Lucio. My lord, here comes the rascal I spoke of, here with the Provost.

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

Lucio. Mum.

Efcal. Come, Sir, did you set these 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 speak.

Efcal. The Duke's in us; and we will hear you speak: Look you speak justly.

Duke. Boldly at least I'll speak. But oh, poor fouls, Come you to feek the lamb here of the fox?

Good-night to your redrefs: Is the duke gone?
Then is your caufe gone too. The Duke's unjust,
Thus to retort your manifeft appeal,

And put your tryal in the villain's mouth

Which here you come to accuse.

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

To call him villain; and then glance from him
To th' Duke himself, to tax him with injustice?

Take him hence; to the rack with him: we'll 'touze you (Ev'n joint by joint) but we will know this purpose: What? He 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

4 at leaft. But oh, 6 his

5 touze you joint by joint

7 What? Uujust ?

Where I have feen 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 fhop,

As much in mock as mark.

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

Lucio. 'Tis he, my lord. pate: Do you know me?

Come hither, goodman bald

Duke. I remember you, Sir, by the found of your voice: I met you at the prifon 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 muft, Sir, change perfons with me ere you make that my report: you indeed 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 self.

Ang. Hark how the villain would clofe now after his treafonable abufes.

Efcal. Such a fellow is not to be talk'd withal: away with him to prison: 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,

(a) It is a cuftom in the shops of all mechanicks to make it a forfeiture for any franger to use or take up the tools of their trade: In a Barber's Jhop especially, when heretofore Barbers practis'd the under parts of Surgery, their inftruments being of a nice kind and their shops generally full of idle people, there was hung up a table fhewing what particular forfeiture was required for meddling with each inftrument. Warburton.

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 sheep-biting face, and be hang'd; an hour?

will't not off?

[Pulls off the Friar's bood, 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 [To Lucio. 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: [To Angelo. 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. Oh my dread lord,

I fhould 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 fhame;
But let my tryal be mine own confeffion :
Immediate fentence then, and fequent death,
Is all the grace I beg.

.8

Duke. Come hither, Mariana: fay; 'waft thou` 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 Provoft.

waft thou e'er

SCENE

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

Duke. Come hither, Ifabel;

Your Friar is now your Prince: as I was then
Advertising, 'all holy, to your business,
Not changing heart with habit, I am still
Attornied at your service.

Ifab. Oh, give me pardon,

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

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 my self,
Labouring to fave his life; and would not rather
Make rash remonftrance of my hidden power,
Than let him be fo loft: O most kind maid,
It was the swift celerity of his death,

(Which I did think with flower foot came on)

That brain'd my purpose: 'but now 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.

SCENE VI.

Enter Angelo, Mariana, Peter, and Provost.

Ifab. I do, my lord.

Duke. For this new-marry'd man, approaching here, hath wrong'd Whofe falt imagination yet Your well-defended honour; you must * 'pardon him` For Mariana's fake: but as a judge,

2

3 he adjudg'd your brother,

Being

'Being doubly criminal, in violation`
Of facred chastity, and 'in 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 haste, and leisure answers leifure;
Like doth quit like, and Measure still for Meafure.
Then, Angelo, thy faults are 'manifest;`

Which, tho' thou would'st 7'deny 'em, deny thee` vantage.
We do condemn thee to the very block

Where Claudio ftoop'd to death; and with like haste,
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; else 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 craye 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 Isabel, 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. Against all sense you do importune her; Should the kneel down, in mercy of this fact, Her brother's ghoft his paved bed would break, And take her hence in horror.

4 Being criminal, in double violation

6 manifefted;

7 deny, denies thee

5 of

Mari.