thing near to the speech we had to such a pur-1 pose. 1 Gent. But most of all, agreeing with the proclamation. Lucio. Away; let's go learn the truth of it. [Exeunt LUCIO and GENTLEMAN. Bawd. Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat, what with the gallows, and what with poverty, I am custom-shrunk. How now? what's the news with you? Enter CLOWN. Clo. Yonder man is carried to prison. Bawd. Well; what has he done? Clo. A woman. Bawd. But what's his offence? Clo. Groping for trouts in a peculiar river. Bawd. What, is there a maid with child by bim? Clo. No; but there's a woman with maid by him: You have not heard of the proclamation, have you? Bawd. What proclamation, man? Clo. All houses in the suburbs of Vienna must be pluck'd down. Bawd. And what shall become of those in the city? Clo. They shall stand for seed: they had gone down too, but that a wise burgher put in for them. Bawd. But shall all our house sof resort in the suburbs be pull'd down? Clo. To the ground, mistress. Bawd. Why, here's a change, indeed, in the commonwealth! What shall become of me? Clo. Come; fear not you; good counsellors lack no clients: though you change your place, you need not change your trade; I'll be you tapster still. Courage; there will be pity taken on you: you that have worn our eyes almost out in the service, you will be considered. Bawd. What's to do here, Thomas Tapster? Let's withdraw. Clo. Here comes signior Claudio, led by the provost to prison: and there's madam Juliet. SOENE III.-The same. [Exeunt. Enter PROVOST, CLAUDIO, JULIET, and Bear me to prison, where I am committed. Claud. Thus can the demi god, Authority, Make us pay down for our offence by weight.The words of heaven ;-on whom it will, it will; On whom it will not, so; yet still 'tis just. Lucio. Why, how now, Claudio? whence comes this restraint? Claud. From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty; As surfeit is the father of much fast, So every scope by the inmoderate use Turns to restraint: Our natures do pursue, (Like rats that ravin down their proper bane,) A thirsty evil; and when we drink, we die. Lucio. If I could speak so wisely under an arrest, I would send for certain of my creditors: And yet, to say the truth, I had as lief have the foppery of freedom, as the morality of imprisonment. What's thy offence, Claudio ? Claud. What, but to speak of would offend again. Lucio. What is it? murder? Claud. One word, good friend :- Lacio, a word with you. [Takes him and Lucio. A hundred, if they'll do you any good. -Is lechery so look'd after? Claud. Thus stands it with me :-Upon a true contract, I got possession of Julietta's bed; Remaining in the coffer of her friends; And the new deputy now for the duke,— A horse whereon the governor doth ride, So long, that nineteen zodiacs have gone round, Lucio. I warrant, it is; and thy head stamÈS so tickle + on thy shoulders, that a milk-mail, if she be in love, many sigh it off. Send after the duke, and appeal to him. Claud. I have done so, but he's not to be found. I pr'ythee, Lucio, do me this kind service: Acquaint her with the danger of my state; When she will play with reason and discourse, Lucio. I pray, she may; as well for the encouragement of the like, which else would stand under grievous imposition; as for the enjes og of thy life, who I would be sorry should be thus foolishly lost at a game of tick-tack. I'll wa her. Enter DUKE and FRIAR THOMAS. Duke. No; holy father; throw away that thought; Believe not that the dribbling dart of love To give me secret harbour, hath a purpose Fri. May your grace speak of it? Duke. My holy Sir, none better knows thin you How I have ever lov'd the life remov'd; ¶ I have delivered to lord Angelo Duke. We have strict statutes, and most biting (The needful bits aud curbs for headstrong steeds) Which for these fourteen years we have let sleep; That goes not out to prey: Now, as fond fathers crees, Dead to infliction, to themselves are dead; Fri. It rested in your grace To unioose this tied-up justice, when you pleas'd; And it in you more dreadful would have seem'd, Than in lord Angels. Duke. I do fear, too dreadful: Sith 'twas my fault to give the people scope, Twould be my tyranny to strike, and gall them For what I bid them do: For we bid this be done, When evil deeds have their permissive pass, And not the punishment. Therefore, indeed, my father, I have on Angelo impos'd the office; Who may, in the ambush of my name, strike home, And yet my nature never in the sight, Supply me with the habit, and instruct me Enter Lucio. Lucio. Hail, virgin, if you be; as three cheek roses Proclaim you are no less! Can you so stead me A novice of this place, and the fair sister Isab. Why her unhappy brother? let me ask Lucio. Gentle and fair, your brother kindly greets you: Not to be weary with you, he's in prison. Lucio. For that, which, if myself might be bis judge, He should receive his punishment in thanks: Isab. Sir, make me not your story. • Lucio. It is true. I would not-though 'fis my familiar sín Isab. You do bla-pheme the good, in mocking me. Lucio. Do not believe it. Fewness and truth,+ 'tis thus: Your brother and his lover have embrac'd : Lucio. Is she your cousin? names, By vain though apt affection. Isab. Oh! let him marry her! The duke is very strangely gone from hence: ac- Bore many gentlemen, myself being one, At our more leisure shall I render you; SCENE V.-A Nunnery. Isab. And have you nuns no further In haud, and hope of action: but we do learn Fran. Are not these large enough? Falls into forfeit: he arrests him on it; Isab. Doth he so seek his life? Isab. Alas! what poor ability's in me Lucio. Assay the power you have. And make us lose the good we oft might win, SCENE L-A Hall in ANGELO'S House. Enter ANGELO, ESCALUS, a JUSTICE, PROVOST, Officers, and other Attendants. Ang. How now, Sir ! What's your name and what's the matter? Elb. If it please your honour, I am the pour duke's constable, and my name is Elbow, I de lean upon justice, Sir, and do bring in here before your good honour two notorions besefactors. Ang. Benefactors? Well; what benefactors are they are they not malefactors ? Elb. If it please your honour, I know not well what they are: but precise villains they are, that I am sure of; and void of ali profana tiou in the world, that good Christians ought to have. Clo. He canuot, Sir; he's out at elbow. Elb. He, Sir? a tapster, Sir; parcel +-bowd; Ang. We must not make a scare-crow of the one that serves a bad woman; whose house, Sir. law, Setting it up to fear the birds of prey, And let it keep one shape, till custom make it Their perch, and not their terror. Escal. Ay, but yet Let us be keen, and rather cut a little, Than fall, and bruise to death: Alas! this gen tleman, Whom I would save, had a most noble father, Let but your honour know, § (Whom I believe to be most strait in virtue,) That, in the working of your own affections, Had time coher'd with place, or place with wishing, Or that the resolute acting of your blood Could have attain'd the effect of your own purpose, Whether you had not sometime in your life Err'd in this point which now you censure him, And pull'd the law upon you. Ang. 'Tis one thing to be tempted, Escalus, That justice seizes. What know the laws, pregnant, 'Tis very The jewel that we find, we stoop and take it, Be executed by nine to-morrow morning: [Exit PROVOST Escal. Well, heaven forgive him; and forgive us all! Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall: was, as they say, pluck'd down in the suburbs, and now she professes; a hot-house, which, I think, is a very ill house too. Escal. How know you that ? Elb. My wife, Sir, whom I detest j before heaven and your honour, Escal. How! thy wife ? Elb. Ay, Sir? whom, I thank heaven, is an honest woman, Escal. Dost thou detest her therefore! Elb. I say, Sir, I will detest myself also, as well as she, that this house, if it be not a bond'i house, it is pity of her life, for it is a naughty bouse. Elb. Prove it before these varlets here, then honourable man, prove it. Escal. Do you hear how he misplaces! ¡TO ANGELO Clo. Sir, she came in great with chud; and longing (saving your honour's reverence,) for stew'd prunes; Sir, we had but two in the house, which at that very distant time stood, as it were, in a fruit dish, a dish of some three-pence; your honours have seen such dishes; they are n China dishes, but very good dishes. Escal. Go to, go to: no matter for the dash, Sir. Clo. No, indeed, Sir, not of a pin; you are therein in the right: but, to the point; As I say, this mistress Elbow, being, as I say, with cd, and being great belly'd, and longing, as sad, for prunes; and having but two in the dist, as I said, master Froth here, this very man, bating eaten the rest, as I said, and, as I say, paring for them very honestly;-for, as you know, master Froth, I cou'd not give you three-peace again. Froth. No, indeed. Clo. Very well you being then, if you be remember'd, cracking the stones of the foresaid prunes. Froth. Ay, so I did, indeed. Clo. Why, very well: I telling you then, if von be remember'd, that such a one, and such a one, were past cure of the thing you wot of, uniess 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 be bath cause to complain of? Come me to what was done to her. Clo. Sir, your bonour cannot come to that yet. Escal. No, Sir, nor I mean it not. Clo. Sir, but you shall come to it, by your honour's leave: And, I beseech you, look into master Froth here, Sir; a man of fourscore pound a year; whose father died at Hallowmas : -Was't not at Hallowmas, master Froth ? Froth. All-hollondeve. Clo. Why, very well; I hope here be truths: He, Sir, sitting, as I say, in a lower chair, Sir-twas in the Bunch of Grapes, where, judeed, you have a delight to sit; Have you not? Froth I have so; because it is an open room, and good for winter. Clo. Why, very well then ;-I hope here be truths. Ang. This will last out a night in Russia, When nights are longest there: I'll take my leave, And leave you to the hearing of the cause; Hoping, you'd find good cause to whip them all. Escal. I think no less: Good morrow to your lordship. [Exit ANGELO. Now, Sir, come on; What was done to Elbow's wife, once more? Cio. Once, Sir? there was nothing done to her once. Elb. I beseech you, Sir, ask him what this man did to my wife. Thou seest, thou wicked varlet now, what's come upon thee; thou art to continue now, thou varlet; thou art to coatinue, Escal. Where were you born, friend? [To FROTH. Froth. Here in Vienna, Sir. Clo. Mistress Over-done. Escal. Hath she had any more than one busband. Clo. Nine, Sir; Over-done by the last. Escal. Nine!-Come hither to me, master Froth. Master Froth, I would not have you acquainted with tapsters: they will draw you, master Froth, and you will haug them: Get you gone, and let me hear no more of you. Froth. I thank your worship: For mine own part, I never come into any room in a taphouse, but I am drawn in. Escal. Well; no more of it, master Froth; farewell. [Exit FROTH.-Come you hither to me, master tapster: what's your name, master tapster? Clo. Pompey. Escal. What else? Clo. Bum, Sir. Escal. 'Troth, and your bum is the greatest thing about you; so that, in the beastliest sense, Clo. I beseech your bonour, ask me. Escal. Well, Sir: What did this gentleman to you are Pompey the great. Pompey, you are her? partly a bawd, Pompey, howsoever you colour it Clo. I beseech yon, Sir, look in this gentle-in being a tapster. Are you not? come, tell me man's face :-Good master Froth, look upon his true; it shall be the better for you. honour; 'tis for a good purpose: Doth your honour mark his face ? Escal. Ay, Sir, very well. Clo. Nay, I beseech you, mark it well. Clo. Doth your honour see any harm in his face ? Escal. Why, no. Clo. I'll be supposed upon a book, his face is the worst thing about him: Good then; if his face be the worst thing about him, how could master Froth do the constable's wife any harm? I would know that of your bonour. Escal. He's in the right: Constable, what say you to it? Elb. First, an it like you, the house is a respected bouse; next, this is a respected fellow; and his mistress is a respected woman. Clo. By this hand, Sir, his wife is a more respected person than any of us all. Elb. Varlet, thou liest; thou liest, wicked varlet the time is yet to come, that she was ever respected with man, woman, or child. lo. Sir, she was respected with him before he married with her. Escal. Which is the wiser here? Justice or Iniquity? Is this true ? Elb. O thou caitiff! O thou varlet! O thou wicked Hannibal! I respected with her, before I was married to her? If ever I was respected with her, or she with me, let not your worship think mie the poor dake's officer:-Prove this, thou wicked Hannibal, or I'll have mine action of battery on thee. Escal. If he took you a box o' ear, you might have your action of slander too. Elb. Marry, I thank your good worship for it: What is't your worship's pleasure I should do with this wicked caitiff? Escal. Truly, officer, because he hath some offences in him, that thou wouldst discover if thou couldst, let him continue in his courses, till thou know'st what they are. Elb. Marry, I thank your worship for it : Clo. Truly, Sir, I am a poor fellow, that would live. Escal. How would you live Pompey by being a bawd? What do you think of the trade, Pompey? is it a lawful trade? Clo. If the law would allow it, Sir. Escal. But the law will not allow it, Pompey; nor it shall not be allowed in Vienna. Clo. Does your worship mean to geld and spay all the youth in the city? Escal. No, Pompey. Clo. Truly, Sir, in my poor opinion, they will to't then: If your worship will take order for the drabs and the knaves, you need not to fear the bawds. Escal. There are pretty orders beginning, I can tell you: It is but beading and hanging. Clo. If you head and hang all that offend that way but for ten year together, you'il be glad to give out a commission for more beads. if this law hold in Vienna ten year, I'll rent the fairest house in it, after threepence a bay : If you live to see this come to pass, say, Pompey told you so. Escal. Thank you, good Pompey: and, in requital of your prophecy, hark you,-I advise you, let me not find you before me again upon any complaint whatsoever, no, not for dwelling where you do if I do, Pompey, I shall beat you to your tent, and prove a shrewd Cæsar to you; in plain dealing, Pompey, I shall have you whipt: so for this time, Pompey, fare you well. Clo. I thank your worship for your good count. sel; but I shall follow it, as the flesh and fortune shall better determine. Whip me? No, no; let carman whip his jade; The valiant heart's not whipt out his trade. {Exit. Escal. Come hither to me, master Elbow ; come hither, master Constable. How long have you been in this place of constable ? Elb. Seven year and a balf, Sir. Escal. I thought, by your readiness in the office, you had continued in it some time: You say, seven years together? • Measures. Elb. And a half, Sir. Escal. Alas! it hath been great pains to you! They do you wrong to put you so oft upon't: Are there not men in your ward sufficient to serve it? Elb. Faith, Sir, few of any wit in such matters as they are chosen, they are glad to choose me for them; I do it for some piece of money, and go through with all. Escal. Look you, bring me in the names of some six or seven, the most sufficient of your parish. Elb. To your worship's house, Sir? Escal. To my house: Fare you well. [Exit. ELBOW.] What's o'clock, think you? Just. Eleven, Sir. Ang. Now, what's the matter, provost ? Prov. Is it your will Claudio shall die tomorrow ? Ang. Did I not tell thee, yea? hadst thou not order ? Why dost thou ask again? Prov. Lest I might be too rash: Under your good correction, I have seen, When, after execution, judgment hath Repented o'er his doom. Ang. Go to; let that be mine: Do you your office, or give up your place, Prov. I crave your honour's pardon. What shall be done, Sir, with the groaning Juliet ? She's very near her hour. Ang. Dispose of her Kneel down before him, hang upon his gown; You are too cold: if you should need a pin, You could not with more tame a tongue desire it: To him, 1 say. Isab. Must be needs die? Ang. Maiden, no remedy. Isab. Yes; I do think that you might pardon him, And neither heaven nor man grieve at the mercy, Ang. I will not do't. Isab. But can you, if you would Ang. Look, what I will not, that I cannot do, Isab. But might you do't, and do the world no wrong, If so your heart were touch'd with that remorse As mine is to him? Ang. He's sentenc'd; 'tis too late, Lucio. You are too cold. [To ISABELLA Isab. Too late? why, no; 1, that do spent a word, May call it back again : Well believe this, Isab. I would to heaven I had your potency, And you were Isabel! should it then be thus ! No; I would tell what 'twere to be a judge, And what a prisoner. Lucio. Ay, touch him: there's the vein. Aride. Why, all the souls that were, were forfeit once, To some more fitter place; and that with speed. Found out the remedy: How would you be, Re-enter SERVANT. If He, which is the top of judgment, should But judge you as you are? Oh! think on that, Serv. Here is the sister of the man condemn'd, And mercy then will breathe within your lips, Like man new made. Desires access to you. Ang. Hath he a sister? Ang. Be you content, fair maid; Prou. Ay, my good lord; a very virtuous It is the law, not I, condemns your brother: maid, Ang. Well let her be admitted. [Exit SERV. See you, the fornicatress be remov'd; Let her have needful, but not lavish, means; Enter LUCIO and ISABELLA. Prov. Save your honour! [Offering to retire. Ang. Stay a little while.-To ISAB.] You are welcome: What's your will? Isab. I am a woeful snitor to your honour, Please but your honour hear me. Ang. Well; what's your suit? Isab. There is a vice, that most I do abhor, And most desire should meet the blow of justice; For which I would not plead, but that I must; For which I must not plead, but that I am At war 'twixt will and will not. Were he my kinsman, brother, or my son, It should be thus with him ;-be must die to |