For my authority bears a credent* bulk, That no particular scandal once can touch, But it confounds the breathert. He should have liv'd, With ransome of such shame. 'Would yet he had liv'd! Alack, when once our grace we have forgot, Nothing goes right; we would and we would not. [Exit. 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. Though sometimes you do blench‡ from this to that, But send me Flavius first. F. Peter. It shall be speeded well. [Exit Friar. Enter Varrius. Duke. I thank thee, Varrius; thou hast made good haste: * Credit unquestionable. Utterer. Start off. Come, we will walk: There's other of our friends Will greet us here anon, my gentle Varrius. [Exeunt. SCENE VI. Street near the city gate. Enter Isabella and Mariana. Isab. To speak so indirectly, I am loath; Mari. Be rul'd by him. Isab. Besides, he tells me, that, if peradventure He speak against me on the adverse side, I should not think it strange: for 'tis a physick, Mari. I would, friar Peter. O, peace; the friar is conie. Enter Friar Peter. F. Peter. Come, I have found you out a stand most fit, Where you may have such vantaget on the duke, sounded; The generous‡ and gravest citizens Have hent the gates, and very near upon [Exeunt. * Availful. Advantage. Most noble. § Seized. ACT V. SCENE I. A publick place near the city gate. Mariana (veil'd), Isabella, and Peter, at a distance. Enter at opposite doors, Duke, Varrius, Lords; Angelo, Escalus, Lucio, Provost, Officers, and Citizens. Duke. My very worthy cousin, fairly met:Our old and faithful friend, we are glad to see you. Ang. and 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 publick 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, 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 * Lower. Upon a wrong'd, I'd fain have said, a maid! Till you have heard me in my true complaint, Here is lord Angelo shall give you justice; Isab. O, worthy duke, You bid me seek redemption of the devil: Hear me yourself; for that which I must speak Or wring redress from you: hear me, O, hear me, here. 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? An hypocrite, a virgin-violator; Nay, ten times strange. Isab. It is not truer he is Angelo, Duke. Away with her:-Poor soul, She speaks this in the infirmity of sense. Isab. O prince, I conjure 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 impossible That which but seems unlike: 'tis not impossible, But one, the wicked'st caitiff on the ground, May seem as shy, as grave, as just, as absolute, In all his dressings*, characts, titles, forms, Duke. By mine honesty, If she be mad (as I believe no other), Duke. Mended again: the matter;-Proceed. Duke. Many that are not mad, Have, sure, more lack of reason.-What would you say? Isab. I am the sister of one Claudio, Was sent to by my brother: One Lucio Lucio. That's I, an't like your grace: I came to her from Claudio, and desir'd her Isab. Duke. You were not bid to speak. Nor wish'd to hold my peace. Duke. That's he indeed. No, my good lord; I wish you now then; Pray you, take note of it: and when you have * Habits and characters of office. |