need 110

clients: though you change your place, you
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.

Mrs Ov. What's to do here, Thomas tapster? let's
withdraw.

Pom. Here comes Signior Claudio, led by the provost to prison; and there's Madam Juliet. [Exeunt.

Enter Provost, Claudio, Juliet, and Officers. 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 demigod 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.

Re-enter Lucio and two Gentlemen.

121

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

130

Turns to restraint.

Our natures do pursue,

Like rats that ravin 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 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.
Lucio. What, is 't murder?

Claud. No.

140

Lucio. Lechery?

Claud. Call it so.

Prov. Away, sir! you must go.

Claud. One word, good friend. Lucio, a word with
Lucio. A hundred, if they'll do you any good.

you.

Is lechery so look'd after?

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
Of outward order: this we came not to,
Only for propagation of a dower

Remaining in the coffer of her friends;

From whom we thought it meet to hide our love

150

Till time had made them for us. But it chances The stealth of our most mutual entertainment With character too gross is writ on Juliet. Lucio. With child, perhaps?

Claud.

Unhappily, even so.

And the new Deputy now for the Duke,—
Whether it be the fault and glimpse of newness,
Or whether that the body public be

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;
Whether the tyranny be in his place,
Or in his eminence that fills it up,
I stagger in:-but this new governor
Awakes me all the enrolled penalties

Which have, like unscour'd armour, hung by the
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 tickle on thy shoulders, that a milkmaid, 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 prithee, Lucio, do me this kind service :
This day my sister should the cloister enter
And there receive her approbation :
Acquaint her with the danger of my state;
Implore her, in my voice, that she make friends
him :

To the strict deputy; bid herself assay

I have great hope in that; for in her youth
There is a prone and speechless dialect,

Such as move men; beside, she hath prosperous art
When she will play with reason and discourse, 190
And well she can persuade.

Lucio. I pray she may; as well for the encourage-
ment 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 fool-
ishly 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! [Exeunt.

Scene III.

A monastery.

Enter Duke and Friar Thomas.

Duke. No, holy father; throw away that thought;

Believe not that the dribbling dart of love
Can pierce a complete bosom. Why I desire thee
To give me secret harbour, hath a purpose

More grave and wrinkled than the aims and ends
Of burning youth.

Fri. T.

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.
I have deliver'd to Lord Angelo,

A man of stricture and firm abstinence,

My absolute power and place here in Vienna,
And he supposes me travell❜d to Poland;
For so I have strew'd it in the common ear,
And so it is received. Now, pious sir,
You will demand of me why I do this.

Fri. T. Gladly, my lord.

Duke. We have strict statutes and most biting laws,

I I

The needful bits and curbs to headstrong weeds, 20
Which for this fourteen years we have let slip;
Even like an o'ergrown lion in a cave,

That goes not out to prey. Now, as fond fathers,
Having bound up the threatening twigs of birch,
Only to stick it in their children's sight