the state, and ufurp the beggary he was never born to. Lord Angelo dukes it well in his abfence; he puts tranf greffion to't.

DUKE. He does well in't.

LUCIO. A little more lenity to lechery would do no harm in him; fomething too crabbed that way, Friar.

DUKE. It is too general a vice, and feverity must cure it. Lucio. Yes, in good footh, the vice is of a great kindred; it is well ally'd; but it is impoffible to extirp it quite, Friar, till eating and drinking be put down. They fay, this Angelo was not made by man and woman after the downright way of creation. Is it true, think you?

DUKE. How should he be made then?

LUCIO. Some report a fea-maid spawn'd him. Some, that he was got between two stock-fishes. But it is certain, that when he makes water, his urine is congeal'd ice; that know to be true: and he is a motion ungenerative, that's infallible.

DUKE. You are pleafant, Sir, and speak apace.

LUCIO. Why, what a ruthless thing is this in him, for the rebellion of a cod-piece to take away the life of a man? would the duke, that is abfent, have done this? ere he would have hang'd a man for the getting a hundred baftards, he would have paid for the nurfing a thousand. He had fome feeling of the fport, he knew the fervice, and that instructed him to mercy.

DUKE. I never heard the abfent duke much detected for women; he was not inclin'd, that way.

LUCIO. Oh, Sir, you are deceiv'd,

DUKE. 'Tis pot poffible.

LUCIO. Who, not the duke? yes, your beggar of fiftyand his ufe was, to put a ducket in her clack-dish. The

duke had crotchets in him. He would be drunk too, that

let me inform you.

DUKE. You do him wrong, furely.

LUCIO. Sir, I was an inward of his. A fhy fellow was the duke; and, I believe, I know the cause of his with-drawing. DUKE. What pr'ythee might be the cause?

LUCIO. No-pardon-'tis a secret must be lockt within the teeth and the lips. But this I can let you understand.-The greater file of the fubject held the duke to be wife. 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 stream of his life, and the business he hath helmed, must, 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 scholar, a statesman, 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 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?

Lucio. Sir, my name is Lucio, well known to the duke. 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 un urtful 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 tomorrow, or no?

DUKE. Why should he die, Sir?

Lucio. Why? for filling a bottle with a tua-dish. I would the duke, we talk of, were return'd again; this ungenitur'd 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 anfwer'd; he would never bring them to light; would he were return'd! Marry, this Claudio is condemned for untruffing. Farewel, good Friar; I pr'ythee, pray for me. The duke, I fay to thee again, would eat mutton on Fridays. He's not past it yet. And I fay to thee, he would mouth with a beggar, tho' fhe fmelt of brown bread and lick: fay, that I faid fo, farewel.

DUKE. No might nor greatness in mortality

Can cenfure scape back-wounding calumny

The whiteft virtue ftrikes. What king so strong,
Can tie the gall up in the fland'rous tongue ?

But who comes here?

SCENE VII.

Enter Efcalus, provoft, Bawd, and officers.

ESCAL. Go, away with her to prison.

gar

[Exit.

BAWD. Good my lord, be good to me; your honour is accounted a merciful man: good my lord.

ESCAL. Double and treble admonition, and ftill forfeit in

the fame kind? this would make mercy fwear, 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 myfelf; and fee, how he goes about to abuse me.

ESCAL. 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.] Provoft, 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 fo with him.

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

ESCAL. Good even, good father.
DUKE. Blifs and goodness on you.

ESCAL. 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 fee

In fpecial business from his holiness.

ESCAL. What news abroad i'th' world?

DUKE. None, but that there is fo great a fever on goodness, that the diffolution of it must cure it. Novelty is only in request; 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 focieties fecure; but fecurity enough, to make fellowships accurft.

Much upon this riddle runs the wifdom 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?

ESCAL. One, that, above all other strifes,
Contended specially to know himself.

DUKE. What pleasure was he giv'n to?

ESCAL 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 visitation.

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 promises of life; which I by my good leisure have difcredited to him,

and now he is refolved to die.

ESCAL. 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 extremest shore of my modesty; but my brother juftice have I found fo fevere, that he hath forc'd me to tell him, he is indeed Justice.

DUKE. If his own life answer the straitness of his proceeding, it shall become him well; wherein, if he chance to fail, he hath fentenc'd himself.

ESCAL. I am going to vfit the prisoner; fare you well. [Exit.

SCENE VIII.

DUKE. Peace be with you!

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