Duke. Wife? why, no question, but he was. Lucio. A very fuperficial, ignorant, unweighing fellow.

Duke. Either this is envy in you, folly, or mistaking: the very ftream of his life, and the business he hath helmed, muft, upon a warranted Need, give him a better proclamation. Let him be but teftimonied in his own bringings forth, and he shall appear to the envious, a fcholar, a ftatefman, and a foldier. Therefore, you speak unskilfully; or if your knowledge be more, it is much darken'd in your malice. Lucio. Sir, I know him, and I love him.

Duke. Love talks with better knowledge, and knowledge with dearer love.

Lucio. Come, Sir, I know what I know.

Duke. I can hardly believe that, fince you know not what you speak. But if ever the duke return, as our prayers are he may, let me defire you to make your anfwer before him: if it be honest you have fpoke, you have courage to maintain it; I am bound upon you, and, I pray you, your name? Lucio. Sir, my name is Lucio, well known to the duke.

to call

Duke. He fhall know you better, Sir, if I may live to report you.

Lucio. I fear

you not.

Duke. O, you hope, the duke will return no more; or you imagine me too unhurtful an oppofite; but, indeed, I can do you little harm: you'll forfwear this again?

Lucio. I'll be hang'd firft: thou art deceiv'd in me, Friar. But no more of this. Canft thou tell, if Claudio die to-morrow, or no?

Duke. Why should he die, Sir?

Lucio. Why? for filling a bottle with a tun-dish: I would, the duke, we talk of, were return'd again; this ungenitur'd agent will unpeople the province with continency. Sparrows muft not build in his

D 3

houfe

house-eaves, because they are leacherous. The duke yet would have dark deeds darkly answered; he would never bring them to light; would he were return'd! Marry, this Claudio is condemned for untruffing. Farewel, good Friar; I pry'thee, pray for me: the duke, I fay to thee again, would eat mutton on Fridays. He's not paft it yet; and I fay to thee, he would mouth with a beggar, tho' fhe fmelt of brown bread and garlic: fay, that I faid fo, farewel- [Exit.

Duke. No might nor greatness in mortality Can cenfure fcape: back-wounding calumny The whiteft virtue ftrikes. What king fo ftrong, Can tie the gall up in the fland'rous tongues? But who comes here?

SCENE

VII.

Enter Efcalus, Provoft, Bawd, and Officers.
O, away with her to prifon.

Ffcal. G Bawd. Good my lord, be good to me; your

Honour is accounted a merciful man: good my lord. Efcal. Double and treble admonition, and still forfeit in the fame kind? this would make mercy fwerve, and play the tyrant.

*

Prov. A bawd of eleven years continuance, may it please your Honour.

Bawd. My lord, this is one Lucio's information against me mistress Kate Keep-down was with child by him in the duke's time; he promis'd her marriage; his child is a year and a quarter old, come Philip and Jacob: I have kept it myself; and fee, how he goes about to abuse me.

Efcal. This fellow is a fellow of much licence; let him be call'd before us. Away with her to prifon : go to; no more words. [Exeunt with the Bawd.] Provost, my brother Angelo will not be alter'd; Claudio muft die to-morrow: let him be furnish'd with divines,

Mercy fwear.] We fhould read fwerve, i. e. deviate from her Nature. The common Reading gives us the Idea of a ranting Whore. and

and have all charitable preparation. If my brother wrought by my pity, it fhould not be fo with him. Pro. So please you, this Friar has been with him, and advis'd him for the entertainment of death. Efcal. Good even, good father.

Duke. Blifs and goodness on you!
Efcal. Of whence are you?

Duke. Not of this country, tho' my chance is now
To use it for my time: I am a brother
Of gracious order, late come from the See
In fpecial bufinefs from his holiness.

Efcal. What news abroad i'th' world?

Duke. None, but that there is so great a fever on goodness, that the diffolution of it muft cure it. Novelty is only in requeft; and it is as dangerous to be aged in any kind of course, as it is virtuous to be conftant in any undertaking. There is scarce truth enough alive, to make societies fecure; but fecurity enough, to make fellowships accurft. Much upon this riddle runs the wisdom of the world; this news is old enough, yet it is every day's news. I pray you, Sir, of what difpofition was the duke? Efcal. One, that, above all other ftrifes, Contended fpecially to know himself. Duke. What pleasure was he giv'n to?

Efcal. Rather rejoicing to fee another merry, than merry at any thing which profeft to make him rejoice. A gentleman of all temperance. But leave we him to his events, with a prayer they may prove profperous; and let me defire to know, how you find Claudio prepar'd? I am made to understand, that you have lent him vifitation.

Duke. He profeffes to have received no finifter measure from his judge, but most willingly humbles himself to the determination of juftice; yet had he fram'd to himself, by the inftruction of his frailty, many deceiving promifes of life; which I by my good leisure have difcredited to him, and now is he refoly'd to die.

D 4

Efcal.

Efcal. You have paid the heav'ns your function, and the prifoner the very debt of your calling. I have labour'd for the poor gentleman, to the extremeft fhore of my modefty; but my brother Juftice have I found fo fevere, that he hath forc'd me to tell him, he is indeed juftice.

Duke. If his own life anfwer the ftraitness of his proceeding, it shall become him well; wherein if he chance to fail, he hath sentenc'd himself.

Efcal. I am going to vifit the prisoner; fare you

well.

SCENE

EACE be with you!

Duke. PE

VIII.

[Exit.

He, who the fword of heav'n will bear,

Should be as holy as fevere:

Pattern in himfelf to know,

Grace to ftand, and virtue go;
More nor lefs to others paying,
Than by felf-offences weighing.
Shame to him, whofe cruel ftriking.
Kills for faults of his own liking!
Twice treble fhame on Angelo,
To weed my vice, and let his grow!
Oh, what may man within him hide,
Tho' angel on the outward fide!

How may that likeness, made in crimes,
Making practice on the times,

Draw with idle fpiders' ftrings

Moft pond'rous and substantial things!
Craft against vice I muft apply.
With Angelo to night fhall lie
His old betrothed, but defpis'd;
So disguise fhall by th'difguis'd
Pay with falfhood falfe extracting;
And perform an old contracting.

[Exit. ACT

ACT IV.

SCENE I.

TAK

A GRANGE.

Enter Mariana, and Boy finging.

SON G.

AKE, oh, take thofe lips away,
That fo fweetly were forfworn;
And thofe eyes, the break of day,
Lights that do mif-lead the morn;
But my kiffes bring again,

Seals of love, but feal'd in vain.

Enter Duke.

Mari. Break off thy fong, and hafte thee quick

away:

Here comes a man of comfort, whofe advice
Hath often still'd my brawling difcontent.
I cry you mercy, Sir, and well could wish,
You had not found me here fo mufical:.
Let me excufe me, and believe me fo,
My mirth is much difpleas'd, but pleas'd my woe.
Duke. 'Tis good; tho' mufic oft hath such a charm
To make bad, good; and good provoke to harm.
I pray you, tell me, hath any body enquir'd for me
here to day? much upon this time, have I promis'd
here to meet.

Mari. You have not been enquir'd after: I have fate here all day.

Enter Ifabel.

Duke. I do conftantly believe you: the time is come, even now. I fhall' crave your forbearance a little; may be, I will call upon you anon for fome advantage to yourself.

Mari. I am always bound to you.

D 5

[Exit. SCENE