Visit both prince and people: therefore, I pr'ythee,
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 the DUKE and FRIAR PETER.

SCENE III.

The Street.

Enter LEOPOLD, LUCIO, and FREDERICK.

Lucio. If the duke, with the other dukes, come not to composition with the king of Hungary, why, then all the dukes fall upon the king.

Fred. Heaven grant us its peace, but not the king of Hungary's!

Leo. Amen.

Lucio. Thou concludest, like the sanctimonious pirate, that went to sea with the Ten Commandments, but scraped one out of the table.

Leo. Thou shalt not steal?
Lucio. Ay, that he razed.

Fred. Why, 'twas a commandment to command the captain and all the rest from their functions; they put forth to steal: there's not a soldier of us all, that in the thanksgiving before meat, doth relish the petition well that prays for peace.

Leo. I never heard any soldier dislike it.

Lucio. I believe thee; for I think thou never wast where grace was said.

Enter Mrs. Overdone.

Fred. How now? Which of your hips has the most profound sciatica ?

Over. Well, well; there's one yonder arrested, and carried to prison, was worth five thousand of yoù all.

Lucio. Who's that, I pray thee?

Over. Marry, sir, that's Claudio, signior Claudio. Fred. Claudio to prison! 'tis not so?

Over. Nay, but I know 'tis so: I saw him arrested; saw him carried away: and, which is more, within these three days his head is to be chopped off.

Lucio. But, after all this fooling, I would not have it so. Art thou sure of this?

Over. I am too sure of it; and, they say, it is for getting madam Julietta with child.

Lucio. Believe me, this may be: he promised to meet me two hours since; and he was ever precise in promise-keeping. Away: let's go learn the truth of it.

[Exeunt LUCIO, LEOPOLD, and FREDERICK. Over. Thus, what with the war, what with the gallows, and what with poverty, I am customshrunk.

Enter POMPEY.

How now? What's the news with you?
Pom. Yonder man is carried to prison.

Over. What, is there a maid with child by him? Pom. No; but there's a woman with maid by him: You have not heard of the proclamation, have you? Over. What proclamation, man?

Pom. All houses in the suburbs of Vienna must be plucked down.

Över. Why, here's a change, indeed, in the commonwealth ! What's to do here?

Pom. Here comes signior Claudio, led by the provost to prison.

Over. Let's withdraw.

[Exeunt Mrs. OVERDONE and POMPEY.

Enter Provost, CLAUDIO, and two Apparitors.

Claud. Fellow, why dost thou show 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 demi-god, 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.

Enter LUCIO, FREDERICK, and LEOPOLD.

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

Claud. From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty;

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.

Prov. Away, sir: you must go!

Claud. One word, good friend:Lucio, a word with you.

Lucio. A hundred, if they will do you any good. Claud. Thus stands it with me:-Upon a true contract,

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. Unhappily, even so;

And the new deputy now for the Duke
Awakes me all the enrolled penalties,

Which have, like unscour'd armour, hung by the

wall

So long, that fourteen zodiacs have gone round,
And none of them been worn: and, for a name,
Now puts the drowsy and neglected act
Freshly on me :- 'Tis surely for a name.

Lucio. I warrant it is, and thy head stands so tickle on thy shoulders, that a milkmaid, if she be in love, may sigh it off.

Claud. I pr'ythee, 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: besides, she has a 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, 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.

Claud. Come, officer, away.

[Exeunt Provost, CLAUDIO, FREDERICK, LEOPOLD, the twa Apparitors, and LUCIO.

SCENE IV.

A Nunnery.

Enter ISABELLA and FRANCISCA.

Isa. And have you nuns no further privileges:
Fran. Are not these large enough?

Isa. Yes, truly: I speak not as desiring more;
But rather wishing a more strict restraint
Upon the sisterhood.

Lucio. [Ringing without.] Ho! Peace be in this place!

Isa.

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 vow'd, you must not speak with men, But in the presence of the prioress.

Lucio. [Ringing without.] Peace be in this place! Ho!

Fran. He calls again; I pray you, answer him.

Exit FRANCISCA.

Isa. Who is't that calls?

[Opens the door.

Enter LUCIO.

Lucio. Hail, virgin, if you be; as those cheek-roses Proclaim you are no less! Can you so stead me,