Of a poor worm: Thy best of rest is sleep, For thy complexion shifts to strange effects, Do curse the gout, serpigo, and the rheum, For ending thee no sooner: Thou hast nor youth, nor age; But, as it were, an after-dinner's sleep, Of palsied eld; and when thou art old, and rich, Enter Isabella.. Isab. What, ho! Peace here; grace and good company!... Prov. Who's there? come in the wish deserves a welcome. Prov. Duke. Dear sir, ere long I'll visit you again. Claud. Most holy sir, I thank you. Ieab. My business is a word or two with Claudio. -Prov. And very welcome. Look, signior, here's Duke. Provost, a word with you. [your sister. As many as you please. Duke. Bring them to speak, where I may be conceal'd, Yet hear them. [Exeunt Duke and Provost. Claud. Now, sister, what's the comfort? Isab. Why, as all comforts are; most good in Lord Angelo, having affairs to heaven, [deed: Intends you for his swift embassador, Where you shall be an everlasting leiger: Therefore your best appointment make with speed: To-morrow you set on. Claud. Is there no remedy? Isab. None, but such remedy, as, to save a head, To cleave a heart in twain. Claud. But is there any? Isab. Yes, brother, you may live; There is a devilish mercy in the judge, If you'll implore it, that will free your life,, But fetter you till death. Claud. Perpetual durance? Isab. Ay, just, perpetual durance; a restraint, Though all the world's vastidity you had," To a determin'd scope. Isab. There spake my brother; there my father's grave Did utter forth a voice! Yes, thou must die: Claud. Claud. O, heavens! it cannot be. Isab. Yes, he would give it thee, from this rank offence, So to offend him still: This night's the time Thou shalt not do't. Isab. O, were it but my life, I'd throw it down for your deliverance As frankly as a pin. Claud. Thanks, dear Isabel. Isab. Be ready, Claudio, for your death to-morClaud. Yes.-Has he affections in him, [row, That thus can make him bite the law by the nose; When he would force it? Sure it is no sin; Or of the deadly seven it is the least. Isab. Which is the least? Claud. If it were damnable, he, being so wise," Why, would he for the momentary trick Be perdurably fin'd?-O Isabel! Isab. What says my brother? Claud. Death is a fearful thing. Isab. And shamed life a hateful. Claud. Ay, but to die, and go we know not where; To lie in cold obstruction, and to rot; This sensible warm motion to become A kneaded clod; and the delighted spirit To bathe in fiery floods, or to reside In thrilling regions of thick-ribbed ice; To be imprison'd in the viewless winds, And blown with restless violence round about The pendent world; or to be worse than worst Of those, that lawless and incertain thoughts Imagine howling!-'tis too horrible! The weariest and most loathed worldly life, That age, ach, penury, and imprisonment Can lay on nature, is a paradise To what we fear of death. Isab. Alas! alas! Claud. Sweet sister, let me live: Isab. From thine own sister's shame? What should I think? Heaven shield, my mother play'd my father fair!. Ne'er issu'd from his blood. Take my defiance: Claud. Nay, hear me, Isabel. O, fye, fye, fyel Thy sin's not accidental, but a trade: [Going Ŏ hear me, Isabella. Re-enter Duke. Duke. Vouchsafe a word, young sister, but one word. Isab. What is your will? them with his comfort; swallowed his vows whole, Duke. Might you dispense with your leisure, I pretending, in her, discoveries of dishonour; in would by and by have some speech with you: the few, bestowed her on her own lamentation, which satisfaction I would require, is likewise your own she yet wears for his sake; and he, a marble to her benefit. tears, is washed with them, but relents not. Isab. What a merit were it in death, to take this Isub. I have no superfluous leisure; my stay must be stolen out of other affairs; but I will at-poor maid from the world! What corruption in tend you a while. this life, that it will let this man live!-But how Duke. It is a rupture that you may easily heal; and the cure of it not only saves your brother, but keeps you from dishonour in doing it. Isab. Show me how, good father. Duke. [To Claudio, aside.] Son, I have over-out of this can she avail? heard what hath past between you and your sister. Angelo had never the purpose to corrupt her; only he hath made an essay of her virtue, to practise his judgment with the disposition of natures; she, having the truth of honour in her, hath made him that gracious denial which he is most glad to receive: am confessor to Angelo, and I know this to be true; therefore prepare yourself to death: Do not satisfy your resolution with hopes that are fallible: to-morrow you must die; go to your knees, and make ready. Claud. Let me ask my sister pardon. I am so out of love with life, that I will sue to be rid of it. Duke. Hold you there; Farewell. Re-enter Provost. Provost, a word with you. [Exit Claudio. Prov. What's your will, father? Duke. That now you are come, you will be gone Leave me a while with the maid; my mind promises with my habit, no loss shall touch her by my company. Duke. This fore-named maid hath yet in her the continuance of her first affection; his unjust unkindness, that in all reason should have quenched her love, hath, like an impediment in the current, made it more violent and unruly. Go you to Angelo; answer his requiring with a plausible obedience; agree with his demands to the point: only refer yourself to this advantage,-first, that your stay with him may not be long; that the time may have all shadow and silence in it; and the place answer to convenience: this being granted in course, now follows all. We shall advise this wronged maid to stead up your appointment, go in your place; if the encounter acknowledge itself hereafter, it may compel him to her recompense: and here, by this, is your brother saved, your honour untainted, the poor Mariana advantaged, and the corrupt deputy scaled. The maid will I frame, and make fit for his attempt. If you think well to carry this as you may, the doubleness of the benefit defends the deceit from reproof. What think you of it? Isab. The image of it gives me content already; and, I trust, it will grow to a most prosperous perfection. Prov. In good time. [Exit Provost. Duke. The hand that hath made you fair, hath made you good: the goodness, that is cheap in beauty, makes beauty brief in goodness; but grace, being the soul of your complexion, should keep the body of it ever fair. The assault, that Angelo hath made to you, fortune hath convey'd to my under- Duke. It lies much in your holding up: Haste standing; and, but that frailty hath examples for you speedily to Angelo; if for this night he entreat his falling, I should wonder at Angelo. How you to his bed, give him promise of satisfaction. would you do to content this substitute, and to I will presently to St. Luke's; there, at the moated save your brother. grange resides this dejected Mariana: At that Isab. I am now going to resolve him: I had ra-place call upon me; and despatch with Angelo, ther my brother die by the law, than my son should be unlawfully born. But 0, how much is the good duke deceived in Angelo! If ever he return, and I can speak to him, I will open my lips in vain, or discover his government. Duke. That shall not be much amiss: Yet, as the matter now stands, he will avoid your accusation; he made trial of you only.-Therefore, fasten your ear on my advisings; to the love I have in doing good, a remedy presents itself. I do make myself believe, that you may most uprighteously do a poor wronged lady a merited benefit; redeem your brother from the angry law; do no stain to your own gracious person; and much please the absent duke, if, peradventure, he shall ever return to have hearing of this business. Isab. Let me hear you speak further; I have spirit to do any thing that appears not foul in the truth of my spirit. Duke. Virtue is bold, and goodness never fearful. Have you not heard speak of Mariana the sister of Frederick, the great soldier, who miscarried at sea? Ieab. I have heard of the lady, and good words went with her name. Duke. Her should this Angelo have married; was afflanced to her by oath, and the nuptial appointed: between which time of the contract, and limit of the solemnity, her brother Frederick was wrecked at sea, having in that perish'd vessel the dowry of his sister. But mark, how heavily this befel to the poor gentlewoman: there she lost a noble and renowned brother, in his love toward her ever most kind and natural; with him the portion and sinew of her fortune, her marriage-dowry; with both, her combinate husband, this well-seeming Angelo. Isab, Can this be so? Did Angelo so leave her? Duke. Left her in her tears, and dry'd not one of that it may be quickly. Isab. I thank you for this comfort: Fare you well, good father. [Exeunt severally. SCENE II.-The Street before the Prison. Enter Duke, as a Friar; to him Elbow, Clown, and Officers. Elb. Nay, if there be no remedy for it, but that you will needs buy and sell men and women like beasts, we shall have all the world drink brown and white bastard. Duke. O, heavens! what stuff is here? Clo. 'Twas never merry world, since, of two usuries, the merriest was put down, and the worser allow'd by order of law a furr'd gown to keep him warm; and furr'd with fox and lamb-skins too, to signify, that craft, being richer than innocency, stands for the facing. Elb. Come your way, sir:-Bless you, good father friar. Duke. And you, good brother father: What offence hath this man made you, sir? Elb. Marry, sir, he hath offended the law; and, sir, we take him to be a thief too, sir; for we have found upon him, sir, a strange pick-lock, which we have sent to the deputy, Duke. Fye, sirrah; a bawd, a wicked bawd! Duke. Nay, if the devil have given thee proofs Thou wilt prove his. Take him to prison, officer; Duke. That we were all, as some would seem to be, Free from our faults, as faults from seeming, free! extirp it quite, friar, till eating and drinking be put down. They say, this Angelo was not made by man and woman, after the downright way of creation: Is it true, think you? Duke. How should he be made then? Elb, He must before the deputy, sir; he has Lucio. Some report, a sea-maid spawn'd him :given him warning: the deputy cannot abide a Some, that he was begot between two stock-fishes: whoremaster: if he be a whoremonger, and comes-But it is certain, that when he makes water, his before him, he were as good go a mile on his urine is congeal'd ice; that I know to be true: and errand. he is a motion ungenerative, that's infallible. Duke. You are pleasant, sir; and speak apace. Lucio. Why, what a ruthless thing is this in him, for the rebellion of a cod-piece, to take away the life of a man? Would the duke, that is absent, have done this? Ere he would have hang'd a man for the getting a hundred bastards, he would have paid for the nursing a thousand: He had some feeling of the sport; he knew the service, and that instructed him to mercy. Enter Lucio. Elb. His neck will come to your waist, a cord, sir. Clo. I spy comfort; I cry, bail: Here's a gentleman, and a friend of mine. Lucio, How now, noble Pompey? What, at the heels of Cæsar? Art thou led in triumph ? What, is there none of Pygmalion's images, newly made woman, to be had now, for putting the hand in the pocket and extracting it clutch'd? What reply? Ha? What say'st thou to this tune, matter, and method? Is't not drown'd i' the last rain? Ha? What say'st thou, trot? Is the world as it was, man? Which is the way? Is it sad, and few words? Or how? The trick of it? Duke. Still thus, and thus ! still worse! Cle. Troth, sir, she hath eaten up all her beef, and she is herself in the tub. Duke. I never heard the absent duke much detected for women; he was not inclined that way. Lucio. O, sir, you are deceived. Duke. 'Tis not possible. Lucio. Who? not the duke? yes, your beggar of fifty;-and his use was, to put a ducat in her clack-dish: the duke had crotchets in him: He would be drunk too; that let me inform you. Duke. You do him wrong, surely. Lucio. Sir, I was an inward of his: A shy fellow was the duke: and, 1 believe, I know the cause of his withdrawing. Duke. What, I pr'ythee, might be the cause? Lucio. Why, 'tis good; it is the right of it: it Lucio. No, pardon ;-'tis a secret must be lock'd must be so: Ever your fresh whore, and your pow-within the teeth and the lips: but this I can let der'd bawd: An unshunn'd consequence; it must you understand, The greater file of the subject be so: Art going to prison, Pompey? held the duke to be wise. Clo. Yes, faith, sir. Lucio. Why 'tis not amiss, Pompey: Farewell; Go; say, I sent thee thither. For debt, Pompey ? Or how? Duke. Wise? why, no question but he was. Lucio. A very superficial, ignorant, unweighing fellow. Duke. Either this is envy in you, folly, or misElb. For being a bawd, for being a bawd. taking; the very stream of his life, and the business Lucio. Well, then imprison him: If imprison- he hath helmed, must, upon a warranted need, give ment be the due of a bawd, why, 'tis his right him a better proclamation. Let him be but testiBawd is he, doubtless, and of antiquity too bawd-monied in his own bringings forth, and he shall apborn. Farewell, good Pompey: Commend me to pear to the envious, a scholar, a statesman, and a the prison, Pompey: You will turn good husband soldier: Therefore, you speak unskilfully; or, if now, Pompey; you will keep the house. your knowledge be more, it is much darken'd in your malice. Clo. I hope, sir, your good worship will be my bail. Lucio. No, indeed, will I not, Pompey; it is not the wear. I will pray, Pompey, to increase your bondage: if you take it not patiently, why, your mettle is the more; Adieu, trusty Pompey.Bless you, friar. Duke. And you. Lucio. Sir, I know him, and I love him. Duke. Love talks with better knowledge, and knowledge with dearer love. Lucio. Come, sir, I know what I know. Duke. I can hardly believe that, since you know not what you speak. But, if ever the duke return, (as our prayers are he may,) let me desire you to Lucio. Does Bridget paint still, Pompey? Ha? make your answer before him: If it be honest you have spoke, you have courage to maintain it: I am bound to call upon you; and, I pray you, your Lucio. Then, Pompey? nor now. What news name? abroad, friar? What news? Elb. Come your ways, sir; come. [Exeunt Elbow, Clown, and Officers. What news, friar; of the duke? Duke. I know none: Can you tell me of any ? Lucio. Some say he is with the emperor of Russia; other some, he is in Rome: But where is he, think you? Duke. I know not where: But wheresoever, I wish him well. Lucio. It was a mad fantastical trick of him, to steal from the state, and usurp the beggary he was never born to. Lord Angelo dukes it well in his absence; he puts transgression to't. Duke. He does well in't.. Lucio. A little more lenity to lechery would do no harm in him: something too crabbed that way, friar. Duke. It is too general a vice, and severity must cure it. Lucio. Yes, in good sooth, the vice is of a great kindred; it is well ally'd but it is impossible to Lucio. Sir, my name is Lucio; well known to the duke. Duke. He shall know you better, sir, if I may live to report you. Lucio. I fear you not. Duke. O, you hope the duke will return no more: or you imagine me too unhurtful an opposite. But, indeed, I can do you little harm: you'll forswear this again. Lucio, I'll be hang'd first: thou art deceiv'd in me, friar. But no more of this: Canst thou tell, if Claudio die to-morrow, or no? Duke. Why should he die, sir? Lucio. Why? for filling a bottle with a tun-dish. I would, the duke, we talk of, were return'd again: this ungenitur'd agent will unpeople the province with continency; sparrows must not build in his house-eaves, because they are lecherous. The duke yet would have dark deeds darkly answer'd; he would never bring them to light: would he were return'd! Marry, this Claudio is condemn'd for untrussing. Farewell, good friar; I pr'ythee, pray for me. The duke, I say to thee again, would eat G 1mutton on Fridays. He's now past it; yet, and I say to thee, he would mouth with a beggar, though she smelt brown bread and garlick: say, that I said so. Farewell. [Exit. Duke. No might nor greatness in mortality Enter Esc lus, Provost, Bawd, and Officers. 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. Band. My lord, this is one Lucio's information against me: mistress Kate Keep-down 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 licence:let him be called before us.-Away with her to prison Go to; no more words. [Exeunt Bawd and Officers.] Provost, my brother Angelo will not be alter'd, Claudio must die to-morrow: let him be furnish'd 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! [now Duke. Not of this country, though my chance is Escal. What news abroad i' the world? 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 profess'd to make 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; which I, by my good leisure, have discredited to him, and now is he resolved to die. Escal. I am going to visit the prisoner: Fare you well. Duke. Peace be with you! [Exeunt Escalus and Provost- ACT IV. [Exit Duke. I do constantly believe you :-The time is come, even now. I shall crave your forbearance a little; may be, I will call upon you anon, for some advantage to yourself. [Exit. Mari. I am always bound to you. Duke. Very well met, and welcome. What is the news from this good deputy? Isab. He hath a garden circummur'd with brick, Whose western side is with a vineyard back'd; Escal. You have paid the heavens your function, And to that vineyard is a planched gate, and the prisoner the very debt of your calling. I That makes his opening with this bigger key: have labour'd for the poor gentleman, to the ex- This other doth command a little door, tremest shore of my modesty; but my brother jus-Which from the vineyard to the garden leads; tice 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, if he chance to fail, he hath sentenced himself. There have I made my promise to call on him, Duke. But shall you on your knowledge find Isab. I have ta'en a due and wary note upon't; With whispering and most guilty diligence, Duke. 'Tis well borne up. I have not yet made known to Mariana A word of this:-What, ho! within! come forth! Re-enter Mariana. I pray you be acquainted with this maid; She comes to do you good. Isab. I do desire the like. Duke. Do you persuade yourself, that I respect you? [found it. Mari. Good friar, I know you do; and have Duke. Take then this your companion by the hand, Who hath a story ready for your ear: I shall attend your leisure; but make haste; Will't please you walk aside? [Exeunt Mariana and Isabella. Duke. O place and greatness, millions of false Are stuck upon thee! volumes of report [eyes Run with these false and most contrarious quests And rack thee in their fancies!-Welcome! How agreed? Re-enter Mariana and Isabella. compound with him by the year, and let him abide here with you; if not, use him for the present, and dismiss him: He cannot plead his estimation with you; he hath been a bawd. 42 Abhor. A bawd, sir? Fye upon him, he will discredit our mystery. Prov. Go to, sir; you weigh equally; a feather will turn the scale. [Exit. Clo. Pray, sir, by your good favour, (for, surely, sir, a good favour you have, but that you have a hanging look,) do you call, sir, your occupation a mystery? Al hor. Ay, sir; a mystery. Clo. Fainting, sir, I have heard say, is a mystery; and your whores, sir, being members of my occupation, using painting, do prove my occupation a mystery: but what mystery there should be in hanging, if I should be hang'd, I cannot imagine. Abhor. Sir, it is a mystery. Abhor. Every true man's apparel fits your thief: If it be too little for your thief, your true man thinks it big enough; if it be too big for your thief, your thief thinks it little enough: so every true man's apparel fits your thief. Re-enter Provost. Prov. Are you agreed? Clo. Sir, I will serve him; for I do find, your hangman is a more penitent trade than your bawd; he doth oftener ask forgiveness. Prov. You, sirrah, provide your block and your axe, to-morrow four o'clock. Abhor. Come on, bawd; I will instruct thee in my trade; follow. Clo. I do desire to learn, sir; and, I hope, if you have occasion to use me for your own turn, you Isab. She'll take the enterprize upon her, father, shall find me yare: for, truly sir, for your kind- It is not my consent, Little have you to say, When you depart from him, but, soft and low, Remember now my brother. Fear me not. Mari. Duke. Nor, gentle daughter, fear you not at all; He is your husband on a pre-contract: To bring you thus together, 'tis no sin; Sith that the justice of your title to him Doth flourish the deceit. Come, let us go; Our corn's to reap, for yet our tithe's to sow. [Exeunt. SCENE II-A Room in the Prison. Prov. Come hither, sirrah: Can you cut off a man's head? Clo. If the man be a bachelor, sir, I can: but if he be a married man, he is his wife's head, and I can never cut off a woman's head. Prov. Come, sir, leave me your snatches, and yield me a direct answer. To-morrow morning are to die Claudio and Barnardine: Here is in our prison a common executioner, who in his office lacks a helper: if you will take it on you to assist him, it shall redeem you from your gyves; if not, you shall have your full time of imprisonment, and your deliverance with an unpitied whipping; for you have been a notorious bawd. Clo. Sir, I have been an unlawful bawd, time out of mind; but yet I will be content to be a lawful hangman. I would be glad to receive some instruction from my fellow partner. Prov. What ho, Abhorson! Where's Abhorson, -there? ness, I owe you a good turn. Prov. Call hither Barnardine and Claudio: [Exeunt Clown and Abhorson, One has my pity; not a jot the other, Being a murderer, though he were my brother. Duke. The best and wholesomest spirits of the night [late? Envelop you, good provost! Who called here of Prov, None, since the curfew rung. Duke. Not Isabet! Prov. No. Duke. They will then, ere't be long. Prov. What comfort is for Claudio ? Duke. There's some in hope. Prov, It is a bitter deputy. Duke. Not so, not so; his life is parallel'd Even with the stroke and line of his great justice; He doth with holy abstinence subdue That in himself, which he spurs on his power To qualify in others: were he meal'd With that which he corrects, then were he ty |