Live in thy tongue and heart: old Escalus,
Though first in question, is thy secondary.
Take thy commission.

ANGELO.

Now, good my lord,

Let there be some more test made of my metal,
Before so noble and so great a figure

Be stamp'd upon it.

DUKE.

No more evasion:

We have with a leaven'd and prepared choice
Proceeded to you; therefore take
your honours.
Our haste from hence is of so quick condition,
That it prefers itself, and leaves unquestion'd
Matters of needful value. We shall write to you,
As time and our concernings shall importune,
How it goes with us; and do look to know
What doth befall you here. So, fare you well:
To the hopeful execution do I leave you
Of your commissions.

ANGELO.

Yet, give leave, my lord,

That we may bring you something on the way. DUKE.

My haste may not admit it;

Nor need you, on mine honour, have to do

With any scruple; your scope is as mine own,
So to enforce or qualify the laws

As to your soul seems good. Give me your hand:
I'll privily away. I love the people,
But do not like to stage me to their eyes:
Though it do well, I do not relish well
Their loud applause and Aves vehement;
Nor do I think the man of safe discretion
That does affect it. Once more, fare you well
ANGELO.

The heavens give safety to your purposes!
ESCALUS.

Lead forth and bring you back in happiness! DUKE.

I thank you. Fare you well.

ESCALUS.

I shall desire you, sir, to give me leave

To have free speech with you; and it concerns me

(Exit.)

To look into the bottom of my place:

A power I have, but of what strength and nature
I am not yet instructed.

ANGELO.

'Tis so with me. Let us withdraw together,

And we may soon our satisfaction have

Touching that point.

ESCALUS.

SCENE II. A street. Enter Lucio and two Gentle

men.

LUCIÓ.

If the Duke, with the other dukes, come not to composition with the King of Hungary, why then all the dukes fall upon the king.

FIRST GENTLEMAN.

Heaven grant us its peace, but not the King of Hungary's! SECOND GENTLEMAN,

Amen. LUCIO.

Thou concludest like the sanctimonious pirate, that went to sea with the Ten Commandments, but scraped one out of the table.

SECOND GENTLEMAN.

'Thou shalt not steal'?

LUCIO.

Ay, that he razed.

FIRST GENTLEMAN.

Why, 'twas a commandment to command the captain and all the rest from their functions: they put forth to steal. There's not a soldier of us all, that, in the thanksgiving before meat, do relish the petition well that prays for peace.

SECOND GENTLEMAN.

I never heard any soldier dislike it.

LUCIO.

I believe thee; for I think thou never wast where grace was said.

SECOND GENTLEMAN.

No? a dozen times at least.

FIRST GENTLEMAN.

What, in metre?

LUCIO.

In any proportion or in any language. FIRST GENTLEMAN.

I think, or in any religion.

LUCIO.

Ay, why not? Grace is grace, despite of all controversy: as, for example, thou thyself art a wicked villain, despite of all grace.

FIRST GENTLEMAN.

Well, there went but a pair of shears between us. LUCIO.

I grant; as there may between the lists and the velvet. Thou art the list.

FIRST GENTLEMAN.

And thou the velvet: thou art good velvet; thou 'rt a three-piled piece, I warrant thee: I had as lief be a list of an English kersey, as be piled, as thou art piled, for a French velvet. Do I speak feelingly now?

LUCIO.

I think thou dost; and, indeed, with most painful feeling of thy speech: I will, out of thine own confession, learn to begin thy health; but, whilst I live, forget to drink after thee.

FIRST GENTLEMAN.

I think I have done myself wrong, have I not?

SECOND GENTLEMAN.

Yes, that thou hast, whether thou art tainted or free. LUCIO.

Behold, behold, where Madam Mitigation comes! I have purchased as many diseases under her roof as come to... SECOND GENTLEMAN.

FIRST GENTLEMAN.

Thou art always figuring diseases in me; 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 Mistress Overdone.)

FIRST GENTLEMAN.

How now! which of your hips has the most profound sciatica?

MISTRESS OVERDONE.

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

Who's that, I pray thee? MISTRESS OVERDONE.

Marry, sir, that's Claudio, Signior Claudio.

FIRST GENTLEMAN.

Claudio to prison? 'tis not so.

MISTRESS OVERDONE.

Nay, but I know 'tis so: I saw him arrested; saw him carried away; and, which is more, within these three days his head to be chopped off.

LUCIO.

But, after all this fooling, I would not have it so. Art thou sure of this?

MISTRESS OVERDONE.

I am too sure of it: and it is for getting 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. SECOND GENTLEMAN.

Besides, you know, it draws something near to the speech we had to such a purpose.

FIRST GENTLEMAN.

But, most of all, agreeing with the proclamation. LUCIO.

Away! let's go learn the truth of it.

MISTRESS OVERDONE.

(Exeunt Lucio & Gentlemen.)

Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat, what with the gallows, and what with poverty, I am custom-shrunk.

Enter Pompey.) How now! what's the news with you? POMPEY.

Yonder man is carried to prison. MISTRESS OVERDONE.

Well; what has he done? POMPEY.

A woman.

MISTRESS OVERDONE.
But what's his offence?
POMPEY.

Groping for trouts in a peculiar river.
MISTRESS OVERDONE.

What, is there a maid with child by him? POMPEY.

No, but there's a woman with maid by him. You have not heard of the proclamation, have you?

MISTRESS OVERDONE.

What proclamation, man?

POMPEY.

All houses in the suburbs of Vienna must be plucked down.

MISTRESS OVERDONE.

And what shall become of those in the city?

POMPEY.

They shall stand for seed: they had gone down too, but that a wise burgher put in for them.

MISTRESS OVERDONE.

But shall all our houses of resort in the suburbs be pulled down?

POMPEY.

To the ground, mistress.

MISTRESS OVERDONE.

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

POMPEY.

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

MISTRESS OVERDONE.

What's to do here, Thomas tapster? let's withdraw.