officers; LUCIO, and two Gentlemen. Claud. Fellow, why dost thou show me thus to the world? Bear me to prison, where I am committed. Prov. I do it not in evil disposition, But from lord Angelo by special charge. Claud. Thus can the demi-god, Authority, Make us pay down for our offence by weight.— The words of heaven;-on whom it will, it will; On whom it will not, so; yet still 'tis just. Lucio. Why, how now, Claudio? whence comes this restraint? Claud. From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty: As surfeit is the father of much fast, So every scope by the immoderate use Turns to restraint: Our natures do pursue (Like rats that ravint down their proper bane) A thirsty evil; and when we drink, we die. Lucio. If I could speak so wisely under an arrest, I would send * Gaoler. † Voraciously devour. for certain of my creditors: And yet, to say the truth, I had as lief have the foppery of freedom, as the morality of imprisonment.-What's thy offence, Claudio? Claud. What, but to speak of would offend again, Claud. No. Lucio. Lechery ? Claud. Call it so. Prov. Away, Sir; you must go. Claud. One word, good friend :-Lucio, a word with you. Lucio. A hundred, if they'll do you any good. -Is lechery so look'd after ? [Takes him aside. Claud. Thus stands it with me :-Upon a true contract, I got possession of Julietta's bed; You know the lady; she is fast my wife, Save that we do the denunciation lack Remaining in the coffer of her friends; From whom we thought it meet to hide our love, Claud. Unhappily even so. And the new deputy now for the duke,- A horse whereon the governor doth ride, Who, newly in the seat, that it may know He can command, lets it straight feel the spur: I stagger in:-But this new governor Which have, like unscoured armour, hung by the wall So long, that nineteen zodiacs* have gone round, And none of them been worn; and, for a name, Now puts the drowsy and neglected act Freshly on me: 'tis surely, for a name. Lucio. I warrant, it is: and thy head stands so ticklet on thy shoulders, that a milk-maid, if she be in love, may sigh it off. Send after the duke, and appeal to him. Claud. I have done so, but he's not to be found. I pr'ythee, Lucio, do me this kind service: This day my sister should the cloister enter, *Yearly circles. Enter on her probation. † Ticklish. To the strict deputy, bid herself assay him; Such as moves men; besides, she hath prosperous art And well she can persuade. Lucio. I pray, she may; as well for the encouragement of the like, which else would stand under grievous imposition; as for the enjoying of thy life, who I would be sorry should be thus foolishly lost at a game of tick-tack. I'll to her. Claud. I thank you, good friend Lucio. Lucio. Within two hours, Claud. Come, officer, away. SCENE IV-A Monastery. Enter DUKE and FRIAR THOMAS. Duke. No; holy father; throw away that thought; Can pierce a cómplete bosom:† why I desire thee More grave and wrinkled than the aims and ends Fri. May your grace speak of it? Duke. My holy sir, none better knows than you How I have ever loved the life removed; And held in idle price to haunt assemblies, Where youth, and cost, and witless bravery keeps. (A man of stricture,§ and firm abstinence), For so I have strew'd it in the common ear, And so it is received: Now, pious sir, Fri. Gladly, my lord. Duke. We have strict statutes, and most biting laws That goes not out to prey: Now, as fond fathers For terror, not to use; in time the rod Becomes more mock'd, than fear'd: so our decrees, The baby beats the nurse, and quite athwart Fri. It rested in your grace * Prompt. Completely armed. [Exeunt. + Retired. VOL. I. § Strictness. Р To unloose this tied up justice, when you pleased: Duke. I do fear, too dreadful: Sith 'twas my fault to give the people scope, And not the punishment. Therefore, indeed, my father, Who may, in the ambush of my name, strike home, To do it slander: And to behold his sway, I will, as 'twere a brother of your order, Visit both prince and people: therefore, I pr'ythec, Is more to bread than stone: Hence shall we see, SCENE V-A Nunnery. Enter ISABELLA and FRANCISCA. Isab. And have you nuns no further privileges? Isab. Yes, truly: I speak not as desiring more; Fran. It is a man's voice: Gentle Isabella, Turn you the key, and know his business of him; When you have vow'd, you must not speak with men, Then, if you speak, you must not show your face; [Exeunt. [Within. [Exit FRANCISCA. Isab. Peace and prosperity! Who is't that calls? Lucio. Hail, virgin, if you be; as those cheek-roses A novice of this place, and the fair sister Isab. Why her unhappy brother? let me ask; * Since + On his defence. |