In any chastisement: I for a while

Will leave you; but stir-not you, 'till you have well Determined upon thefe flanderers. [Exit. Efcal. My Lord, we'll do it throughly; Signior Lucio, did not you fay, you knew that Friar Lodowick to be a dishonest person

Lucio. Cucullus non facit monachum; honeft in nothing, but in his cloaths; and one that hath spoke most villanous fpeeches of the Duke.

Efcal. We fhall intreat you to abide here 'till he come, and inforce them against him; we shall find this Friar a notable fellow.

Lucio. As any in Vienna, on my word.

Efcal. Call that fame Ifabel here once again: I would fpeak with her pray you, my Lord, give me leave to queflion; you fhall fee how I'll handle her.

Lucio. Not better than he, by her own report.

Escal. Say you?

Lucio. Marry, Sir, I think, if you handled her privately, the fhould fooner confefs; perchance, publickly fhe'll be afham'd.

Enter Ďuke in the Friar's Habit, and Provost; Ifabella is brought in.

Efcal. I will go darkly to work with her.

Lucio. That's the way; for women are light at midnight.

Efcal. Come on, miftrefs: here's a gentlewoman denies all that you have faid.

Lucio. My Lord, here comes the rafcal I spoke of, here with the Provoft.

Efcal. In very good time: fpeak not you to him, 'till we call upon you.

Lucio. Mum

Efcal. Come, Sir, did you fet thefe women on to flander Lord Angelo? they have confefs'd you did. Duke. "Tis falfe.

Efcal. How? know you where you are ?

Duke. Refpect to your great place; and let the devil

Be fometime honour'd for his burning throne.
Where is the Duke? 'tis he should hear me fpeak.
Efcal. The Duke's in us; and we will hear you speak :
Look, you speak juftly,

Duke. Boldly, at leaft. But, oh, poor fouls,
Come you to feek the lamb here of the fox?

Good night to your redress: is the Duke

?

gone
Then is your caufe gone too. The Duke's unjust,
Thus to retort your manifeft appeal;
And put your trial in the villain's mouth,
Which here you come to accufe.

Lucio. This is the rafcal; this is he, I spoke of.
Efcal. Why, thou unrev'rend and unhallow'd Friar,
Js't not enough thou haft fuborn'd these women
T'accufe this worthy man, but with foul mouth,
And in the witnefs of his proper ear,

To call him villain; and then glance from him
To th' Duke himself, to tax him with injuftice?
Take him hence; to th' rack with him: we'll touze you
Joint by joint, but we will know his purpose:
What? unjuft?

Duke. Be not fo hot; the Duke dare no more stretch
This finger of mine, than he dare rack his own ;
His fubject am I 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 ftew: laws, for all faults;
But faults fo countenanc'd, that the ftrong ftatutes
Stand like the forfeits in a barber's shop,

As much in mock as mark.

Efcal. Slander to th' flate! away with him to prison. Ang. What can you vouch against him, fignior Lucio ? Is this the man, that you did tell us of?

Do

Lucio. 'Tis he, my Lord. Come hither, goodman bald-pate;

you know me?

Duke. I remember you, Sir, by the found of your voice. I met you at the prifon in the abfence 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 muft, 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 protelt I love the Duke as I love myself.

Ang. Hark! how the villain would clofe now, after his treasonable abufes.

Efcal. Such a fellow is not to be talk'd withal; away with him to prifon : where is the Prowoft? 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! resists he? help him Lucio.

Lucio. Come, Sir; come, Sir; come, Sir; foh, Sir; why, you bald-pated lying rafcal; you must be hooded, 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'st a Duke. First, Provoft, let me bail thefe gentle three. Sneak not away, Sir; for the Friar and you Muft have a word anon; lay hold on him.

Lucio. This may prove worfe 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 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 guiltinefs,
To think I can be undifcernable;

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 trial be mine own confeffion :
-Immediate sentence then, and fequent 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, Provoft.

[Exeunt Angelo, Mariana, Peter, and Provost. Efcal. My Lord, I am more amaz'd at his dishonour Than at the ftrangeness of it.

Duke. Come hither, Isabel;

Your Friar is now your Prince: as I was then
Advertising, and holy to your bufiness,

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 sovereignty.

Duke. You are pardon'd, Isabel:

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 rafh remonftrance of my hidden power,
Than let him be fo loft: Oh, most kind maid,
It was the fwift celerity of his death,

Which, I did think, with flower foot came on,
That brain'd my purpose: but, peace be with him!
That life is better life, past fearing death,

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

Enter

Enter Angelo, Mariana, Peter, and Provost. Ifab. I do, my Lord.

i

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 ftill pays hafte, 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, denies thee vantage,
We do condemn thee to the very block,

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

Mari. Oh, my moft gracious Lord,

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:

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 fervice.

Duke