Accuse him home, and home. For my poor self, | Will not proclaim against her maiden loss, Enter LUCIO. Lucio. Good even! Lucio. O, pretty Isabella, I am pale at mine heart, to see thine eyes so red: thou must be patient: I am fain to dine and sup with water and bran; I dare not for my head fill my belly; one fruitful meal would set me to't: But they say the duke will be here to-morrow. By my troth, Isabel, I lov'd thy brother: if the old fantastical duke of dark corners had been at home, he had lived. [Exit ISABELLA. Duke. Sir, the duke is marvellous little beholden to your reports; but the best is, he lives not in them. Lucio. Friar, thou knowest not the duke so well as I do: he's a better woodman than thou takest him for. 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 was fain to forswear it; they would else have married 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. SCENE IV.-A Room in ANGELO'S House. Enter ANGELO and ESCALUS. Escal. Every letter he hath writ hath disvouch'dt other. Ang. In most uneven and distracted manner. His actions show much like to madness: pray heaven, his wisdom be not tainted! And why meet him at the gates, and re-deliver our authorities there? Escal. I guess not. Ang. And why should we proclaim it in an hour before his entering, that, if any crave redress of injustice, they should exhibit their petitions in the street? Escal. He shows his reason for that: to have a despatch of complaints; and to deliver us from devices hereafter, which shall then have no power to stand against us. Ang. Well, I beseech you, let it be proclaim'd: Escal. I shall, Sir: fare you well. [Exit. This deed unshapes me quite, makes me un For my authority bears a credent+ bulk, That no particular scandal once can touch, But it confounds the breather. He should have liv'd, [sense, Save that his riotous youth, with dangerous Might, in the times to come, have ta'en revenge, By so receiving a dishonour'd life, With ransom of such shame. 'Would yet he had liv'd! Alack, when once our grace we have forgot, Nothing goes right; we would, and we would [Exit. not. SCENE V.-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 blenchs from this to that, [house, As cause doth minister. Go, call at Flavius' F. Peter. It shall be speeded well. Enter VARRIUS. [Exit FRIAR. Duke. I thank thee, Varrius; thou hast made Come, we will walk : There's other of our friends good haste: Will greet us here anon, my gentle Varrius. [Exeunt. SCENE VI.-Street near the City Gate. Enter ISABELLA and MARIANA. Isab. To speak so indirectly, I am loath; I would say the truth; but to accuse him so, That is your part: yet I'm advis'd to do it; He says, to veil full|| purpose. Mari. Be rul'd by him. Isub. Besides, he tells me, that, if peradven ture He speak against me on the adverse side, Mari. I would, friar Peter- F. Peter. Come, I have found you out a stand most fit, [duke, Where you may have such vantage¶ on the He shall not pass you; Twice have the trumpets sounded; The generous** and gravest citizens Duke. My very worthy cousin, fairly met:Our old and faithful friend, we are glad to see you. Ang. und Escal. Happy return be to your royal grace! Duke. Many and hearty thankings to you both. We have made inquiry of you; and we hear Such goodness of your justice, that our soul Cannot but yield you forth to public thanks, Forerunning more requital. Ang. You make my bonds still greater. 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 mine honesty, If she be mad, (as I believe no other,) Isab. O, gracious duke, Harp not on that; nor do not banish reason For inequality: but let your reason serve Duke. O, your desert speaks loud; and I To make the truth appear, where it seems hid; should wrong it, 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 subject 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;And good supporters are you. PETER and ISABELLA come forward. F. Peter. Now is your time; speak loud, and kneel before him. Isab. Justice, O royal duke! Vail your Upon a wrong'd, I'd fain have said, a maid! Here is lord Angelo shall give you justice; Isab. O, worthy duke, You bid me seek redemption of the devil: Ang. My lord, her wits, I fear me, are not She hath been a suitor to me for her brother, Cut off by course of justice. Isab. By course of justice! Ang. And she will speak most bitterly, and strange. Isab. Most strange, but yet most truly, will That Angelo's forsworn; is it not strange? Duke. Away with her:-Poor soul, There is another comfort than this world, * Lower. And hide the false, seems true. Duke. Many that are not mad, Have, sure, more lack of reason.-What would you say? 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: Isab. That's he, indeed. Duke. You were not bid to speak. 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. Duke. The warrant's for yourself; take heed to it. Isab. This gentleman told somewhat of my tale. Lucio. Right. Duke. It may be right; but you are in the To speak before your time.-Proceed. [wrong Isab. I went To this pernicious caitiff deputy. Duke. That's somewhat madly spoken. The phrase is to the matter. Duke. Mended again: the matter;-Proceed. Isab. In brief,-to set the needless process by, How I persuaded, how I pray'd, and kneel'd, How he refell'dt me, and how I reply'd; (For this was of much length,) the vile con clusion I now begin with grief and shame to utter: His purpose surfeiting, he sends a warrant Duke. This is most likely! Isab. O, that it were as like, as it is true! Duke. By heaven, fonds 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 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 medling friar; [lord, I do not like the man: had he been lay, my 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, F. Peter. Blessed be your royal grace! Duke. We did believe no less. [of? Know you that friar Lodowick, that she speaks F. Peter. I know him for a man divine and Not scurvy, nor a temporary medler, [holy; 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 meret request, (Being come to knowledge that there was com plaint 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, Duke. Good friar, let's hear it. [ISABELLA is carried off, guarded; and MARIANA comes forward. 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'll be impartial; be you judge Of your own cause.-Is this the witness, friar? First, let her show her face; and, after speak. 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. Ang. Charges she more than me? Duke. 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. mask. Mari. My husband bids me; now I will un- Duke. Know you this woman? Ang. My lord, I must confess, I know this woman; [marriage And, five years since, there was some speech of Betwixt myself and her; which was broke off, Partly, for that her promised proportions Came short of composition ; but, in chief, For that her reputation was disvalued In levity: since which time of five years, I never spake with her, saw her, nor heard from Upon my faith and honour. [her, Mari. Noble prince, As there comes light from heaven, and words from breath, As there is sense in truth, and truth in virtue, I am affianc'd this man's wife, as strongly As words could make up vows: and, my good lord, [house, But Tuesday night last gone, in his gardenHe 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; [tice; Now, good my lord, give me the scope of jusMy 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; [sure. And punish them unto your height of pleaThou foolish friar; and thou pernicious woman, Compact with her that's gone! think'st thou, thy oaths, Though they would swear down each parti cular saint, 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 F. Peter. Would he were here, my lord; for he, indeed, 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. [Exit PROVOST. 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; but stir not you, till you have Determined upon these slanderers. [well Escal. My lord, we'll do it thoroughly.-[Exit DEKE] 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 clothes; and one that hath spoke most villainous speeches of theduke. Escul. We shall entreat you to abide here till he come, and enforce them against him: we shall find this friar a notable fellow. Lucio. As any in Vienna, on my word. Escal. Call that same Isabel here once again; [To an Attendant.] I would speak with her: Pray you, my lord, give me leave to question; you shall see 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, she would sooner confess; perchance, publicly she'll be ashamed. Re-enter Officers, with ISABELLA, the DUKE, in the Friar's habit, and PROVOST. Escal. I will go darkly to work with her. Lucio. That's the way; for women are light at midnight. Escul. Come on, mistress: [To ISABELLA.] here's a gentlewoman denies all that you have said. Duke. Respect to your great place! and let the devil 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. Duke. Boldly, at least:-But, O, 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 unThus to retort your manifest appeal, [just, And put your trial in the villain's mouth, Which here you come to acuse. Lucio. This is the rascal; this is he I spoke of. Escul. Why, thou unreverend and unhallow'd friar! Is't not enough, thou hast suborn'd these women statutes Stand like the forfeits in a barber's shop, Escal. Slander to the state! Away with him to prison. Ang. What can you vouch against him, signior Lucio? Is this the man that you did tell us of? 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. O, 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 lesh-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, spoke so 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 myself. Ang. Hark! how the villain would close now, after his treasonable abuses. Escal. Such a fellow is not to be talk'd withal-Away with him to prison :-Where is the provost ?-Away with him to prison; lay bolts enough upon him: let him speak no more:Away with those giglots too, and with the other confederate companion. [The PROVOST lays hands on the DUKE.] Duke. Stay, Sir; stay a while. Ang. What! resists he? Help him, Lucio. Lucio. Come, Sir; come, Sír; come, Sir: foh, Sir: Why, you bald-pated, lying rascal you must be hooded, must you? Show your knave's visage, with a pox to you! show your + Accountabic. + Wantons. * Refer back. [Pulls off the Friar's hood, and discovers the DUKE. Duke. Thou art the first knave, that e'er made a duke. sheep-biting face, and be hang'd an hour! | Thereon dependent, for your brother's life,) Will't not off? 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; [sure. Like doth quit like, and Measure still for MeaThen, Angelo, thy fault's thus manifested; Which though thou would'st deny, denies thee vantage: First, Provost, let me bail these gentle three:Sneak not away, Sir; [To Lucio.] 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; sit you down.[To ESCALUS. We'll borrow place of him:-Sir, by your leave: [TO ANGELO. 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, When I perceive, your grace, like power divine, Hath look'd upon my passes: Then, good prince, No longer session hold upon my shame, Duke. Come hither, Mariana : Say, wast thou e'er contracted to this woman? Ang. I was, my lord. Duke. Go take her hence, and marry her instantly. Do you the office, friar; which consummate, Return him here again:Go with him, Provost. [Exeunt ANGELO, MARIANA, Peter, and PROVOST. Escal. My lord, I am more amaz'd at his disThan 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 Attorney'd at your service. Isab. O, give me pardon, We do condemn thee to the very block Mari. O, my most gracious lord, Consenting to the safeguard of your honour, Mari. O, my dear lord, I crave no other, nor no better man. Duke. Never crave him; we are definitive. Muri. Gentle, my liege,- [Kneeling. Duke. You do but lose your labour; Away with him to death.-Now, Sir, to you. [TO LUCIO. Mari. O, my good lord!-Sweet Isabel, take Mari. Isabel, Sweet Isabel, do yet but kneel by me; That I, your vassal, have employ'd and pain'd For being a little bad: so may my husband. 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, sits at your heart; And you may marvel, why I obscur'd myself, Labouring to save his life; and would not rather Make rash remonstrance of my hidden power, That life is better life, past fearing death, Re-enter ANGELO, MARIANA, PETER, and O, Isabel! will you not lend a knee? His act did not o'ertake his bad intent; Mari. Merely, my lord. Duke. Your suit's unprofitable; stand up, I say. I have bethought me of another fault:Provost, how came it, Claudio was beheaded At an unusual hour? Prov. It was commanded so. Duke. Had you a special warrant for the deed? Prov. No, my good lord; it was by private message. Duke. For which I do discharge you of your Give up your keys. [office: Prov. Pardon me, noble lord: |