Duke. Good morning to you, fair and gracious daughter.

Isab. The better given me by so holy a man. Hath yet the deputy sent my brother's pardon? Duke. He hath releas'd him, Isabel, from the world;

His head is off, and sent to Angelo.
Isab. Nay, but it is not so.
Duke. It is no other;

Show your wisdom, daughter, in your close patience.

Isab. Oh! I will to him, and pluck out his

eyes.

Duke. You shall not be admitted to his sight. Isab. Unhappy Claudio! Wretched Isabel! Injurious world! Most damned Angelo !

Duke. This nor hurts him, nor profits you a jot:

Forbear it therefore; give your cause to heaven.
Mark what I say; which you shall find
By every syllable, a faithful verity:

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. [Exeunt.

SCENE IV.—A Room in ANGELO's House. Enter ANGELO and ESCALUS.

Escal. Every letter he hath writ bath 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 exbibit their petitions in the street?

Escut. He shows his reason for that: to have

your wisdom

If you can, pace

In that good path that I would wish it go;
And you shall have your bosom on this wretch,
Grace of the duke, revenges to your heart,
And general honour.

Isab. I am directed by you.

Duke. This letter theu to friar Peter give; 'Tis that he sent me of the duke's return; Say, by this token, I desire his company

At Mariana's house to night. Her cause, and yours,

I'll perfect him withal; and he shall bring you Before the duke; and to the head of Angelo Accuse him home, and home. For my poor self, I am combined by a sacred vow,

And shall be absent. Wend you with this letter :

Command these fretting waters from your eyes With a light heart; trust not mine holy order, If I pervert your course.-Who's here?

Enter LUCIO.

Lucio. Good even! Friar, where is the provost ?

Duke. Not within, Sir.

Lucio. O pretty Isabella, I am pale at mine heart, to see thine eyes so red: thou must be patient; I am fain to dine and sup with water and bran; I dare not for my head till my belly; one fruitful meal 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 coruers had been at home, he had lived. [Erit ISABELLA. Duke. Sir, the duke is marvellous little beholden to your reports; but the best is, he lives not in them.

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

Duke. Well, you'll answer this one day. Fare ye well.

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

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.

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, † As are to meet him.

Escal. I shall, Sir, fare you well. [Exit. Ang. Good night.

This deed unshapes me quite, makes me unpreg

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 provost knows our purpose, and our plot.
The matter being afoot, keep your instruction,
And hold you ever to our special drift;
Though sometimes you do blench ¶ 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,
And bid them bring the trumpets to the gate;
But send me Flavius first.

F. Peter. It shall be speeded well.

Enter VARRIUS.

[Exit FRIAR.

To his concupiscible intemperate lust, [ment,
Release my brother; and, after much debate-
My sisterly remorse confutes mine honour,
And I did yield to him: But the next morning
betimes,

His purpose surfeiting, he sends a warrant
For my poor brother's head.

Duke. This is most likely !

Isab. Ob! that it were as like, as it is true! Duke. By heaven, fond+wretch, thou know'st not what thou speak'st:

Or else thou art suborn'd against his honour,
In hateful practice: † First, his integrity
Stands without blemish :-next it imports no

reason,

That with such vehemency he should pursue
Faults proper to himself: if he had so offended,
He would bave weigh'd thy brother by himself,
And not have cut him off: Some one hath set
you on ;

Confess the truth, and say by whose advice
Thou cam'st here to complain.

Isab. And is this all?

Then, O you blessed ministers above,

Keep me in patience; and, with ripen'd time, Unfold the evil which is here wrapt up

In countenance !-Heaven shield your grace

from woe,

As I, thus wrong'd, hence unbelieved go!
Duke. I know, you'd fain be gone :-An
officer !

To prison with her :-Shall we thus permit
A blasting and a scandalous breath to fall
On him so near us? This needs must be a
practice.

-Who knew of your intent, and coming hither? Isab. One that I would were here, friar Lodowick.

Duke. A ghostly father belike:-Who knows that Lodowick ?

Lucio. My lord, I know him; 'tis a medling

friar ;

[lord, I do not like the man had he been lay, my For certain words he spake against your grace In your retirement, I had swing'd him soundly. 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 villanously; 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,
(Being come to knowledge that there was com-
plaint

Intended 'gainst lord Angelo,) came I hither,
To speak as from his mouth, what he doth

know

(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, gvarded; 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
Until my husband bid me.

Duke. What, are you married?
Mari. No, my lord.
Duke. Are you a maid ?
Mari. No, my lord.
Duke. A widow, then?
Mari. Neither, my lord.
Duke. Why, you

[face,

[wife.

Are nothing then :-Neither maid, widow, nor Laucio. 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

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 depoce 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

thy face.

Mari. My husband bids me; now 1 will un-
mask.
[Unveiling.
[on:

This is that face, thou cruel Angelo,
Which once thou swor'st, was worth the looking
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.

Duke. Know you this woman?
Lucio. Carnally, she says.
Duke. Sirrab, no more.
Lucio. Enough, my lord.

Ang. My lord, I must confess, I know this,

woman;

[marriage And, five years since, there was some speech of Betwixt myself and her; which was broke off, Partly, for that her promised proportions. Came short of composition; 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 Upon my faith and honour. ther,

Mari. Noble prince,

As there comes tight from heaven, and words from breath,

* Conspiracy. Convened.

• Publicly

+ Deception. Her fortune fell short.

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 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 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,
[saint,
Though they would swear down each particular
Were testimonies against bis worth and credit,
That's seal'd in approbation ?-You, lord Escalus,
Sit with my cousiù; lend him your kind pains
To find out this abuse, whence 'tis derived.-
There is another friar that set them on;
Let him be seut for.

Escal. The duke's in us; and we will bear you. Look, you speak justly.

Duke. Boldly, at least:-But, O poor souls, Come you to seek the lamb bere 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, And put your trial in the villain's mouth, Which here you come to accuse.

Lucio. This is the rascal: this is be I spoke of Escal. Why, thou unreverend and unhallow 4 friar!

Is't not enough, thou hast suborn'd these women
To accase this worthy man; but, in foul mouth,
And in the witness of his proper ear,
To call him villain ?

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: 1 for a while Will leave you; but stir not you, till you have Determined upon these slanderers. [well

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. Lucullus 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 shali 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 ber.

Lucio. Not better than be, by her own report. Escal. Say you?

Lucio. Marry, Sir, I think, if you handled ber privately, she would sooner confess; perchance, publicly she'll be ashamed.

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; bere with the provost.

Escal. In very good time: speak not you to bim, till we call upon you.

Lucio. Mum.

tutes

Stand like the forfeits in a barber's shop,
As much in mock as mark.

Escal. Slander to the state! Away with bua

to prison.

Ang. What can you vouch against him, signer 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. Oh 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-monger, 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.

Escal. Such a fellow is not to be talk'd 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 a while.

Ang. What resists be? 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 pos to you! show your sheepbiting face, and be hang'd an hour! Wili't not off t

[Pulls off the Friar's hood, and discovert 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

We'll borrow place of him :-Sir, by your leave:
[To ANGELO.
Hast thou or word, or wit, or impudence,
That yet can do thee office? 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: Then, good prince,

No longer session hold upon my shame.
But let my trial be mine own confession;
Immediate sentence then, aud 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 disThan at the strangeness of it. [honour.

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. Oh! 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.
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 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 com-
So happy is your brother.

[fort,

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
(Being criminal, in double violation [brother,
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 auswers leisure;
Like doth quit like, and Measure still for Mea-

sure.

Then, Angelo, thy fault's thus manifested; Which though thou would'st deny, denies thee vantage:

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

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
busband:

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, 1 Devices. : Following. Angelo's own tongue.

• Service.

Attentive.

Although by confiscation they are our's,
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 you.
[To LUCIO.
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 impórtune 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 Clandio's death.
Isab. Most bounteous Sir,
[Kneeling
Look, if it please you, on this man condemu'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,

His act did not o'ertake his bad intent;
And must be buried but as an intent
That perish'd by the way: thoughts are no sub-
Intents but merely thoughts.
[jects;

Mari. Merely, my lord.
Duke. Your suit's unprofitable; stand up, I

say.

Prov. His name is Barnardine. Duke. I would thou had'st done so by Claudio. Go, fetch him hither; let me look upon bim. [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 inercy; 'Tis my deserving, and I do intreat it.

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

Duke. Which is that Barnardine ?
Prot. This, my lord.

Duke. There was a friar told me of this