Accuse him home, and home. For my poor self, Lucio. Good even! Lucio. O, pretty Isabella, I am pale at mine heart, to see thine eyes so red: thou must be patient: I am fain to dine and sup with water and bran; I dare not for my head fill my belly, one fruitful meal would set me to't: But they say the duke will be here to-morrow. By my troth, Isabel, I lov'd thy brother: if the old fantastical duke of dark corners had been at home, he had lived. [Exit ISABELLA. Duke. Sir, the duke is marvellous little beholden to your reports; but the best is, he lives not in them. Lucio. Friar, thou knowest not the duke so well as I do: he's a better woodman than thou takest him for. Duke. Well, you'll answer this one day. Fare ye well. Lucio. Nay, tarry; I'll go along with thee; I can tell thee pretty tales of the duke. Duke. You have told me too many of him already, Sir, if they be true; if not true, none were enough. Lucio. I was once before him for getting a wench with child. Duke. Did you such a thing? Lucio. Yes, marry, did 1: but was fain to forswear it; they would else have married me to the rotten medlar. Duke. Sir, your company is fairer than honest: Rest you well. Lucio. By my troth, I'll go with thee to the lane's end: If bawdy talk offend you, we'll have very little of it: Nay, friar, I am a kind of burr, I shall stick. [Exeunt. SCENE IV-A Room in ANGELO's House. Enter ANGELO and ESCALUS. Escal. Every letter he hath writ hath disvouch'dt other. Ang. In most uneven and distracted manner. His actions show much like to madness: pray heaven, his wisdom be not tainted! And why meet him at the gates, and re-deliver our authorities there? Escal. I guess not. Ang. And why should we proclaim it in an hour before his entering, that, if any crave redress of injustice, they should exhibit their petitions in the street? Escal. He shows his reason for that: to have a despatch of complaints; and to deliver us from devices hereafter, which shall then have no power to stand against us. Ang. Well, I beseech you,let it be proclaim'd: Betimes i' the morn, I'll call you at your house : Give notice to such men of sort and suit,‡ As are to meet him. Escal. I shall, Sir: fare you well. [Exit. Ang. Good night. This deed unshapes me quite, makes me unpregnant, And dull to all proceedings. A deflower'd maid! * Go. | Will not proclaim against her maiden loss, How might she tongue me? Yet reason dares* her?-no: For my authority bears a credent† bulk, had liv'd! not. Duke. My very worthy cousin, fairly met :Our old and faithful friend, we are glad to see you. Ang. and Escal. Happy return be to your royal grace! Duke. Many and hearty thankings to you We have made inquiry of you; and we hear Ang. You make my bonds still greater. In all his dressings,* characts, titles, forms, Be an arch-villain: believe it, royal prince, If he be less, he's nothing; but he's more, Had I more name for badness. Duke. By mine honesty, If she be mad, (as I believe no other,) Isab. O, gracious duke, Harp not on that; nor do not banish reason For inequality: but let your reason serve Duke. O, your desert speaks loud; and I To make the truth appear, where it seems hid; 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! Vail* your regard Upon a wrong'd, I'd fain have said, a maid! O worthy prince, dishonour not your eye By throwing it on any other object, Till you have heard me in my true complaint, Here is lord Angelo shall give you justice; Isab. O, worthy duke, By You bid me seek redemption of the devil: 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? Is it not strange, and strange? Duke. Nay, ten times strange. Isab. It is not truer he is Angelo, Duke. Away with her :-Poor soul, There is another comfort than this world, And hide the false, seems true. Duke. Many that are not mad, Have, sure, more lack of reason.-What would you say? Isab. I am the sister of one Claudio, Lucio. That's I, an't like your grace: Isab. That's he, indeed. Duke. You were not bid to speak. Nor wish'd to hold my peace. Duke. I wish you now then; Pray you, take note of it; and when you have A business for yourself, pray heaven, you then Be perfect. Lucio. I warrant your honour. Duke. The warrant's for yourself; take heed to it. Lucio. Right. [wrong Duke. It may be right; but you are in the To this pernicious caitiff deputy. The phrase is to the matter. Duke. Mended again: the matter;-Proceed. Isab. In brief,-to set the needless process by, How I persuaded, how I pray'd, and kneel'd, How he refell'dt me, and how I reply'd; (For this was of much length,) the vile conclu sion I now begin with grief and shame to utter: His purpose surfeiting, he sends a warrant Duke. This is most likely! Isab. O, that it were as like, as it is true! Duke. By heaven, fond§ wretch, thou know'st not what thou speak'st; Or else thou art suborn'd against his honour, In hateful practice :|| First, his integrity Stands without blemish:-next it imports no -Who knew of your intent, and coming hither? Isab. One that I would were here, friar Lodowick. Duke. A ghostly father belike:-Who knows that Lodowick? Lucio. My lord, I know him; 'tis a medling friar ; [lord, I do not like the man: had he been lay, my. For certain words he spake against your grace In your retirement, I had swing'd* him soundly. Duke. Words against me? This' a good friar, belike! And to set on this wretched woman here I saw them at the prison: a saucy friar, F. Peter. Blessed be your royal grace! Jof? Duke. We did believe no less. Know you that friar Lodowick, that she speaks F. Peter. I know him for a man divine and Not scurvy, nor a temporary medler, [holy; As he's reported by this gentleman; And, on my trust, a man that never yet Did, as he vouches, misreport your grace. Lucio. My lord, most villainously; believe it. F. Peter. Well, he in time may come to clear himself; But at this instant he is sick, my lord, Of a strange fever: Upon his meret request, (Being come to knowledge that there was complaint Intended 'gainst lord Angelo,) came I hither, To speak, as from his mouth, what he doth know Is true and false; and what he, with his oath, Duke. Good friar, let's hear it. [ISABELLA is carried off guarded; and MARIANA comes forward. Do you not smile at this, lord Angelo?O heaven! the vanity of wretched fools!Give us some seats.-Come, cousin Angelo; In this I'll be impartial; be you judge Of your own cause.-Is this the witness, friar? First, let her show her face; and after speak. * Beat. Convened. ↑ Simple. Publicly. To prattle for himself. Lucio. Well, my lord. Mari. My lord, I do confess, I ne'er was married; And, I confess, besides, I am no maid: I have known my husband; yet my husband knows not, That ever he knew me. Lucio. He was drunk then, my lord; it can be no better. Duke. For the benefit of silence, 'would thou wert so too. Lucio. Well, my lord. Duke. This is no witness for lord Angelo. She, that accuses him of fornication, Ang. Charges she more than me? Duke. No? you say, your husband. body, But knows he thinks, that he knows Isabel's. Ang. This is a strange abuse :*—Let's see thy face. Mari. My husband bids me; now I will un- Duke. Know you this woman? Ang. My lord, I must confess I know this woman [marriage And, five years since, there was some speech of Betwixt myself and her; which was broke off, Partly, for that her promised proportions Came short of composition;t but, in chief, For that her reputation was disvalued In levity: since which time of five years, I never spake with her, saw her, nor heard from Upon my faith and honour. [her, Mari. Noble prince, As there comes light from heaven, and words from breath, As there is sense in truth, and truth in virtue, * Deception. Let me in safety raise me from my knees; A marble monument ! Ang. I did but smile till now; [tice; Duke. Ay, with my heart; [sure. And punish them unto your height of pleaThou foolish friar; and thou pernicious woman, Compact with her that's gone! think'st thou, thy oaths, Though they would swear down each parti cular saint, Were testimonies against his worth and credit, Sit with my cousin; lend him your kind pains F. Peter. Would he were here, my lord; for Hath set the woman on to this complaint: Duke. Go, do it instantly.- [Exit PROVOST. 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; [To an Attendant.] 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. Lucio. Marry, Sir, I think, if you handled her privately, she would sooner confess; perchance, publicly she'll be ashamed. Re-enter Officers, with ISABELLA, the DUKE, in the Friar's habit, and PROVOST. Escal. I will go darkly to work with her. Lucio. That's the way; for women are light at midnight. Escal. Come on, mistress: [To ISABELLA. here's a gentlewoman denies all that you have said. Lucio. My lord, here comes the rascal I spoke of; here with the provost. Escal. In very good time: speak not you to him, till we call upon you. Lucio. Mum. Duke. Respect to your great place! and let the devil Be sometime honour'd for his burning throne:Where is the duke? 'tis he should hear me speak : Escal. The duke's in us; and we will hear you: 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 unThus to retort* your manifest appeal, [just, 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. Is't not enough, thou hast suborn'd these women Stand like the forfeits in a barber's shop, Escal. Slander to the state! Away with him 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 flesh-monger, 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. pluck thee by the nose, for thy speeches? Duke. I protest, I love the duke, as I love my Lucio. O thou damnable fellow! Did not I self. Ang. Hark! how the villain would close now, after his treasonable abuses. Escal. Such a fellow is not to be talk'd with al:-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 hands 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! you must be hooded, must you? Show your knave's visage, with a pox to you! show your * Refer back. ↑ Accountable. + Wantons: [Pulls off the Friar's hood, and discovers sheep-biting face, and be hang'd an hour! | Thereon dependant, for your brother's life,) Will't not off? 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; [sure. the DUKE. Duke. Thou art the first knave,that e'er made a duke. First, Provost, let me bail these gentle three: Must have a word anon:-lay hold on him. And hold no longer out. Ang. O my dread lord, I should be guiltier than my guiltiness, When I perceive, your grace,like power divine, No longer session hold upon my shame, Duke. Come hither, Mariana :- Duke. Go take her hence, and marry her in- Do you the office, friar; which consummate, [Exeunt ANGELO, MARIANA, Peter, Escal. My lord, I am more amaz'd at his dis- Duke. Come hither, Isabel: Isab. O, give me pardon, Like doth quit like, and Measure still for Mea- We do condemn thee to the very block I Mari. O, my most gracious lord, Consenting to the safeguard of your honour, Mari. O, my dear lord, I crave no other, nor no better man. Duke. Never crave him; we are definitive. Duke. You do but lose your labour; Mari. O, my good lord!-Sweet İsabel, take Sweet Isabel, do yet but kneel by me; That I, your vassal, have employ'd and pain'd For being a little bad: so may my husband. Duke. You are pardon'd, Isabel : Make rash remonstrance of my hidden power, That life is better life, past fearing death, O, Isabel! will you not lend a knee? His act did not o'ertake his bad intent; Mari. Merely, my lord. Duke. Your suit's unprofitable; stand up, I say. I have bethought me of another fault:- Prov. It was commanded so. Duke. Had you a special warrant for the deed? Prov. No, my good lord; it was by private message. Duke. For which I do discharge you of your Give up your keys. Prov. Pardon me, noble lord: [office : I thought it was a fault, but knew it not; |