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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 lord,
But Tuesday night last gone, in his garden-house,
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!

Ang. I did but smile till now;

Now, good my lord, give me the scope of justice;
My patience here is touch'd. I do perceive,
These poor informal women are no more
But instruments of some more mightier member,
That sets them on. Let me have way, my lord,
To find this practice out.

Duke. Ay, with my heart;

And punish them unto your height of pleasure.
Thou foolish friar; and thou pernicious woman,
Compact with her that's gone! thinkst thou, thy oaths,
Though they would swear down each particular saint,
Were testimonies against his worth and credit,
That's seal'd in approbation?-You, lord Escalus,
Sit with my cousin; lend him your kind pains
To find out this abuse, whence 'tis deriv'd!-
There is another friar that set them on;

Let him be sent for.

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 Lucio. Mum. call upon you.

Escal. Come, sir: Did you set these women on to slander Lord Angelo? they have confess'd, you did. Duke. 'Tis false.

Escal. How! know you where you are?

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 speak: 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 unjust,
Thus to retort your manifest appeal,
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.
Escal. Why, thou unreverend and unhallow'd friar!
Is't not enough, thou hast suborn'd these women
To accuse this worthy man; but, in foul mouth,
And in the witness of his proper ear,

To call him villain?

And then to glauce from him to the duke himself;
To tax him with injustice?-Take him hence;
To the rack with him! We'll touze you joint by joint,
But we will know this purpose:-what! unjust?
Duke. Be not so hot! the duke

Dare no more stretch this finger of mine, than he
Dare rack his own; his subject am I not,
Nor here provincial: my business in this state
Made me a looker-on here in Vienna,

F. Peter. Would he were here, my lord; for he, in- Where I have seen corruption boil and bubble, deed,

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Will leave you; but stir not you, till you have well Determined upon these slanderers.

[Exit

Escal. My lord, we'll do it thoroughly. Duke.] Signior Lucio, did not you say, you knew that friar Lodowick to be a dishonest person? 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.
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. Escal. I will go darkly to work with her.

Till it o'er-run the stew: laws for all faults;
But faults so countenanc'd, that the strong statutes
Stand like the forfeits in a barber's shop,

As much in mock as mark.

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Duke. Most notedly, sir.

Lucio. Do you so, sir? And was the duke a fleshmonger, 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 e'er made a
duke.-

First, provost, let me bail these gentle three:-
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,

When I perceive, your grace, like power divine,
Hath look'd upon my passes. Then, good prince,
No longer session hold upon my shame,
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.

Duke. Go,take her hence, and marry her instantly!
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 dishonour, Than at the strangeness of it.

Duke. Come hither, Isabel!

Your friar is now your prince. As I was then
Advertising, 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 him!
That life is better life, past fearing death,

Than that which lives to fear: make it your comfort,
So happy is your brother.

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 brother,
(Being criminal in double violation

Of sacred chastity, and of promise-breach,
Thereon dependent, 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.

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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.
O, 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,

That perish'd by the way: thoughts are no subjects;
Intents but merely thoughts.

Mari. Merely, my lord.

-

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

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 office:
Give up your keys!

Prov. Pardon me, noble lord!

I thought it was a fault, but knew it not;
Yet did repent me, after more advise:
For testimony whereof, one in the prison,
That should by private order else have died,
I have reserv'd alive.

Duke. What's he?

Prov. His name is Barnardine.

Duke. I would thou had'st done so by Claudio.Go, fetch him hither; let me look upon him! [Exit Provost.

Escal. I am sorry, one so learned and so wise

As you, lord Angelo, have still appear'd,
Should slip so grossly, both in the heat of blood,
And lack of temper'd judgment afterward.

Ang. I am sorry, that such sorrow I procure:
And so deep sticks it in my penitent heart,
That I crave death more willingly, than mercy :
'Tis my deserving, and I do entreat it.

Re-enter Provost, BARNARDINE, CLAUDIO, and JULIET.
Duke. Which is that Barnardine?

Prov. This, my lord.

Duke. There was a friar told me of this man :-
Sirrah, thou art said to have a stubborn soul,
That apprehends no further than this world,
And squar'st thy life according. Thou'rt condemn'd;
But, for those earthly faults, I quit them all;
And pray thee, take this mercy to provide
For better times to come! -Friar, advise him;

Lucio. 'Faith, my lord, I spoke it but according to the trick. If you will hang me for it, you may, but I had rather it would please you, I might be whipp'd. Duke. Whipp'd first, sir, and hang'd after !— Proclaim it, provost, round about the city: If any woman's wrong'd by this lewd fellow, (As I have heard him swear himself, there's one Whom he begot with child,) let her appear, And he shall marry her: the nuptial finish'd, Let him be whipp'd and hang'd!

Lucio.I beseech your highness, do not marry me to a whore! Your highness said even now, I made you a duke; good my lord, do not recompense me in making me a cuckold.

Duke. Upon mine honour, thou shalt marry her.
Thy slanders I forgive; and therewithal
Remit thy other forfeits. Take him to prison;

I leave him to your hand.—What muffled fellow's that? And see our pleasure herein executed.
Prov. This is another prisoner, that I sav'd,
That should have died, when Claudio lost his head,
As like almost to Claudio, as himself.

[Unmuffles Claudio. Duke. If he be like your brother,[To Isabella.] for his sake

Is he pardon'd; and, for your lovely sake,
Give me your hand, and say you will be mine,
He is my brother too. But fitter time for that.
By this, lord Angelo perceives he's safe;
Methinks, I see a quick'ning in his eye:-
Well, Angelo, your evil quits you well:
Look,that you love your wife; her worth,worth yours.
I find an apt remission in myself:

And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon ;

Lucio. Marrying a punk,my lord,is pressing to death, whipping, and hanging.

Duke. Sland'ring a prince deserves it.-
She, Claudio, that you wrong'd, look you restore.—
Joy to you, Mariana !-love her, Angelo;

*

I have confess'd her, and I know her virtue.-
Thanks, good friend Escalus, for thy much goodness!
There's more behind, that is more gratulate.-
Thanks, provost, for thy care, and secrecy;
We shall employ thee in a worthier place :-
Forgive him, Angelo, that brought you home
The head of Ragozine for Claudio's!
The offence pardons itself.-Dear Isabel,
I have a motion much imports your good;
Whereto, if you'll a willing ear incline,

You, sirrah, [To Lucio. ] that knew me for a fool, a What's mine, is yours, and what is yours, is mine :—

coward,

One all of luxury, an ass, a madman;

Wherein have I so deserved of you,

That you extol me thus?

So bring us to our palace; where we'll show
What's yet behind, that's meet you all should know.

[Exeunt.

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Messenger.

Mess. He is very near by this; he was not three leagues off, when I left him.

Leon. How many gentlemen have you lost in this

a action?

Mess. But few of any sort, and none of name.

Leon. Ilearn in this letter, that Don Pedro of Arra- Leon. A victory is twice itself, when the aiever

gon comes this night to Messina.

brings home full numbers. I find here, that Don Pe

dro hath bestowed much honour on a young Florentine, called Claudio.

Mess. Much deserved on his part, and equally remembered by Don Pedro: he hath borne himself beyond the promise of his age; doing, in the figure of a lamb, the feats of a lion: he hath, indeed, better bettered expectation, than you must expect of me to tell you how.

Leon. He hath an uncle here in Messina, will be very much glad of it.

Mess. I have already delivered him letters, and there appears much joy in him; even so much,that joy could not show itself modest enough without a badge of bitterness.

Leon. Did he break out into tears?

Mess. In great measure.

Leon. A kind overflow of kindness! There are no faces truer than those that are so washed. How much better is it to weep at joy, than to joy at weeping! Beat. I pray you, is signior Montauto returned from the wars, or no?

Mess. I know none of that name, lady; there was none such in the army of any sort.

Leon. What is he that you ask for, niece?

Hero. My cousin means signior Benedick of Padua. Mess. O, he is returned ;and as pleasant as ever he was. Beat. He set up his bills here in Messina, and challenged Cupid at the flight: and my uncle's fool, reading the challenge, subscribed for Cupid, and challenged him at the bird-bolt.-I pray you, how many hath he killed and eaten in these wars? But how many hath he killed? for, indeed, I promised to eat all of his killing. Leon. Faith, niece, you tax signior Benedick too much; but he'll be meet with you, I doubt it not.

Mess. He hath done good service, lady, in these wars. Beat. You had musty victual, and he hath holp to eat it: he is a very valiant trencher-man, he hath an excellent stomach.

Mess. And a good soldier too, lady.

Beat. And a good soldier to a lady. But what is he to a lord?

Mess. A lord to a lord, a man to a man; stuffed with all honourable virtues.

Beat. It is so indeed; he is no less than a stuffed man: but for the stuffing!-Well, we are all mortal.

Leon. You must not, sir, mistake my niece: there is a kind of merry war betwixt signior Benedick and her; they never meet, but there is a skirmish of wit between them.

Mess. I will hold friends with you, lady.
Beat. Do, good friend.

Leon. You will never run mad, niece.
Beat. No, not till a hot January.
Mess Don Pedro is approached.
Enter Don PEDRO, attended by BALTHAZAR and others,
Don JOHN, CLAUDIO, and BENEDICK.

D. Pedro. Good signior Leonato, you are come to meet your trouble: the fashion of the world is to avoid cost, and you encounter it.

Leon. Never came trouble to my house in the likeness of your grace: for trouble being gone, comfort should remain; but, when you depart from me, sorrow abides, and happiness takes his leave.

D. Pedro. You embrace your charge too willingly.I think, this is your daugther.

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Leon. Her mother hath many times told me so.
Bene. Were you in doubt, sir, that you asked her?
Leon.Signior Benedick,no; for then were you a child.
D. Pedro. You have it full, Benedick: we may guess
by this what you are, being a man. Truly, the lady
fathers herself: be happy, lady! for you are like
an honourable father.

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Bene. If signior Leonato be her father, she would not have his head on her shoulders, for all Messina, as like him as she is.

Mess. I see, lady, the gentleman is not in your books. Beat. No: an he were, I would burn my study. But, I pray you, who is his companion? Is there no young squarer now, that will make a voyage with him to the devil?

Beat. I wonder, that you will still be talking, signior Benedick; no body marks you. Bene. What,my dear lady Disdain!are you yet living? Beat. Is it possible, disdain should die, while she hath such meet food to feed it, as signior Benedick? Courtesy itself must convert to disdain, if you come in her presence.

Mess. He is most in the company of the right noble Claudio.

Bene. Then is courtesy a turn-coat. -But it is certain, I am loved of all ladies, only you excepted: and would I could find in my heart, that I had not a hard heart; for truly, I love none.

I

Beat. O Lord! he will hang upon him like a disease: he is sooner caught than the pestilence, and the taker runs presently mad. God help the noble Claudio! it he have caught the Benedick, it will cost him a thousand pound, ere he be cured.

Beat. A dear happiness to women; they would else have been troubled with a pernicious suitor. I thank God, and my cold blood, I am of your humour for that; had rather hear my dog bark at a crow, than a man swear he loves me.

I

Bene. God keep your ladyship still in that mind! so some gentleman or other shall 'scape a predestinate scratched face.

Beat. Scratching could not make it worse, an 'twere such a face as your's were.

Bene. Well, you are a rare parrot-teacher. Beat. A bird of my tongue is better, than a beast of yours.

Bene. I would, my horse had the speed of your tongue; and so good a continuer. But keep your way o' God's name; I have done.

Beat. You always end with a jade's trick; I know you of old.

D. Pedro. This is the sum of all: Leonato,- signior Claudio, and signior Benedick,-my dear friend Leonato hath invited you all. I tell him, we shall stay here at the least a month; and he heartily prays, some occasion may detain us longer: I dare swear he is no hypocrite, but prays from his heart.

Leon.If you swear,my lord, you shall not be forsworn. Let me bid you welcome, my lord; being reconciled to the prince your brother, I owe you all duty. D. John. I thank you: I am not of many words, but thank you.

I

Leon. Please it your grace lead on?
D. Pedro. Your hand, Leonato! we will go together.
[Exeunt all but Benedick and Claudio.
Claud. Benedick, didst thou note the daugther of
signior Leonato?

Bene. Inoted her not; but I looked on her.
Claud. Is she not a modest young lady?

Bene. Do you question me, as an honest man should do, for my simple true judgment; or would you have me speak after my custom, as being a professed tyrant to their sex?

to trust none; and the fine is, (for the which I may go the finer,) I will live a bachelor.

D. Pedro.I shall see thee,ere I die,look pale with love. Bene. With anger, with sickness, or with hunger, my Claud. No, I pray thee, speak in sober judgment. lord; not with love: prove, that ever I lose more blood Bene. Why, i'faith, methinks she is too low for a high with love, than I will get again with drinking, pick out praise, too brown for a fair praise, and too little for a mine eyes with a ballad-maker's pen,and hang me up at great praise. Only this commendation I can afford her, the door of a brothel-house, for the sign of blind Cupid. that, were she other than she is, she were unhandsome; D. Pedro. Well, if ever thou dost fall from this faith, and being no other but as she is, I do not like her. thon wilt prove a notable argument. Claud. Thou thinkest, I am in sport; I pray thee, tell me truly how thou likest her.

Bene. Would you buy her, that you inquire after her?
Claud. Can the world buy such a jewel?

Bene. Yea, and a case to put it into. But speak you this with a sad brow? or do you play the flouting Jack, to tell us, Cupid is a good hare-finder,and Vulcan a rare carpenter? Come, in what key shall a man take you, to go in the song?

Claud. In mine eye, she is the sweetest lady that ever I looked on.

Bene. If I do, hang me in a bottle like a cat, and shoot at me; and he that hits me, let him be clapped on the shoulder, and called Adam.

D. Pedro. Well, as time shall try: In time the savage bull doth bear the yoke. Bene. The savage bull may; but if ever the sensible Benedick bear it, pluck off the bull's horns, and set them in my forehead: and let me be vilely painted; and in such great letters as they write, Here is good horse to hire, let them signify under my sign,-Here you may

see Benedick the married man.

Claud. If this should ever happen, thou would'st be

Bene. I can see yet without spectacles, and I see no such matter. There's her cousin, an she were not pos-horn-mad. sessed with a fury, exceeds her as much in beauty, as the first of May doth the last of December. But I hope, you have no intent to turn husband; have you? Claud.I would scarce trust myself, though I had sworn the contrary, if Hero would be my wife.

Bene. Is it come to this, i'faith? Hath not the world one man, but he will wear his cap with suspicion? Shall I never see a bachelor of threescore again? Go to, i'faith; an thou wilt needs thrust thy neck into a yoke, wear the print of it, and sigh away Sundays. Look, Don Pedro is returned to seek you.

Re-enter Don PEDRO.

D. Pedro. What secret hath held you here, that you followed not to Leonato's?

D. Pedro. Nay, if Cupid have not spent all his quiver in Venice, thou wilt quake for this shortly. Bene. I look for an earthquake too then. D. Pedro. Well, you will temporize with the hours. In the mean time, good signior Benedick, repair to Leonato's; commend me to him, and tell him, I will not fail him at supper; for, indeed, he hath made preparation.

great

Bene. I have almost matter enough in me for such an
embassage; and so I commit you-
Claud. To the tuition of God; from my house, (if
I had it)-

D. Pedro. The sixth of July: your loving friend, Benedick.

Bene. Nay, mock not, mock not! The body of your Bene. I would, your grace would constrain me to tell. discourse is sometime guarded with fragments, and the D. Pedro. Icharge thee on thy allegiance. guards are but slightly basted on neither: ere you flout Bene. You hear, count Claudio: I can be secret as a old ends any further, examine your conscience; and so dumb man, I would have you think so; but on my alle-I leave you. [Exit Benedick. giance, mark you this, on my allegiance: - He is in Claud. My liege, your highness now may do me good. love. With who? - -now that is your grace's part.-D. Pedro. My love is thine to teach; teach it but how, Mark,how short his answer is:-With Hero,Leonato's And thou shalt see, how apt it is to learn short daughter. Any hard lesson that may do thee good. Claud. Hath Leonato any son, my lord? D. Pedro. No child but Hero, she's his only heir: Dost thou affect her, Claudio?

Claud. If this were so, so were it uttered.

Bee. Like the old tale, my lord: it is not so, nor 'twas not so; but, indeed, God forbid it should be so! Claud. If my passion change not shortly, God forbid it should be otherwise.

D. Pedro. Amen, if you love her; for the lady is very well worthy.

Claud. You speak this to fetch me in, my lord.
D. Pedro. By my troth, I speak my thought.
Claud. And, in faith, my lord, I spoke mine.

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Bene. And, by my two faiths and troths, my lord, I Come thronging soft and delicate desires, spoke mine.

Claud. That I love her, I feel.

D. Pedro. That she is worthy, I know.

Bene. That I neither feel, how she should be loved, nor know,how she should be worthy,is the opinion that fire cannot melt out of me; I will die in it at the stake. D. Pedro. Thou wast ever an obstinate heretic in the despite of beauty.

Claud. And never could maintain his part, but in the force of his will.

Bene. That a woman conceived me, I thank her; that she brought me up, I likewise give her most humble thanks: but that I will have a recheat winded in my forehead, or hang my bugle in an invisible baldrick, all women shall pardon me. Because I will not do them the wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the right

All prompting me, how fair young Hero is,
Saying, Ilik'd her, ere I went to wars.
D. Pedro. Thou wilt be like a lover presently,
And tire the hearer with a book of words:
If thou dost love fair Hero, cherish it;
And I will break with her, and with her father,
And thou shalt have her. Was't not to this end,
That thou began'st to twist so fine a story?
Claud. How sweetly do you minister to love,
That know love's grief by his complexion!
But lest my liking might too sudden seem,
would have salv'd it with a longer treatise.
D. Pedro. What need the bridge much broader than

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the flood?

The fairest grant is the necessity:
Look, what will serve, is fit: 'tis once, thou lov'st;

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