Dare rack his own: his subject am I not
Nor here provincial. 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 countenanced, that the strong statutes
Stand like the forfeits in a barber's shop,

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, goodman baldpate do you know me?

320

Duke. I remember you, sir, by the sound of 330 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.

And was the duke a

Lucio. Do you so, sir? 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 340 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.

318. Nor here provincial, not subject to the ecclesiastical authorities of this province.

321. stew, caldron.

323. the forfeits in a barber's shop, the fines nominally imposed for breach of the (often jocular) rules of behaviour suspended in the barbers' shops.

Ang. Hark, how the villain would close now, after his treasonable abuses!

Escal. Such a fellow is not to be talked withal. Away with him to prison! Where is the provost ? Away with him to prison! lay bolts enough upon 350 him: let him speak no more. Away with those

giglots too, and with the other confederate companion !

Duke. [To Provost] Stay, sir; stay awhile. 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 hanged 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 madest a duke.

First, provost, let me bail these gentle three.
[To Lucio] Sneak not away, sir; for the friar and

you

Must have a word anon. Lay hold on him.

Lucio. This may prove worse than hanging. Duke. [To Escalus] What you have spoke I pardon: sit you down:

We'll borrow place of him. [To Angelo] Sir, by your leave.

Hast thou or word, or wit, or impudence,

That yet can do thee office?

Rely upon it till my tale be heard,

And hold no longer out.

Ang.

360

If thou hast,

370

O my dread lord,

I should be guiltier than my guiltiness,
To think I can be undiscernible,

346. close, make terms.

352. giglots, loose women.

When I perceive your grace, like power divine,
Hath look'd upon my passes. 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, Friar Peter and Provost.

Escal. My lord, I am more amazed at his dis

honour

Than at the strangeness of it.

Duke.

Come hither, Isabel.

Your friar is now your prince: as I was then
Advertising and holy to your business,

Not changing heart with habit, I am still
Attorney'd at your service.

Isab.

O, give me pardon,

390

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.
Your brother's death, I know, sits at your heart;
And you may marvel why I obscured myself,
Labouring to save his life, and would not rather
Make rash remonstrance of my hidden power
O most kind maid,

Than let him so be lost.

375. passes, proceedings.
388. Advertising, instruct-

ing,

388. holy to, devoted to. 391. pain'd, put to trouble. 393. free, generous.

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.

Isab.

I do, my lord.

Re-enter ANGELO, MARIANA, FRIAR PETER,
and PROVOST.

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 adjudged 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 wouldst deny, denies thee vantage.

We do condemn thee to the very block

Where Claudio stoop'd to death, and with like haste.

Away with him!

406. salt, lustful.

418. denies.thee vantage, thy denial avails thee nothing.

400

410

420

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 posses-
sions,

Although by confiscation they are ours,

We do instate and widow you withal,
To buy you a better husband.

Mari.

O my dear lord,

430

[Kneeling.

I crave no other, nor no better man.
Duke. Never crave him; we are definitive.
Mari. Gentle my liege,—

Duke.
You do but lose your labour.
Away with him to death! [To Lucio] Now, sir,

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.

Mari.

Isabel,

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.

429. widow, endow, give as jointure.

440