Have hent the gates, and very near upon 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 :Our old and faithful friend, we are glad to see you. Ang. & Escal. Happy return be to your royal grace! Duke. Many and hearty thankings to you both. We have made inquiry of you; and we hear Such goodness of your justice, that our soul Cannot but yield you forth to public thanks, Forerunning more requital. 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! Vail2 (1) Seized. (2) Lower. Upon a wrong'd, I'd fain have said, a maid! you Till have heard me in my true complaint, Here is lord Angelo shall give you justice; Isab. 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. strange. Isab. Most strange, but yet most truly, will I speak: That Angelo's forsworn; is it not strange? A 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: Duke. Away with her :-Poor soul, She speaks this in the infirmity of sense. Isab. O prince, I conjure thee, as thou believ'st There is another comfort than this world, That thou neglect me not, with that opinion That I am touch'd with madness: make not impossible That which but seems unlike: 'tis not impos sible, But one, the wicked'st caitiff on the ground, In all his dressings, characts, titles, forms, Duke. By mine honesty, If she be mad (as I believe no other,) Her madness hath the oddest frame of sense, Such a dependency of thing on thing, As e'er I heard in madness. Isab. O, gracious duke, Harp not on that; nor do not banish reason For inequality: but let your reason serve To make the truth appear, where it seems hid; 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, Was sent to by my brother: One Lucio Lucio. Isab. That's he indeed. Duke. You were not bid to speak. No, my good lord; I wish you now then; Nor wish'd to hold my peace. Duke. Pray you, take note of it: and when you have (1) Habits and characters of office. A business for yourself, pray heaven, you then I warrant your honour. to it. Isab. This gentleman told somewhat of my tale, Lucio. Right. Duke. It may be right; but you are in the wrong To speak before your time.-Proceed. Isab. To this pernicious caitiff deputy. Duke. That's somewhat madly spoken. Isab. The phrase is to the matter. I went Pardon it; Duke. Mended again: the matter :-Proceed. Release my brother; and, after much debatement, This is most likely! Or else thou art suborn'd against his honour, (1) Refuted. (2) Pity. (3) Foolish. And not have cut him off: Some one hath set you on: Isab. And is this all? Then, oh, you blessed ministers above, Keep me in patience; and, with ripen'd time, In countenance !-Heaven shield your grace from As I, thus wrong'd, hence unbelieved go! Duke. I know, you'd fain be gone :-An officer! To prison with her :-Shall we thus permit A blasting and a scandalous breath to fall On him so near us? This needs must be a practice. -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 meddling friar; I do not like the man: had he been lay, my lord, 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 friar I saw them at the prison: a saucy friar, Who is as free from touch or soil with her, Duke. We did believe no less. Know you that friar Lodowick, that she speaks of? (1) Beat. |