Efcal. Slander to th' state! away with him to prifon. Ang. What can you vouch against him, fignior Lucio? Is this the man, that you did tell us of? [bald-pate; Lucio. 'Tis he, my lord. Come hither, goodman Do you know me?

Duke. I remember you, Sir, by the found of your voice: I met you at the prison in the absence of the duke. Lucio. Oh, did you fo? and do you remember what you faid of the duke?

Duke. Moft notedly, Sir.

Lucio. Do you fo, Sir? and was the duke a fleshmonger, a fool, and a coward, as you then reported him to be?

Duke. You must, Sir, change perfons with me, ere you make that my report: you fpoke fo of him, and much more, much worse.

Lucio. Oh thou damnable fellow! did not I pluck thee by the nofe, for thy fpeeches ?

Duke. I proteft, I love the duke as I love my felf. Ang. Hark! how the villain would close now, after his treasonable abuses.

Efcal. Such a fellow is not to be talk'd withal; away with him to prifon: where is the Provoft? away with him to prifon; lay bolts enough upon him; let him fpeak no more; away with thofe giglets too, and with the other confederate companion.

Duke. Stay, Sir, ftay a-while.

Ang. What! refifts he? help him, Lucio.

Lucio. Come, Sir; come, Sir; come, Sir; foh, Sir; why, you bald-pated lying rafcal; you must be hooded,

Tonfrina erat quædam : hic folebamus ferè Plerumque eam oppeririWhich Donatus calls apta fedes otiofis. Formerly, with us, the better fort of people went to the Barber's fhop to be trimm'd; who then practised the under parts of Surgery: fo that he had occafion for numerous inftruments, which lay there ready for ufe; and the idle people, with whom his fhop was generally crowded, would be perpetually handling and mifufing them. To remedy which, I fuppofe, there was placed up against the wall a table of forfeitures, adapted to every offence of this kind; which, it is not likely, would long preferve its authority,

muft

muft you? fhow your knave's vifage, with a pox to you; fhow your fheep-biting face, and be hang'd an hour will't not off?

[Pulls off the Friar's Hood, and difcovers the Duke.
Duke.Thou art the first knave, that e'er mad'ft a duke.
First, Provost, let me bail these gentle three.
Sneak not away, Sir; for the Friar and you
Must have a word anon: lay hold on him.

Lucio. This may prove worse than hanging.
Duke. What you have spoke, I pardon; fit you

down: [To Efcalus. We'll borrow place of him. Sir, by your leave: Haft thou or word, or wit, or impudence, That yet can do thee office? if thou haft, Rely upon it 'till my tale be heard, And hold no longer out.

Ang. O my dread lord,

I should be guiltier than my guiltinefs,
To think I can be undiscernable,

When I perceive your Grace, like pow'r divine,
Hath look'd upon my paffes: then, good prince,
No longer feffion hold upon my shame;
But let my tryal be mine own confeffion :
Immediate fentence then, and sequent death,
Is all the grace I beg.

Duke. Come hither, Mariana:

Say; waft thou e'er contracted to this woman?
Ang. I was, my lord.

Duke. Go take her hence, and marry her inftantly, Do you the office, Friar; which confummate, Return him here again: go with him, Provost.

[Exeunt Angelo, Mariana, Peter, and Provost. CENE V.

Efcal. My lord, I am more amaz'd at his dishonour, Than at the strangeness of it.

Duke. Come hither, Isabel;

Your Friar is now your prince: as I was then
Advertising, and holy to your business,

VOL I.

Gg 2

Not

Not changing heart with habit, I am still
Attornied at your fervice.

Ifab. Oh, give me pardon,

That I, your vaffal, have employ'd and pain'd
Your unknown fovereignty.

Duke. You are pardon'd, Ifabel,

And now, dear maid, be you as free to us...
Your brother's death, I know, fits at your heart:
And you may marvel, why I obfcur'd myself,
Labouring to fave his life; and would not rather
Make rash remonstrance of my hidden
power,
Than let him be so loft: Oh, most kind maid,
It was the swift celerity of his death,
Which, I did think, with flower foot came on,
*That bain'd my purpose: but peace be with him!
That life is better life, paft fearing death,

Than that which lives to fear; make it your comfort;
So, happy is your brother.

S C E NE

L

VI.

Enter Angelo, Mariana, Peter, and Provoft.

Ifab. I do, my lord.

Duke. For this new-marry'd man, approaching here, Whofe falt imagination yet hath wrong'd

Your well-defended honour, you must pardon
For Mariana's fake: but as he adjudg'd your brother,
Being criminal, in double violation

Of facred chastity, and of promife-breach,
Thereon dependant for your brother's life,
The very mercy of the law cries out

Moft audible, even from his proper tongue,
An Angelo for Claudio; death for death.

Hafte itill pays haste, and leisure anfwers leifure.
Like doth quit like, and Meafure ftill for Measure.
Then Angelo, thy faults are manifested;

Which tho' thou would'ft deny, deny thee vantage. We do condemn thee to the very block,

That BRAIN'D my purpose:] We should read BAIN'D. i.e. destroy'd.

deny thee vantage.] Vantage, for means, opportunity.

Where

Where Claudio ftoop'd to death; and with like hafte;
Away with him.

Mari. Oh, my most gracious lord,

100

I hope, you will not mock me with a husband?
Duke. It is your husband mock'd you with a husband,
Confenting to the fafeguard of your honour,
I thought your marriage fit; elfe imputation,
For that he knew you, might reproach your life,
And choak your good to come: for his poffeffions,
Altho' by confifcation they are ours,

We do enftate and widow you withal,
To buy you a better husband.

Mari. Oh, my dear lord,

I crave no other, nor no better man.

Duke. Never crave him; we are definitive.
Mari. Gentle, my liege

Duke. You do but lofe your labour:

"1

Away with him to death. Now, Sir, to you.
Mari. Oh, my good lord! Sweet Ifabel, take my part;
Lend me your knees, and all my life to come
I'll lend you all my life, to do you service.

Duke. Against all fenfe you do importune her;
Should she kneel down, in mercy of this fact,
Her brother's ghoft his paved bed would break,
And take her hence in horror.

Mari. Ifabet,

Sweet Ifabel, do yet but kneel by me;

Hold up your hands, fay nothing; I'll fpeak all.
They fay, beft men are moulded out of faults;
And, for the most, become much more the better
For being a little bad: fo may my husband.
Oh, Ifabel! will you not lend a knee?

Duke. He dies for Claudio's death.
Ifab. Moft bounteous Sir,

[Kneeling.

Look, if it please you, on this man condemn'd,

7 Against all fenfe you do importune ber.] The meaning required is, against all reafon and natural affection; Shakespear, therefore, judicioufly ufes a fingle word that implies both; Senfe fignifying both reafon and affection.

ま

As if my brother liv'd: I partly think,
A due fincerity govern'd his deeds,
'Till he did look on me; fince it is fo,

Let him not die. My brother had but juftice,
In that he did the thing for which he dy'd;

For Angelo, his act did not o'ertake his bad intent;
And must be bury'd but as an intent,

That perifh'd by the way: thoughts are no fubjects:
Intents, but meerly thoughts.

Mari. Meerly, my lord.

Duke. Your fuit's unprofitable; ftand up, I say: I have bethought me of another fault.

2.

Provost, how came it, Claudio was beheaded
At an unusual hour?

Prov. It was commanded fo.

Duke. Had you a fpecial warrant for the deed? Prov. No, my good lord; it was by private meffage. Duke. For which I do difcharge you of your office: Give up your keys.

Prov. Pardon me, noble lord.

I thought, it was a fault, but knew it not;
Yet did repent me, after more advice:
For teftimony whereof, one in the prison,
That should by private order else have dy'd,
I have referv'd alive.

Duke. What's he?

Prov. His name is Barnardine.

Duke. I would, thou had'ft done fo by Claudio: Go, fetch him hither; let me look upon him. Efcal. I'm forry, one fo learned and so wise As you, lord Angelo, have ftill appear'd, Should flip fo grofsly both in heat of blood, And lack of temper'd judgment afterward.

Ang. I'm forry, that fuch forrow I procure; And fo deep fticks it in my penitent heart, That I crave death more willingly than mercy: 'Tis my deferving, and I do intreat it.

SCENE