Clo. A woman. Bawd. But what's his offence? Clo. Groping for trouts in a peculiar river. Bawd. What, is there a maid with child by him? Clo. No; but there's a woman with maid by him: You have not heard of the proclamation, have you? Bawd. What proclamation, man? Clo. All houfes in the fuburbs of Vienna muft be pluck'd down. Bawd. And what fhall become of those in the city? Clo. They fhall ftand for feed: they had gone down too, but that a wise burgher put in for them. Bawd. But fhall all our houfes of refort in the fuburbs be pull'd down? Clo. To the ground, mistress. Bawd. Why, here's a change, indeed, in the commonwealth! What shall become of me? : Clo. Come; fear not you: good counsellors lack no clients though you change your place, you need not change your trade; I'll be your tapfter ftill. Courage; there will be pity taken on you: you that have worn your eyes almost out in the fervice, you will be confidered. Bawd. What's to do here, Thomas Tapfter? Let's withdraw. Clo. Here comes fignior Claudio, led by the provost to prison: and there's madam Juliet. [Exeunt. SCENE III. The fame. Enter Provost, CLAUDIO, JULIET, and Officers; Lucio, and two Gentlemen. Claud. Fellow, why dost thou show me thus to the world? Bear me to prifon, where I am committed. Prov. I do it not in evil difpofition, But from lord Angelo by special charge. Claud. Thus can the demi-god, Authority, Make us pay down for our offence by weight.The words of heaven ;-on whom it will, it will; On whom it will not, fo; yet still 'tis just. Lucio. Why, how now, Claudio? whence comes this restraint? Claud. From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty: As furfeit is the father of much fast, So every scope by the immoderate use Turns to restraint: Our natures do pursue, Lucio. If I could fpeak fo wifely under an arrest, I would fend for certain of my creditors: And yet, to fay the truth, I had as lief have the foppery of freedom, as the morality of imprisonment. What's thy offence, Claudio? Claud. What, but to speak of would offend again. Claud. No. Lucio. Lechery? Claud. Call it fo. Prov. Away, fir; you must go. Claud. One word, good friend :-Lucio, a word with you. [Takes him afide. Lucio. A hundred, if they'll do you any good.― Is lechery fo look'd after? Claud. Thus ftands it with me:-Upon a true contract, I got poffeffion of Julietta's bed; You know the lady; she is fast my wife, Save that we do the denunciation lack Remaining in the coffer of her friends; From whom we thought it meet to hide our love, Claud. Unhappily, even fo. And the new deputy now for the duke,- A horfe whereon the governor doth ride, Or in his eminence that fills it up, Awakes me all the enrolled penalties, Which have, like unfcour'd armour, hung by the wall So long, that nineteen zodiacks have gone round, And none of them been worn; and, for a name, Now puts the drowsy and neglected act Freshly on me :-'tis, furely, for a name. Lucio. I warrant, it is: and thy head stands so tickle on thy thy shoulders, that a milk-maid, if the 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. I pr'ythee, Lucio, do me this kind service: I have great hope in that: for in her youth Such as moves men; befide, the hath prosperous art And well the can perfuade. Lucio. I pray, fhe may: as well for the encouragement of the like, which else would stand under grievous impofition; as for the enjoying of thy life, who I would be forry fhould be thus foolishly lost at a game of tick-tack. I'll to her. Claud. I thank you, good friend Lucio. Lucio. Within two hours, Claud. Come, officer, away. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. A Monaftery. Enter Duke, and Friar THOMAS. Duke. No; holy father; throw away that thought; Believe not that the dribbling dart of love Can pierce a complete bofom: why I defire thee To give me secret harbour, hath a purpose More More grave and wrinkled than the aims and ends Of burning youth. Fri. May your grace speak of it? Duke. My holy fir, none better knows than you And held in idle price to haunt affemblies, (A man of kricture, and firm abstinence,) You will demand of me, why I do this? Fri. Gladly, my lord. Duke. We have ftrict ftatutes, and moft biting laws, (The needful bits and curbs for head-strong steeds,) Which for thefe fourteen years we have let fleep; Even like an o'er-grown lion in a cave, That goes not out to prey: Now, as fond fathers Becomes more mock'd, than fear'd: fo our decrees, And liberty plucks justice by the nose; The baby beats the nurse, and quite athwart Fri. It refted in your grace To unloose this tied-up juftice, when you pleas'd: Duke. I do fear, too dreadful: Sith 'twas my fault to give the people scope, 'Twould |