Isab. I am the sister of one Claudio, Was sent to by my brother; one Lucio 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, Isab. Duke. You were not bid to speak. Nor wish'd to hold my peace. Duke. That's he, indeed. I wish you now, then: Pray you, take note of it; and when you have Lucio. I warrant your honour. Duke. The warrant's for yourself: take heed to it. Duke. It may be right; but you are in the wrong Isab. To this pernicious, caitiff deputy. Duke. That's somewhat madly spoken. The phrase is to the matter. I went Pardon it: Duke. Mended again: the matter ?-Now proceed". (For this was of much length) the vile conclusion I now begin with grief and shame to utter. Release my brother; and, after much debatement, 'Now proceed.] "Now," which we may feel assured had dropped out in the press, and which is absolutely necessary to complete the line, is from the corr. fo. 1632. In the next line the important word "process" having dropped out in the folio, 1632, it was inserted by the old annotator: the same authority, whatever it might be, that furnished him with "process," most likely also gave him “Now.” My sisterly remorse confutes mine honour, And I did yield to him. But the next morn betimes, For my poor brother's head. Duke. This is most likely! Isab. Oh, that it were as like, as it is true'! Duke. By heaven, fond wretch'! thou know'st not what thou speak'st, Or else thou art suborn'd against his honour, In hateful practice. First, his integrity Stands without blemish: next, it imports no reason, Faults proper to himself: if he had so offended, And not have cut him off. Some one hath set you on: Thou cam❜st here to complain. Isab. And is this all? Then, oh! you blessed ministers above, Keep me in patience; and, with ripen'd time, In countenance !-Heaven shield your grace from woe, Duke. I know, you'd fain be gone.-An officer! 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.. 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 ? Lucio. My lord, I know him: 'tis a meddling friar; 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. Oh, that it were as like, as it is true!] The Duke says in derision, "This is most likely !" and Isabel, finding the Duke's incredulity, insists upon the truth of her story, however improbable. -FOND Wretch !] i. e. Foolish wretch. See Vol. ii. pp. 228. 316. 373, and many other instances in subsequent volumes. Lucio. But yesternight, my lord, she and that friar I saw them at the prison: a saucy friar, A very scurvy fellow. F. Peter. Blest be your royal grace! I have stood by, my lord, and I have heard We did believe no less. Duke. 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. F. Peter. Well, he in time may come to clear himself; But at this instant he is sick, my lord, Of a strange fever. Upon his mere request, Being come to knowledge that there was complaint To speak, as from his mouth, what he doth know Is true, and false; and what he with his oath, Whensoever he's convented. First, for this woman, 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. [ISABELLA is carried off guarded; and MARIANA comes Do you not smile at this, lord Angelo ?— 1 And, on my TRUST,] Truth is substituted for "trust" in the corr. fo. 1632, but although the change is plausible, we do not adopt it, because the original word is not inappropriate in the place where it is found. In this I'll be IMPARTIAL ;] "Impartial" was frequently used for most partial, as the commentators have shown by a variety of quotations, but they are not wanted here: when the Duke says, "I'll be impartial," he means that he will Of your own cause.-Is this the witness, friar? Until my What, are you married? Why, you Are nothing then: neither maid, widow, nor wife? Lucio. My lord, she may be a punk; for many of them are neither maid, widow, nor wife. Duke. Silence that fellow: I would, he had some cause To prattle for himself. Lucio. Well, my lord. Mari. My lord, I do confess I ne'er was married; I have known my husband, yet my husband knows not Lucio. He was drunk then, my lord; it can be no better. Duke. For the benefit of silence, 'would thou wert so too! Lucio. Well, my lord. 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; Ang. Mari. Not that I know. Duke. Charges she more than me? No? you say, your husband. Mari. 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. take no part, or stand neuter in the cause, leaving it to the decision of Angelo himself. The word has been hitherto entirely mistaken. • First, let her show HER face,] The first follo has "your face." The alteration was made by the editor of the second folio. Mari. My husband bids me; now I will unmask. This is that face, thou cruel Angelo, [Unveiling. Which once, thou swor'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, this woman? Sirrah, no more. Lucio. Carnally, she says. Duke. Lucio. Enough, my lord. Ang. My lord, I must confess, I know this woman; I never spake with her saw her, nor heard from her, Mari. Noble prince, [Kneeling. As there comes light from heaven, and words from breath, I am affianc'd this man's wife, as strongly As words could make up vows: and, my good lord, But Tuesday night last gone, in's garden-house, He knew me as a wife. As this is true Let me in safety raise me from my knees, Or else for ever be confixed 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 informal women' are no more And did supply thee at thy garden-house] What we now call a summer. house, erected in a garden, ́ and formerly often used for purposes of intrigue. They are noticed by many old writers, especially by dramatists: see various instances in the last edition of Dodsley's “Old Plays,” iv. p. 148, &c. These poor INFORMAL Women] "Informal" signifies out of their senses : in "The Comedy of Errors," A. v. sc. 1, as Steevens pointed out, "a formal man ” means a man in his senses. The same remark will apply to the same expression |