Your provost knows the place where he abides, Duke. Go, do it instantly. : [Exit Provost. And you, my noble and well-warranted cousin, Will leave you: stir not you till you have well Esca. My lord, we'll do it thoroughly. [Exit DUKE. ANGELO and ESCALUS sit. Signior Lucio, did not you say, you knew that friar Lodowick to be a dishonest person? Lucio. Cucullus non facit monachum: honest in nothing, but in his clothes; and one that hath spoke most villainous speeches of the duke. Esca. We shall entreat you to abide here till he come, and enforce them against him. We shall find this friar a notable fellow. - Lucio. As any in Vienna, on my word. Esca. Know you that friar Lodowick that he speaks of? Peter. I know him for a man divine and holy; Not saucy, nor a temporary meddler, As he's reported by this gentleman : Lucio. My lord, most villainously: believe it. Peter. Well he in time may come to clear himself; But at this instant he his sick, my lord, Of a strange fever: Upon his mere request, Esca. Call that same Isabel here once again. 8 Convened. I would speak with her :- 'Pray you, my lord, give me leave to question; you shall see how I'll handle her. Lucio. Not better than he, by her own report. Enter the Gentleman, ISABELLA, and two Apparitors. Esca. Come on, mistress: here's a gentlewoman denies all that you have said. Lucio. My lord, here comes the rascal I spoke of; here with the provost. Esca. In very good time:-Speak not you to him, till we call upon you. Lucio. Mum. Enter the DUKE, as a Friar, and Provost. Esca. Come, sir: Did you set these women on to slander lord Angelo? They have confess'd you did. Duke. 'Tis false. Esca. How! know you where you are? Duke. Respect to your great place! and let the devil Be sometimes honour'd for his burning throne: Look, you speak justly. Come you to seek the lamb But, O, poor souls, here of the fox ? Is the duke gone? The duke's unjust, Then is your cause gone too. Lucio. This is the rascal; this is he I spoke of. Esca. Why, thou unreverend and unhallow'd friar, Is't not enough thou hast suborn'd these women To accuse this worthy man: but, in foul mouth, To call him villain? And then to glance from him to the duke himself; To tax him with injustice! Take him hence: To the rack with him: We'll touze you joint by joint - But we will know this purpose: - What! unjust? Duke. Be not so hot: the duke Dare no more stretch this finger of mine, than he Nor here provincial: My business in this state Where I have seen corruption boil and bubble, As much in mock as mark. Esca. Slander to the state! Away with him to prison. Ang. What can you vouch against him, Signior Lucio? Is this the man that you did tell us of? Lucio. 'Tis he, my lord.-Come hither, good-man bald-pate: Do you know me? Duke. I remember you, sir, by the sound of your voice: I met you at the prison, in the absence of the duke. Lucio. O, did you so? And do you remember what you said of the duke? Duke. Most notedly, sir. Lucio. Do you so, sir? And was the duke a fleshmonger, a fool, and a coward, as you then reported him to be? Duke. You must, sir, change persons with me, ere you make that my report: you, indeed, spoke so of him; and much more, much worse. Lucio. O thou damnable fellow! Did not I pluck thee by the nose for thy speeches? Duke. I protest, I love the duke, as I love myself, Ang. Hark! how the villain would close now, after his treasonable abuses. Esca. Such a fellow is not to be talked withal: Away with him to prison - Where is the provost?Away with him to prison; lay bolts enough upon him: let him speak no more:— Away with those giglots too, and with the other confederate compa[The Provost lays hands on the DUKE. Duke. Stay, sir; stay awhile. nion. 9 Ang. What! resists he? Help him, Lucio. Lucio. Come, sir; come, sir:- - Why, you baldpated, lying rascal! you must be hooded, must you? Show your knave's visage, show your sheep-biting face, and be hang'd an hour! Will't not off? [Pulls off the Friar's habit, and discovers the Duke. Duke. Thou art the first knave that ever made a duke. First, provost, let me bail these gentle three: [The Apparitors seize Lucio. Lucio. This may prove worse than hanging. Duke. What you have spoke, I pardon; sit you down: [To ESCALUS. We'll borrow place of him: — Sir, by your leave. [To ANGELO. Hast thou or word, or wit, or impudence, That yet can do thee office? If thou hast, O, my dread lord, Rely upon it till my tale be heard, Ang. Ishould be guiltier than my guiltiness, To think I can be undiscernible, When I perceive, your grace, like power divine, Hath look'd upon my passes: then, good prince, No longer session hold upon my shame, But let my trial be mine own confession; Immediate sentence then, and sequent' death, Is all the grace I beg. Come hither, Mariana: Duke. Duke. Go, take her hence, and marry her instantly. Esca. My lord, I am more amazed at his dishonour Than at the strangeness of it. Duke. Come hither, Isabel. Isa. O, give me pardon, That I, your vassal, have employ'd and pain'd Your unknown sovereignty. Duke. You are pardon'd, Isabel : [She kneels. [Raises her. And now, Than that which lives to fear; make it your comfort, So happy is your brother. Enter MARIANA, ANGELO, Provost, and Friar PETER. Isa. I do, my lord. Duke. For this new-married man, approaching here, Whose foul imagination yet hath wrong'd 2 Following. |