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 5 tainted, or free.

Lucio. Behold, behold, where madam Mitigation comes! I have purchas'd as many diseases under

her roof, as comes 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 2 more.

10

1 Gent. Thou art alwaysfiguring diseases in me: 15 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?

Bard. Well, well; there's one yonder arrested, and carried to prison, was worth five thousand of you all.

1 Gent. Who's that, I pr'ythee?
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

Clown. Groping for trouts in a peculiar river. Bawd. What, is there a maid with child by him? Clown. No; but there's a woman with maid by him: You have not heard of the proclamation, have you?

Bard. What proclamation, man?

Clown. All houses in the suburbs of Vienna must be pluck'd down.

[city? Bawd. And what shall become of those in the Clown. 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 pull'd down?

Clown. To the ground, mistress.

Bawd. Why, here's a change, indeed, in the commonwealth! What shall become of me?

Clown. Come; fear not you: good counsellors lack no clients: though you change your place, you need not change your trade; I'll be your 20 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.

25

Bawd. What's to do here, Thomas Tapster? Let's withdraw.

Clown. Here comes signior Claudio, led by the provost to prison: and there's madam Juliet. [Exeunt Bard and Clown. SCENE III

arrested; saw him carry'd away; and, which is 30 Enter Provost, Claudio, Juliet, and Officers;

more, within these three days his head is to be chopp'd 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 35 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 40 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. 45

Manet Bawd.

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,
50I 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?
[again.
Claud. What, but to speak of, would offend
Lucio. What is it? murder?

A quibble intended between dollars and dolours.

2 Lucio means here not the piece of money Alluding pro

so called, but that venereal scab, which among the surgeons is styled corona Veneris. bably to the method of cure then used for the diseases contracted in brothels. + The verb to do, is here used in a sense now obsolete, but which the reader will easily guess at from the modern application of the phrase of "undoing a woman," or " a woman's being undone." Hence the name of Over-dons, which Shakspeare has in this play appropriated to the baud. ! Meaning all bawdy-houses. pine is an obsolete word for prey.

• Ru

Claud.

Claud. No.

Lucio. Lechery?

Claud. Call it so.

Prov. Away, sir; you must go.

Claud. One word, good friend:-Lucio, a word 5
with you.

Lucio. A hundred, if they'll do you any good.-
Is lechery so look'd after?
[contract,
Claud. Thus stands it with me.-Upon a true
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,
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 newness1;
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 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.

[wall

Lucio. I warrant, it is: and thy head stands so tickle on thy shoulders, that a milk-maid, if she be in love, may sigh it off. Send after the duke, and appeal to him.

.SCENE IV.

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 compleat bosom: why I desire thee
To give me secret harbour, hath a purpose
10 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';
15 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 firin abstinence)
My absolute power and place here in Vienna,
20 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.

25

30

35

[laws,

Duke. We have strict statutes, and most biting
(The needful bits and curbs for head-strong steeds)
Which for these nineteen 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 decrees,
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 ty'd-up justice, when you pleas'd: 40 And it in you more dreadful would have seem'd, Than in lord Angelo.

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, [art
Such as moves men; beside, she hath prosperous 50
When she will play with reason and discourse,
And well she can persuade.

Lucio. I pray, she may: as well for the encou ragement 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.

Duke. I do fear, too dreadful:

Sith'twas my fault to give the people scope,
"Twould be my tyranny to strike and gall them,
45 For what I bid them do: For we bid this be done,
When evil deeds have theirpermissivepass, [father,
And not the punishment. 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,

At our more leisure shall I render you;

Only, this one:-Lord Angelo is precise; Stands at a guard with envy; scarce confesses [Exeunt. 60 That his blood flows, or that his appetite

That is, whether it be the seeming enormity of the action, or the glare of new authority. The fault and glimpse is the same as the fault or glimpse, i. e. a fault arising from the mind being dazzled by a novel authority. That is, ticklish. Prone here seems to mean humble. * Meaning a life of retirement, * Stricture is probably here used for strictness. That is, stands on terms of defiance.

2

Lucio. Hail, virgin, if you be; as those cheek 25

Already; and, as I hear, the provost hath
A warrant for his execution.

Isab. Alas! what poor ability's in me
To do him good?

Lucio. Assay the power you have.
Isab. My power! Alas! I doubt,-
Lucio. Our doubts are traitors,

40 And make us lose the good we oft might win,
By fearing to attempt: Go to lord Angelo,
And let him learn to know, when maidens sue,
Men give like gods; but when they weep and kneel,
All their petitions are as truly theirs
45 As they themselves would owe1o them.
Isab. I'll see what I can do.
Lucio. But speedily.

Isab. You do blaspheme the good, in mocking
Lucio. Donot believe it. Fewness' and truth, 'tis 50
Your brother and his lover have embrac'd: [thus:
As those that feed grow full; as blossoming time
2 That from the seedness the bare fallow brings
To teeming foyson'; so her plenteous womb

That is, in few words. 2 For that, we should probably read doth; and instead of brings, bring. "That is, plenty, abundance. The meaning is, he kept many gentlemen in expectation and de"That is, full extent. "That is, to intimidate practices long countenanced by custom. That is, the power of gaining favour. The principal part of my message. • That is, has sen19 To owe, here signifies, to possess, to have. "The abbess.

Setting it up to fear 2 the birds of prey,

And let it keep one shape, till custom make it
Their perch, and not their terror.

Escal. Ay, but yet

Let us be keen, and rather cut a little,

Than fall, and bruise to death: Alas! this gentleman,
Whom I would save, had a most noble father.
Let but your honour know, (whom I believe
To be most strait in virtue)

That, in the working of your own affections,
Hadtime coher'd with place, or place with wishing,
Or that the resolute acting of your blood
Could have attain'd the effect of your own purpose,
Whether you had not sometime in your life
Err'd in this point which now you censure him3,
And pull'd the law upon you.

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 dolean upon justice, sir, and do bring in here before your good honour two notorious benefactors.

Ang. Benefactors? Well; what benefactors are 10 they are they not malefactors?

15

201

25

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 offwell'; here's a wise officer. Ang. Go to: What quality are they of? Elbow is your name? Why dost thou not speak, Elbow? Clown. He cannot, sir; he's out at elbow. Ang. What are you, sir?

Elb. He, sir? a tapster, sir; a parcel-bawd'; one that serves a bad woman; whose house, sir, was, as they say, pluck'd down in the suburbs ; and now she professes a hot-house 10, which, I think, is a very ill house too.

Escal. How know you that?

Elb. My wife, sir, whom I detest before heaven and your honour,

Escal. How! thy wife?

Ang. 'Tis one thing to be tempted, Escalus,
Another thing to fall. I not deny,
The jury, passing on the prisoner's life,
May, in the sworn twelve, have a thief or two
Guiltier than him they try: What's open made to
That justice seizes. What know the laws, [justice,|
That thieves do pass on thieves? 'Tis very preg-|
Thejewel that we find, we stoopand takeit, [nant,30honest
Because we see it: but what we do not see,
We tread upon, and never think of it.
You may not so extenuate his offence,

For I have had such faults; but rather tell me,|
When I that censure him do so offend,
Let mine own judgment pattern out my death,
And nothing come in partial. Sir, he must die.
Escal. Be it as your wisdom will.
Ang. Where is the provost?
Prov. Here, if it like your honour.
Ang. See that Claudio

Be executed by nine to-morrow morning:
Bring him his confessor, let him be prepar'd;
For that's the utmost of his pilgrimage.

35

40

[Exit Provost. 45
Escal. Well, heaven forgive him! and forgive us all!
Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall:
Some run from brakes of vice, and answer none;
And some condemned for a fault alone.

Enter Elbow, Froth, Clown, Officers, &c.
Elb. Come, bring them away: if these be good
people in a common-weal, that do nothing but use

Elb. Ay, sir; whom, I thank heaven, is an 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 uncleanness 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 defy'd him. Clown. Sir, if it please your honour, this is not so. Elb. Prove it before these varlets here, thou honourable man, prove it.

Escal. Do you hear how he misplaces?
[To Angelo.

Clown. Sir, she came in great with child; and longing (saving your honour's reverence) for 50 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

The provost is usually the executioner of an army. To affright, to terrify. 3 That is, for which you now condemn him. Pregnant here means plain. That is, because. "That is, from the thorny paths of vice. 'Comes off well, when seriously applied to speech, imports a story or tale to be well told or delivered. Escalus, however, here uses the phrase ironically. The Clown quibbles on the word elbow; meaning, he is out at the word elbow, and out at the elbow of his coat. The meaning is, he is half tapster, half bawd. 10 That is, she keeps a bagnio. 11 A dish of stewed prunes in the window, was the ancient mark or characteristic, as well as the constant appendage, of a brothel.

honour

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. Clown. No, indeed, sir, not of a pin; you are therein in the right: but to the point: As I say, 5 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 10 them very honestly;-for, as you know, master Froth, I could not give you three pence again. Froth. No, indeed.

Clown. Very well: you being then, if you be remember'd, cracking the stones of the foresaid 15 prunes.

Froth. Ay, so I did, indeed.

Clown. Why, very well: I 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, un-20 less they kept very good diet, as I told you. Froth. All this is true.

Clown. Why, very well then.

honour; 'tis for a good purpose: Doth your honour mark his face?

Escal. Ay, sir, very well.

Clown. Nay, I beseech you mark it well.
Escal. Well, I do so.

Clown. Doth your honour see any harm in his face?

Escal. Why, no.

Clown. I'll be suppos'd upon a bo k, 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 we any harm? I would know that of your honour.

Escal. He's in the light: constable, what say you to it?

Elb. First, an it like you, the house is a respect ed house; next, this is a respect d fellow;" and ́ his mistress is a respected wojnan.

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

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

Clown. Sir, she was respected with him before

Escal. Come, you are a tedious fool; to the purpose.-What was done to Elbow's wife, that 25he marry'd with her. he hath cause to complain of? come me to what was done to her.

[yet.

Clown. Sir, your honour cannot come to that
Escal. No, sir, nor I mean it not.

Clown. Sir, but you shall come to it, by your 30
honour's leave: And, I beseech you, look into
master Froth here, sir: a man of fourscore pound
a year; whose father dy'd at Hallowmas:-Was't
not at Hallowmas, master Froth?

Froth. All-hollond eve.

Clown. 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?

35

Froth. I have so; because it is an open room, 40 and good for winter.

Clown. Why, very well then ;-I hope here be truths.

Ang. This will last out a night in Russia, When nights are longest there: I'll take my leave, 45 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 lordship. [Exit Angelo.

Now, sir, come on: What was done to Elbow's 50 wife, once more?

Clown. Once, sir? there was nothing done to her once.

Elb. I beseech you, sir, ask him what this man did to my wife.

Clown. I beseech your honour, ask me. Escal. Well, sir; What did this gentleman to her?

Clown. I beseech you, sir, look in this gentle man's face:-Good master Froth, look upon his[60]

Escal. Which is the wiser here? Justice or Iniquity'?-Is this true?

Elb. O thou caitiff! O thou varlet! O thou wicked Hannibal! I respected with her, before I was marry'd to her? If ever I was respected with her, or she with me, let not your worship think me the poor duke's officer:--Prove this, thou wicked Hannibal, or I'll have mine action of batterv 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 shall do with this wicked caititi'?

Escal. Truly, officer, because he hath some of fences in him, that thou would'st discover if thou could'st, 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
Jupon 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.
Clown. A tapster; a poor widow's tapster.
Escul. Your mistress's name?
Clown. Mistress Over-done.

Escal. Hath she had any more than one husband?
Clown. Nine, sir; Over-done by the last.
Escal. Nine!--Come hither to me, master
Froth. Master Froth, I would not have you ac

This probably alludes to two personages well known to the audience by their frequent introduction in the old Moralities. ? A mistake for Cannibal.

G

quainted