Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

ACT III
Sc. II

DUKE. I can hardly believe that, since you know not what you speak. But, if ever the Duke return (as our prayers are he may), let me desire you to make your answer before him. If it be honest you have spoke, you have courage to maintain it. I am bound to call upon you; and, I pray you, your name?

153

LUCIO. Sir, my name is Lucio; well known to the Duke. DUKE. He shall 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 opposite.1 But, indeed,
I can do you little harm : you'll forswear this again.
LUCIO. I'll be hang'd first: thou art deceiv'd in me,
Friar. But no more of this. Canst thou tell if
Claudio die to-morrow, or no?

DUKE. Why should he die, Sir?

163

LUCIO. Why? For filling a bottle with a tundish. I would the Duke we talk of were return'd again! This ungenitur'd2 agent will unpeople the province with continency; sparrows must not build in his house-eaves, because they are lecherous. The Duke yet would have dark deeds darkly answer'd; he would never bring them to light. Would he were return'd! Marry, this Claudio is condemn'd for untrussing. Farewell, good Friar; I pr'ythee, pray for me. The Duke, I say to thee again, would eat mutton on Fridays. He's not past it yet; and I say to thee, he would mouth with a beggar, though she smelt brown bread and garlic.

Say that I said so. Farewell.

4

3

DUKE. No might nor greatness in mortality

Can censure 'scape; back-wounding calumny

The whitest virtue strikes. What King so strong
Can tie the gall up in the slanderous tongue ?
But who comes here?

Enter ESCALUS, Provost, Bawd, and Officers.

ESCAL. Go: away with her to prison!

[exit.

180

BAWD. Good my Lord, be good to me; your Honour is accounted a merciful man. Good my Lord!

1 adversary. 2 sexless. 3 downing his hose. 4 (slang) female flesh. 5 kiss.

ESCAL. Double and treble admonition, and still forfeit1
in the same kind?
This would make Mercy swear,
and play the tyrant.

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

190

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 see how he goes about to abuse me.

ESCAL. That fellow is a fellow of much licence: let him be call'd before us. - Away with her to prison. Go to; no more words. [Exeunt Bawd and Officers.] Provost, my brother Angelo will not be alter'd: Claudio must die to-morrow; let him be furnish'd with divines, and have all charitable preparation. If my brother wrought by my pity, it should not be so with him.

203

PROV. So please you, this Friar hath been with him, and advis'd him for the entertainment of death.

ESCAL. Good even, good Father.

DUKE. Bliss and goodness on you!

ESCAL. Of whence are you?

DUKE. Not of this country, though my chance is now

To use it for my time: I am a Brother

Of gracious Order, late come from the See

In special business from his Holiness. ESCAL. What news abroad i' the world?

210

DUKE. None, but that there is so great a fever on goodness that the dissolution of it must cure it: novelty only is in request; and it is as dangerous to be ag'd in any kind of course as it is virtuous to be constant in any undertaking. There is scarce truth enough alive to make societies secure; but security enough to make fellowships accurs'd. 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 disposition was the Duke?

3

223

ESCAL. One, that, above all other strifes, contended

especially to know himself.

1 guilty.

2 way.

3 entreaties to assure.

ACT III
Sc. II

ACT III DUKE. What pleasure was he given to ?

Sc. II

ESCAL. Rather rejoicing to see another merry than merry at any thing which profess'd to make him rejoice: a gentleman of all temperance. But leave we him to his events, with a prayer they may prove prosperous; and let me desire to know how you find Claudio prepar'd. I am made to understand, that you have lent him visitation.

233

239

DUKE. He professes to have receiv'd no sinister measure
from his judge, but most willingly humbles himself to
the determination of justice. Yet had he fram'd to
himself, by the instruction of his frailty, many deceiving
promises of life; which I, by my good leisure, have
discredited to him, and now is he resolv'd1 to die.
ESCAL. You have paid the Heavens your function, and
the prisoner the very debt of your calling. I have
labour'd for the poor gentleman to the extremest shore
of my modesty; but my brother justice have I found
so severe that he hath forc'd me to tell him, he is
indeed-Justice.

DUKE. If his own life answer the straitness of his pro-
ceeding, it shall become him well: wherein, if he chance
to fail, he hath sentenc'd himself.

ESCAL. I am going to visit the prisoner. Fare you well.
DUKE. Peace be with you! [Exeunt ESCALUS and Provost.
He, who the sword of Heaven will bear,

[blocks in formation]

1 content.

2 contend.

3 do actively.

4 seeming, i.e. hypocrisy.

251

260

[blocks in formation]

MARI. Break off thy song, and haste thee quick away:

Enter DUKE.

[ocr errors]

Here comes a man of comfort, whose advice
Hath often still'd my brawling discontent. [Exit Boy.

I cry you mercy, Sir, and well could wish

You had not found me here so musical :

Let me excuse me, and believe me so

My mirth it much displeas'd, but pleas'd my woe. DUKE. 'Tis good: though music oft hath such a charm To make bad good, and good provoke to harm.

I pray you, tell me, hath any body inquir'd for me here to-day? Much upon this time have I promis'd here to

meet.

20

MARI. You have not been inquir'd after: I have sat here

all day.

I:00

269

ACT III
Sc. II

ACT IV DUKE. I do constantly believe you. The time is come, Sc. I even now. I shall crave your forbearance a little; may be I will call upon you anon, for some advantage to yourself.

MARI. I am always bound to you.

Enter ISABELLA.

DUKE. Very well met, and welcome!

What is the news from this good Deputy ?
ISAB. He hath a garden circummur'd with brick,
Whose western side is with a vineyard back'd;
And to that vineyard is a planched1 gate,
That makes his opening with this bigger key :
This other doth command a little door,

Which from the vineyard to the garden leads :
There have I made my promise

Upon the heavy middle of the night

To call upon him.

[exit.

DUKE. But shall you on your knowledge find this way?
ISAB. I have ta'en a due and wary note upon 't :

With whispering and most guilty diligence,

In action all of precept, he did shew me

The way twice o'er.

DUKE.

Are there no other tokens
Between you 'greed concerning her observance ?
ISAB. No, none, but only a repair i' the dark ;

And that I have possess'd him my most stay
Can be but brief: for I have made him know
I have a servant comes with me along,
That stays upon me; whose persuasion is

I come about my brother.

DUKE.

'Tis well borne up.

I have not yet made known to Mariana

A word of this. What, ho! within! come forth!

Enter MARIANA.

I pray you, be acquainted with this maid :

She comes to do you good.

ISAB.

I do desire the like.

DUKE. Do you persuade yourself that I respect you?

30

40

50

1 wooden.

2 informed.

« AnteriorContinuar »