Bawd. And what fhall become of those in the City? Clown. They fhall ftand for Seed; they had gone down too, but that a wife Burger put in for them.

Bawd. But fhall our Houfes of Refort in the Suburbs be pull'd down?

Clown. To the Ground, Miftrefs.

Bawd. Why here's a Change indeed in the Commonwealth; what thall become of me?

Clown. Come, fear not you; good Counsellors lack no Clients; though you change your Place, you need not change your Trade: I'll be your Tapfter ftill. Courage, there will be pity taken on you; you that have worn your Eyes almoft out in the Service, you will be confidered.

Bawd. What's to do here, Thomas Tapfter? let's with draw.

Clown. Here comes Signior Claudio, led by the Provoft to Prifon; and there's Madam Juliet. [Ex. Bawd and Clown. Enter Provoft, Claudia, Juliet and Officers.

Claud. Fellow, why doft thou show me thus to th' World? Bear me to Prifon, where I am committed. Prov. I do it not in evil Difpofition, But from Lord Angelo by fpecial Charge.

Claud. Thus can the Demi-god, Authority, Make us pay down, for our Offence, by weight The words of Heav'n; on whom it will, it will; On whom it will not, fo; yet ftill 'tis juft.

[ftraint?

Lucio. Why how now Claudio? Whence comes this Re
Cland. From too much Liberty, my Lucio, Liberty;

As Surfeit is the Father of much Faft,
So every Scope by the immoderate ufe
Turns to Reftraint: Our Natures do purfue,
Like Rats that ravin down their proper Bane,
A thirfy Evil, and when we drink, we die.

Lucio. If I could fpeak fo wifely, under an Arreft, I would fend for certain of my Creditors; and yet, to say the Truth, I had as lief have the Foppery of Freedom, as the Morality of Impriforment: What's thy Offence, Claudio? Claud. What, but to fpeak of, would offend again. Lucio. What is't, Murder?

Cland.

Claud. No.

Lucio. Letchery?

Cland. Call it fo.

Prov. Away, Sir, you must go.

Claud. One Word, Good Friend: Lucio, a Word with you.

Lucio. A hundred;

If they'll do you any good: Is Letchery fo look'd after?
Claud. Thus ftands it with me; upon a true Contract
I got Poffeffion of Julietta's Bed,

You know the Lady, fhe is faft my Wife,
Save that we do the Denunciation lack

Of outward Order. This we came not to,
Only for Propagation of a Dowre

Remaining in the Coffer of her Friends,

From whom we thought it meet to hide our Love
'Till Time had made them for us. But it chances
The Stealth of our moft mutual Entertainment
With Character too grofs, is writ in Juliet.
Lucio. With Child, perhaps?

Claud. Unhappily, even fo.

And the new Deputy, now for the Duke,
Whether it be the fault and glimpse of Newness,
Or whether that the Body publick be
A Horfe whereon the Governor doth ride,
Who newly in the Seat, that it may know
He can command, lets it ftrait feel the Spur;
Whether the Tyranny be in his Place
Or in his Eminence that fills it up,
I ftagger in: But this new Governor
Awakes me all the enrolled Penalties

Which have, like unfcour'd Armour, hung by th' Wall
So long, that nineteen Zodiacks have gone round,
And none of them been worn; and for a Name,
Now puts the drowfie and neglected A&

Freshly on me; 'tis furely for a Name.

Lucio. I warrant it is; and thy Head stands so tickle on thy Shoulders, that a Milk-maid, if the be in Love, may figh it off. Send after the Duke, and appeal to him.

Claud. I have done fo, but he's not to be found. I prethee, Lucio, do me this kind Service:

This Day, my Sifter fhould the Cloifter enter,
And there receive her Approbation.

Acquaint her with the danger of my State,
Implore her in my Voice, that the make Friends
To the ftrict Deputy; bid her felf affay him,
I have great Hope in that; for in her Youth
There is a prone and fpeechlefs Dialect,

Such as moves Men! befide, fhe hath profperous Art
When she will play with Reason, and Difcourfe,
And well the can perfuade.

Lucio. I pray the may; as well for the Encouragement of the like, which elfe would ftand upon grievous Impofitior, as for the enjoying of thy Life, who I would be forry fhould be thus foolishly loft, at a Game of Tick-tack. I'll to her.

Claud. I thank you, good Friend Lucio.

Lucio. Within two Hours.

Claud. Come Officer, away.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III. A Monastery.

Enter Duke and Friar Thomas.

Duke. No; holy Father, throw away that Thought, Believe not that the dribbling Dart of Love Can pierce a compleat Bofom: Why I defire thee To give me fecret Harbour, hath a Purpose More grave and wrinkled than the Aims and Ends Of burning Youth.

Fri. May your Grace fpeak of it.

Duke. My holy Sir, none better knows than you
How I have ever lov'd the Life remov'd,

And held in idle price to haunt Affemblies
Where Youth and Cost, and witlefs Bravery keeps.
I have delivered to Lord Angelo,

A Man of Stricture and firm Abftinence,
My abfolute Power and Place in Vienna,
And he fuppofes me travell'd to Poland,
For fo I have ftrew'd it in the common Ear,
And fo it is receiv'd: Now, pious Sir,
You will demand of me, why I do this.
Fri. Gladly, My Lord.

Duke.

Duke. We have ftri&t Statutes, and most biting Laws, The needful Bits and Curbs for head-ftrong Weeds, Which for this fourteen Years we have let flip,

Even like an o'er-grown Lion in a Cave

That goes not out to prey: Now, as fond Fathers,
Having bound up the threat'ning Twigs of Birch,
Only to ftick it in their Childrens fight,
For Error, not to ufe; in time the Rod
More mock'd than fear'd: So our Decrees,
Dead to Infliction, to themselves are dead,
And Liberty plucks Juftice by the Nofe;
The Baby beats the Nurfe, and quite athwart
Goes all Decorum.

Fri. It refted in your Grace

To unloofe this ty'd-up Juftice, when you pleas'd
And it in you more dreadful would have feem'd
Than in Lord Angelo.

Duke. I do fear, too dreadful;

Sith 'twas my Fault to give the People scope,
Twould be my Tyranny to ftrike and gall them
For what I bid them do. For we bid this be done
When evil Deeds have their permiffive Pafs,

And not the Punishment: Therefore indeed, my Father,
I have on Angelo impos'd the Office,

Who may in th' ambush of my Name ftrike home,
And yet, my Nature never in the fight

To do in flander: And to behold his Sway,
I will, as 'twere a Brother of your Order,
Vifit both Prince and People; therefore I prethee
Supply me with the Habit, and inftru&t me
How I may formally in Perfon bear

Like a true Friar. More Reasons for this Action,
At your more leifure, fhall I render you ;
Only this one: Lord Angelo is precise,
Stands at a guard with Envy, fcarce confeffes
That his Blood flows, or that his Appetite

Is more to Bread than Stone: Hence fhall we fee,

If Power change Purpofe, what our Seemers be. [Exeunt.

SCENE

SCENE

IV. A Nunnery.

Enter Ifabella and Francifca.

Ifab. And have you Nuns no farther Privileges?
Nun. Are not thefe large enough?

Ifab. Yes truly; I fpeak not as defiring more,
But rather wishing a more ftrict Reftraint

Upon the Sifterhood, the Votarifts of Saint Clare.
Lucio within.

Lucio. Hoa! Peace be in this Place.
Ifab. Who's that which calls?

Nun. It is a Man's Voice, gentle Ifabella,
Turn you the Key, and know his Bufiness of him;
You may, I may not, you are yet unfworn:

When you have vow'd, you must not fpeak with Men,
But in the Prefence of the Priorefs;

Then if you speak, you must not fhew your Face,
Or if you fhew your Face, you must not speak.
He calls again, I pray you answer him.

[Exit Franc Ifab. Peace and Profperity, who is't that calls? Enter Lucio.

Lucio. Hail Virgin, if you be, as thofe Cheek-Rofes Proclaim you are no lefs, can you so stead me,

As bring me to the Sight of Ifabella,

A Novice of this Place, and the fair Sifter

To her unhappy Brother Claudio?

Ifab. Why her unhappy Brother? Let me ask, The rather, for I now must make you know

I am that Isabella, and his Sifter.

Lucio. Gentle and Fair, your Brother kindly greets you; Not to be weary with you, he's in Prison.

Ifab. Wo me, for what?

Lucio. For that, which if my felf might be his Judge, He should receive his Punishment in Thanks;

He hath got his Friend with Child.

Ifab. Sir, make me not your Story.

Lucio. 'Tis true; I would not, tho' 'tis my familiar Sin, With Maids to feem the Lapwing, and to jest, Tongue, far from Heart; play with all Virgins fo. I hold you as a thing en-sky'd and fainted,

Be