(For this was of much length,) the vile conclusion

I now begin with grief and shame to utter: He would not, but by gift of my chaste body To his concupiscible intemperate Inst, [ment, Release my brother; and, after much debateMy sisterly remorse confutes mine honour, And I did yield to him: But the next morn

betimes,

His purpose surfeiting, he sends a warrant
For my poor brother's head.
Duke.

This is most likely!
Isab. O, that it were as like, as it is true!
Duke. By heaven, fonds 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
reason,

That with such vehemency he should pursue
Faults proper to himself: if he had so offended,
He would have weigh'd thy brother by himself,
And not have cut him off: Some one hath set
you on;

Confess the truth, and say by whose advice
Thou cam'st here to complain.

Isab.

And is this all? Then, oh, you blessed ministers above, Keep me in patience; and, with ripen'd time, Unfold the evil which is here wrapt up In countenance!-Heaven shield your grace from woe,

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 hina 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.
[that Lodowick?
Duke. A ghostly father, belike:-Who knows
Lucio. My lord, I know him; 'tis a med-
[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,

dling friar;

belike!

1. Conspiracy.

Beat.

*Habits and characters of office.

F. Peter. I know him for a man divine and Not scurvy, nor a temporary meddler, [holy; As he's reported by this gentleman; And, on my trust, a man that never yet Did, as he vonches, misreport your grace. Lucio. My lord, most villanously; believe it. [clear himself;

F. Peter. Well, he in time may come to But at this instant he is sick, my lord, Of a strange fever: Upon his mere request, (Being come to knowledge that there was

complaint

Intended 'gainst lord Angelo,) came I hither,
Tospeak, as from his mouth, what he doth know
Is true, and false; and what he with his oath,
And all probation, will make up full clear,
Whensoever he's convented t. First, for this
(To justify this worthy nobleman, [woman;
So vulgarly and personally accus'd,)
Her shall you hear disproved to her eyes,
Till she herself confess it.

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.
Mari. Pardon, my lord; I will not show
Until my husband bid ine.
[my face,
Duke.

What, are you married?

Mari. No, my lord.

Duke.

Mari.

Are you a maid?

Duke. A widow then?

Mari.

No, my lord.

Neither, my lord.

Duke.

Why, you

Are nothing then:-Neither maid, widow, nor wife?

Lucio. My lord, she may be a punk; for many of them are neither maid, widow, nor wife. [some cause

Duke. Silence that fellow: I would, he had To prattle for himself.

Lucio. Well, my lord.

[married; Mari. My lord, I do confess I ne'er was And, I confess, besides, I am no maid: I have known my husband; yet my husband That ever he knew me.

[knows not,

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. Mari. Now I come to't, my lord: She, that accuses him of fornication, In self-same manner doth accuse my husband; And charges him, my lord, with such a time, When I'll depose I had him in mine arms, With all the effect of love.

Duke. No? you say, your husband. Mari. Why, just, my lord, and that is Angelo, Who thinks, he knows, that he ne'er knew my

body,

But knows, he thinks, that he knows Isabel's
Ang. This is a strange abuse :-Let's see thy
face.
[unmask. (Unveiling.
Mari. My husband bids me; now I will
This is that face, thou cruel Angelo, [ing on:
Which, once thou swor'st, was worth the look-
This is the hand, which, with a vow'd contract,
Was fast belock'd in thine: this is the body
That took away the match from Isabel,
And did supply thee at thy garden-house,
In her imagined person.
Duke.

Know you this woman?
Sirrah, no more.
Lucio. Enough, my lord.
[woman;
Ang. My lord, I must confess, I know this
And, five years since, there was some speech

Lucio. Carnally, she says.
Duke.

of marriage

Betwixt myself and her; which was broke off,
Partly, for that her promised proportions
Came short of composition: 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
Upon my faith and honour.
[from her,
Mari.

Noble prince,

As there comes light from heaven, and words from breath,

As there is sense in truth, and truth in virtue,
I am affianc'd this man's wife, as strongly
As words could make up vows: and, my good
[house,

lord,

But Tuesday night last gone, in his garden-
He knew me as a wife: As this is true
Let me in safety raise me from my knees;
Or else for ever be confixed here,
A marble monument!

[he, indeed,

F. Peter. Would he were here, my lord; for Hath set the women on to this complaint:

† Publicly. Crazy.

§ Deception,

** Conspiracy. M

Your provost knows the place where he abides, And he may fetch him.

Duke. Go, do it instantly.-[Exit Provost. And you, my noble and well-warranted cousin, Whom it concerns to hear this matter forth, Do with your injuries as seems you best, In any chastisement: I for a while [well Will leave you; but stir not you, till you have Determined upon these slanderers.

Escal. My lord, we'll do it thoroughly. [Exit DUKE.] -Signior Lucio, did not you say, you knew that friar Lodowick to be a dishonest person?

Lució. Cucullus non facit monachum: bonest in nothing, but in his clothes; and one that hath spoke most villanous 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.

Escal. Say you?

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. Escul. I will go darkly to work with her. Lucio. That's the way; for women are light at midnight.

Escal. Come on, mistress: [70 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.

Is't not enough, thou hast suborn'd these

women

by joint,

To accuse this worthy man; but, in foul month
And in the witness of his proper ear,
To call him villain?
[himself;
And then to glance from him to the duke
To tax him with injustice?-Take him hence;
To the rack with him:-We'll touze you joint
[just?
But we will know this purpose: -What! un-
Duke. Be not so hot; the duke
Dare no more stretch this finger of mine, than
Dare rack his own; his subject am I not,
Nor here provinciali: My business in this state
Made me a looker-on here in Vienna,
Where I have seen corruption boil and bubble,
Till it o'er-run the stew: laws, for all faults;
But faults so countenanc'd, that the strong sta-
tutes

Stand like the forfeits in a barber's shop,
As much in mock as mark.

The

Escal. Slander to the state! Away with him to prison. 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.

Lucio. O thou damnable fellow! Did not I pluck thee by the nose, for thy speeches? Duke. I protest, I love the duke, as I love myself.

Ang. Hark! how the villain would close now, after his treasonable abuses.

Escal. Such a fellow is not to be talk'd withal:-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 sheep-biting face, and be hang'd an hour ! Will't not off? Pulls off the Friar's hood, and discovers the DUKE.

Duke. Thou art the first knave, that eer made a duke.

First, provost, let me bail these gentle three:† Accountable. Wantons.

Sneak not away, sir; 'To LUCIO.] for the friar and you

Must have a word anon :-lay hold on him. Lucio. This may prove worse than hanging. Duke. What you have spoke, I pardon; sit you down.- [TO ESCALUS. We'll borrow place of him:-Sir, by your leave:[TO ANGELO. Hast thou or word, or wit, or impudence, That yet can do thee office? If thou hast, Rely upon it till my tale be heard,

And hold no longer out.

Ang.

O, my dread lord,

I should be guiltier than my guiltiness,
To think I can be undiscernible, [divine,
When I perceive, your grace, like power
Hath look'd upon my passest: Then, good
No longer session hold upon my shame, [prince,
But let my trial be mine own confession;
Immediate sentence then, and sequent death,
Is all the grace I beg.

Duke.

Come, hither, Mariana:-Say, wast thou e'er contracted to this woman? Ang. I was, my lord. [instantly.Duke. Go take her hence, and marry her Do you the office, friar; which consummate, Return him here again:-Go with him, Provost.

[Exeunt ANGELO, MARIANA, PETER, and Provost.

Escal. My lord, I am more amaz'd at his Than at the strangeness of it. [dishonour, Duke. Come hither, Isabel: Your friar is now your prince: As I was then Advértising ý, and holy to your business, Not changing heart with habit, I am still Attorney'd at your service.

Isab.

O, give me pardon, That I, your vassal, have employ'd and pain'd Your unknown sovereignty. Duke.

You are pardon'd, Isabel: And now, dear maid, be you as free to us. Your brother's death, I know, sits at your heart; And you may marvel, why I obscur'd myself, Labouring to save his life; and would not rather Make rash remonstrance of my hidden power, Than let him so be lost: O, most kind maid, It was the swift celerity of his death,

Which I did think with slower foot came on, That brain'd my purpose: But, peace be with That life is better life, past fearing death [him; Than that which lives to fear: make it your So happy is your brother.

[comfort,

Re-enter ANGELO, MARIANA, PETER, and Provost.

Isab.

I do, my lord. Duke. For this new married man, approaching here,

Whose salt imagination yet hath wrong'd
Your well-defended honour, you must pardon
For Mariana's sake: but as he adjudg'd your
(Being criminal, in double violation [brother,
Of sacred chastity, and of promise-breach,
Thereon dependant, for your brother's life,)
The very mercy of the law cries out
Most audible, even from his proper|| tongue,
An Angelo for Claudio, death for death.

• Service. † Devices. Following.

Haste still pays haste, and leisure answers leisure; [Measure. Like doth quit like, and Measure still fer Then Angelo, thy fault's thus manifested; Which though thou wouldst deny, denies thee

vantage:

We do condemn thee to the very block
Where Claudio stoop'd to death, and with
Away with him.
[like haste;-
Mari.
O, my most gracious lord,
I hope you will not mock me with a husband!
Duke. It is your husband mock'd you with
a husband:

Consenting to the safeguard of your honour,
I thought your marriage fit; else imputation,
For that he knew you, might reproach your life,
And choke your good to come: for his pos-
sessions,

Although by confiscation they are ours,
We do instate and widow you withal,
To buy you a better husband.
Mari.

O, my dear lord,
I crave no other, nor no better man.
Duke. Never crave him; we are definitive.
Mari. Gentle, my liege,-
[Kneeling.
Duke.
You do but lose your labour;
Away with him to death--Now, sir, [To
LUCIÓ.] to you.
[take my part;

Mari. O, my good lord!-Sweet Isabel, Lend me your knees, and all my life to come I'll lend you, all my life to do you service. Duke. Against all sense you do impórtuneher: Should she kneel down, in mercy of this fact, Her brother's ghost his paved bed would break, And take her hence in horror.

Mari.

Isabel, Sweet Isabel, do yet but kneel by me; Hold up your hands, say nothing, I'll speak all. They say, best men are moulded out of faults; And, for the most, become much more the better For being a little bad; so may my husband. 0, Isabel! will you not lend a knee?

Duke. He dies for Claudio's death.
Isab. Most bounteous sir, [Kneeling.
Look, if it please you, on this man condemn'd,
As if my brother liv'd: I partly think,
A due sincerity govern'd his deeds,
Till he did look on me; since it is so,
Let him not die: My brother had but justice,
In that he did the thing for which he died:
For Angelo,

His act did not o'ertake his bad intent;
And must be buried but as an intent [jects;
That perish'd by the way: thoughts are no sub-
Intents but merely thoughts.

Mari.

Merely, my lord. [say.Duke. Your suit's unprofitable; stand up, I I have bethought me of another fault:Provost, how came it, Claudio was beheaded At an unusual hour?

deed?

Prov. It was commanded so. Duke. Had you a special warrant for the [message. Prov. No, my good lord; it was by private Duke. For which I do discharge you of [your office:

Give up your keys.

Attentive.

|| Angelo's own tongue.