And bid them bring the trumpets to the gate; F. Peter. It shall be speeded well. Enter VARRIUS. [Exit Friar. Duke. I thank thee, Varrius; thou hast made good haste: Come, we will walk there's other of our friends SCENE VI. Street near the City Gate. Enter ISABELLA and MARIANA. Isab. To speak so indirectly, I am loath; I would say the truth; but to accuse him so, That is your part: yet I'm advised to do it; He says, to 'vailful purpose.1 Mari. Be ruled by him. Isab. Besides, he tells me, that, if peradventure He speak against me on the adverse side, I should not think it strange; for 'tis a physic That's bitter to sweet end. Mari. I would, friar Peter- O, peace; the friar is come. Enter Friar PETER.2 F. Peter. Come, I have found you out a stand most fit, Where you may have such vantage on the duke, 4 Have hent the gates, and very near upon The duke is entering; therefore, hence, away. [Exeunt. 1 This is Mr. Theobald's alteration: the old folio reads vaile full purpose. 2 He is called friar Thomas in the first Act. 3 Generous, for noble. 4 i. e. seized, laid hold on. ACT V. SCENE I. A public Place near the City Gate. MARIANA (veiled), ISABELLA, and PETER, at a distance. Enter, at opposite doors, Duke, VARRIUS, Lords; ANGELO, ESCALUS, LUcio, Provost, Officers, and Citizens. Duke. My very worthy cousin, fairly met:- Duke. Many and hearty thankings to you both. Ang. You make my bonds still greater. Duke. O, your desert speaks loud; and I should wrong it, To lock it in the wards of covert bosom, PETER and ISABELLA come forward. F. Peter. Now is your time; speak loud, and kneel before him. Isab. Justice, O royal duke! Vail1 your regard, 1 To vail is to lower, to let fall, to cast down. Upon a wronged, I'd fain have said, a maid! Till you have heard me in my true complaint, And given me, justice, justice, justice, justice! Duke. Relate your wrongs: In what? By whom? Be brief: Here is lord Angelo shall give you justice! Reveal yourself to him. Isab. O, worthy duke, You bid me seek redemption of the devil: Hear me yourself; for that which I must speak Must either punish me, not being believed, Or wring redress from you; hear me, O, hear me, here. Ang. My lord, her wits, I fear me, are not firm: She hath been a suitor to me for her brother, Cut off by course of justice. Isab. By course of justice! Ang. And she will speak most bitterly and strange. Isab. Most strange, but yet most truly, will I speak : That Angelo's forsworn, is it not strange? That Angelo's a murderer, is't not strange? That Angelo is an adulterous thief, An hypocrite, a virgin-violator, Is it not strange, and strange? Nay, ten times strange. Isab. It is not truer he is Angelo, Than this is all as true as it is strange: Nay, it is ten times true; for truth is truth Duke. Away with her :-poor soul. She speaks this in the infirmity of sense. Isab. O prince, I cónjure thee, as thou believest There is another comfort than this world, That thou neglect me not, with that opinion That I am touched with madness: make not impossible But one, the wicked'st caitiff on the ground, 1 In all his dressings, characts, titles, forms, Duke. By mine honesty, If she be mad, (as I believe no other,) As e'er I heard in madness. Isab. O, gracious duke, Harp not on that; nor do not banish reason To make the truth appear, where it seems hid, Duke. Many that are not mad, Have, sure, more lack of reason.-What would you Say P Isab. I am the sister of one Claudio, Condemned upon the act of fornication To lose his head; condemned by Angelo: I, in probation of a sisterhood, Was sent to by my brother: one Lucio As then the messenger;- Lucio. That's I, an't like your grace: I came to her from Claudio, and desired her Isab. That's he, indeed. No, my good lord; I wish you now, then; Pray you, take note of it: and when you have Be perfect. Lucio. I warrant your honor. Duke. The warrant's for yourself; take heed to it. 1 Characts are distinctive marks or characters. 2 Mr. Phelps proposes to read "And hid, the false seems true." |