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 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?

(Like rats that ravin] To ravin was formerly used for eagerly or voraciously devouring any thing.

Claud. What, but to speak of would offend

again.

Lucio. What is it? murder?

Claud. No.

Lucio. Lechery?

Claud. Call it so.

Prov. Away, sir; you must go.

Claud. One word, good friend:-Lucio, a word

with you.

[Takes him aside,

Lucio. A hundred, if they'll do you any good. 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 ;3

From whom we thought it meet to hide our love,
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;*

3

this we came not to,

Only for propagation of a dower

Remaining in the coffer of her friends;] I suppose the speaker means-for the sake of getting such a dower as her friends might hereafter bestow on her, when time had reconciled them to her clandestine marriage. STEEVens.

4. the fault and glimpse of newness;] The fault and glimpse is the same as the faulty glimpse. And the meaning seems to beWhether it be the fault of newness, a fault arising from the mind being dazzled by a novel authority, of which the new governor has yet had only a glimpse,-has yet taken only a hasty survey; or whether, &c. Shakspeare has many similar expressions. MALONE

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
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 enroll'd penalties,

Which have, like unscour'd armour, hung by the wall

So long, that nineteen zodiacks 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 tickles 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,
And there receive her approbation :

Acquaint her with the danger of my state;
Implore her, in my voice, that she make friends
To the strict deputy; bid herself assay him ;
I have great hope in that: for in her youth
There is a prone and speechless dialect,"

Such as moves men; beside, she hath prosperous art
When she will play with reason and discourse,
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

6

7

so tickle-] i. e. ticklish.

her approbation :] i. e. enter on her probation.

prone and speechless dialect,] Prone, perhaps, may stand for humble; as a prone posture is a posture of supplication.

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.

[Exeunt.

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

Believe not that the dribbling darts of love
Can pierce a cómplete 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.

May your grace speak of it?

Duke. My holy sir, none better knows than you How I have ever lov'd the life remov'd;"

And held in idle price to haunt assemblies,

Where youth, and cost, and witless bravery1 keeps.2
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 receiv'd: Now, pious sir,
You will demand of me, why I do this?
Fri. Gladly, my lord.

• Believe not that the dribbling dart,] A dribber, in archery,

was a term of contempt.

9

2

the life remov'd:] i. e. a life of retirement.

witless bravery-] Bravery, or showy dress.
keeps.] i. e. dwells, resides.

Duke. We have strict statutes, and most biting laws,

(The needful bits and curbs for head-strong steeds,) Which for these fourteen years we have let sleep; Even like an o'er-grown lion in a cave,

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

For terror, not to use; in time the rod

Becomes more mock'd, than fear'd: so our de

crees,

Dead to infliction, to themselves are dead;

And liberty plucks justice by the nose;
The baby beats the nurse, and quite athwart
Goes all decorum,

Fri.

It rested in your grace To unloose this tied-up justice, when you pleas'd: And it in you more dreadful would have seem'd, Than in lord Angelo.

Duke.

I do fear, too dreadful: Sith3 'twas my fault to give the people scope, "Twould be my tyranny to strike, and gall them For what I bid them do: For we bid this be done, When evil deeds have their permissive pass,

And not the punishment.

father,

Therefore, indeed, my

I have on Angelo impos'd the office;

Who may, in the ambush of my name, strike home, And yet my nature never in the sight,

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'ythee, Supply me with the habit, and instruct me

How I may formally in person bear me

Like a true friar. More reasons for this action,