ACT III.

SCENE I.-A Room in the Prison.

Claud.

Now, sister, what's the comfort ?

Isab. Why, as all comforts are ; most good in Enter Dure, Claudio, and Provost.

dced : Duke. So, then you hope of pardon from lord Lord Angelo, having affairs to heaven, Angelo?

Intends you for his swift embassador, Claud. The miserable have no other medicine, Where you shall be an everlasting leiger : But only hope :

Therefore your best appointment make with speed; I have hope to live, and am prepar'd to die.

To-morrow you set on. Duke. Be absolute for death; either death, or life, Claud.

Is there no remedy? Shall thereby be the sweeter. Reason thus with life,- Isab. None, but such remedy, as, to save a head, If I do lose thee, I do lose a thing

To cleave a heart in twain. That none but fools would keep: a breath thou art, Claud.

But is there any ? (Servile to all the skiey influences,)

Isab. Yes, brother, you may live ;
That dost this habitation, where thou keep'st,

There is a devilish mercy in the judge,
Hourly afflict: merely, thou art death's fool; If you'll implore it, that will free your life,
For him thou labour'st by thy flight to shun, But fetter you till death.
And yet run'st toward him still: Thou art not noble; Claud.

Perpetual durance ? For all the accommodations that thou bear'st,

Isab. Ay, just, perpetual durance ; a restraint, Are nurs’d by baseness : Thou art by no means Though all the world's vastidity you had, valiant;

To a determin'd scope. For thou dost fear the soft and tender fork

Claud.

But in what nature ? Of a poor worm: Thy best of rest is sleep,

Isab. In such a one as (you consenting to't) And that thou oft provok'st; yet grossly fear'st Would bark your honour from that trunk you bear, Thy death, which is no more. Thou art not thyself; | And leave you naked. For thou exist'st on many a thousand grains

Claud.

Let me know the point. That issue out of dust : Happy thou art not :

Isab. O, I do fear thee, Claudio; and I quake, For what thou hast not, still thou striv'st to get ;

Lest thou a feverous life should'st entertain, And what thou hast, forget'st: Thou art not certain;

And six or seven winters more respect For thy complexion shifts to strange effects,

Than a perpetual honour. Dar'st thou die?
After the moon : If thou art rich, thou art poor ; The sense of death is most in apprehension ;
For, like an ass, whose back with ingots bows, And the poor beetle, that we tread upon,
Thou bear'st thy heavy riches but a journey,

In corporal sufferance finds a pang as great
And death unloads thee : Friend hast thou none : As when a giant dies.
For thine own bowels, which do call thee sire,

Claud.

Why give you me this shame? The mere effusion of thy proper loins,

Think you I can a resolution fetch Do curse the gout, serpigo, and the rheum,

From flowery tenderness? If I must die, For ending thee no sooner : Thou hast nor youth, I will encounter darkness as a bride, nor age;

And hug it in mine arms. But, as it were, an after-dinner's sleep,

Isab. There spake my brother ; there my

father's Dreaming on both : for all thy blessed youth

grave Becomes as aged, and doth beg the alms

Did utter forth a voice! Yes, thou must die : Of palsied eld; and when thou art old, and rich, Thou art too noble to conserve a life Thou hast neither heat, affection, limb, nor beauty, In base appliances. This outward-sainted deputy, To make thy riches pleasant. What's yet in this, Whose settled visage and deliberate word That bears the name of life? Yet in this life Nips youth i'the head, and follies doth enmew, Lie bid more thousand deaths : yet death we fear, As falcon doth the fowl, - is yet a devil ; That makes these odds all even.

His filth withi · being cast, he would appear Claud.

I humbly thank you. A pond as deep as hell. To sue to live, I find, I seek to die ;

Claud.

The princely Angelo? And, seeking death, find life: Let it come on. Isab. O, 'tis the cunning livery of hell,

The damned'st body to invest and cover
Enter ISABELLA.

In princely guards ! Dost thou think, Claudio, Isab. What, ho! Peace here; grace and good If I would yield him my virginity, company!

Thou might'st be freed? Pror. Who's there? come in : the wish deserves Claud.

O, heavens ! it cannot be. a welcome.

Isab. Yes, he would give it thee, from this rank Duke. Dear sir, ere long I'll visit you again.

offence, Claud. Most holy sir, I thank you.

So to offend him still : This night's the time
Isab. My business is a word or two with Claudio. That I should do what I abhor to name,
Prov. And very welcome. Look, signior, here's Or else thou diest to-morrow.

Claud.

Thou shalt not do't Nuke. Provost, a word with you.

Isab. O, were it but my life,
As many as you please. I'd throw it down for

your

deliverance buni. Bring dicwo w speak, where I may be As frankly as a pin. conceala,

Claud.

Thanks, dear Isabel. i Escaal Duke ana Prorost. Isal. Be ready, Claudio, for your death to-morrow

H

your sister.

Prou

Claud. Yes. · Has he affections in him, morrow you must die ; go to your kuees, and inake That thus can make him bite the law by the nose; ready. When he would force it? Sure it is no sin ;

Claud. Let me ask my sister pardon. I am so out Or of the deadly seven it is the leadie

of love with life, that I will sue to be rid of it. Isab. Which is the least?

Duke. Hold you there : Farewell. Claud. If it were damnable, he, being so wise,

(Erit CLA UNI Why, would he for the momentary trick

Re-enter Provost.
Be perdurably fin’d? - O Isabel !
Isab. What says my brother?

Provost, a word with you.
Claud.

Death is a fearful thing. Prov. What's your will, father? Isab. And shamed life a hateful.

Duke. That now you are come, you will be gone Claud. Ay, but to die, and go we know not where; Leave me a while with the maid ; my mind proTo lie in cold obstruction, and to rot;

mises with my habit, no loss shall touch her by my This sensible warm motion to become

company A kneaded clod; and the delighted spirit

Prov. In good time.

[Exit Provost. To bathe in fiery floods, or to reside

Duke. The hand that hath made you fair, hath In thrilling regions of thick-ribbed ice;

made you good: the goodness, that is cheap in To be imprison'd in the viewless winds,

beauty, makes beauty brief in goodness ; but grace, And blown with restless violence round about being the soul of your complexion, should keep the The pendent world ; or to be worse than worst body of it ever fair. The assault, that Angelo hath Of those, that lawless and incertain thoughts made to you, fortune hath convey'd to my underImagine howling! — 'tis too horrible !

standing; and, but that frailty hath examples for his The weariest and most loathed worldly life,

falling, I should wonder at Angelo. How would That age, ach, penury, and imprisonment

you do to content this substitute, and to save your Can lay on nature, is a paradise

brother. To what we fear of death.

Isab. I am now going to resolve him: I had raIsab. Alas! alas!

ther my brother die by the law, than my son should Claud.

Sweet sister, let me live : be unlawfully born. But 0, how much is the good What sin you do to save a brother's life,

duke deceived in Angelo! If ever he return, and I Nature dispenses with the deed so far,

can speak to him, I will open my lips in vain, or That it becomes a virtue.

discover his government. Isab. 0, you beast!

Duke. That shall not be much amiss : Yet, as O, faithless coward ! O, dishonest wretch!

the matter now stands, he will avoid your accusaWilt thou be made a man out of my vice?

tion ; he made trial of you only. — Therefore, fasten Is't not a kind of incest, to take life

your ear on my advisings; to the love I have in From thine own sister's shame? What should I think? doing good, a remedy presents itself. I do make Heaven shield, my mother play'd my father fair ! myself believe, that you may most uprighteously do For such a warped slip of wilderness

a poor wronged lady a merited benefit; redeem your Ne'er issu'd from his blood. Take my defiance : brother from the angry law; do no stain to your Die; perish! might but my bending down own gracious person; and much please the absent Reprieve thee from thy fate, it should proceed :

duke, if, peradventure, he shall ever return to have I'll pray a thousand prayers for thy death,

hearing of this business. No word to save thee.

Isab. Let me hear you speak further; I have Claud. Nay, hear me, Isabel.

spirit to do any thing that appears not foul in the Isab.

O, fye, fye, fye! | truth of my spirit. Thy sin's not accidental, but a trade :

Duke. Virtue is bold, and goodness never fearMerey to thee would prove itself a bawd :

ful. Have you not heard speak of Mariana the sis'Tis best that thou diest quickly.

[Going. ter of Frederick, the great soldier, who miscarried Claud.

O hear me, Isabella. at sea ?

Isab. I have heard of the lady, and good words Re-enter Duke.

went with her name. Duke. Vouchsafe a word, young sister, but one Duke. Her should this Angelo have married ; was word.

affianced to her by oath, and the nuptial appointed : Isab. What is your will?

between which time of the contract, and limit of Duke. Might you dispense with your leisure, I the solemnity, her brother Frederick was wrecked at would by and by have some speech with you: the satis- sea, having in that perish'd vessel the dowry of his faction I would require, is likewise your own benefit. sister. But mark, how heavily this befel to the poor

Isab. I have no superfluous leisure ; my stay must gentlewoman : there she lost a noble and renowned be stolen out of other affairs; but I will attend you brother, in his love toward her ever most kind and a while.

natural; with him the portion and sinew of her forDuke. (To Claudio, aside.] Son, I have over- tune, her marriage-dowry; with both, her combineard what hath past between you and your sister. nate husband, this well-seeming Angelo. Angelo had never the purpose to corrupt her; only Isab. Can this be so ? Did Angelo so leave her? he hath made an essay of her virtue, to practise his Duke. Left her in her tears, and dry'd not one of judgment with the disposition of natures; she, hay-them with his comfort ; swallowed his vows whole, ing the truth of honour in her, hath made him that pretending, in her, discoveries of dishonour; in gracious denial which he is most glad to receive : I few, bestowed her on her own lamentation, which am confessor to Angelo, and I know this to be true; she yet wears for his sake ; and he, a marble to her therefore prepare yourself to death : Do not satisfy tears, is washed with them, but relents not. your sexclurica with hopes that are fallible : to- Js:25. What a merit were it in death, to take this

poor maid from the world! What corruption in I drink, I eat, array myseif, and live. this life, that it will let this man live! - But how Canst thou believe thy living is a life, out of this can she avail ?

So stinkingly depending ? Go, mend, go, mend. Druke. It is a rupture that you may easily heal ; Clo. Indeed, it cloes stink in some sort, sir ; bui and the cure of it not only saves your brother, but yet, sir, I would prove. keeps you from dishonour in doing it.

Duke. Nay, if the devil have given thee proofs Isab. Show me how, good father.

for sin, Duke. This fore-named maid hath yet in her the Thou wilt prove his. Take him to prison, officer ; continuance of her first affection; his unjust unkind- Correction and instruction must both work, ness, that in all reason should have quenched her Ere this rude beast will profit. love, hath, like an impediment in the current, made Elb. He must before the deputy, sir ; he has it more violent and unruly. Go you to Angelo; an- given him warning: the deputy cannot abide a sver his requiring with a plausible obedience; agree whoremaster: if he be a whoremonger, and comes with his demands to the point : only refer yourself before him, he were as good go a mile on his to this advantage, — first, that your stay with him errand. may not be long; that the time may have all shadow Duke. That we were all, as some would seem to be, and silence in it; and the place answer to conve- Free from our faults, as faults from seeming free! nience : this being granted in course, now follows

Enter Lucio. all. We shall advise this wronged maid to stead up Four appointment, go in your place; if the en- Elb. His neck will come to your waist, a cord, counter acknowledge itself hereafter, it may compel sir. him to her recompense : and here, by this, is your Clo. I spy comfort; I cry, bail : Here's a genbrother saved, your honour untainted, the poor tleman, and a friend of mine. Mariana advantaged, and the corrupt deputy scaled. Lucio. How now, noble Pompey? What, at the The maid will I frame, and make fit for his attempt. heels of Cæsar ? Art thou led in triumph ? What, If you think well to carry this as you may, the is there none of Pygmalion's images, newly made doubleness of the benefit defends the deceit from woman, to be had now, for putting the hand in the reproof. What think you of it?

pocket and extracting it clutch’d? What reply? Isab. The image of it gives me content already; Ha? What say'st thou to this tune, matter, and and, I trust, it will grow to a most prosperous per- method ? Is’t not drown’d i’ the last rain ? Ha? fection.

What say’st thou, trot? Is the world as it was, Duke. It lies much in your holding up: Haste man? Which is the way? Is it sad, and few words? you speedily to Angelo; if for this night he entreat Or how? The trick of it? you to his bed, give him promise of satisfaction. I Duke. Still thus, and thus ! still worse ! will presently to St. Luke's; there, at the moated Lucio. How doth my dear morsel, thy mistress? grange resides this dejected Mariana : At that place Procures she still ? Ha? call upon me; and despatch with Angelo, that it Clo. Troth, sir, she hath eaten up all her beef, may be quickly.

and she is herself in the tub. Isab. I thank you for this comfort : Fare you Lucio. Why, 'tis good; it is the right of it: it well, good father.

[Exeunt severally. must be so: Ever your fresh whore, and your pow

der'd bawd: An unshunn'd consequence; it must SCENE II. - The Street before the Prison. be so : Art going to prison, Pompey ?

Clo. Yes, faith, sir. Enter DUKE, as a Friar; to him Elbow, Clown,

Lucio. Why 'tis not amiss, Pompey: Farewell ; and Officers.

Go; say, I sent thee thither. For debt, Pompey? Elb. Nay, if there be no remedy for it, but that Or how? you will needs buy and sell men and women Elb. For being a bawd, for being a bawd. beasts, we shall have all the world drink brown and Lucio. Well, then imprison him: If imprisonwhite bastard.

ment be the due of a bawd, why, 'tis his right: Duke. 0, heavens! what stuff is here?

Bawd is he, doubtless, and of antiquity too : bawdClo. 'Twas never merry world, since, of two born.

Farewell, good Pompey: Commend me to usuries, the merriest was put down, and the worser the prison, Pompey : You will turn good husband allow'd by order of law a furr'd gown to keep him now, Pompey; you will keep the house. warm; and furt'd with fox and lamb-skins too, to Clo. I hope, sir, your good worship will be my signify, that craft, being richer than innocency, bail. stands for the facing.

Lucio. No, indeed, will I not, Pompey; it is not Elb. Come your way, sir : — Bless you, good | the wear. I will pray, Pompey, to increase your father friar.

bondage: if you take it not patiently, why, your Dute. And you, good brother father : What mettle is the more: Adieu, trusty Pompey. — Bless offence hath this man made you, sir?

Elb. Marry, sir, he hath offended the law; and, Duke. And you. sir, we take him to be a thief too, sir ; for we Lucio. Does Bridget paint still, Pompey? Ha? have found upon him, sir, a strange pick-lock, Elb. Come your ways, sir; come. which we have sent to the deputy.

Clo. You will not bail me then, sir ? Duke. Fye, sirrah; a bawd, a wicked bawd ! Lucio. Then, Pompey? nor now.

What news The evil that thou causest to be done,

abroad, friar? What news? That is thy means to live : Do thou but think Elb. Come your ways, sir; come. What 'tis to cram a maw, or clothe a back,

Lucio. Go, to kennel, Pompey, go : Prom such a filthy vice: say to thyself,

[Ereunt Elbow, Clown, and Oficer, From their abominable and beastly touches What news, friar, of the duše?

:

you, friar.

:

Duke. I know none : Can you tell me of any ? Duke. I can hardly bclicve that, since you know

Lucio. Some say he is with the emperor of not what you speak. But, if «ver the duke return, Russia ; other some, he is in Rome : But where is (as our prayers re he may,) let me desire you to he, think you ?

make your answer before lim: If it be honest you Duke. I know not where : But wheresoever, I have spoke, you have courage to maintain it: I am wish him well.

bound to call upon you; and, I pray you, your Lucio. It was a mad fantastical trick of him, to name? steal from the state, and usurp the beggary he was Lucio. Sir, my name is Lucio; well known to

never born to. Lord Angelo dukes it well in his the duke. • absence; he puts transgression to't.

Duke. He shall know you better, sir, if I may Duke. He does well in't.

live to report you. Lucio. A little more lenity to lechery would do Lucio. I fear you not. 110 harm in him: something too crabbed that way, Duke. O, you hope the duke will return no more : friar.

or you imagine me too unhurtful an opposite. But, Duke. It is too general a vice, and severity must indeed, I can do you little harm: you'll forswear cure it.

this again. Lucio. Yes, in good sooth, the vice is of a great Lucio. I'll be hang'd first : thou art deceiv'd in kindred ; it is well ally'd : but it is impossible to me, friar. But no more of this : Canst thou tell, if extirp it quite, friar, till eating and drinking be put Claudio die to-morrow, or no? down. They say, this Angelo was not made by Duke. Why should he die, sir ? man and woman, after the downright way of cre- Lucio. Why? for filling a bottle with a tun-dish. ation : Is it true, think you ?

I would, the duke, we talk of, were return'd again : Duke. How should he be made then ?

this ungenitur'd agent will anpeople the province Lucio. Some report, a sea-maid spawn'd him : with continency; sparrows must not build in his Some, that he was begot between two stock-fishes : house-eaves, because they are lecherous. The duke — But it is certain, that when he makes water, his yet would have dark deeds darkly answer'd; he urine is congeal'd ice; that I know to be true: and would never bring them to light : would he were he is a motion ungenerative, that's infallible. return’d! Marry, this Claudio is condemn’d for

Duke. You are pleasant, sir; and speak apace. untrussing. Farewell, good friar; I pr’ythee, pray

Lucio. Why what a ruthless thing is this in him, for me. The duke, I say to thee again, would eat for the rebellion of a cod-piece, to take away the mutton on Fridays. He's now past it; yet, and I life of a man ? Would the duke, that is absent, have say to thee, he would mouth with a beggar, though done this? Ere he would have hang'd a man for she smelt brown bread and garlick : say, that I said the getting a hundred bastards, he would have paid so. Farewell.

(Erit. for the nursing a thousand : He had some feeling Duke. No might nor greatness in mortality of the sport ; he knew the service, and that in- Can censure 'scape; back-wounding calumny structed him to mercy.

The whitest virtue strikes : What king so strong, Duke. I never heard the absent duke much de-Can tie the gall up in the slanderous tongue? tected for women; he was not inclined that way. But who comes here?

Lucio. O, sir, you are deceived.
Duke. 'Tis not possible.

Enter Escalus, Provost, Bawd, and Officers. Lucio. Who? not the duke yes, your besgar Escal. Go, away with her to prison. of fifty ; -and his use was, to put a ducat in her Bawd. Good my lord, be good to me; your clack-dish: the duke had crotchets in him: He honour is accounted a merciful man: good my lord. would be drunk too; that let me inform you.

Escal. Double and treble admonition, and still Duke. You do him wrong, surely.

forfeit in the same kind ? This would make mercy Lucio. Sir, I was an inward of his : A shy fellow swear, and play the tyrant. was the duke : and, I believe, I know the cause of Prov. A bawd of eleven years' continuance, may his withdrawing.

it please your honour. Duke. What, I pr’ythee, might be the cause? Bawd. My lord, this is one Lucio's information

Lucio. No, - pardon ; 'tis a secret must be against me : mistress Kate Keep-down was with lock'd within the teeth and the lips: but this I car child by him in the duke's time, he promised her Let you understand, - The greater file of the subject marriage ; his child is a year and a quarter old, held the duke to be wise.

come Philip and Jacob : I have kept it myself; and Duke. Wise? why, no question but he was. see how he goes about to abuse me. Lucio. A very superficial, ignorant, unweighing Escal. That fellow is a fellow of much licence: fellow.

let him be called before us. — Away with her to Duke. Either this is envy in you, folly, or mis- prison : Go to; no more words. [Ereunt Bawd and taking ; the very stream of his life, and the business Officers.) Provost, my brother Angelo will not be he hath helmed, must, upon a warranted need, give alter’d, Claudio must die to-morrow : let him be him a better proclamation. Let him be but testi-furnish'd with divines, and have all charitable premonied in his own bringings forth, and he shall ap- paration : if my brother wrought by my pity, it pear to the envious, a scholar, a statesman, and a should not be so with him. soldier : Therefore, you speak unskilfully; or, if Prov. So please you, this friar hath been with your knowledge be more, it is much darken'd in him, and advised him for the entertainment of death. your malice.

Escal. Good even, good father. Lucio. Sir, I know him, and I love him.

Duke. Bliss and goodness on you! Duke. Love talks with better knowledge, and Escai. Of whence are you? knowledge with dearer love.

Duke. Not of this country, though my chance is Lucio. Come, sir, I know what I know.

now

:

To use it for my time: I am a brother

have labour'd for the proor gentleman, to the exOf gracious order, late come from the see,

tremest shore of my modesty; but my brother justice In special business from his holiness.

have I found so severe, that he hath forced me to Escal. What news abroad i' the world ?

tell him, he is indeed — justice. Duke. None, but that there is so great a fever on Duke. If his own life answer the straitness of his goodness, that the dissolution of it must cure it: proceeding, it shall become him well ; wherein, if novelty is only in request; and it is as dangerous to he chance to fail, he hath sentenced himself. be aged in any kind of course, as it is virtuous to Escal. I am going to visit the prisoner: Fare you be constant in any undertaking. There is scarce well. truth enough alive, to make societies secure; but Duke. Peace be with you ! security enough, to make fellowships accurs’d: much

(Ereunt Escalus and Provost upon this riddle runs the wisdom of the world. He, who the sword of heaven will bear, This news is old enough, yet it is every day's news. Should be as holy as severe; I pray you, sir, of what disposition was the duke ? Pattern in himself to know,

Escal. One, that, above all other strifes, contended Grace to stand, and virtue go; especially to know himself.

More nor less to others paying, Duke. What pleasure was he given to ?

Than by self-offences weighing. Escal. Rather rejoicing to see another merry, Shame to him, whose cruel striking than merry at any thing which profess'd to make Kills for faults of his own liking ! him rejoice : a gentleman of all temperance. But Twice treble shame on Angelo, leave we him to his events, with a prayer they may To weed my vice, and let his grow! prove prosperous; and let me desire to know how | 0, what may man within him hide, you find Claudio prepared. I am made to under- | Though angel on the outward side ! stand, that you have lent him visitation.

How may likeness, made in crimes, Duke. He professes to have received no sinister Making practice on the times, measure from his judge, but most willingly humbles Draw with idle spiders' strings himself to the determination of justice: yet had he Most pond'rous and substantial things framed to himself, by the instruction of his frailty, Craft against vice I must apply : many deceiving promises of life; which I, by my With Angelo to-night shall lie good leisure, have discredited to him, and now is His old, betrothed, but despis’d; be resolved to die.

So disguise shall, by the disguis'd, Escal. You have paid the heavens your function, Pay with falshood false exacting, and the prisoner the very debt of your calling. And perform an old contracting.

[Erit.

ACT IV.

SCENE I. - A Room in Mariana's House. Mar. You have not been inquired after : I have

sat here all day. Mariana discovered sitting; a Boy singing.

Enter Isabella.
SONG.

Duke. I do constantly believe you :- The time
Take, oh take those lips away,

is come, even now. I shall crave your forbearance

a little ; may be, I will call upon you anon, for That so sweetly were forsworn;

some advantage to yourself.
And those eyes, the break of day,

Mari. I am always bound to you. [Erit.
Lights that do mislead the morn :
But my kisses bring again,

Dukc. Very well met, and welcome.

What is the news from this good deputy ? bring again,

Isab. He hath a garden circummur'd with brick, Seals of love, but seald in vain, seal'd in vain.

Whose western side is with a vineyard back'd;

And to that vineyard is a planched gate, slari. Break off thy song, and haste thee quick That makes his opening with this bigger key: away ;

This other doth command a little door, Here comes a man of comfort, whose advice Which from the vineyard to the garden leads; Hath often still’d my brawling discontent.

There have I made my promise to call on him, | Exit Boy. Upon the heavy middle of the night.

Duke. But shall you on your knowledge find Enter Duke.

this way? I cry you mercy, sir; and well could wish

Isab. I have ta'en a due and wary note upon't ; You had not found me here so musical :

With whispering and most guilty diligence,
Let me excuse me, and believe me so,

In action all of precept, he did show me
My mirth it much displeas'd, but pleas'd my woe. The way twice o'er.
Duke. 'Tis good : though musick oft hath such Duke.

Are there no other tokens a charm,

Between you 'greed, concerning her observance To enake bad good, and good provoke to harm. Isab. No, none, but only a repair i' the dark. ; I pray you, tell me, hath any body inquired for me And that I have possess'd him, my most stay here to-day? much upon this time have I promis'd Can be but brief: for I have made him know.

I have a servant comes with me along,

here to meet.