To do it slander: and to behold his sway, . Isab. And have you nuns no further privileges? Fran. Are not these large enough? Isab. Yes, truly: I speak not as desiring more; But rather wishing a more strict restraint Upon the sisterhood, the votarists of saint Clare. Lucio. Ho! peace be in this place! [Within. Isab. Who's that which calls? Fran. It is a man's voice: gentle Isabella, Turn you the key, and know his business of him; You may, I may not; you are yet unsworn: When you have vow'd, you must not speak with Proclaim you are no less! can you so stead me, Isab. Why her unhappy brother? let me ask; Lucio. Gentle and fair, your brother kindly greets you: Not to be weary with you, he's in prison. Lucio. For that, which, if myself might be his judge, He should receive his punishment in thanks: Isab. Sir, make me not your story.2 It is true. I would not-though 'tis my familiar sin Isab. You do blaspheme the good, in mocking me. Lucio. Do not believe it. Fewness and truth," 'tis thus: Your brother and his lover have embrac'd: On his defence. (2) Do not make a jest of me. (3) In few and true words. (4) Breeding plenty. Tilling. (6) Extent. To teeming foison; even so her plenteous womb Lucio. Is she your cousin? Isab. Adoptedly: as school-maids change their names, By vain though apt affection. She it is. This is the point. Governs lord Angelo; a man, whose blood Isab. Alas! what poor ability's in me As they themselves would owe them. But speedily. ACT II. Good sir, adieu [Exeunt SCENE I-A hall in Angelo's house. Enter Angelo, Escalus, a Justice, Provost, Officers, and attendants. Ang. We must not make a scare-crow of the law, Setting it up to fear" the birds of prey, And let it keep one shape, till custom make it Their perch, and not their terror. (7) Power of gaining favour. (8) Sentenced (9) Have. (10) Abbess. (11) Scare. N Escal. Ay, but yet Let us be keen, and rather cut a little, (Whom I believe to be most strait in virtue,) Ang. 'Tis one thing to be tempted, Escalus, That justice seizes. What know the laws, The jewel that we find, we stoop and take it, Where is the provost ? See that Claudio Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall: 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 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 do lean upon justice, sir, and do bring in here before your good honour two notorious benefactors. Ang. Benefactors? Well; what benefactors are they are they not malefactors? ? 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 off well; here's a wise officer. Ang. Go to: what quality are they of? Elbow is your name? Why dost thou not speak, Elbow? Clo. He cannot, sir; he's out at elbow. Ang. What are you, sir? Elb. He, sir? a tapster, sir; parcel10-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, which, I think, is a very ill house too. (1) Examine. (2) Suited. (3) Pass judgment. (4) Plain. (5) Because. (6) Sentence. Thickest, thorny paths of vice. (8) Wealth. Elb. Ay, sir; whom, I thank heaven, is an honest woman, it 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, 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 uncleanliness 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 defied him. Clo. 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. Clo. Sir, she came in great with child; and longing (saving your honour's reverence) for stew'd prunes: sir, we had but two in the house, which at that very distant time stood, as it were, in a fruitdish, a dish of some three-pence: your 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. Clo. No, indeed, sir, not of a pin; you are therefore in the right: but, to the point: as I say, 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 said, and, as I say, paying for them very honestly; -for, as you know, master Froth, I could not give you three-pence again. I Froth. No, indeed. Clo. Very well: you being then, if you be remember'd, cracking the stones of the foresaid prunes. Froth. Ay, so I did, indeed. Clo. 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, unless they kept very good diet, as I told you. Froth. All this is true. Clo. Why, very well then. Escal. Come, you are a tedious fool: to the pur pose.-What was done to Elbow's wife, that he hath cause to complain of? Come me to what was done to her. Clo. Sir, your honour cannot come to that yet. Escal. No, sir, nor I mean it not. Clo. Sir, but you shall come to it, by your honour's leave and I beseech you, look into master Froth here, sir; a man of fourscore pound a year; whose father died at Hallowmas :-Was't not at Hallowmas, master Froth? Froth. All-hollond13 eve. Elo. Why, very well; I hope here be truths. he, sir, sitting, as I say, in a lower chair, sir ;have a delight to sit : have you not? 'twas in the Bunch of Grapes, where, indeed, you and good for winter. Froth. I have so; because it is an open room, (9) Well told. (10) Partly. (11) Keeps a bagnior (12) For protest. (13) Eve of All Saints day. (14) Easy. Clo. Why, very well then;-I hope here bej Clo. Mistress Over-done. truths. Ang. This will last out a night in Russia, When nights are longest there: I'll take my leave, 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 wife, once more ? Clo. Once, sir? there was nothing done to her once. Escal. Hath she had any more than one husband? Escal. Nine!-Come hither to me, master Froth. Master Froth, I would not have you acquainted with tapsters; they will draw you, master Froth, and you will hang them: get you gone, and let me hear no more of you. Froth. I thank your worship: for mine own part, I never come into any room in a taphouse, but I am drawn in. Escal. Well; no more of it, master Froth: fare Elb. I beseech you, sir, ask him what this man well. [Exit Froth.]-Come you hither to me, did to my wife? Clo. I beseech your honour, ask me. Escal. Well, sir: what did this gentleman to her? Clo. I beseech you, sir, look in this gentleman's face:-Good master Froth, look upon his honour; 'tis for a good purpose: doth your honour mark his face? Escal. Ay, sir, very well. Clo. Nay, I beseech you, mark it well. Clo. Doth your honour see any harm in his face? Clo. I'll be suppos'd' upon a book, 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 wife any harm? I would know that of your honour. master tapster; what's your name, master tapster? Clo. Pompey. Escal. What else? Clo. Bum, sir. Escal. Troth, and your bum is the greatest thing about you; so that, in the beastliest sense, you are Pompey the great. Pompey, you are partly a bawd, Pompey, howsoever you colour it in being a tapster. Are you not? come, tell me true; it shall be the better for you. Clo. Truly, sir, I am a poor fellow, that would live. Escal. How would you live, Pompey? by being bawd? What do you think of the trade, Pompey? is it a lawful trade? a Clo. If the law would allow it, sir. Escal. But the law will not allow it, Pompey; Escal. He's in the right: constable, what say nor it shall not be allowed in Vienna. you to it? Clo. Does your worship mean to geld and spay Escal. No, Pompey. Elb. First, an it like you, the house is a re- all the youth in the city? spected house; next, this is a respected fellow; and his mistress is a respected woman. Clo. By this hand, sir, his wife is a more respected person than any of us all. Elb. Varlet, thou liest; thou liest, wicked varlet: the time is yet to come, that she was ever respected with man, woman, or child. Clo. Sir, she was respected with him before he married with her. Escal. Which is the wiser here? justice, or iniquity? Is this true? Clo. Truly, sir, in my poor opinion, they will to't then: if your worship will take order for the drabs and the knaves, you need not to fear the bawds. Escal. There are pretty orders beginning, I can tell you: it is but heading and hanging. Clo. If you head and hang all that offend that way but for ten year together, you'll be glad to give out a commission for more heads. If this law hold in Vienna ten year, I'll rent the fairest house Elb. O thou caitiff! O thou varlet! O thou wick-in it, after three-pence a bay: if you live to see ed Hannibal ! I respected with her, before I was this come to pass, say Pompey told you so. married to her? If ever I was respected with her, Escal. Thank you, good Pompey: and, in reor she with me, let not your worship think me the quital of your prophecy, hark you,-I advise you, poor duke's officer:-Prove this, thou wicked Han- let me not find you before me again upon any comnibal, or I'll have mine action of battery on thee. plaint whatsoever, no, not for dwelling where you Escal. If he took you a box o' the ear, you do if I do, Pompey, I shall beat you to your tent, might have your action of slander too. and prove a shrewd Cæsar to you; in plain dealElb. Marry, I thank your good worship for it: ing, Pompey, I shall have you whipt: so for this what is't your worship's pleasure I should do with time Pompey, fare you well. this wicked caitiff? Clo. I thank your worship for your good counEscal. Truly, officer, because he hath some of-sel; but I shall follow it, as the flesh and fortune fences in him, that thou wouldst discover if thou shall better determine. couldst, let him continue in his courses, till thou Whip me! No, no; let carman whip his jade; know'st what they are. The valiant heart's not whipt out of his trade. [Ex. Escal. Come hither to me, master Elbow; come Elb. Marry, I thank your worship for it:-thou seest, thou wicked varlet now, what's come upon hither, master Constable. How long have you thee; thou art to continue now, thou varlet; thou been in this place of constable? art to continue. Escal. Where were you born, friend? [To Froth. Escal. Are you of fourscore pounds a year? (1) Deposed, sworn. (2) Constable or Clown.) Elb. Seven years and a half, sir. Escal. I thought, by your readiness in the office, you had continued in it some time: You say, seven years together? Elb. And a half, sir. Escal. Alas! it hath been great pains to you! They do you wrong to put you so oft upon't: Are there not men in your ward sufficient to serve it? Elb. Faith, sir, few of any wit in such matters: as they are chosen, they are glad to choose me for For which I must not plead, but that I am I Ang. Well; the matter? Escal. Look you, bring me in the names of Isab. I have a brother is condemn'd to die: Escal. I pray you home to dinner with me. [Exit Escal. It grieves me for the death of Claudio; Just. Lord Angelo is severe. It is but needful: SCENE II.-Another room in the same. Prov. Heaven give thee moving graces! Isab. O just, but severe law! I had a brother then.-Heaven keep your honour! [Retiring. Lucio. [To Isab.] Give't not o'er so: to him Kneel down before him, hang upon his gown; Prov. Pray you, do. [Exit Servant.] I'll know All sects, all ages, smack of this vice; and he Enter Angelo. ? Ang. Now, what's the matter, provost Why dost thou ask again? Prov. Isab. Must he needs die? wrong, If so your heart were touch'd with that remorse1 Ang. He's sentenc'd; 'tis too late. [To Isabella. Under your good correction, I have seen, Lest I might be too rash: Not the king's crown, nor the deputed sword, Ang. Hath he a sister? Prov. Ay, my good lord; a very virtuous maid, Ang. Well, let her be admitted. [Ex. Serv. Let her have needful, but not lavish, means; Enter Lucio and Isabella. Prov. Save your honour! [Offering to retire. (1) Pity. (2) Bo assured. There's many have committed it. Lucio. Ay, well said. Ang. The law hath not been dead, though it hath slept: Those many had not dar'd to do that evil, Yet show some pity. Ang. I show it most of all, when I show justice; For then I pity those I do not know, Which a dismiss'd offence would after gall; Your brother dies to-morrow: be content. Lucio. Go to; it is well; away. [Aside to Isab.. Am that way going to temptation, Amen: for I [Aside. At what hour to-morrow At any time 'fore noon. Shall I attend your lordship? Isab. So you must be the first, that gives this What's this? what's this? Is this her fault, or mine? sentence: Merciful heaven! Thou rather, with thy sharp and sulphurous bolt, Most ignorant of what he's most assur'd, Lucio. O, to him, to him, wench: he will relent; Lucio. Thou art in the right, girl; more o' that. Isab. That in the captain's but a choleric word, Which in the soldier is flat blasphemy. Lucio. Art advis'd o' that? more 'on't. Ang. Why do you put these sayings upon me? Isab. Because authority, though it err like others, Hath yet a kind of medicine in itself, ; That skims the vice o' the top: Go to your bosom Let it not sound a thought upon your tongue Ang. Isab. Gentle my lord, turn back. Ang. I will bethink me:-Come again to-morrow. Isab. Hark, how I'll bribe you: Good my lord, turn back. The tempter, or the tempted, who sins most? Ha! Do, as the carrion does, not as the flower, Shall we desire to raze the sanctuary, And feast upon her eyes? What is't I dream on? SCENE III.—A room in a prison. Enter Duke, Duke. Bound by my charity, and my bless'd order, I come to visit the afflicted spirits Here in the prison: do me the common right To let me see them; and to make me know The nature of their crimes, that I may minister Prov. I would do more than that, if more were needful. Enter Juliet. Look, here comes one; a gentlewoman of mine, Who falling in the flames of her own youth, Hath blister'd her report: She is with child; And he that got it, sentenc'd: a young man Isab. Ay, with such gifts, that heaven shall share More fit to do another such offence, Than die for this. Ang. How! bribe me? with you. When must he die? (5) See 2 Kings, x. 27. |