Lucio.

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.

To this pernicious caitiff deputy.

Duke. That's somewhat madly spoken.
Isab.

The phrase is to the matter.

I went

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 I now begin with grief and shame to utter: He would not, but by gift of my chaste body To his concupiscible intemperate lust,

Release my brother; and, after much debatement, My sisterly remorset confutes mine honour,

And I did yield to him: But the next morn betimes, His purpose surfeiting, he sends a warrant

For my poor brother's head.

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:
Confess the truth, and say by whose advice

Thou cam'st here to complain.

Isab.

And is this all?

• Refuted.

Pity. Foolish.

§ Conspiracy.

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 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; 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 I saw them at the prison: a sawcy 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 villainously; believe it.

* Beat.

F. Peter. Well, he in time may come to clear him.

self;

But at this instant he is sick, my lord,

Of a strange fever: Upon his mere* 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 conventedt. 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; 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 face,
Until my husband bid me.

Duke.

What, are you married?

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 some

Lucio. Well, my lord.

Mari. My lord, I do confess I ne'er was married; And, I confess, besides, I am no maid:

I have known my husband; yet my husband knows not,

That ever he knew me.

Lucio. He was drunk then, my lord; it can be no better.

Duke. For the benefit of silence, 'would thou wert so too.

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 looking 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,

Aud did supply thee at thy garden-house,
In her imagin'd person.

Duke.

Know you this woman?

Lucio. Carnally, she says.
Duke.

* Deception.

Sirrah, no more.

Lucio. Enough, my lord.

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

man;

And, five years since, there was some speech of

marriage

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 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;

Or else for ever be confixed here,

A marble monument!

I did but smile till now;

Ang. 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,

Though they would swear down each particular saint,

Her fortune fell short. + Conspiracy.

+ Crazy.