But at this instant he is sick, my lord,
Of a strange fever: Upon his mere request,
(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. First, for this woman, (To justify this worthy nobleman,

So vulgarly 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; 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.

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

Mari. Not that I know. Dike.

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, in 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 imagın'd person.

Duke.

Know you this woman?

Lucio. Carnally, she says.

Convened. • Publicly. • Deception.

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 my heart; And punish them unto your height of pleasure.Thou foolish friar, and thou pernicious woman, Compact 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 derived.-
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.-
[Exit Provost.
And you, my noble, and well-warranted cousin,
Whom it concerns to hear this matter forth,
Do with your injuries as seems you best,
In any chastisement: I, for a while,
Will leave you; but stir not you, till you have well
Determined upon these slanderers.

Escal. My lord, we'll do it thoroughly.-[Exit Duke.] 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 villanous 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

Re-enter Officers, with ISABELLA; the Duke, in 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 midnight.

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: speak not you to him, till we call upon you.

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: 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 bald-pate: Do you know me?

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 flesh-nonger, a fool, and a coward, as you then reported hirn to be?

Duke. You must, sir, change persons with me,

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.

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 him: let him speak no more. Away with those giglots too, and with the other confederate companion. [The Provost lays hands on the Duke. Duke. 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 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

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 in

stantly.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 amazed at his dishonor,

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,
That L, 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 obscur'd myself,
Laboring to save his life; and would not rather

Make rash remonstrance of my hidden power,
Than let him be so 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 honor, 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. Mari.

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:

husband;

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.

Lucio. 'Faith, my lord, I spoke it but according to the trick: 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, (As I have heard him swear himself, there's one Whom he begot with child,) let her appear, And he shall marry her: the nuptial finish'd, Let him be whipp'd and hang'd.

Lucio. I beseech your highness, do not marry me to a whore. Your highness said even now, I made you a duke; good my lord, do not recompense me, in making me a cuckold.

Duke. Upon mine honor, thou shalt marry her. Thy slanders I forgive; and therewithal Remit thy other forfeits:-Take him to prison: And see our pleasure herein executed.

• Thoughtless practice.

Lucio. Marrying a punk, my lord, is pressing to death, whipping, and hanging.

Duke. Sland'ring a prince deserves it.She, Claudio, that you wrong'd look you restore. Joy to you, Mariana!-love her, Angelo; I have confess'd her, and I know her virtue.Thanks, good friend Escalus, for thy much good

ness:

There's more behind, that is more gratulate.
Thanks, provost, for thy care and secrecy;
We shall employ thee in a worthier place :-
Forgive him, Angelo, that brought you home
The head of Ragozine for Claudio's;
The offence pardons itself.-Dear Isabel,
I have a motion much imports your good;
Whereto if you'll a willing ear incline,
What's mine is yours, and what is yours is mine;
So bring us to our palace; where we'll show
What's yet behind, that's meet you all should
[Exeunt.

DOG BERRY,
VERGES,
A Sexton.
A Friar.
A Boy.

}

two foolish officers.

HERO, Daughter to Leonato.
BEATRICE, Niece to Leonato.
MARGARET,

URSULA, Gentlewomen attending on Hero.

Messengers, Watch, and Attendants.

Hero. My cousin means signior Benedick of Padua.

Mess. O, he is returned; and as pleasant as ever he was.

Beat. He set up his bills here in Messina, and challenged Cupid at the flight: and my uncle's fool, reading the challenge, subscribed for Cupid, and challenged him at the bird-bolt.—I pray you, how many hath he killed and eaten in these wars? But how many hath he killed? for, indeed, I promised to eat all of his killing.

Leon. Faith, niece, you tax signior Benedick too much; but he'll be meet with you, I doubt it not. wars. Mess. He hath done good service, lady, in these

Beat. You had musty victual, and he hath holp to eat it: he is a very valiant trencher-man, he hath an excellent stomach.

is

Mess. And a good soldier too, lady.

Beat. And a good soldier to a lady :-But what he to a lord?