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's 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!
ANG.
I did but smile till now:
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 to your height of pleasure.Thou foolish friar; and thou pernicious woman, Compact with her that's gone, think'st thou thy oaths,

[saint, Though they would swear down each particular Were testimonies against his worth and credit, That's seal'd in approbation?-You, lord Escalus, Sit with my cousin: lend him your kind pains To find out this abuse, whence 't is deriv'd.There is another friar that set them on; Let him be sent for.

F. PETER. Would he were here, my lord! for he, indeed,

Hath set the women on to this complaint: Your provost knows the place where he abides, And he may fetch him.

DUKE.

Go, do it instantly.— [Exit Provost. And you, my noble and well-warranted cousin, Whom it concerns to hear this matter forth, Do with your injuries as seems you best, In any chastisement: I for a while Will leave you; but stir not you, well

Determined upon these slanderers.

till

you

have

ESCAL. My lord, we'll do it throughly.-[Exit DUKE.] 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.

ESCAL. 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.

ESCAL. Call that same Isabel here once again: I would speak with her. [Exit an Attendant.] Pray you, my lord, give me leave to question; you

shall see how I'll handle her.

b Informal-] Deranged, infatuated.

To hear this matter forth,-] That is, to hear it out.

Look you speak justly.

DUKE. Boldly, at least.-But, O, poor souls, Come you to seek the lamb here of the fox? Good night to your redress! Is the duke gone? Then is your cause gone too. The duke's unjust, Thus to retort your manifest appeal, And put your trial in the villain's mouth, Which here you come to accuse.

LUCIO. This is the rascal; this is he I spoke of. ESCAL. 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, And in the witness of his proper ear,

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

touse you

ahis purpose.] Capell reads, "this purpose," and Mr. Collier's annotator," your purpose," but Boswell suggested that, after threatening the supposed Friar, Escalus addresses the close of the sentence to the bystanders.

Joint by joint, but we will know his purpose.— What? unjust!

DUKE. Be not so hot; the duke dare
No more stretch this finger of mine, than he
Dare rack his own: his subject am I not,
Nor here provincial. My business in this state
Made me a looker-on here in Vienna,

Where I have seen corruption boil and bubble,
Till it o'er-run the stew laws for all faults,
But faults so countenanc'd, that the strong statutes
Stand like the forfeits in a barber's shop,
As much in mock as mark.(1)

ESCAL. 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, goodman 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 !

ESCAL. 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 companion!

[The Provost lays hand on the DUKE. DUKE. Stay, sir; stay a while.

ANG. What! resists he?-Help him, Lucio.' Lucio. Come, sir; come, sir; come, sir; foh, sir! Why, you bald-pated, lying rascal! must be hooded, must you? Show your knave's visage, with a pox to you! show your sheepbiting face, and be hanged an hour! Will't not off?

[Pulls off the Friar's hood, and discovers the DUKE.

b Nor here provincial.] Nor within the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the province.

c Close-] So the old copies. In Mr. Collier's annotated folio, the word is changed to gloze.

DUKE. Thou art the first knave, that e'er made* a duke.

First, provost, let me bail these gentle three.— Sneak not away, sir; [To Lucio.] for the friar and you

Must have a word anon.-Lay hold on him. LUCIO. This may prove worse than hanging. DUKE. [TO ESCALUS.] What you have spoke, I pardon; sit you down :

We'll borrow place of him :- [To ANGELO.] sir, by your leave.

Hast thou or word, or wit, or impudence,
That yet can do thee office? If thou hast,
Rely upon it till my tale be heard,

And hold no longer out.

ANG.

O, my dread lord, I should 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.

DUKE.

Come hither, Mariana.— Say, wast thou e'er contracted to this woman?

Re-enter ANGELO, MARIANA, FRIAR PETER, and Provost.

DUKE. For this new-married man, approaching
here,

Whose salt imagination yet hath wrong'd
Your well-defended honour, you must pardon
For Mariana's sake: but as he adjudg'd your
brother,-

Being criminal, in double violation
Of sacred chastity, and of promise-breach
Thereon dependent,-for your brother's life,
The very mercy of the law cries out
Most audible, even from his proper tongue,
An Angelo for Claudio, death for death!
Haste still pays haste, and leisure answers leisure;
Like doth quit like, and Measure still for Measure.
Then, Angelo, thy fault thus manifested,-
Which, though thou wouldst deny, denies thee

ANG. I am sorry that such sorrow I procure; And so deep sticks it in my penitent heart, That I crave death more willingly than mercy; 'Tis my deserving, and I do entreat it.

Re-enter Provost, with BARNARDINE, CLAUDIO, muffled, and JULIET.

DUKE. Which is that Barnardine?
PROV.
This, my lord.
DUKE. There was a friar told me of this man.-
Sirrah, thou art said to have a stubborn soul,
That apprehends no further than this world,
And squar'st thy life according. Thou'rt con-
demn'd;

But, for those earthly faults, I quit them all,
And pray thee, take this mercy to provide
For better times to come.-Friar, advise him;

I leave him to your hand.-What muffled fellow's

that?

PROV. This is another prisoner that I sav'd, Who should have died when Claudio lost his head; As like almost to Claudio as himself.

[Unmuffles CLAUDIO. DUKE. [TO ISABELLA.] If he be like your brother, for his sake

Is he pardon'd; and, for your lovely sake,
Give me your hand, and say you will be mine,
He is my brother too: but fitter time for that.-
By this lord Angelo perceives he's safe :
Methinks I see a quick'ning in his eye.-
Well, Angelo, your evil quits you well:
Look that you love your wife; her worth, worth
yours.-

I find an apt remission in myself;

And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon.—
[To LUCIO.] You, sirrah, that knew me for a fool,
a coward,

One all of luxury," an ass, a madman :
Wherein have I deserved* so of you,
That you extol me thus?

LUCIO. Faith, my lord, I spoke it but according to the trick. If you will hang me for it, you may; but I had rather it would please you I might be whipped.

DUKE. Whipp'd first, sir, and hang'd after.Proclaim it, provost, round about the city, If any woman's wrong'd by this lewd fellow, -As I have heard him swear himself there's one Whom he begot with child,-let her appear, And he shall marry her: the nuptial finish'd, Let him be whipp'd and hang'd.

LUCIO. I beseech your highness, do not marry me to a whore! Your highness said even now, I

(*) Old text, so deserv'd.

(†) Old text, woman.

made you a duke: good my lord, do not recompense me in making me a cuckold.

DUKE. Upon mine honour, thou shalt marry her. Thy slanders I forgive; and therewithal Remit thy other forfeits.-Take him to prison; And see our pleasure herein executed.

LUCIO. Marrying a punk, my lord, is pressing to death, whipping, and hanging.

DUKE. Slandering a prince deserves it.[Exeunt Officers with Lucio. She, Claudio, that you wrong'd, look you restore.Joy to you, Mariana !-Love her, Angelo:

I have confess'd her, and I know her virtue.Thanks, good friend Escalus, for thy much goodness:

There's more behind that is more gratulate.-
Thanks, provost, for thy care and secrecy;
We shall employ thee in a worthier place.-
Forgive him, Angelo, that brought you home
The head of Ragozine for Claudio's:
The offence pardons itself.-Dear Isabel,
I have a motion much imports your good;
Whereto if you'll a willing ear incline,
What's mine is yours, and what is yours is mine.-
So, bring us to our palace; where we'll show
What's yet behind, that's* meet you all should
know.
[Exeunt.

(*) First folio, that.