Imagens da página
PDF
ePub

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 vou 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 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?

7

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 proteft, I love the duke as I love myself. Ang. Hark! how the villain would clofe now, after his treasonable abuses.

Efcal. Such a fellow is not to be talk'd withal; away with him to prifon:-where is the Provoft ?-away with him to prifon; lay bolts enough upon him; let him

it is not likely, would long preferve its authority. WARBURT.

This explanation may ferve till a better is discovered. But whoever has feen the inftruments of a chirurgeon, knows that they may be very easily kept out of improper hands in a very fmall box, or in his pocket.

7-and a coward.] fo again afterwards,

You, Sirrah, that know me for a fool, a coward,

One of all luxury— But Lucio had not, in the former converfation, mentioned cowardife among the faults of the Luke-Such failures of memory are incident to writers more diligent than this poet.

Bb 3

Speak

fpeak no more; away with thofe giglets too, and with the other confederate companion.

The Provost lays hands on the Duke.

Duke. Stay, Sir, flay a while.

Ang. What! refifts he? help him, Lucio.

Lucio. Come, Sir; come, Sir; come, Sir; foh, Sir; why, you bald pated lying rafcal: you must be hooded, must you; fhow your knave's vilage, with a pox to you; fhow your fheep-biting face, and be hang'd an hour: will't not off?

8

Pulls off the Friar's Lood, and difcovers the Duke. Duke. Thou art the first knave, that e'er mad'st a duke.

First, Provest? let me bail thefe 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 worfe than hanging.
Duke. What you have fpoke, I pardon; fit you

down.-

[To Efcalus. We'll borrow place of him.-Sir, by your leave :

Haft thou a 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 our.

Ang. O my dread lord,

I fhould be guiltier than my guiltinefs,

To think I can be undifcernable;

[To Angelo.

When I perceive your Grace, like pow'r divine, Hah look'd upon my paffes. Then, good prince,

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

No longer feffion hold upon my fhame;
But let my trial be mine own confeffion:
Immediate fentence 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, Frir; which confummate, Return him here again. Go with him, Provest. [Exeunt Angelo, Mariana, Peter, and Provost.

[blocks in formation]

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

Dake. Come hither, Ifabel;

Your Friar is now your prince: as I was then
Advertising, and holy to your bufinef,

Not charging heart with habit, I am ftill
Attornied at your fervice.

Ifab. Oh, give me pardon,

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

Duke. You are pardon'd, Ifabel:

I

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, moft 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!
Bb 4

[blocks in formation]

That

[blocks in formation]

That life is better life, paft fearing death,

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

[ocr errors]

SCENE VII.

Enter Angelo, Mariana, Peter, and Provost.

Ifab. I do, my lord.

Duke. For this new-marry'd man, approaching here, Whofe falt imagination yet Lath wrong'd

Your well defended honour, you must pardon him
For Mariana's fake: but as he adjudg'd your brother,
Being criminal, in double violation

Cf facred chastity, and in promife-breach,
Thereon dependant, for your brother's life,
The very mercy of the law cries out
Moft audible, ev'n from his proper tongue,
An Angelo for Claudio; death for death.
Hafte ftill pays hafte, and leifure answers leifure
Like doth quit like, and Measure still for Measure.
Then, Angelo, thy faults are manifested;
Which tho' thou would't deny, deny thee vantage.
We do condemn thee to the very block,

[ocr errors]

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

Mari. Oh, my most 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; elle imputation,
For that he knew you, might reproach your life,

We now ufe in converfation a like phiafe. This it was that knocked my defign on the head. Dr. Warburton reads,

3

baned my purpose. even from bis proper tongue ] Even from Angelo's own

tongue. So above.

In the witness of his proper ear
To call him villain.

deny thee vantage.] Take from thee all opportunity, all expedient of denial.

WARBURTON.
And

And choak your good to come. For his poffessions,
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

[Kneeling.

Away with him to death-Now, Sir, to you.

[To Lucio. 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 service.

Duke. Against all fenfe you do importune her; 5
Should the kneel down, in mercy of this fact,
Her brother's ghoft his paved bed would break,
And take her hence in horror.

Mari. Ifabel,

Sweet Ifabel, do yet but kneel by me;

Hold up your hands, fay nothing; I'll fpeak all-
They fay, beft men are moulded out of faults;
And, for the moft, become much more the better
For being a little bad: fo may my husband.
-Oh, Isabel! will you not lend a knee?
Duke. He dies for Claudio's death.
Ifab. Moft bounteous Sir,

[Kneeling.

Look, if it please you, on this man condemn'd,

As if my brother liv'd, I partly think,

A due fincerity govern'd his deeds, 'Till he did look on me;

fince it is fo,

[blocks in formation]
« AnteriorContinuar »