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The steeled gaoler is the friend of men.Igelo who hath sentenced him: To make you un How now? What noise? That spirit's possess'd derstand this in a manifested effect, I crave but with haste, [strokes. four days' respite; for the which you are to do me That wounds the unsisting postern with these both a present and a dangerous courtesy.

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Duke. This is his lordship's man. Prov. And here comes Claudio's pardon. Mess. My lord hath sent you this note; and by me this further charge, that you swerve not from the smallest article of it, neither in time, matter, or other circumstance. Good-morrow; for, as I take it, it is almost day.

Prov. I shall obey him.
[Exit Messenger.
Duke. This is his pardon; purchas'd by such sin,
[Aside.

For which the pardoner himself is in:
Hence hath offence his quick celerity,
When it is borne in high authority:

When vice makes mercy, mercy's so extended,
That for the fault's love, is the offender friended.
Now, sir, what news?

Prov. Pray, sir, in what? Duke. In the delaying death.

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Prov. Alack! how may I do it? having the hour limited; and an express command, under penalty, to deliver his head in the view of Angelo? I may make my case as Claudio's, to cross this in the smallest.

Duke. By the vow of mine order, I warrant you, if my instructions may be your guide. Let this Barnardine be this morning executed, and his head borne to Angelo.

Prov. Angelo hath seen them both, and will discover the favour.

Duke. O, death's a great disguiser: and you may add to it. Shave the head, and tie the beard; and say, it was the desire of the penitent to be so bared before his death: You know, the course is common. If any thing fall to you upon this, more than thanks and good fortune, by the saint whom I profess, I will plead against it with my life.

Prov. Pardon me, good father: it is against my oath.

Duke. Were you 'sworn to the duke, or to the deputy?

Prov. To him, and to his substitutes. Duke. You will think you have made no offence, if the duke avouch the justice of your dealing? Prov. But what likelihood is in that?

Duke. Not a resemblance, but a certainty. Yet since I see you fearful, that neither my coat, integrity, nor my persuasion, can with ease attempt you, I will go further than I meant, to pluck all fears out of you. Look you, sir, here is the hand and Prov. I told you: Lord Angelo, belike, think-seal of the duke. You know the character, I doubt ing me remiss in mine office, awakens me with this unwonted putting on: methinks, strangely; for he hath not used it before.

Duke. Pray you, let's hear.

Prov. [Reads.] Whatsoever you may hear to the contrary, let Claudio be executed by four of the clock; and, in the afternoon, Barnardine: for my better satisfaction, let me have Claudio's head sent me by five. Let this be duly perform'd; with a thought, that more depends on it than we must yet deliver. Thus fail not to do your office, as you will answer it at your peril. What say you to this, sir?

Duke. What is that Barnardine, who is to be

executed in the afternoon?

Prov. A Bohemian born; but here nursed up and bred one that is a prisoner nine years old.

Duke. How came it, that the absent duke had not either deliver'd him to his liberty, or executed him? I have heard, it was ever his manner to do so. Prov. His friends still wrought reprieves for him: And, indeed, his fact, till now in the government of lord Angelo, came not to an undoubtful proof. Duke. Is it now apparent ?

not; and the signet is not strange to you. Prov. I know them both.

Duke. The contents of this is the return of the duke; you shall anon over-read it at your pleasure: where you shall find, within these two days he will be here. This is a thing, that Angelo knows not: for he this very day receives letters of strange tenor: perchance, of the duke's death; perchance, entering into some monastery; but, by chance, nothing of what is writ. Look, the unfolding star calls up the shepherd: Put not yourself into amazement, how these things should be. all difficulties are but easy when they are known. Call your executioner, and off with Barnardine's head: I will give him a present shrift, and advise him for a better place. Yet you are amazed: but this shall absolutely resolve you. Come away; it is almost clear dawn. [Exeunt.

SCENE III.-Another Room in the same.
Enter Clown.

Clo. I am as well acquainted here, as I was in our house of profession: one would think, it were Prov. Most manifest, and not denied by himself. mistress Over-done's own house, for here be many of Duke. Hath he borne himself penitently in pri- her old customers. First, here's young master son? How seems he to be touch'd? Rash; he's in for a commodity of brown paper and Prov. A man that apprehends death no more fold ginger, ninescore and seventeen pounds; of dreadfully, but as a drunken sleep; careless, reck-which he made five marks, ready money marry, less, and fearless of what's past, present, or to come; then, ginger was not much in request, for the old insensible of mortality, and desperately mortal. Duke. He wants advice.

Prov. He will hear none; he hath evermore had the liberty of the prison; give him leave to escape hence, he would not: drunk many times a day, if not many days entirely drunk. We have very often awaked him, as if to carry him to execution, and show'd him a seeming warrant for it: it hath not moved him at all.

Duke. More of him anon. There is written in your brow, Provost, honesty and constancy: if I read it not truly, my ancient skill beguiles me; but in the boldness of my cunning, I will lay myself in hazard. Claudio, whom here you have a warrant to execute, is no greater forfeit to the law than An

women were all dead. Then is there here one master Caper, at the suit of master Three-pile the mercer, for some four suits of peach-colour'd satin, which now peaches him a beggar. Then have we here young Dizy, and young master Deep-vow, and master Copper-spur, and master Starve-lackey the rapier and dagger-man, and young Drop-heir that kill'd lusty Pudding, and master Forthright the tilter, and brave master Shoe-tie the great traveller, and wild Half-can that stabb'd Pots, and, I think. forty more; all great doers in our trade, and are now for the Lord's sake.

Enter Abhorson.

Abhor. Sirrah, bring Barnardine hither,

Clo. Master Barnardine! you must rise and be bang'd, master Barnardine

Abhor. What, ho, Barnardine ! Barnar. Within.] A pox o' your throats! Who makes that noise there? What are you? Clo. Your friends, sir; the hangman: You must be so good, sir, to rise and be put to death. Barnar. [Within.] Away, you rogue, away; I am sleepy.

Abhor. Tell him, he must awake, and that quickly too.

Clo. Pray, master Barnardine, awake till you are executed, and sleep afterwards.

Abhor. Go in to him, and fetch hint out.

Clo. He is coming, sir, he is coming; I hear his straw rustle.

Enter Barnardine.

3

Abhor. Is the axe upon the block, sirrah? Clo. Very ready, sir. Barnar. How now, Abhorson? what's the news with you?

Abhor. Truly, sir, I would desire you to clap into your prayers; for, look you, the warrant's come. Barnar. You rogue, I have been drinking all night, I am not fitted for't.

Clo. O, the better, sir; for he that drinks all night, and is hang'd betimes in the morning, may sleep the sounder all the next day.

Enter Duke.

Abhor. Look you, sir, here comes your ghostly father; Do we jest now, think you?

how hastily you are to depart, I am come to advise Duke. Sir, induced by my charity, and hearing you, comfort you, and pray with you.

Barnar. Friar, not I; I have been drinking hard all night, and I will have more time to prepare me, or they shall beat out my brains with billets: I will not consent to die this day, that's certain.

Duke. O, sir, you must; and therefore, I beseech Look forward on the journey you shall go. [you, Barnar. I swear, I will not die to-day for any man's persuasion.

Duke. But hear you,

Barnar. Not a word; if you have any thing to say to me, come to my ward; for thence will not I to-day. [Exit.

Enter Provost.

Duke. Unfit to live, or die: O, gravel heart!After him, fellows; bring him to the block.

[Exeunt Abhorson and Clown.
Prov. Now, sir, how do you find the prisoner ?
Duke, A creature unprepar'd, unmeet for death;
And, to transport him in the mind he is,
Were damnable.

Prov
Here in the prison, father,
There died this morning of a cruel fever
One Ragozine, a most notorious pirate,
A man of Claudio's years; his beard, and head,
Just of his colour: What if we do omit
This reprobate, till he were well inclined;
And satisfy the deputy with the visage
Of Ragozine, more like to Claudio?

Duke. O, 'tis an accident that heaven provides !
Despatch it presently; the hour draws on
Prefix'd by Angelo: See, this be done,
And sent according to command; whiles I
Persuade this rude wretch willingly to die.
Prov, This shall be done, good father, presently.
But Barnardine must die this afternoon:
And how shall we continue Claudio,

To save me from the danger that might come,"
If he were known alive?

Duke. Let this be done;-Put them in secret holds,

Both Barnardine and Claudio: Ere twice
The sun hath made his journal greeting to
The under generation, you shall find
Your safety manifested.

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Isab. O, I will to him, and pluck out his eyes. Duke. You shall not be admitted to his sight. Isab. Unhappy Claudio! Wretched Isabel ! Injurious world! Most damned Angelo!

Duke. This nor hurts him nor profits you a jot: Forbear it therefore; give your cause to heaven. Mark what I say; which you shall find By every syllable, a faithful verity: The duke comes home to-morrow; nay, dry your One of our convent, and his confessor, [eyes; Gives me this instance: Already he hath carried Notice to Escalus and Angelo;

Who do prepare to meet him at the gates,
There to give up their power. If you can, pace
your wisdom

In that good path that I would wish it go;
And you shall have your bosom on this wretch,
Grace of the duke, revenges to your heart,
And generál honour.

Isab.
I am directed by you.
Duke. This letter then to Friar Peter give';
"Tis that he sent me of the duke's return:"
Say, by this token, I desire his company
At Mariana's house to-night. Her cause, and yours,
I'll perfect him withal; and he shall bring you"
Before the duke; and to the head of Angelo
Accuse him home, and home. For my poor self,
1 am combined by a sacred vow,

And shall be absent. Wend you with this letter:
Command these fretting waters from your eyes
With a light heart; trust not my holy order,
If I pervert your course.-Who's here.

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duke will be here to-morrow. By my troth, Isabel,
I lov'd thy brother: if the old fantastical duke of
dark corners had been at home, he had lived.
[Exit Isabella.
Duke. Sir, the duke is marvellous little beholden
to your reports; but the best is, he lives not in
them.

Lucio. Friar, thou knowest not the duke so well as I do he's a better woodman than thou takest him for.

Duke. Well, you'll answer this one day. Fare ye well.

Lucio. Nay, tarry; I'll go along with thee; I can tell thee pretty tales of the duke.

Duke. You have told me too many of him already, sir, if they be true; if not true, none were enough.

Lucio. I was once before him for getting a wench with child.

Duke. Did you such a thing?

Though sometimes you do blench from this to that,
As cause doth minister. Go, call at Flavius' house,
And tell him where I stay: give the like notice
To Valentimus, Rowland, and to Crassus,
And bid them bring the trumpets to the gate;
But send me Flavius first.
F. Peter.
It shall be speeded well.
[Exit Friar.

Enter Varrius.

Duke. I thank thee, Varrius; thou hast made
good haste:

Come, we will walk There's other of our friends
Will greet us here anon, my gentle Varrius.

[Exeunt.
SCENE VI.-Street near the City Gate.
Enter Isabella and Mariana.
Isab. To speak so indirectly, I am loath;

Lucio. Yes, marry, did I: but was fain to for-I would say the truth; but to accuse him so,
swear it; they would else have married me to the
rotten medlar.

Duke. Sir, your company is fairer than honest: Rest you well.

shall stick.

Lucio. By my troth, I'll go with thee to the lane's end: If bawdy talk offend you, we'll have very little of it; Nay, friar, I am a kind of burr, I [Exeunt. SCENE IV. A Room in Angelo's House, Enter Angelo and Escalus. Escal. Every letter he hath writ hath disvouch'd other.

Ang. In most uneven and distracted manner. His actions show much like to madness: pray heaven, his wisdom be not tainted! And why meet him at the gates, and re-deliver our authorities there ?

Escal. I guess not.

Ang. And why should we proclaim it in an hour before his entering, that, if any crave redress of injustice, they should exhibit their petitions in the

street?

Escal. Ife shows his reason for that: to have a despatch of complaints; and to deliver us from devices hereafter, which shall then have no power to stand against us.

Ang. Well, I beseech you, let it be proclaim'd:
Betimes i'the morn, I'll call at your house:
Give notice to such men of sort and suit,
As are to meet him.
Escal.

I shall, sir: fare you well. [Exit.

That is your part: yet I'm advis'd to do it;
He says, to veil full purpose.
Mari.
Be rul'd by him.
Isab. Besides, he tells me, that, if perad venture
He speak against me on the adverse side,
should not think it strange; for 'tis a physick,
That's bitter to sweet end.
Mart. I would, friar Peter-
Isab.

I

O, peace; the friar is come. Enter Friar Peter.

F. Peter. Come, I have found you out a stand .most fit,

Where you may have such vantage on the duke,
He shall not pass you; Twice have the trumpets
sounded;

The generous and gravest citizens
Have hent the gates, and very near upon
The duke is ent'ring; therefore hence, away.

ACT V.

[Exeunt,

SCENE I.-A publick Place near the City Gate. Mariana (veiled,) Isabella, and Peter, at a distance. Enter at opposite doors, Duke, Varrius, Lords; Angelo, Escalus, Lucio, Provost, Officers, and Citizens.

grace!

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Duke. My very worthy cousin, fairly met Our old and faithful friend, we are glad to see you. (nant, Ang. Good night.Ang. and Escal. Happy return be to your royal This deed unshapes me quite, makes me unpregAnd dull to all proceedings, A deflower'd maid! And by an eminent body, that enforc'd The law against it!-But that her tender shame Will not proclaim against her maiden loss, How might she tongue me? Yet reason dares her?-no:

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For my authority bears a credent bulk,,
That no particular scandal once can touch,
But it confounds the breather. He should have
liv'd,

Save that his riotous youth, with dangerous sense,
Might, in the times to come, have ta'en revenge,
By so receiving a dishonour'd life,
With ransome of such shame, 'Would yet he had

liv'd!

Alack, when once our grace we have forgot, Nothing goes right; we would, and we would not. [Exit.

SCENE V.-Fields without the Town."
Enter Duke in his own habit, and Friar Peter.
Duke. These letters at fit time deliver me.

[Giving letters.
The provost knows our purpose, and our plot.
The matter being afoot, keep your instruction,
And hold you ever to our special drift;

Duke. Many and hearty thankings to you both.
We have made inquiry of you; and we hear
Such goodness of your justice, that our soul.
Cannot but yield you forth to public thanks,
Forerunning more requital.

Ang.
You make my bonds still greater.
Duke. O, your desert speaks loud; and I should
wrong it,

To lock it in the wards of covert bosom,
When it deserves with characters of brass
And razure of oblivion; Give me your hand,
A forted residence, 'gainst the tooth of time,
And let the subject see, to make them know
That outward courtesies would fain proclaim
Favours that keep within,-Come, Escalus;
You must walk by us on our other hand; e
And good supporters are you.

Peter and Isabella come forward.

F. Peter. Now is your time; speak loud, and
kneel before him.

Isab. Justice, O royal duke! Vail your regard
Upon a wrong'd, I'd fain have said, a maid!
O worthy prince, dishonour not your eye ⠀⠀
By throwing it on any other object,

Till you have.heard me in my true complaint,
And given me, justice, justice, justice, justice.

Duke, Relate your wrongs: In what? By whom 21
Be brief:

Here is lord Angelo shall give you justice!
Reveal yourself to him.

Isab,
O, worthy duke,
You bid me seek redemption of the devil:
Hear me yourself; for that which I must speak
Must either punish me, not being believ'd,

here.

Or wring redress from you; hear me, O, hear me,
Ang. My lord, her wits, I fear me, are not firm:
She hath been a suitor to me for her brother,
Cut off by course of justice!
Isab.

By course of justice! Ang. And she will speak most bitterly, and strange.

Isab. Most strange, but yet most truly, will I
speak:

That Angelo's forsworn; is it not strange?
That Angelo's a murderer; is't not strange?
That Angelo is an adulterous thief,
An hypocrite, a virgin-violator;
Is it not strange, and strange?
Duke,

Isab.

The phrase is to the matter.

Pardon it ;

Duke. Mended again: the matter;-Proceed.
Isab. In brief,-to set the needless process by,
How I persuaded, how I pray'd, and kneel'd,
How he refell'd me, and how I reply'd;
(For this was of much length,) the vile conclusion
I now begin with grief and shame to utter:
He would not, but by gift of my chaste body
To his concupiscible intemperate lust,
Release my brother; and, after much debatement,
My sisterly remorse confutes mine honour,
And I did yield to him: But the next morn be-
His purpose surfeiting, he sends a warrant [times
For my poor brother's head.
Duke.
This is most likely
Isab. O, that it were as like as it is true!
Duke. By heaven, fond wretch, thou know'st not
what thou speak'st;

Or else thou art suborn'd against his honour,
In hateful practice: First, his integrity
Stands without blemish :-next, it imports no rea-
That with such vehemency he should pursue [son,

Nay, ten times strange. Faults proper to himself if he had so offended,

Isab. It is not truer he is Angelo,
Than this is all as true as it is strange :
Nay, it is ten times true; for truth is truth
To the end of reckoning.
Duke.

Away with her ;-Poor soul,
She speaks this in the infirmity of sense.
laab. O prince, I conjure thee, as thou believ'st
There is another comfort than this world,
That thou neglect me not, with that opinion,
That I am touch'd with madness; make not im-
possible

That which but seems unlike: 'tis not impossible
But one, the wicked'st caitiff on the ground,
May seem as shy, as grave, as just, as absolute,
As Angelo; even so may Angelo,

In all his dressings, characts, titles, forms,
Be an arch-villain; believe it, royal prince,

If he be less, he's nothing; but he's more,
Had I more name for badness.
Duke.

By mine honesty,

If she be mad, as I believe no other,
Her madness hath the oddest frame of sense,
Such a dependency of thing on thing,
As e'er I heard in madness.

Ieab.
O, gracious duke, A
Harp not on that: nor do not banish reason
For inequality; but let your reason serve
To make the truth appear, where it seems hid;
And hide the false, seems true.
Duke.
Many that are not mad,
Have, sure, more lack of reason. What would
Isab. I am the sister of one Claudio, [you say?
Condemn'd upon the act of fornication
To lose his head; condemn'd by Angelo :
1, in probation of a sisterhood,

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Was sent to by my brother: One Lucio
As then the messenger;
Lucio.
That's I, an't like your grace:
I came to her from Claudio, and desir'd her
To try her gracious fortune with Lord Angelo,
For her poor brother's pardon.

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That's he, indeed.

Duke. You were not bid to speak.
Lucio.

No, my good lord;
I wish you now then;
Pray you, take note of it: and when you have
A business for yourself, pray heaven, you then
Be perfect,

Nor wish'd to hold my peace."
Duke.

Lucio. I warrant your honour.

Duke. The warrant's for yourself; take heed to it.
Teab. This gentleman told somewhat of my tale.
Lucio. Right.

Duke. It may be right; but you are in the wrong
To speak before your time.-Proceed.
isab.

I went

To this pernicious caitiff deputy.
Duke. That's somewhat madly spoken.

He would have weigh'd thy brother by himself,
And not have cut him off: Some one hath set you
Confess the truth, and say by whose advice [on;
Thou cam'st here to complain.
Isab.
And is this all?
Then, oh, you blessed ministers above,
Keep me in patience; and, with ripen'd time,
Unfold the evil which is here wrapt up
In countenance-Heaven shield your grace from
As I, thus wrong'd, hence unbelieved go! Twoe,
Duke. I know, you'd fain be gone :-An officer!!
To prison with her Shall we thus permit
A blasting and a scandalous breath to fall
On him so near us? This needs must be a practice.
-Who knew of your intent, and coming hither?

Isab. One that I would were here, friar Lodowick.
Duke. A ghostly father, belike: Who knows that
Lodowick?

Lucio. My lord, I know him;' tis a meddling friar?
I do not like the man: had he been lay, my lord,
For certain words he spake against your grace
In your retirement, I had swing'd him soundly.

Duke. Words against me? This' a good friar,
And to set on this wretched woman here [belike
Against our substitute !-Let this friar be found.
Lucio. But yesternight, my lord, she and that
I saw them at the prison: a saucy friar, [friar
A very scurvy fellow.
F. Peter,
Blessed be your royal grace!

I have stood by, my lord, and I have heard
Your royal ear abus'd: First, hath this woman
Most wrongfully accus'd your substitute;
Who is as free from touch or soil with her,
As she from one ungot.

Duke
We did believe no less.
Know you that friar Lodowick, that she speaks of?
F. Peter. I know him for a man divine and holy
Not scurvy, nor a temporary meddler,
As he's reported by this gentleman;
And, on my trust, a man that never yet
Did, as he vouches, misreport your grace.

Lucio. My lord, most villainously; believe it.
F. Peter. Well, he in time may come to clear
But at this instant he is sick, my lord, [himself;
Of a strange fever: Upon his mere request,
(Being come to knowledge that there was complaint
Intended 'gainst lord Angelo,) came I hither,
To speak, as from his mouth, what he doth know
Is true, and false; and what he with his oath,
And all probation, will make up full clear,
Whensoever he's convented. First, for this woman;
(To justify this worthy nobleman,
So vulgarly and personally accus'd,)
Her shall you hear disproved to her eyes,
Till she herself confess it.
Duke,

Good friar, let's hear it. [Isabella is carried off, guarded; and Mariana comes forward., ELAR

Do you not smile at this, lord Angelo?
O heaven! the vanity of wretched fools!
Give us some seats.-Come, cousin Angelo;
In this I'll be impartial; be you judge

Of your own cause.-Is this the witness, friar?
First, let her show her face; and, after, speak.
Mari. Pardon, my lord; I will not show my face,
Until my husband bid me.

Duke..

Mari. No, my lord.

What, are you married?

These poor informal women are no more
But instruments of some more mightier member,
That sets them on: Let me have way, my lord,
To find this practice out.

Duke.
Ay, with my heart;
And punish them unto your height of pleasure.—
Thou foolish friar; and thou pernicious woman,
Compact with her that's gone! think'st thou, thy
oaths,
[saint,
Though they would swear down each particular
Were testimonies against his worth and credit,
No, my lord. That's seal'd in approbation ?-You, lord Escalus,
Sit with my cousin; lend him your kind pains
To find out this abuse, whence 'tis deriv'd,—
There is another friar that set them on;
Let him be sent for.

Are you a maid?

Duke.

Mari.

Duke. A widow then?

Neither, my lord.

Mari.
Duke.

Why, you Are nothing then: - Neither maid, widow, nor wife?

Lucio. My lord, she may be a punk; for many of them are neither maid, widow, nor wife. Duke. Silence that fellow: I would, he had some To prattle for himself. [cause

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F. Peter. Would he were here, my lord; for he
indeed,

Hath set the women on to this complaint:
Your provost knows the place where he abides,
And he may fetch him.

Duke. Go, do it instantly.- [Exit Provost.
And you, my noble and well-warranted cousin,
Whom it concerns to hear this matter forth,
Do with your injuries as seems you best,
In any chastisement: I for a while
Will leave you; but stir not you, till you have well
Determined upon these slanderers.

Escal. My lord, we'll do it thoroughly.-[Exit Duke.] Signior Lucio, did not you say, you knew? that friar Lodowick to be a dishonest person?

Lucio. Cucullus non facit monachum: honest in nothing, but in his clothes; and one that hath spoke most villainous speeches of the duke.

Escal. We shall entreat you to abide here till he come, and enforce them against him: we shall find` this friar a notable fellow.

Lucio. As any in Vienna, on my word.

Escal. Call that same Isabel here once again; [To an Attendant.] I would speak with her: Pray you, my lord, give me leave to question; you shall see how I'll handle her.

Lucio. Not better than he, by her own report.
Escal. Say you?

Lucio. Marry, sir, I think, if you handled her privately, she would sooner confess: perchance, publickly, she'll be ashamed.

Re-enter Officers with Isabella; the Duke in the
Friar's habit, and Provost.

Escal. I will go darkly to work with her.
Lucio. That's the way; for women are light at
midnight.

Escal. Come on mistress: [To Isabella.] here's a gentlewoman denies all that you have said.

Lucio. My lord, here comes the rascal I spoke of; here with the provost.

Escal. In very good time :-speak not you to him, till we call upon you.

Lucio. Mum.

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