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 26) 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. 27)

Lucio. Friar, thou knowest not the duke so well as I do: he's a better woodman 28) than thou takest him for.

Duke. Well, you'll answer this one day.

ye well.

Lucio. Nay, tarry; I'll go along with thee; tell thee pretty tales of the duke.

Fare

I can

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.

SCENE IV.

A Room in Angelo's House. Enter ANGELO and ESCALUS.

[Exeunt.

Escal. Every letter he hath writ hath disvouch'd 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 streets?

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: Betimes i' the morn, I'll call you at your house: Give notice to such men of sort and suit, 29) As are to meet him.

Escal.

I shall, sir: fare you well. [Exit.

Ang. Good night. This deed unshapes me quite, makes me unpregnant, And dull to all proceedings. A deflower'd maid! And by an eminent body, that enforc'd The law against it! But that her tender shame Will not proclaim against her maiden loss, How might she tongue me? Yet reason dares her? ho: 30)

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 matter being afoot, keep your instruction, The provost knows our purpose, and our plot. And hold you ever to our special drift; Though sometimes you do blench 32) from this to that, As cause doth minister. Go, call at Flavius' house, And tell him where I stay: give the like notice To Valentinus, Rowland, and to Crassus, But send me Flavius first. And bid them bring the trumpets to the gate;

F. Peter.

It shall be speeded well. [Exit Friar.

Enter VARRIUS.

Duke. I thank thee, Varrius; thou hast made good haste:

Come, we will walk: There's other of our friends 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, Isab. Besides, he tells me, that, if peradventure He speak against me on the adverse side, I should not think it strange; for 'tis a physic, That's bitter to sweet end. Mari. I would, friar Peter Isab.

SCENE I. A public Place near the City-gate. MARIANA (veil'd), ISABELLA, and Peter, at a distance. Enter at opposite doors, DUKE, VARRIUS, Lords; ANGELO, ESCALUS, Lucio, Provost, Officers, and Citizens.

Duke. My very worthy cousin, fairly met: Our old and faithful friend, we are glad to see you. Ang. and 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. Duke. O, your desert speaks loud; and I should wrong it,

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, A very scurvy fellow. F. Peter.

Blessed be your royal grace!
I have stood by, my lord, and I have heard
Your royal ear abus'd: First, hath this woman
Most wrongfully accus'd your substitute;
Who is as free from touch or soil with her,
As she from one ungot.
Duke.
We did believe no less.
Know you that friar Lodowick, that she speaks of?
F. Peter. I know him for a man divine and holy;
Not scurvy, nor a temporary medler,
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 mere request, 10)
(Being come to knowledge that there was complaint
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,
And all probation, will make up full clear,
Whensoever he's convented. 1) First, for this woman;
(To justify this worthy nobleman,
So vulgarly 12) and personally accus'd,)
Her shall you hear disproved to her eyes,
Till she herself confess it.
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; 13) be you judge
Of your own cause. Is this the witness, friar?
First, let her show her face; and, after, speak.
Mari. Pardon, my lord; I will not show my face,
Until my husband bid me.
Duke.

What, are you married?

Are you a maid?

Mari.

Duke. A widow then? Mari.

Duke.

No, my lord. Neither, my lord. Why, you Are nothing then: : - Neither maid, widow, nor wife? Lucio. My lord, she may be a punk; for many of them are neither maid, widow, nor wife. Duke. Silence that fellow: I would, he had some cause To prattle for himself.

Lucio. Well, my lord.

Mari. My lord, I do confess I ne'er was married; And, I confess, besides, I am no maid:

I have known my husband; yet my husband knows not, That ever he knew me.

Lucio. He was drunk then, my lord: it can be no better.

Duke. For the benefit of silence, 'would thou wert

Bo too.

Lucio. Well, my lord.

Duke. This is no witness for lord Angelo. Mari. Now I come to't, my lord:

She, that accuses him of fornication,

In self-same manner doth accuse my husband;

And charges him, my lord, with such a time, When I'll depose I had him in mine arms, With all the effect of love.

Ang.

Charges she more than me?

Mari. Not that I know.
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.
Mari. My husband bids me; now I will unmask.
[Unveiling.

This is that face, thou cruel Angelo,
Which, once thou swor'st, was worth the looking on:
This is the hand, which with a vow'd contract,
Was fast belock'd in thine: this is the body
That took away the match from Isabel,
And did supply thee at thy garden-house,
In her imagin'd person.

Lucio. Carnally, she says. Duke.

Sirrah, no more.

Lucio. Enough, my lord.
Ang. My lord, I must confess, I know this woman;
And, five years since, there was some speech of
marriage

Betwixt myself and her; which was broke off,
Partly, for that her promised proportions
Came short of composition; 14) 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 her,
Upon my faith and honour.
Noble prince,

Mari.

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,
But Tuesday night last gone, in his garden-house,
He 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;
Now, good my lord, give me the scope of justice;
My patience here is touch'd: I do perceive,
These poor informal women 15) 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 all my heart;
And punish them unto your height of pleasure.
Thou foolish friar; and thou pernicious wonan,
Compáct with her that's gone! think'st thou, thy
oaths,

Though they would swear down each particular 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
To find out this abuse, whence 'tis deriv'd.
There is another friar that set them on;
Let him be sent for.

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.

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 the duke.

Escal. 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.

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 fleshmonger, 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.

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 mid-night.

Escal. Come on, mistress: [to ISABELLA] here's a gentlewoman denies all that you have said. Lucio. My lord, here comes the rascal I spoke of; here with the provost.

Escal. In very good time: him, till we call upon you. Lucio. Mum.

speak not you to

Escal. Come, sir; Did you set these women on to slander lord Angelo? they have confess'd you did. Duke. "Tis false.

Escal. How! know you where you are? 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 speak: 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 unjust, Thus to retort your manifest appeal, 16) And put your trial in the villain's mouth, Which here you come to accuse.

Lucio. This is the rascal; this is he I spoke of. Escal. Why, thou unreverend and unhallow'd friar! Is't not enough, thou hast suborn'd these women To accuse this worthy man; but, in foul mouth, And in the witness of his proper ear, To call him villain?

And then to glance from him to the duke himself;
To tax him with injustice? Take him hence;
To the rack with him:- We'll touze you joint by joint,
But we will know this purpose. What! unjust?
Duke. Be not so hot; the duke

Dare no more stretch this finger of mine, than he
Dare rack his own; his subject am I not,
Nor here provincial: 7) 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 stew: laws for all faults;
But faults so countenanc'd, that the strong statutes
Stand like the forfeits in a barber's shop, 18)
As much in mock as mark.

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, good-man bald-pate: Do you know me?

let him speak no more: Away with those giglots too, 19) 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, sir; 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 sheep-biting face, and be hang'd an hour! Will't not off?

[Pulls off the Friar's hood, and discovers the DUKE. Duke. Thou art the first knave, that e'er made a duke.

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,

down.

We'll borrow place of him:

I pardon; sit you [TO ESCALUS. Sir, by your leave: [To ANGELO.

Hast thou or word, or wit, or impudence,
That yet can do thee office? 20) 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,
To think I can be undiscernible,
When I perceive, your grace, like power divine,
Hath look'd upon my passes; 21) Then, good prince,
No longer session hold upon my shame,
But let my trial be mine own confession;
Immediate sentence then, and sequent death,
Is all the grace I beg.

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 dishonour, Than at the strangeness of it.

Duke. Come hither, Isabel: Your friar is now your prince: As I was then Advértising, and holy 22) to your business, Not changing heart with habit, I am still Attorney'd at your service.

Isab. O, give me pardon, That I, your vassal, 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. 23)

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 24) of my hidden power,
Than let him so be lost: O, most kind maid,
It was the swift celerity of his death,
Which I did think with slower 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.

Re-enter ANGELO, MARIANA, PETER, and Provost.
Isab.
I do, my lord.
Duke. For this new-married man, approaching here,
Whose salt imagination yet hath wrong'd
Your well defended honour, you must pardon
For Mariana's sake: but as he adjudg'd your brother,
(Being criminal, in double violation

Of sacred chastity, and of promise-breach,
Thereon dependent, for your brother's life,)
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;
Like doth quit like, and Measure still for Measure.
Then, Angelo, thy fault's thus manifested;
Which though thou would'st deny, denies thee
vantage: 25)

We do condemn thee to the very block
Where Claudio stoop'd to death, and with like haste:-
Away with him.

Mari.
O, 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:
Consenting to the safeguard of your honour,
I thought your marriage fit; else imputation,
For that he knew you, might reproach your life,
And choke your good to come: for his possessions,
Although by confiscation they are ours,
We do instate and widow you withal,
To buy you a better husband.
Mari.

O, my dear lord, I crave no other, nor no better man. Duke. Never crave him; we are definitive. Mari. Gentle, my liege, [Kneeling. Duke. You do but lose your labour; Away with him to death. Now, sir, [to LUCIO] to you. Mari. O, 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 service.

Duke. Against all sense you do importune her: Should she kneel down, in mercy of this fact, Her brother's ghost his paved bed would break, And take her hence in horror.

Sweet Isabel, do yet but kneel by me;

Hold up your hands, say nothing, I'll speak all.
They say, best men are moulded out of faults;
And, for the most, become much more the better
For being a little bad; so may my husband.
O, Isabel! will you not lend a knee?
Duke. He dies for Claudio's death.
Isab.
Most bounteous sir, [Kneeling.
Look, if it please you, on this man condemn'd,
As if my brother liv'd: I partly think,

A due sincerity govern'd his deeds,
Till he did look on me; since it is so,
Let him not die: My brother had but justice,
In that he did the thing for which he died:
For Angelo,

Prov. His name is Barnardine. Duke. I would thou had'st done so by Claudio. Go, fetch him hither; let me look upon him. [Exit Provost. Escal. I am sorry, one so learned and so wise As you, lord Angelo, have still appear'd, Should slip so grossly, both in the heat of blood, And lack of temper'd judgment afterward.

Ang. I am sorry, that such sorrow I procure,
And so deep sticks it in my penitent heart,
That I crave death more willingly than mercy;
"Tis my deserving, and I do entreat it.

Re-enter Provost, BARNARDINE, CLAUDIO,
and JULIET.

Duke. Which is that Barnardine?
Prov.

This, my lord.
Duke. There was a friar told me of this man:-
Sirrah, thou art said to have a stubborn soul,
That apprehends no further than this world,
And squar'st thy life according. Thou'rt condemn'd;
But, for those earthly faults, I quit them all;
And pray thee, take this mercy to provide
For better times to come:

Friar, advise him; I leave him to your hand. — What muffled fellow's that? Prov. This is another prisoner, that I sav'd, That should have died when Claudio lost his head; As like almost to Claudio, as himself.

[Unmuffles CLAUDIO. Duke. If he be like your brother, [to ISABELLA] for his sake

Is he pardon'd; And, for your lovely sake,
Give me your hand, and say you will be mine,
He is my brother too: But fitter time for that.
By this, lord Angelo perceives he's safe;
Methinks, I see a quick'ning in his eye:
Well, Angelo, your evil quits you well:

Look that you love your wife; her worth, worth yours.

I find an apt remission in myself:

And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon:
You, sirrah, [to Lucio] that knew me for a fool,
a coward,

One all of luxury, an ass, a madman;
Wherein have I so deserved of you,
That you extol me thus?

Lucio. 'Faith, my lord, I spoke it but according to the trick: 27) If you will hang me for it, you may, but I had rather it would please you, I might be whipp'd. Duke. Whipp'd first, sir, and hang'd after. Proclaim it, provost, round about the city; If any woman's wrong'd by this lewd fellow,