Enter Escalus, Provost, and Officers with Mistress
Overdone.

Escal. Go; away with her to prison!

Mrs Ov. Good my lord, be good to me; your honour is accounted a merciful man; good my lord.

Escal. Double and treble admonition, and still forfeit in the same kind! This would make mercy swear and play the tyrant.

Prov. A bawd of eleven years' continuance, may it please your honour.

Mrs Ov. My lord, this is one Lucio's information 210 against me. Mistress Kate Keepdown was with

child by him in the Duke's time; he promised her marriage: his child is a year and a quarter old, come Philip and Jacob: I have kept it myself; and see how he goes about to abuse me! Escal. That fellow is a fellow of much license: let

him be called before us. Away with her to
prison ! Go to; no more words. [Exeunt
Officers with Mistress Ov.] Provost, my brother
Angelo will not be altered; Claudio must die to- 220
morrow let him be furnished with divines, and
have all charitable preparation. If my brother
wrought by my pity, it should not be so with him.

Prov. So please you, this friar hath been with him, and advised him for the entertainment

of death.

Escal. Good even, good father.

Duke. Bliss and goodness on you!

Escal. Of whence are you?

Duke. Not of this country, though my chance is now 23

To use it for my time: I am a brother

Of gracious order, late come from the See
In special business from his Holiness.

Escal. What news abroad i' the world?

Duke. None, but that there is so great a fever on goodness, that the dissolution of it must cure it: novelty is only in request; and it is as dangerous to be aged in any kind of course, as it is virtuous to be constant in any undertaking. There is scarce truth enough alive to make societies 240 secure; but security enough to make fellowships accurst:-much upon this riddle runs the wisdom of the world. This news is old enough, yet it is every day's news.

I pray you, sir, of what disposition was the Duke?

Escal. One that, above all other strifes, contended

especially to know himself.

Duke. What pleasure was he given to?

Escal. Rather rejoicing to see another merry, than merry at any thing which professed to make 250 him rejoice a gentleman of all temperance. But leave we him to his events, with a prayer they may prove prosperous; and let me desire to know how you find Claudio prepared. I am made to understand that you have lent him visitation. Duke. He professes to have received no sinister measure from his judge, but most willingly humbles himself to the determination of justice : yet had he framed to himself, by the instruction of his frailty, many deceiving promises of life; 260 which I, by my good leisure, have discredited to him, and now is he resolved to die.

Escal. You have paid the heavens your function, and the prisoner the very debt of your calling. I have laboured for the poor gentleman to the extremest shore of my modesty : but my brother justice have I found so severe, that he hath forced me to tell him he is indeed Justice.

Duke. If his own life answer the straitness of his proceeding, it shall become him well; wherein 270 if he chance to fail, he hath sentenced himself. Escal. I am going to visit the prisoner. Fare you well.

Duke. Peace be with you! [Exeunt Escalus and Provost.

He who the sword of heaven will bear

Should be as holy as severe ;
Pattern in himself to know,
Grace to stand, and virtue go;
More nor less to others paying
Than by self-offences weighing.
Shame to him whose cruel striking
Kills for faults of his own liking!
Twice treble shame on Angelo,
To weed my vice and let his grow!
O, what may man within him hide,
Though angel on the outward side !
How may likeness made in crimes,
Making practice on the times,
To draw with idle spiders' strings
Most ponderous and substantial things!
Craft against vice I must apply:
With Angelo to-night shall lie
His old betrothed but despised;
So disguise shall, by the disguised,
Pay with falsehood false exacting,
And perform an old contracting.

280

290

[Exit.

Act Fourth.

The moated

Scene I.

grange at St Luke's.

Enter Mariana and a Boy.
Boy sings.

Take, O, take those lips away,
That so sweetly were forsworn;
And those eyes, the break of day,
Lights that do mislead the morn :
But my kisses bring again, bring again;

Seals of love, but seal'd in vain, seal'd in vain.
Mari. Break off thy song, and haste thee quick away :
Here comes a man of comfort, whose advice
Hath often still'd my brawling discontent. [Exit Boy.

Enter Duke disguised as before.

I

cry you mercy, sir; and well could wish You had not found me here so musical:

10

Let me excuse me, and believe me so,

My mirth it much displeased, but pleased my woe.