Clo. To the ground, mistress. Bawd. Why, here's a change, indeed, in the commonwealth! What shall become of me?

Clo. Come; fear not you: good counsellors lack no clients: though you change your place, you need not change your trade; I'll be your tapster still. Courage; there will be pity taken on you: you, that have worn your eyes almost out in the service, you will be considered.

Bawd. What's to do here, Thomas Tapster? Let's withdraw.

Clo. Here comes Signior Claudio, led by the Provost to prison; and there's Madam Juliet.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.-The same.

Enter Provost, CLAUDIO, JULIET, and Officers; LUCIO, and two Gentlemen.

Claud. Fellow, why dost thou shew me thus to the world?

Bear me to prison, where I am committed.
Prov. I do it not in evil disposition,
But from Lord Angelo by special charge.

Claud. Thus can the demigod, Authority, Make us pay down for our offence by weight. The words of heaven ;-on whom it will, it will; On whom it will not, so; yet still 'tis just.

Lucio. Why, how now, Claudio? whence comes this restraint?

As surfeit is the father of much fast,
So every scope by the immoderate use
Turns to restraint. Our natures do pursue
(Like rats that ravin down their proper bane)
A thirsty evil; and when we drink, we die.

Lucio. If I could speak so wisely under an arrest, I would send for certain of my creditors: and yet, to say the truth, I had as lief have the foppery of freedom, as the morality of imprisonment. What's thy offence, Claudio?

Claud. What but to speak of would offend again. Lucio. What is it? murder?

Claud. No.

Lucio. Lechery?

Claud. Call it so.

Prov. Away, sir; you must go.

Claud. One word, good friend :-Lucio, a word with you. [Takes him aside. Lucio. A hundred, if they 'll do you any good. Is lechery so looked after?

Claud. Thus stands it with me:-Upon a true contráct

I got possession of Julietta's bed;

You know the lady; she is fast my wife,
Save that we do the denunciation lack
Of outward order: this we came not to,

Only for propagation of a dower
Remaining in the coffer of her friends;
From whom we thought it meet to hide our love
Till time had made them for us. But it chances,
The stealth of our most mutual entertainment,
With character too gross, is writ on Juliet.
Lucio. With child, perhaps?

Claud. I have done so, but he's not to be found. I pr'y thee, Lucio, do me this kind service :This day my sister should the cloister enter, And there receive her approbation: Acquaint her with the danger of my state; Implore her, in my voice, that she make friends To the strict deputy; bid herself assay him; I have great hope in that: for in her youth There is a prone and speechless dialect,

Such as moves men; beside, she hath prosperous art,

When she will play with reason and discourse; And well she can persuade.

Lucio. I pray she may: as well for the encouragement of the like, which else would stand under grievous imposition, as for the enjoying of thy life, who I would be sorry should be thus foolishly lost at a game of tick-tack. I'll to her. Claud. I thank you, good friend Lucio. Lucio. Within two hours,

Duke. No, holy father; throw away that thought: Believe not that the dribbling dart of love Can pierce a cómplete bosom. Why I desire thee To give me secret harbour, hath a purpose More grave and wrinkled than the aims and ends Of burning youth.

Friar.

May your grace speak of it?

Duke. My holy sir, none better knows than you How I have ever loved the life removed; And held in idle price to haunt assemblies, Where youth, and cost, and witless bravery keeps. I have delivered to Lord Angelo (A man of stricture and firm abstinence) My absolute power and place here in Vienna, And he supposes me travelled to Poland; For so I have strewed it in the common ear, And so it is received. Now, pious sir, You will demand of me, why I do this? Friar. Gladly, my lord.

Duke, We have strict statutes and most biting laws

(The needful bits and curbs for headstrong steeds),

Which for these fourteen years we have let sleep;
Even like an o'ergrown lion in a cave,
That goes not out to prey: now, as fond fathers
Having bound up the threatening twigs of birch,
Only to stick it in their children's sight
For terror, not to use; in time the rod
Becomes more mocked than feared: so our decrees,

Duke.

I do fear, too dreadful:

Sith 't was my fault to give the people scope,

'T would be my tyranny to strike, and gall them For what I bid them do: for we bid this be done, When evil deeds have their permissive pass, And not the punishment. Therefore, indeed, my father,

I have on Angelo imposed the office;
Who may, in the ambush of my name, strike home;
And yet my nature never in the sight
To do it slander: and to behold his sway,
I will, as 't were a brother of your order,
Visit both prince and people: therefore, I pr'y thee
Supply me with the habit, and instruct me
How I may formally in person bear me

Like a true friar. More reasons for this action
At our more leisure shall I render you;
Only this one :-Lord Angelo is precise:
Stands at a guard with envy; scarce confesses
That his blood flows, or that his appetite
Is more to bread than stone. Hence shall we see,
If power change purpose, what our seemers be.
[Exeunt.

SCENE V.-A Nunnery.

Enter ISABELLA and FRANCISCA. Isab. And have you nuns no farther privileges? Fran. Are not these large enough?

Isab. Yes, truly: I speak not as desiring more; But rather wishing a more strict restraint Upon the sisterhood, the votarists of Saint Clare. Lucio [within]. Ho! peace be in this place! Isab. Who's that, which calls? Fran. It is a man's voice. Gentle Isabella, Turn you the key, and know his business of him; You may, I may not; you are yet unsworn. When you have vowed, you must not speak with

men

But in the presence of the prioress:

Then if you speak, you must not shew your face; Or if you shew your face, you must not speak. He calls again; I pray you answer him. [Exit. Isab. Peace and prosperity! Who is't that calls?

Enter LUCIO.

Lucio. Hail, virgin, if you be; as those cheek

roses

Proclaim you are no less! can you so stead me,
As bring me to the sight of Isabella,
A novice of this place, and the fair sister
To her unhappy brother Claudio ?

Isab. Why her unhappy brother? let me ask;
The rather, for I now must make you know
I am that Isabella, and his sister.

Lucio. Gentle and fair, your brother kindly greets you:

Not to be weary with you, he's in prison.
Isab. Woe me! For what?

Lucio. For that which, if myself might be his

judge,

He should receive his punishment in thanks:
He hath got his friend with child.

Isab. Sir, make me not your story.

Lucio. "Tis true. I would not (though 't is my familiar sin

With maids to seem the lapwing, and to jest-
Tongue far from heart) play with all virgins so:
I hold you as a thing enskyed and sainted;
By your renouncement, an immortal spirit;
And to be talked with in sincerity,
As with a saint.

Isab. You do blaspheme the good in mock

In hand, and hope of action: but we do learn
By those that know the very nerves of state,
His givings out were of an infinite distance
From his true-meant design. Upon his place,
And with full line of his authority,

Governs Lord Angelo,-a man whose blood
Is very snow-broth; one who never feels
The wanton stings and motions of the sense;
But doth rebate and blunt his natural edge
With profits of the mind, study and fast.
He (to give fear to use and liberty,
Which have for long run by the hideous law
As mice by lions) hath picked out an act
Under whose heavy sense your brother's life
Falls into forfeit: he arrests him on it;
And follows close the rigour of the statute,
To make him an example: all hope is gone,
Unless you have the grace by your fair prayer,
To soften Angelo. And that's my pith
Of business 'twixt you and your poor brother.
Isab. Doth he so seek his life?

Already; and as I hear, the Provost hath A warrant for his execution.

Isab. Alas! what poor ability's in me To do him good?

As

Assay the

Lucio. power you have. Isab. My power! Alas, I doubtLucio. Our doubts are traitors, And make us lose the good we oft might win, By fearing to attempt. Go to Lord Angelo, And let him learn to know, when maidens sue, Men give like gods: but when they weep and kneel, All their petitions are as freely theirs As they themselves would owe them. Isab. I'll see what I can do. Lucio. But speedily.

Isab. I will about it straight;

No longer staying but to give the mother
Notice of my affair. I humbly thank you.
Commend me to my brother: soon at night
I'll send him certain word of my success.
Lucio. I take my leave of you.
Good sir, adieu.

Isab.

[Exeunt.