Because we fee it; but what we do not fee,
We tread upon, and never think of it.
You may not fo extenuate his offence,

For I have had fuch faults; but rather tell me,
When I, that cenfure him, do so offend,
Let mine own judgement pattern out my death,
And nothing come in partial. Sir, he must die.
Efcal. Be it as your wisdom will.

Ang.

Where is the provost?

Prov. Here, if it like your honour.
Ang.

See that Claudio

Be executed by nine to-morrow morning:
Bring him his confeffor, let him be prepar'd;
For that's the utmost of his pilgrimage.

[Exit Provoft.

Efcal. Well, heaven forgive him! and forgive us all!

Some rife by fin, and some by virtue fall :

Some run from brakes of vice, and answer none;
And fome condemned for a fault alone.

Enter ELBOW, FROTH, Clown, Officers, &c.

Elb. Come, bring them away: if these be good people in a common-weal, that do nothing but ufe their abuses in common houses, I know no law: bring them away.

Ang. How now, fir! What's your name? and what's

the matter?

Elb. If it please your honour, I am the poor duke's conftable, and my name is Elbow; I do lean upon justice, fir, and do bring in here before your good honour two notorious benefactors.

Ang. Benefactors? Well; what benefactors are they? are they not malefactors ?

Elb. If it pleafe your honour, I know not well what they are: but precise villains they are, that I am fure of;

and void of all profanation in the world, that good chrif. tians ought to have.

Efcal. This comes off well; here's a wife officer.

Ang. Go to: What quality are they of? Elbow is your name? Why doft thou not speak, Elbow ?

Clo. He cannot, fir; he's out at elbow.

Ang. What are you, fir?

Elb. He, fir? a tapfter, fir; parcel-bawd; one that ferves a bad woman; whofe house, fir, was, as they say, pluck'd down in the fuburbs; and now the profefles a hot-house, which, I think, is a very ill house too. Efcal. How know you that?

Elb. My wife, fir, whom I deteft before heaven and your honour,

Efcal. How! thy wife?

Elb. Ay, fir; whom, I thank heaven, is an honest wo

man;

Efcal. Doft thou deteft her therefore?

Elb. I fay, fir, I will deteft myself alfo, as well as fhe, that this house, if it be not a bawd's house, it is pity of her life, for it is a naughty house.

Efcal. How doft thou know that, constable?

Elb. Marry, fir, by my wife; who, if he had been a woman cardinally given, might have been accufed in fornication, adultery, and all uncleanliness there.

Efcal. By the woman's means?

Elb. Ay, fir, by mistress Over-done's means: but as fhe fpit in his face, so she defy'd him.

Clo. Sir, if it please your honour, this is not fo.

Elb. Prove it before these varlets here, thou honourable

man, prove it.

Efcal. Do you hear how he misplaces?

[TO ANGELO.

Clo. Sir, fhe came in great with child; (faving your honour's reverence,) for stew'd'

and longing prunes; fir,

we had but two in the house, which at that very distant time stood, as it were, in a fruit-dish, a difh of fome three-pence; your honours have feen fuch difhes; they are not China dishes, but very good dishes.

Efcal. Go to, go to; no matter for the dish, fir.

Clo. No, indeed, fir, not of a pin; you are therein in the right: but, to the point: As I fay, this mistress Elbow, being, as I fay, with child, and being great belly'd, and longing, as I faid, for prunes; and having but two in the dish, as I faid, mafter Froth here, this very man, having eaten the reft, as I said, and, as I fay, paying for them very honeftly!-for, as you know, master Froth, I could not give you three-pence again.

Froth. No, indeed.

Clo. Very well you being then, if you be remember'd, cracking the ftones of the forefaid prunes

Froth. Ay, fo I did, indeed.

Clo. Why, very well: I telling you then, if you be remember'd, that such a one, and fuch a one, were past cure of the thing you wot of, unless they kept very good diet, as I told you

Froth. All this is true.

Clo. Why, very well then.

Escal. Come, you are a tedious fool: to the purpose.

What was done to Elbow's wife, that he hath cause to complain of? Come me to what was done to her.

Clo. Sir, your honour cannot come to that yet.
Efcal. No, fir, nor I mean it not.

Clo. Sir, but you fhall come to it, by your honour's leave: And, I beseech you, look into master Froth here, fir; a man of fourfcore pound a year; whofe father died at Hallowmas :-Was't not at Hallowmas, mafter Froth?

Froth. All-hollond eve.

C 2

Clo.

Clo. Why, very well; I hope here be truths: He, fir, fitting, as I fay, in a lower ch ir, fir;-'twas in the Bunch of Grapes, where, indeed, you have a delight to fit: Have you not?

Froth. I have fo; because it is an open room, and good for winter.

leave,

Clo. Why, very well then ;-I hope here be truths.
Ang. This will last out a night in Ruffia,
When nights are longest there: I'll take my
And leave you to the hearing of the caufe;
Hoping, you'll find good caufe to whip them all.

Escal. I think no lefs: Good morrow to your lordship. [Exit ANGELO. Now, fir, come on: What was done to Elbow's wife,

once more?

Clo. Once, fir? there was nothing done to her once. Elb. I beseech you, fir, afk him what this man did to my wife.

Clo. I beseech your honour, ask me.

Efcal. Well, fir; What did this gentleman to her ? Clo. I beseech you, fir, look in this gentleman's face : -Good mafter Froth, look upon his honour; 'tis for a good purpose: Doth your honour mark his face? Efcal. Ay, fir, very well.

Clo. Nay, I beseech you, mark it well.

Efcal. Well, I do fo.

Clo. Doth your honour fee any harm in his face?
Efcal. Why, no.

Clo. I'll be fuppofed upon a book, his face is the worst thing about him: Good then; if his face be the worst thing about him, how could mafter Froth do the conftable's wife any harm? I would know that of your honour. Efcal. He's in the right: Conftable, what fay you to it?

Ell.

Elb. First, an it like you, the house is a respected house; next, this is a refpected fellow; and his mistress is a refpected woman.

Clo. By this hand, fir, his wife is a more respected perfon than any of us all.

Elb. Varlet, thou lieft; thou lieft, wicked varlet: the time is yet to come, that she was ever refpected with man, woman, or child.

Clo. Sir, fhe was refpected with him before he married with her.

Efcal. Which is the wifer here? Juftice, or Iniquity?— Is this true?

Elb. O thou caitiff! O thou varlet! O thou wicked Hannibal! I refpected with her, before I was married to her? If ever I was respected with her, or she with me, let not your worship think me the poor duke's officer:Prove this, thou wicked Hannibal, or I'll have mine action of battery on thee.

Efcal. If he took you a box o' the ear, you might have your action of flander too.

Elb. Marry, I thank your good worship for it: What is't your worship's pleasure I fhall do with this wicked caitiff?

Efcal. Truly, officer, because he hath some offences in him, that thou wouldst discover if thou couldst, let him continue in his courfes, till thou know'ft what they are.

Elb. Marry, I thank your worship for it :-Thou seest, thou wicked varlet now, what's come upon thee; thou art to continue now, thou varlet; thou art to continue. Efcal. Where were you born, friend?

Froth. Here in Vienna, fir.

Efcal. Are of fourfcore pounds a year?

you

Froth. Yes, and't please you, fir.

[To FROTH.

Efcal. So.-What trade are you of, fir? [To the Clown.

C 3

Clo