In fpecial bufinefs from his holiness.
Ejcal. What news abroad i'th' world?.

Duke. None, but that there is fo great a fever on goodnefs, that the diffolution of it muft cure it. No velty is only in requeft; 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 fcarce truth enough alive, to make focieties fecure; but fecurity enough, to make fellowships accurft. Much upon this riddle runs the wisdom 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?

Efcal. One, that, above all other ftrifes, Contended fpecially to know himself.

Duke. What pleafure was he giv'n to?

Efcal. 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 vifitation.

Duke. He profeffes to have received no finifter meas fure from his judge, but moft willingly humbles himfelf to the determination of juftice; yet had he fram'd to himself, by the inftruction of his frailty, many deceiving promifes of life; which I by my good leisure have difcredited to him, and now is he refolved to die.

Efcal. 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 extremeft fhore of my modefty; but my brother juftice have I found fo fevere, that he hath forc'd me to tell him, he is indeed Juftice.

Duke. If his own life answer the ftraitnefs of his proceeding, it fhall become him well; wherein if he chance to fail, he hath fentenc'd himfelf.

Efcal. I am going to visit the prifoner ; fare

you well.

[Exit.

Duke.

Duke. Peace be with you!

He who the fword of heav'n will bear,
Should be as holy as fevere:
Pattern in himself to know,
Grace to ftand, and virtue go;
More nor lefs to others paying,
Than by felf-offences weighing.
Shame to him, whofe cruel ftriking
Kills for faults of his own liking.
Twice treble shame on Angelo,
To weed my vice, and let his grow!
Oh, what may man within him hide,
Tho' angel on the outward fide?

How may that likeness, made in crimes, (20)
Making practice on the times,

Draw with idle fpiders ftrings

Moft pond'rous and fubftantial things!
Craft against vice I must apply.
With Angelo to-night shall lye
His old betrothed, but defpis'd;
So difguife thall by th' difguis'd
Pay with falfhood false exacting s
And perform an old contracting.

(20) Hero may likeness made in crimes,
Making practise on the times,

To draw with idle spider's firings

[Exit.

Moft pond'rous and fubftantial things? This obfcure and ungrammatical paffage Mr. Warburton has reftor'd to its purity, only by adding one monofyllable, and throwing out another as he has Hkewife made it intelligible by the following comment.

"How

much wickedness may a man hide within, tho' he appears like an "angel without! How may that likeness, made in crimes, i. e. by hypocrify; [a pretty paradoxical expreflion, of an angel made in « crimes] by impofing on the world, [thus emphatically express'd, making practife on the times] draw with its falfe and empty pretences [which Shakespeare finely calls, spiders Arings;] the most ponderous and fubftantial things of the world, as riches, honour, power, reputation, &c."

་་

ACT

ΤΑ

ACT

IV.

SCENE, a Grange.

Enter Mariana, and Boy finging.
SONG.

AKE, oh, take thofe lips away, (21)
That fo fweetly were forfworn;
And thofe eyes, the break of day,
Lights that do mif-lead the morn;
But my kiffes bring again,

Seals of love, but seal'd in vain.

Enter Duke.

Mari. Break off thy fong, and hafte thee quick away: Here comes a man of comfort, whofe advice Hath often fill'd my brawling difcontent. cry you mercy, Sir, and well could wish, You had not found me here fo mufical: Let me excufe me, and believe me fo,

My mirth it much difpleas'd, but pleas'd my woe. Duke. 'Tis good; tho' mufic oft hath fuch a charm To make bad, good; and good provoke to harm.

(21) Take, oh, take those lips away,] This fong, which, no doubt, was a great favourite in its time, is inferted in Beaumont and Fletcher's Bloody Brother, with this additional stanza.

Hide, ob, hide thofe hills of fnow,
Which thy frozen bofom bears;
On whofe tops the pinks, t at grow,
Are of thofe that April wears.
But my poor heart firft fet free,

Bound in thofe icy chains by thee.

With this addition likewife it is printed in the volume of ShakeSpeare's poems. The reafon, of this fecond ftanza being omitted here, is obvious. Mariana has the fong fung, applicable to her love for Angelo, and his perjury to her: and the addition can only fort, when addrefs'd from a lover to his mistress,

VOL. I.

R

1 pray you, tell me, hath any body enquir'd for me here to day much upon this time, have I promis’d here to meet.

Mari. You have not been enquir'd after: I have fate here all day..

Enter Ifabel,

Duke. I do conftantly believe you the time is come, even now. I fhall crave your forbearance a little ; may be, I will call upon you anon for fome advantage to yourself.

Mari. I am always bound to you.

Duke. Very well met, and well come: What is the news from this good Deputy?

[Exit.

Ifab. He hath a garden circummur'd with brick,
Whole weftern fide is with a vineyard backt;
And to that vineyard is a planched gate,
That makes his opening with this bigger key:
This other doth command a little door,
Which from the vineyard to the garden leads;
There, on the heavy middle of the night,
Have I my promise made to call upon him.

Duke. But fhall you on your knowledge find this way?
Ifab. I've ta'n a due and wary note upon't;

With whifp'ring and moft guilty diligence,

In action all of precept, he did fhow me

The way twice o'er.

Duke. Are there no other tokens

Between you 'greed, concerning her obfervance ?
Ifab. No: none, but only a repair i'th' dark w
And that I have poffeft him, my most stay
Can be but brief; for I have made him know,
I have a fervant comes with me along,
That ftays upon me; whose perfuafion is,
I come about my brother.

Duke. 'Tis well born up.

I have not yet made known to Mariana

A word of this. What, hoa! within! come forth!

Enter

Enter Mariana.

I pray you, be acquainted with this maid;
She comes to do you good.
Ifab. I do defire the like.

Duke. Do you perfuade yourself that I refpect you? Mari. Good Friar, I know you do; and I have found it. Duke. Take then this your companion by the hand, Who hath a story ready for your ear:

I fhall attend your leifure; but make hafte ;
The vaporous night approaches.

Mari. Wilt please you walk afide?

[Exeunt Mar. and Ifab. Duke. Oh place and greatnefs ! millions of falfe eyes

Are stuck upon thee: volumes of report

Run with thefe falfe and most contrarious quefts
Upon thy doings: thousand 'fcapes of wit

Make thee the father of their idle dreams,

And rack thee in their fancies! Welcome; how agreed ? Re-enter Mariana, and Isabel.

If

Ifab. She'll take the enterprize upon her, father,

you advife it.

Duke. 'Tis not my confent,

But my intreaty too.

Ifab. Little have you to fay,

When you depart from him, but soft and low,

"Remember now my brother."

Mari. Fear me not.

Duke. Nor, gentle daughter, fear you not at all; He is your husband on a pre-contract;

To bring you thus together, 'tis no fin:

Sith that the juftice of your title to him

Doth flourish the deceit. Come, let us go;

Our corn's to reap; for yet our tilth's to fow. (22) [Exe.

(22) for yet our tythe's to fow.] It must be tilth; that is, our tillage is yet to be made; our grain is yet to be put in the ground; the project, from which we expect to profit in the iffue, is ftill to be put in hand.