Claudio prepared. I am made to understand, that you have lent him visitation.

Dnke. He professes to have received no sinister measure from his judge, but most willingly humbles himself to the determination of justice: yet had he framed to himself, by the instruction of his frailty, many deceiving promises of life; which I, by my good leisure, have discredited to him, and now is he resolved* to die.

Escal. You have paid the heavens your function, and the prisoner the very debt of your calling. have laboured for the poor gentleman, to the extremest shore of my modesty; but my brother justice have I found so severe that he hath forced me to tell him, he is indeed-justice.

Duke. If his own life answers the straitness of his proceeding, it shall become him well; wherein, if he chance to fail, he hath sentenced himself.

Escal. I am going to visit the prisoner: Fare you well.

Duke. Peace be with you!

[Exeunt Escalus and Provost.

He, who the sword of heaven will bear,
Should be as holy as severe;
Pattern in himself to know,
Grace to stand, and virtue go;
More nor less to others paying,
Than by self-offences weighing.
Shame to him, whose cruel striking
Kills for faults of his own liking!
Twice treble shame on Angelo,
To weed my vice, and let his grow!
O, what may man within him hide,
Though angel on the outward side!
How many likeness †, made ‡ in crimes,
Making practice on the times,
Draw with idle spiders' strings,
Most pond'rous and substantial things!
Craft against vice I must apply:

* Satisfied.

+ Appearance.

Trained.

With Angelo to-night shall lie
His old betrothed, but despis'd;
So disguise shall, by the disguis'd,
Pay with falsehood false exacting,
And perform an old contracting.

ACT IV.

SCENE I. A room in Mariana's house.

Mariana discovered sitting; a Boy singing.

SONG.

Take, oh take those lips away,
That so sweetly were forsworn;
And those eyes, the break of day,
Lights that do mislead the morn :
But my kisses bring again,

bring again,
Seals of love, but seal'd in vain.

seal'd in vain.

[Exit.

Mari. Break off thy song, and haste thee quick

away;

Here comes a man of comfort, whose advice

Hath often still'd my brawling discontent.

Enter Duke.

[Exit Boy.

I cry you mercy, sir; and well could wish You had not found me here so musical: Let me excuse me, and believe me so,My mirth it much displeas'd, but pleas'd my woe. Duke. 'Tis good: though musick oft hath such a charm,

To make bad, good, and good provoke to harm. 1 pray you, tell me, hath any body enquired for me here to-day? much upon this time have I promis'd here to meet.

Mari. You have not been enquired after: I have sat here all day.

Enter Isabella.

Duke. I do constantly believe you :-The time is come, even now. I shall crave your forbearance a little; may be, I will call upon you anon, for some advantage to yourself.

Mari. I am always bound to you.

Duke. Very well met, and welcome.

What is the news from this good deputy?

[Exit.

Isab. He hath a garden circummur'd* with brick, Whose western side is with a vineyard back'd; And to that vineyard is a planched† gate, That makes his opening with this bigger key: This other doth command a little door, Which from the vineyard to the garden leads; There have I made my promise to call on him, Upon the heavy middle of the night.

Duke. But shall you on your knowledge find this way?

Isab. I have ta'en a due and wary note upon't; With whispering and most guilty diligence, In action all of precept, he did show me

The way twice o'er.

Duke. Are there no other tokens Between you 'greed, concerning her observance? Isab. No, none, but only a repair i' the dark ; And that I have possess'd him, my most stay Can be but brief: for I have made him know, I have a servant comes with me along, That stays § upon me; whose persuasion is, 1 come about my brother.

Duke.

"Tis well borne up.

I have not yet made known to Mariana

A word of this :-What, ho! within! come forth!

Re-enter Mariana.

I pray you, be acquainted with this maid;

She comes to do you good.

* Walled round.

+ Informed.

+ Planked, wooden.

§ Waits.

Isab.

I do desire the like.

Duke. Do you persuade yourself that I respect

you?

Mari. Good friar, I know you do; and have found

it.

Duke. Take then this your companion by the hand, Who hath a story ready for your ear:

I shall attend your leisure; but make haste;
The vaporous night approaches.

Mari.

Will't please you walk aside? [Exeunt Mariana and Isabella.

Duke. O place and greatness, millions of false

eyes

Are stuck upon thee! volumes of report

Run with these false and most contrarious quests * Upon thy doings! thousand 'scapes† of wit

Make thee the father of their idle dream,

And rack thee in their fancies !-Welcome! How agreed?

Re-enter Mariana and Isabella.

Isab. She'll take the enterprize upon her, father, If you advise it.

Duke.

It is not my consent,

But my intreaty too.

Isab.

Little have you to say,

When you depart from him, but, soft and low,
Remember now my brother.

Mari.

Fear me not.

Duke, Nor, gentle daughter, fear you not at all: He is your husband on a pre-contract : To bring you thus together, 'tis no sin; Siththat the justice of your title to him Doth flourish & the deceit. Come, let us go; Our corn's to reap, for yet our tithe's || to sow. [Exeunt.

*Inquisitions, inquiries.
§ Gild or varnish over.

+ Since.

+ Sallies.
Tilth, land prepared for sowing.

SCENE II.

A room in the prison.

Enter Provost and Clown.

Prov. Come hither, sirrah: can you cut off a man's head?

Clo. If the man be a bachelor, sir, I can: but if he be a married man, he is his wife's head, and I can never cut off a woman's head.

Prov. Come, sir, leave me your snatches, and yield me a direct answer. To-morrow morning are to die Claudio and Barnardine: here is in our prison a common executioner, who in his office lacks a helper: if you will take it on you to assist him, it shall redeem you from your gyves*; if not, you shall have your full time of imprisonment, and your deliverance with an unpitied whipping; for you have been a notorious bawd.

Clo. Sir, I have been an unlawful bawd, time out of mind; but yet I will be content to be a lawful hangman. I would be glad to receive some instruction from my fellow partner.

Prov. What ho, Abhorson! Where's Abhorson, there?

Enter Abhorson.

Abhor. Do you call, sir?

Prov. Sirrah, here's a fellow will help you tomorrow in your execution: if you think it meet, compound with him by the year, and let him abide here with you; if not, use him for the present, and dismiss him he cannot plead his estimation with you; he hath been a bawd.

Abhor. A bawd, sir? Fy upon him, he will discredit our mystery +.

Prov. Go to, sir; you weigh equally; a feather will turn the scale.

[Exit.