The stealth of our 4 moft mutual entertainment, Claud. Unhappily, even fo. And the new deputy now for the Duke, (Whether it be the fault, and glimpfe, of newness; A horse whereon the Governor doth ride, Or in his eminence that fills it up, I ftagger in: ) but this new Governor Which have, like unfcour'd armour, hung by th' wall Lucio. I warrant, it is; and thy head ftands fo tickle on thy fhoulders, that a milk-maid, if fhe be in love, may figh it off. Send after the Duke, and appeal to him. Claud. I have done fo, but he's not to be found. Such as moves men! befide, fhe hath profp❜rous art 4 most mutual-] i. e. moft intimate. The phrafe is extremely elegant on this occafion; yet difliked by the Oxford Editor, who trikes out most. When When she will play with reason and discourse, Lucio. I pray, the may; as well for the encourage ment of the like, which elfe would ftand under grievous impofition; as for the enjoying of thy life, who I would be forry fhould be thus foolishly loft at a game of tick-tack. I'll to her. Claud. I thank you, good friend Lucio, Claud. Come, officer, away. Duke. SCENE [Exeunt. VII. A MONASTER Y. Enter Duke, and Friar Thomas. Believe not, that the dribbling dart of love O; holy father, throw away that thought; Can pierce a compleat bofom: why I defire thee More grave, and wrinkled, than the aims and ends Fri. May your Grace speak of it? Duke. My holy Sir, none better knows than you, How I have ever lov'd the life remov'd; And held in idle price to haunt Affemblies, 5 (A man of ftrict ure and firm abftinence) 5 A man of STRICTURE and firm abftinence] ftri&ture makes no fenfe in this place. We fhould read, A man of STRICT URE and firm abftinence. ¿. e. a man of the exacteft conduct, and practifed in the fubdual of his paffions. Ure an old word for ufe, practice, so enur'd, habituated to. And And fo it is receiv'd: now, pious Sir, Duke. We have strict Statutes and most biting Laws, ❝ (The needful bits and curbs for head-strong Steeds,) Which for these nineteen years 7 we have let fleep; Even like an o'er-grown lion in a cave, That goes not out to prey: now, as fond fathers Fri. It refted in your Grace T'unloofe this ty'd up juftice, when you pleas'd: Duke. I do fear, too dreadful. Sith 'twas my fault to give the people scope, And not the punishment. Therefore, indeed, my father, Who may in th' ambush of my name ftrike home, To do in flander: And to behold his fway, 6 The needful bits and curbs for headstrong WEEDS,] Common fenfe, and the integrity of the metaphor, fhews that Shakespear wrote headstrong STEEDS. 7 We have let SLIP; Even like an o'er-grown lion in a cave,] The fimilitude fhews that Shakespear wrote, - we have let SLEEP. I will, I will, as 'twere a Brother of your Order, Like a true Friar. More reasons for this action Only, this one: Lord Angelo is precife; "Stands at a guard with envy; fcarce confeffes "That his blood flows, or that his appetite "Is more to bread than stone: hence fhall we fee, If pow'r change purpose, what our feemers be. [Exe. Ifab. AND have you Nuns no further privileges? Nun. Are not these large enough? Ifab Yes, truly; I fpeak not as defiring more; Upon the fifter-hood, the votarifts of Saint Clare. Nun. It is a man's voice: gentle Isabella, * When you have vow'd, you must not speak with men, But in the prefence of the Priorefs; Then, if you fpeak, you must not fhew your face; Or, if you fhew your face, you must not speak. اد 8 When you bave vow'd you must not speak with men Then, if you speak, you must not fhew your face He Or, if you hear your face, you must not speak This is a very artful preparation for the effects that Ifabel's folicitation had on Angelo in the following Scene, as it fhews the mischiefs of beauty He calls again, I pray you, anfwer him. [Exit Franc. Ifab. Peace and profperity! who is't that calls? Enter Lucio. Lucio. Hail, virgin, (if you be) as thofe check-rofes A novice of this place, and the fair sister Ifab. Why her unhappy brother? let me ask [you; Lucio. Gentle and fair, your brother kindly greets Not to be weary with you, he's in prison. Ifab. Wo me! for what? Lucia. For that, which, if myself might be his judge, He should receive his punishment in thanks; He hath got his friend with child. Ifab. Sir, make me not your ftory. [liar fin Lucio. 'Tis true:-I would not (tho' 'tis my famiWith maids to feem the lapwing, and to jeft, Tongue far from heart) play with all virgins fo. I hold you as a thing en-sky'd, and fainted; beauty to be fo great, that the Religious had laid down rules and regulations to prevent its inordinate influence, which leffens our furprise at Angelo's weakness. 9 'tis my familiar fin With maids to feem the lapwing,-] The Oxford Editor's note, on this paffage, is in these words. The Lapwings fly with feeming fright and anxiety far from their nets, to deceive those who feek their young. And do not all other birds do the fame? But what has this to do with the infidelity of a general lover, to whom this bird is compared. It is another quality of the lapwing, that is here alluded to, viz. its perpetually flying fo low and fo near the paffenger, that he thinks he has it, and then is fuddenly gone again. This made it a proverbial expreffion to fignify a lover's falfhood and it feems to be a very old one; for Chaucer, in his Plowman's Tale, fays And lapwings that well conith lie. VOL. I. Bb By |