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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?

Lucio. Yes, marry, did I but I was fain to forswear it; they would else have marry'd me to the rotten medlar.

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

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 shall stick. [Exeunt.

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SCENE V.

Changes to the 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;
Though sometimes you do blench' from this to that,
20 As cause doth minister. Go, call at Flavius' house,
And tell him, where I stay: give the like notice
Unto Valentius, Rowland, and to Crassus,
And bid them bring the trumpets to the gate;
But send me Flavius first.

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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 30 Will greet us here anon, my gentle Varrius. [Exeunt.

35

Ang. Well; I beseech you let it be proclaim'd: 40
Betimes i' the morn, I'll call you at your house:
Give notice to such men of sort and suit',
As are to meet him.

Escal. I shall, sir: fare you well.
Ang. Good night.-

[Exit.
[nant 2,45

This deed unshapes me quite, makes me unpreg-
And 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:

For my authority bears a credent3 bulk,

SCENE VI.

Enter Isabella and Mariana.
Isab. To speak so indirectly, I am loth;
I would say the truth; but to accuse him so,
That is your part; yet I am advis'd to do it;
He says, to vail full purpose.

Mari. Be rul'd by him.

Isab. Besides, he tells me, that, if peradventure
Hle speak against me on the adverse side,

I should not think it strange; for 'tis a physick,
That's bitter to sweet end.

Mari. I would, friar Peter-————
Isab. Oh, peace; the friar is come.
Enter Friar Peter.

[fit,
Peter. Come, I have found you out a stand most
Where you may have such'vantage on the duke,
He shall not pass you: Twice have the trumpets
50 The generous and gravest citizens [sounded;
flave hent the gates, and very near upon
The duke is entering; therefore hence, away.
[Exeunt

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

As e'er I heard in madness.
Isab. Gracious duke,

Harp not on that; nor do not banish reason
For inequality: but let your reason serve
5To make the truth appear, where it seems hid;
Not hide the false, seems true.

Duke. Many that are not mad

To lock it in the wards of covert bosom,
When it deserves with characters of brass
A forted residence, 'gainst the tooth of time
And razure of oblivion: Give me your hand,
And let the subjects 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;-[out,
And good supporters are you. [As the Dukeisgoing, in probation of a sisterhood,

you.[As

Enter Peter and Isabella

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

before him.

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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, oh, 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!

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Ang. And she will speak most bitterly and strange.
Isab. Moststrange but yet mosttruly, will I speak; 35
That Angelo's forsworn; is it not strange?
That Angelo's a murtherer; is't not strange?
That Angelo is an adulterous thief,
An hypocrite, a virgin violator;

Is it not strange, and strange?

Duke. Nay, it is ten times strange.
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.

[say?
Have, sure, more lack of reason.-What would you
Isab. I am the sister of one Claudio,
Condemn'd upon the act of fornication
To lose his head; condemn'd by Angelo:

Was sent to by my brother; one Lucio
Was 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.

Isab. That's he, indeed.

Duke. You were not bid to speak.

Nor wish'd to hold my peace.

Lucio. No, my good lord;

Duke. 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.

Lucio. I warrant your honour.

[it.

Duke. The warrant's for yourself; take heed to
Isab. 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.
Isab. Pardon it;

The phrase is to the matter.

Duk. Mended again: the matter;-Proceed. Isab. In brief,-to set the needless process by, 40 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 45 To his concupiscible intemperate lust,

Isab. O prince, I conjure thee, as thou believ'st
There is another comfort than this world,
That thou neglect me not, with that opinion [sible 50
That I am touch'd with madness: make not impos-
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 2,
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 nine 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,

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55 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
Faults proper to himself: if he had so offended,
160le would haveweigh'd thy brotherby himself, [on;
And not have cut him off: Some one hath set you
Confess the truth, and say by whose advice
Thou canst here to complain.

2i. e. As perfect, as exact in the performance of his duty.
Retuted.. Pity. Probable. • Foolish.

6

Isab

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 [woe,
In countenance-Heaven shield your grace from 5
As I, thus wrong'd, hence unbelieved go! [cer-
Duke. I know, you'd fain be gone:-an offi-
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 2.10
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?

[friar; Lucio. My lord, I know him; 'tis a meddling 15 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 belike!
And to set on this wretched woman here
Against our substitute!-Let this friar be found.
Lucio. But yesternight, my lord, she and that friar
I saw them at the prison: a saucy friar,
A very scurvy fellow.

Peter. Blessed be your royal grace!
I have stood by, my lord, and I have heard
Your royal ear abused: First, hath this woman
Most wrongfully accused your substitute;
Who is as free from touch or soil with her,
As she from one ungot.

Duke. We did believe no less.

Fof?

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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. Peter. Wellhe intime may come to clear himself; But at this instant he is sick, my lord,

Of a strange fever: Upon his mere request, [plaint
(Being come to knowledge that there was com-
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,
Whenever 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.
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 will be impartial; be you judge
Of your own cause.-Is this the witness, friar?
[Isabella is carried off, guarded.
Enter Mariana vil'd.
First, let her shew her face; and, after, speak.
Mari. Pardon, my lord; I will not shew my face,
Until my husband bid me.

Duke: What, are you marry'd?

i. e. In partial favour.

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2 An artifice.

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Lucio. Well, my lord.

Mari. My lord, Ido confess, Ine'er was marry'd;
And, I confess, besides, I am no maid: [not,
have known my husband; yet my husband knows
That ever he knew me.
[better.

Lucio. He was drunk then, my lord; it can be no
Duke. For the benefit of silence, 'would thou wert
Lucio. Well, my lord.
[so too.
Duke. This is no witness for lord Angelo.
Mari. Now I come to't, my lord:

She, that accuses him of fornication,

In self-same manner doth accuse my husband;
And charges him, my lord, with such a time,
25 When P'il depose I had him in mine arins,
With all the effect of love.

30

35

40

Ang. Charges she more than me? Mari. Not that I know.

[riana.

Duke. No You say, your husband. [To MaMari. Why, just, my lord, and that is Angelo, Who thinks, he knows, that he ne'er knew my body, But knows, he thinks, that he knows Isabel's.

Ang. This is a strange abuse. Let's see thy face.
Mari. My husband bids me; now I will unmask.
This is that face, thou cruel Angelo, [Unveiling.
Which, once thouswor'st, was worth the looking on:
This is the hand, which, with a vow'd contract,
Was fast belock'd in thine: this is the body,
That took away the match from Isabel,

And did supply thee at thy garden-house,
In her imagin d person.

Duke. Know you this woman?

Lucio. Carnally, she says.

Duke. Sirrah, no more.

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That is, her promis'd fortune fell short of the agreement.
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* Abuse here signifies deception.

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Or else for ever be contaxed here, A marble monument!

Ang. I did but smile 'till now;

Now, good my lord, give me the scope of justice;
My patience here is touch'd: I do perceive,
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,
That's seal'd in approbation?—You, lord Escalus,
Sit with my cousin; lend him your kind pains
To find out this abuse, whence tiş deriv’d.
There is another friar, that set them on;
Let him be sent for.

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

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; stir not you till you have well
Determined upon these slanderers. [Exit.

Escal. My lord, we'll do it thoroughly.-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 cloaths; and one that hath spoke most villainous speeches of the duke.

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Duke. 'Tis false.

Escal. How! know you where you are? [devil Duke. Respect to your great place! and let the Be sometime honour'd for his burning throne :— Where is the duke? 'tis he should hear me speak. Escal. The duke's in us; and we will hear you Look, you speak justly. [speak: Duke. Boldly, at least:-But, oh, poor souls, Come you to seek the lamb here of the fox? Good night to your redress: Is the duke gone? Then is your cause gone too. The duke's unjust, Thus to retort your manifest appeal ', And put your trial in the villain's mouth, Which here you come to accuse.

Lucio. This is the rascal; this is he I spoke of. Escal. Why, thou unreverend and unhallow'd

friar!

Is't not enough, thou hast suborn'd these women To accuse this worthy man; but, in foul mouth, And in the witness of his proper ear,

30 To call him villain?

35

Escal. We shall intreat you to abide here till he come, and enforce them against him; We shall 40 find this friar a notable fellow.

Lucio. As any in Vienna, on my word.

Escal. Call that same Isabel here once again: I would speak with her: Pray you, my lord, give me leave to question; you shall see how I'll handle 45 her.

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

Lucio. Marry, sir, I think, if you handled her privately, she should sooner confess; perchance, 50 publickly she'll be ashamed.

Enter Duke in the Friar's habit, and Provost. Isabella is brought in.

Escal. Iwill go darkly to work with her. Lucio. That's the way; for women are light at 55 midnight.

Escal. Come on, mistress; here's a gentlewo

And then to glance from him to the duke himself, To tax him with injustice-Take him hence; To the rack with him: We'll touse you joint by joint,

But we will know this purpose: What? unjust?
Duke. Be not so hot; the duke

Dare no more stretch this finger of mine, than he
Dare rack his own; his subject I am not,
Nor here provincial: My business in this state
Made me a looker-on here in Vienna,
Where I have seen corruption boil and bubble,
Till it o'er-run the stew: laws, for all faults;
But faults so countenanc'd that the strong statutes
Stand like the forfeits in a barber's shop',
As much in mock as mark.

[prison. Escal. Slander to the state! Away with him to Ang. What can you vouch against him, signior Is this the man, that you did teil us of? [Lucio? Lucio. "Tis he, my lord. Come hither, goodman bald-pate: Do you know me?

Duke. I remember you, sir, by the sound of your voice: I met you at the prison, in the absence of the duke.

Lucio. Oh, did you so? And do you remember what you said of the duke?

Duke. Most notedly, sir.

Lucio. Do you so, sir? And was the duke a

Informal signifies out of their senses. 2 That is, from beginning to end. 3 Meaning, to refer your appeal against Angelo to Angelo himself. * That is, not belonging to this province. * Dr. Warburton gives the following explanation of this passage: Formerly the better sort of people went to the barber's shop (who then practised the under parts of surgery) to be trimmed, so that he had occasion for numerous instruments, which lay there ready for use; and the idle people, with whom his shop was generally crowded, would be perpetually handling and misusing them. To remedy this, he supposes, there was placed up against the wail à table of forfeitures, adapted to every offence of this kind; which, it is not ikely, would long preserve its authority,―There are still forteits in barbers' shops for talking of cutting throats during shaving, or calling powder, flour.

flesh

flesh-monger, a fool, and a coward, as you then reported him to be?

Duke. You must, sir, change persons with me, ere you make that my report: you, indeed, spøkc sp of him; and much more, much worse.

Lucio. O thou damnable fellow! Did not I pluck thee by the nose, for thy speeches?

Duke. I protest I love the duke, as I love my

self.

Ang. Hark! how the villain would close now, after his treasonable abuses.

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And now, dear maid, be you as free to us.
Your brother's death, I know, sits at your heart:
And you may marvel, why I obscur'd myself,
Labouring to save his life; and would not rather
10 Make rash remonstrance of my hidden power,
Than let him be so lost. Oh, most kind maid,
It was the swift celerity of his death,
Which I did think with slower foot came on,
That brain'd' my purpose. Butpeace be with him!
That life is better life, past fearing death, [fort,
Than that which lives to fear: make it your com
So happy is your brother.

Eschal. Such a fellow is not to be talked withal; Away with him to prison:-Where is the provost? -Away with him to prison; lay bolts enough upon him: let him pe .k no more:-away with those 15 giglots too, and with the other confederate companion. [The Provost lays hands on the Duke. Duke. Stay, sir; stay a while.

Ang. What! res.sts he? Help him, Lucio.
Lucio. Come, sir; come, sir; come, sir; foh,|20|
sir: Why, you bald-pated, lying rascal! youmust
be hooded, must you? Shew your knave's visage,
with a pox to you! shew your sheep-biting face,
and be hang'd'an hour! Will't not off?

[Bulls off the Friar's hood, and discovers the Duke. 25
Duke. Thou art the first knave, that e'er mad'st
a duke.-

First, provost, let me bail these gentle three:-
Sneak not away, sir; [to Lucio.] for the friar and
Must have a word anon:-lay hold on him. [you 30
Lucio. This may prove worse than hanging.
Duke. What you have spoke, I pardon; sit you
down.-
[To Escalus.

We'll borrow place of him:-Sir, by your leave:
[To Angelo. 35

Hast thou or word, or wit, or impudence,
That yet can do thee office? If thou hast,
Rely upon it till my tale be heard,
And hold no longer out.

Ang. O my dread lord,

I should be guiltier than my guiltiness,
To think I can be undiscernible,

When I perceive your grace, like power divine,
Hath look'd up niny passes: Then, good prince,
No longer session hold upon my shame,
But let my trial be mine own confession.
Immediate sentence then, and sequent death,
Is all the grace 1 beg.

Duke. Come hither, Mariana:-
Say, wast thou e'er contracted to this woman?
Ang. I was, my lord.
[stantly.-

40

Re-enter Anglo, Mariana, Peter,and Provost.
Isab. I do, my lord.
[here,
Duke. For this new-marry'd man, approaching
Whose salt imagination yet hath wrong'd
Your well-defended honour, you must pardon him;
For Mariana's sake: But as he adjudg’d your bro-
(Being criminal in double violation [ther,
Of sacred chastity; and of promise-breach,
Thereon dependant, for your brother's life)
The very mercy of the law cries out
Most audible, even from his proper tongue,
An Angelo for Claudio, death for death.
Haste still pays haste, and leisure answers leisure;
Like doth quit like, and Measure still for Measure.
Then, Angelo, thy fault's thus manifested; [tage':
Which though thou would'st deny, denies thee van->
We do condemn thee to the very block
Where Claudio stoop'd to death, and with like,
haste;-

Away with him.

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Consenting to the safeguard of your honour,

I thought your marriage fit; else imputation,
For that he knew you, might reproach your life,
45 And choak your good to come: for his possessions,
Although by confiscation they are ours,
We do enstate and widow you withal,
To buy you a better husband.

Mari. Oh, my dear lord,

50I crave no other, nor no better man.

Duke. Go take her hence, and marry her in-
Do you the office, friar; which consummate,
Return him here again:-Go with him, provost.
[Exeunt Angelo, Mariana, Peter, and Provost. 55
Escal. My lord, I am more amaz`d at his dis-
Than at the strangeness of it.
[honour,

› Duke. Come hither, Isabel:
Your friar is now your prince: As I was then
Advertising and holy to your business,

Not changing heart with habit, I am still

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Giglot means a wanton girl.

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Lend me your knees, and all my life to come
I'll lend you, all my life to do you service.
60 Duke. Against all sense you do importune her:
Should she kneel down, in mercy of this fact,

2 That is, my transactions. 'Attentive and faithful.

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4 That

is, as generous, by pardoning us also. Meaning, which defeated it. Meaning, Angelo's own tongue. 'That is, takes from thee all opportunity, all expedient of denial. Sense here means reason and affection,

Her

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