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be so good, sir, to rise and be put to death. Barnar. [Within.] Away, you rogue, away; am sleepy.

Abhor. Tell him, he must awake, and that quickly too.

Clo. Pray, master Barnardine, awake till you are executed, and sleep afterwards.

Abhor. Go in to him, and fetch him out.

Both Barnardine and Claudio: Ere twice
IThe sun hath made his journal greeting to
The under generation, you shall find
Your safety manifested.

Prov. I am your free dependant.
Duke.

Quick, despatch, [Exil Provost.

And send the head to Angelo.
Now will I write letters to Angelo,-

Clo. He is coming, sir, he is coming; I hear his The provost, he shall bear them,-whose contents straw rustle.

Enter Barnardine.

Abhor. Is the axe upon the block, sirrah?
Clo. Very ready, sir.

Barnar. How now, Abhorson? what's the news with you?

Abhor. Truly, sir, I would desire you to clap into your prayers; for, look you, the warrant's come. Barnar. You rogue, I have been drinking all night, I am not fitted for't.

Clo. O, the better, sir; for he that drinks all night, and is hang'd betimes in the morning, may sleep the sounder all the next day.

Enter Duke.

Abhor. Look you, sir, here comes your ghostly father; do we jest now, think you?

Shall witness to him, I am near at home;
And that, by great injunctions, I am bound
To enter publicly: him I'll desire
To meet me at the consecrated fount,
A league below the city; and from thence,
By cold gradation and weal-balanced form,
We shall proceed with Angelo.

Re-enter Provost.

Prov. Here is the head; I'll carry it myself.
Duke. Convenient is it: Make a swift return;
For I would commune with you of such things,
That want no ear but yours.
I'll make all speed.

Prov.

[Exit. Isab. [Within.] Peace, ho, be here! Duke. The tongue of Isabel :-She's come to know,

Duke. Sir, induced by my charity, and hearing If yet her brother's pardon be come hither: how hastily you are to depart, I am come to advise But I will keep her ignorant of her good, you, comfort you, and pray with you. To make her heavenly comforts of despair, When it is least expected.

Barnar. Friar, not I; I have been drinking hard all night, and I will have more time to prepare me, or they shall beat out my brains with billets: I will not consent to die this day, that's certain.

Duke. O, sir, you must: and therefore, I beseech you,

Look forward on the journey you shall go.

Enter Isabella.

Isab. Ho, by your leave.

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

Isab. The better, given me by so holy a man.

Barnar. I swear, I will not die to-day for any Hath yet the deputy sent my brother's pardon?

man's persuasion.

Duke. But hear you,

Barnar. Not a word; if you have any thing to say to me, come to my ward; for thence will not I to-day. [Exit.

Enter Provost.

Duke. Unfit to live, or die: O, gravel heart!-
After him, fellows; bring him to the block.

[Exeunt Abhorson and Clown.
Prov. Now, sir, how do you find the prisoner?
Duke. A creature unprepar'd, unmeet for death;
And, to transport him in the mind he is,
Were damnable.

Prov.

Here in the prison, father,
There died this morning of a cruel fever
One Ragozine, a most notorious pirate,
A man of Claudio's years; his beard, and head,
Just of his colour: What if we do omit
This reprobate, till he were well inclin'd;
And satisfy the deputy with the visage
Of Ragozíne, more like to Claudio?

Duke. O, 'tis an accident that Heaven provides!
Despatch it presently; the hour draws on
Prefix'd by Angelo: See, this be done,
And sent according to command; whiles I
Persuade this rude wretch willingly to die.
Prov. This shall be done, good father, presently.

But Barnardine must die this afternoon:
And how shall we continue Claudio,
To save me from the danger that might come,
If he were known alive?

Duke. Let this be done;-Put them in secret
holds,

(1) The antipodes. (2) Your heart's desire.

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Show your wisdom, daughter, in your close patience.

Isab. O, 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:

The duke comes home to-morrow ;-nay, dry your

eyes;

One of our convent, and his confessor,
Gives me this instance: Already he hath carried
Notice to Escalus and Angelo;

Who do prepare to meet him at the gates,
There to give up their power. If you can, pace
your wisdom

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 then 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 my holy order,
If I pervert your course.-Who's here?
Enter Lucio.

Lucio.

Friar, where is the provost ?
Duke.

Good even!

Not within, sir.

The law against it!-But that her tender shame
Will not proclaim against her maiden loss,
How might she tongue me? Yet reason dares
her?-no:

For my authority bears a credent* bulk,
That no particular scandal once can touch,
But it confounds the breather. He should have liv'd,
Save that his riotous youth, with dangerous sense,
Might, in the times to come, have ta'en revenge,
By so receiving a dishonour'd life,

am pale at mine With ransom of such shame. 'Would yet he
had liv'd!

Lucio. O, pretty Isabella, I heart, to see thine eyes so red: thou must be pa

[Exit.

tient: I am fain to dine and sup with water and Alack, when once our grace we have forgot, bran; I dare not for my head fill my belly; one Nothing goes right; we would and we would not. 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 SCENE V.-Fields without the town. Enter dark corners had been at home, he had lived.

[Exit Isabella.

Duke in his own habit, and Friar Peter. Duke. These letters at fit time deliver me.

Duke. Sir, the duke is marvellous little beholden to your reports; but the best is, he lives not in them. The provost knows our purpose, and our plot. [Giving letters. Lucio. Friar, thou knowest not the duke so well The matter being afoot, keep your instruction, as I do: he's a better woodman than thou takest And hold you ever to our special drift; him for.

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

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

As cause doth minister. Go, call at Flavius' house,
Though sometimes you do blench" from this to that,
To Valentinus, Rowland, and to Crassus,
And tell him where I stay: give the like notice,
al-But send me Flavius first.
And bid them bring the trumpets to the gate;

Duke. You have told me too many of him ready, sir, if they be true; if not true, none were enough.

Lucio. I was once before him for getting a wench with child.

F. Peter.

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Duke. I thank thee, Varrius; thou hast made good haste;

Duke. Did you such a thing? Lucio. Yes, marry, did I: but was fain to for- Come, we will walk: There's other of our friends swear it; they would else have married me to the Will greet us here anon, my gentle Varrius. [Exe.

rotten medlar.

Duke. Sir, your company is fairer than honest: SCENE VI.-Street near the city gate. Enter Rest you well. Isabella and Mariana.

I

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, shall stick. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-A room in Angelo's house. Enter Angelo and Escalus.

Escal. Every letter he hath writ hath disvouch'da 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.

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O, peace; the friar is come. Enter Friar Peter.

F. Peter. Come, I have found you out a stand most fit,

Ang. And why should we proclaim it in an hour before his entering, that if any crave redress of injus- Where you may have such vantage' on the duke, tice, they should exhibit their petitions in the street? He shall not pass you: Twice have the trumpets Escal. He shows his reason for that: to have a sounded;

despatch of complaints; and to deliver us from The generous and gravest citizens

devices hereafter, which shall then have no power Have hent" the gates, and very near upon to stand against us.

Ang. Well, I beseech you, let it be proclaim'd: The duke is ent'ring; therefore hence, away. [Exe. 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-
nant,

And dull to all proceedings. A deflower'd maid!
And by an eminent body, that enforc'd

(1) Go. (2) Contradicted. (3) Figure and rank.
(4) Calls, challenges her to do it.

(B) Credit unquestionable. (6) Utterer.

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Our old and faithful friend, we are glad to see you.
Ang. & Escal. Happy return be to your royal
grace!

Duke. Many and hearty thankings to you both.
We have made inquiry of you; and we hear
Such goodness of your justice, that our soul
Cannot but yield you forth to public thanks,
Forerunning more requital.

Ang.
You make my bonds still greater.
Duke. O, your desert speaks loud; and I should
wrong it,

To lock it in the wards of covert bosom,
When it deserves with characters of brass
A forted residence, 'gainst the tooth of time,
And razure of oblivion: Give me your hand,
And let the subject see, to make them know
That outward courtesies would fain proclaim
Favours that keep within.-Come, Escalus;
You must walk by us on our other hand;-
And good supporters are you.

Friar Peter and Isabella come forward.

F. Peter. Now is your time; speak loud, and
kneel before him.

Isab. Justice, O, royal duke! Vail' your regard
Upon a wrong'd, I'd fain have said, a maid!
O worthy prince, dishonour not your eye
By throwing it on any other object,
Till you have heard me in my true complaint,
And give me, justice, justice, justice, justice!
Duke. Relate your wrongs: In what? By whom?
Be brief:

Here is lord Angelo shall give you justice;
Reveal yourself to him.

Isab.

O, worthy duke,
You bid me seek redemption of the devil:
Hear me yourself; for that which I must speak
Must either punish me, not being believ'd,
Or wring redress from you: hear me, O, hear me,

here.

Ang. My lord, her wits, I fear me, are not firm:
She hath been a suitor to me for her brother,
Cut off by course of justice.

Isab.
By course of justice!
Ang. And she will speak most bitterly, and
strange.

Isab. Most strange, but yet most truly, will I
speak:

That Angelo's forsworn; is it not strange?
That Angelo's a murderer; is't not strange?
That Angelo is an adulterous thief,
A hypocrite, a virgin-violator;
Is it not strange, and strange

Duke.

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I warrant your honour.
Duke. The warrant's for yourself; take heed
to it.

Isab. This gentleman told somewhat of my tale.
Lucio. Right.

Duke. It may be right; but you are in the wrong
To speak before your time.-Proceed.

Isab.

I went

To this pernicious caitiff deputy.
Duke. That's somewhat madly spoken.
Isab.

The phrase is to the matter.

Pardon it;

Duke. Mended again: the matter:-Proceed. Isab. In brief,-to set the needless process by, How I persuaded, how I pray'd, and kneel'd, How he refell'd' me, and how I reply'd; (For this was of much length,) the vile conclusion now begin with grief and shame to utter: He would not, but by gift of my chaste body

Nay, ten times strange. To his concupiscible intemperate lust,

Isab. It is not truer he is Angelo,
Than this is all as true as it is strange:
Nay, it is ten times true; for truth is truth
To the end of reckoning,
Duke.
Away with her :-Poor soul,
She speaks this in the infirmity of sense.

Isab. O prince, I cónjure thee, as thou believ'st
There is another comfort than this world,
That thou neglect me not, with that opinion
That I am touch'd with madness: make not im-
possible

That which but seems unlike: 'tis not impos-
sible.

But one, the wicked'st caitiff on the ground,
May seem as shy, as grave, as just, as absolute,
As Angelo; even so may Angelo,

(1) Lower. (2) Habits and characters of office.
(8) Refuted. (4) Pity. (5) Foolish.

Release my brother; and, after much debatement,
My sisterly remorse confutes mine honour,
And I did yield to him: But the next morn betimes,
For my poor brother's head.
His purpose surfeiting, he sends a warrant

Duke.

This is most likely!
Isab. O, 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 have weigh'd thy brother by himself,
And not have cut him off: Some one hath set you on:

(6) Conspiracy.

P

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Then, oh, 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
Wo,

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 meddling friar;
I do not like the man: had he been lay, my lord,
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

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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 meddler,
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 mere2 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; Mariana comes forward.

and

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Mari.

Duke.

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

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Lucio. Well, my lord.

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 depose 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 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 look-
ing on:

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.

Lucio. Enough, my lord.

Sirrah, no more.

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

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Betwixt myself and her; which was broke off,
Parily, for that her promised proportions
Came short of composition; but, in chief,
In levity: since which time of five years,
For that her reputation was disvalued

I never spake with her, saw her, nor heard from her,
Upon my faith and honour.

Mari.

Noble prince,

As there comes light from heaven, and words from

breath,

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;

(2) Simple. (3) Convened. (5) Deception.

(6) Her fortune fell short.

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Were testimonies against his worth and credit,
That's sealed in approbation?-You, lord Escalus,
Sit with my cousin; lend him your kind pains
To find out this abuse, whence 'tis deriv'd.-
There is another friar that set them on;
Let him be sent for.

Escal. How! know you where you are?
Duke. Respect to your great place! and let the
devil

Be some time honour'd for his burning throne :-
Where is the duke? 'tis he should hear me speak.
Escal. The duke's in us; and we will hear you
speak:

Look, you speak justly.

Duke. Boldly, at least:-But, O, poor souls,
Come you to seek the lamb here 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 he I spoke of.
Escal. Why, thou unreverend and unhallow'd
friar!

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

Te call him villain?

F. Peter. Would he were here, my lord; for he, And then to glance from him to the duke himself; 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.

Whom it concerns to hear this matter forth,'

And you, my noble and well-warranted cousin,

Do with your injuries as seems you best,

In any chastisement: I for a while

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,

Will leave you; but stir not you, till you have Where I have seen corruption boil and bubble,

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 privately, she would sooner confess; perchance, publicly she'll be ashamed.

Till it o'er-run the stew: laws, for all faults;
But faults so countenanc'd, 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 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 Re-enter Officers, with Isabella; the Duke, in the so of him; and much more, much worse.

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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; lay bolts enough upon Away with him to prison :-Where is the provost ? giglots too, and with the other confederate comhim; let him speak no more. Away with those panion. [The Provost lays hands on the Duke. Duke. Stay, sir; stay a while.

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,

(4) Refer back. (5) Accountable. (6) Wantons.

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