Let me know the point. Isab. O, I do fear thee, Claudio; and I quake, Lest thou a feverous life should'st entertain, And six or seven winters more respect Than a perpetual honour. Dar'st thou die? And the poor beetle, that we tread upon, In corporal sufferanee finds a pang as great As when a giant dies. Death is a fearful thing. Isab. And shamed life a hateful. Clau. Ay, but to die, and go we know not where; To lie in cold obstruction, and to rot; A kneaded clod; and the delighted spirit The weariest and most loathed worldly life, To what we fear of death. Alas! alas! Clau. Sweet sister, let me live: What sin you do to save a brother's life, Isab. O, you beast! O, faithless coward! O, dishonest wretch! Is't not a kind of incest, to take life From thine own sister's shame? What should I think? Heaven shield, my mother play'd my father fair! Why give you me this shame? For such a warped slip of wilderness Think you I can a resolution fetch From flowery tenderness? If I must die, I will encounter darkness as a bride, And hug it in mine arms. Ne'er issu'd from his blood. Take my defiance: Isab. There spake my brother; there my father's No word to save thee. I'll pray a thousand prayers for thy death, Duke. Vouchsafe a word, young sister, but one word. Duke. Might you dispense with your leisure, I would by and by have some speech with you: the satisfaction I would require, is likewise your own benefit. Isab. I have no superfluous leisure: my stay, must be stolen out of other affairs; but I will attend you awhile. Duke. [To Claudio, aside.] Son, I have overheard what hath past between you and your sister. Angelo had never the purpose to corrupt her; only he hath made an essay of her virtue, to practise his judgement with the disposition of natures: she having the truth of honour in her, hath made him that gracious denial which he is most glad to receive: I am confessor to Angelo, and I know this to be true; therefore prepare yourself to death: Do not satisfy your resolution with hopes that are fallible: to-morrow you must die; go to your knees, and make ready. Clau. Let me ask my sister pardon. I am so out of love with life, that I will sue to be rid of it. Duke. Hold you there: Farewell, Re-enter Provost. Provost, a word with you. [Erit Clau. Prov. What's your will, father? Duke, That now you are come, you will be gone :Leave me a while with the maid; ny mind promises with my habit, no loss shall touch her by my company. Prov. In good time. [Exit Prov. Duke. The hand, that hath made you fair, hath made you good: the goodness, that is cheap in beauty, makes beauty brief in goodness; but grace, being the soul of your complexion, should keep the body of it ever fair. The assault, that Angelo hath made to you, fortune hath conveyed to my understanding; and, but that frailty hath examples for his falling, I should wonder at Angelo. How would you do to content this substitute, and to save your brother? Isab. I am now going to resolve him: I had rather my brother die by the law, than my son should be unlawfully born. But O, how much is the good duke deecived in Angelo! If ever he return, and I can speak to him, I will open my lips in vain, or discover his government. Duke. That shall not be much amiss: Yet, as the matter now stands, he will avoid your accusation; he made trial of you only. Therefore, fasten your ear on my advisings; to the love I have in doing good, a remedy presents itself. I do make myself believe, that you may most uprighteously do a poor wronged lady a merited benefit; redeem your brother from the angry law; do no stain to your own gracious person; and much please the absent duke, if, peradventure, he shall ever return to have hearing of this business. Isab. Let me hear you speak further; I have spirit to do any thing that appears not foul in the truth of my spirit. Duke. Virtue is bold, and goodness never fearful. Have you not heard speak of Mariana, the sister of Frederick, the great soldier, who miscarried at sea? Isab. I have heard of the lady, and good words went with her name. Duke. Her should this Angelo have married; was affianced to her by oath, and the nuptial appointed: between which time of the contract, and limit of the solemnity, her brother Frederick was wrecked at sea, baving in that perish'd vessel the dowry of his sister. But mark, how heavily this befel to the poor gentlewonan: there she lost a noble and renowned brother, in his love toward her ever most kind and natural; with him the portion and sinew of her fortune, her marriage-dowry; with both, her combinate husband, this well-seeming Angelo. Isab. Can this be so? Did Angelo so leave her? Duke. Left her in her tears, and dry'd not one of them with his comfort; swallowed his vows whole, pretending, in her, discoveries of dishonour: in few, bestowed her on her own lamentation, which she yet wears for his sake; and he, a marble to her tears, is washed with them, but relents not. Isab. What a merit were it in death, to take this poor maid from the world? What corruption in this life, that it will let this man live!-But how out of this can she avail? Duke. It is a rupture that you may easily heal: and the cure of it not only saves your brother, but keeps you from dishonour in doing it. Isab. Show me how, good father. Duke. This fore-named maid hath yet in her the continuance of her first affection; his unjust unkindness, that in all reason should have quenched her love, hath, like an impediment in the current, made it more violent and unruly. Go you to Angelo; answer his requiring with a plausible obedience; agree with his demands to the point: only refer yourself to this advantage,-first that your stay with him may not be long; that the time may have all shadow and silence in it; and the place answer to convenience: this be ing granted in course, now follows all. We shall advise this wronged maid to stead up your appointment, go in your place; if the encounter acknowledge itself hereafter, it may compel him to her recompense: and here, by this, is your brother saved, your honour untainted, the poor Mariana advantaged, and the corrupt deputy scaled. The maid will I frame, and make fit for his attempt. If you think well to carry this as you may, the doubleness of the benefit defends the deceit from reproof. What think you of it? Isab. The image of it gives me content already; and, I trust, it will grow to a most prosperous perfec tion. Duke. It lies much in your holding up: Haste you speedily to Angelo; if for this night he entreat you to his bed, give him promise of satisfaction. I will presently to St. Luke's; there, at the moated grange, re sides this dejected Mariana: at that place call upon me; and despatch with Angelo, that it may be quickly. Isab. I thank you for this comfort: Fare you well, good father. [Exeunt severally. Elb. Nay, if there be no remedy for it, but that you will needs buy and sell men and women like beasts, we shall have all the world drink brown and white bastardDuke. O heavens! what stuff is here? Clown. "Twas never merry world, since, of two usuries, the merriest was put down, and the worser allow'd by order of law a furr'd gown to keep him warm; and furr'd with fox and lamb-skins too, to signify that craft, being richer than innocency, stands for the facing. Elb. Come your way, sir -Bless you, good father friar. Duke. And you, good brother father: What offence hath this man made you, sir? Elb. Marry, sir, he hath offended the law; and, sir, we take him to be a thief too, sir; for we have found upon him, sir, a strange pick-lock, which we have sent to the deputy. Duke. Fie, sirrah; a bawd, a wicked bawd! So stinkingly depending? Go, mend, go, mend. Duke. Nay, if the devil hath given thee proofs for sin, Thou wilt prove his.-Take him to prison, officer; Correction and instruction must both work, Elb. He must before the deputy, sir; he has given him warning: the deputy cannot abide a whoremaster : if he be a whoremonger, and comes before him, he were as good go a mile on his errand. Duke. That we were all, as some would seem to be, Free from our faults, as faults from seeming, free! Enter Lucio. Elb. His neck will come to your waist, a cord, sir. Cison. I spy comfort; Iery, bail: here's a gentle- || that he was got between two stock-fishes:-But it is man, and a friend of mine. Lucio. How now, noble Pompey? What, at the heels ef Cesar? Art thou led in triumph ? What, is there none of Pygmalion's images, newly made women, to be kad now, for putting the hand in the pocket and extracting it eluteh'd? What reply? Ha? What say'st thou to this tune, matter, and method? Is't not drown'd the last rain? Ha? What say'st thou, trot? Is the world as it was, man? Which is the way? Is it sad, and few words? Or how? The trick of it? Du. Still thus, and thus! still worse! Lurie. How doth my dear morsel, thy mistress ? Procures she still? Ha? Clown. Troth, sir, she hath eaten up all her beef, and she is herself in the tub. Lucie. Why, 'tis good; it is the right of it; it must be so: Ever your fresh whore, and your powder'd bawd: An unshunn'd consequence; it must be so: Art going to prison, Pompey! Clown. Yes, faith, sir. Elb. For being a bawd, for being a bawd. Lucie. Well, then imprison him: If imprisonment be the due of a bawd, why, 'tis his right: Bawd is he, doubtless, and of antiquity too; bawd-born.-Farewell, good Pompey: Commend me to the prison, Pompey; You will turn good husband now, Pompey; you will keep the house. Clown. I hope, sir, your good worship will be my bail. Lucio. No, indeed, will I not, Pompey; it is not the Lucio. Does Bridget paint still, Pompey? Ha? Clown. You will not bail me then, sir? Lucio. Then, Pompey? nor now. What news a broad, friar? What news? Elb. Come your ways, sir; come. Lucia. Go, to kennel, Pompey, go : [Exe. Elbow, Clown, and Officers. What news, friar, of the Duke? Duke. I know none: Can you tell me of any ? Lucio, Some say, he is with the emperor of Russia ; ather some, he is in Rome: But where is he, think you? Duke. I know not where: But wheresoever, I wish him well. Lucis. It was a mad fantastical trick of him, to steal from the state, and usurp the beggary he was never born to. Lord Angelo dukes it well in his absence; he puts trangression to't. Duke. He does well in't. Lucio. A little more lenity to lechery would do no Iarm in him: something too crabbed that way, friar. Duke. It is too general a vice, and severity must cure it. Lauris. Yes, in good sooth, the vice is of a great kindred; it is well ally'd: but it is impossible to extirp it quite, friar, till eating and drinking be put down. They may, this Angelo was not made by man and woman, after the downright way of creation: Is it true, think ? Duke. How should be be made then? certain, that, when he makes water, his urine is congeal'd ice; that I know to be true: and he's a motion ungenerative, that's infallible. Duke. You are pleasant, sir; and speak apace. Lucio. Why, what a ruthless thing is this in him, for the rebellion of a cod-piece, to take away the life of a man? Would the duke, that is absent, have done this? Ere he would have hang'd a man for the getting a hundred bastards, he would have paid for the nursing a thousand: He had some feeling of the sport; he knew the service, and that instructed him to mercy. Duke. I never heard the absent duke much detected for women; he was not inclined that way. Lucio. O, sir, you are deceived. Duke. "Tis not possible. Lucio. Who? not the duke? yes, your beggar of fifty; and his use was, to put a ducat in her clackdish: the duke had crotchets in him: He would be drunk too; that let me inform you. Duke. You do him wrong, surely. Lucio. Sir, I was an inward of his: A shy fellow was the duke: and, I believe, I know the cause of his withdrawing. Duke. What, I pr'ythee, might be the cause? Lucio. No, pardon ;-'tis a secret must be lock'd within the teeth and the lips: but this I can let you understand, The greater file of the subject held the duke to be wise. Duke. Wise? why, no question but he was. Lucio. A very superficial, ignorant, unweighing fel low. Duke. Either this is envy in you, folly, or mistaking; the very stream of his life, and the business he hath helmed, must, upon a warranted need, give him a better proclamation. Let him be but testimonied in his own bringings forth, and he shall appear to the envious, a scholar, a statesman, and a soldier: Therefore, you speak unskilfully; or, if your knowledge be more, it is much darken'd in your malice. Lucio. Sir, I know him, and love him. Duke. Love talks with better knowledge, and knowledge with dearer love. Lucio. Come, sir, I know what I know. Duke. I can hardly believe that, since you know not what you speak. But, if ever the duke return, (as our prayers are he may) let me desire you to make your answer before him: If it be honest you have spoke, you have courage to maintain it: I am bound to call upon you; and, I pray you, your name? Lucio. Sir, my name is Lucio; well known to the duke. Duke. He shall know you better, sir, if I may live to report you. Lucio. I fear you not. Duke. O, you hope the duke will return no more; or you imagine me too unhurtful an opposite. But, indeed, I can do you little harm: you'll forswear this again. Lucio. I'll be hang'd first thou art deceived in me friar. But no more of this: Canst thou tell, if Claudio die to-morrow, or no? Duke. Why should he die, sir? Lucio. Why, for filling a bottle with a tun-dish. I would, the duke, we talk of, were return'd again: this ungenitur'd agent will unpeople the province with continency; sparrows must not build in his house-eaver, because they are lecherous. The duke yet would have dark deeds darkly answered; he would never bring them Luice. Some report, a sea-maid spawn'd him:-Some, to light: Would he were return'd! Marry, this Claudia is condemn'd for untrussing. Farewell, good friar; I Duke. No might nor greatness in mortality Enter Escalus, Provost, Bawd, and Officers. Esca. Double and treble admonition, and still forfeit in the same kind? This would make merey swear, and play the tyrant. Prov. A bawd of eleven years continuance, may it please your honour. Bawd. My lord, this is one Lucio's information a gainst me: mistress Kate Keep-down was with child by him in the duke's time; he promised her marriage; his child is a year and a quarter old, come Philip and Jacob: I have kept it myself; and see, how he goes about to abuse me. Esca. That fellow is a fellow of much license :-let him be called before us.-Away with her to prison: Go to; no more words. [Exe. Bared and Officers.] Provost, my brother Angelo will not be alter'd, Claudio must die to-morrow: let him be furnished with divines, and have all charitable preparation: if my brother wrought by my pity, it should not be so with him. Prov. So please you, this friar hath been with him, and advised him for the entertainment of death. Esca. Good even, good father. Duke. Bliss and goodness on you! Esca. Of whence are you? Duke. Not of this country, though my chance is now Esca. What news abroad i' the world? Duke. None, but that there is so great a fever on goodness, that the dissolution of it must cure it: novelty is only in request; and it is as dangerous to be aged in any kind of course, as it is virtuous to be constant in any undertaking. There is scarce truth enough alive to make societies secure; but security enough, to make fellowships accurs'd: much upon this riddle runs the wisdom of the world. This news is old enough, yet it is every day's news. I pray you, sir, of what disposition was the duke ? Esca. One, that, above all other strifes, contended especially to know himself. Duke. What pleasure was he given to ? Esca. Rather rejoicing to see another merry, than merry at any thing which profess'd to make him rejoice: a gentleman of all temperance. But leave we bim to his events, with a prayer they may prove pros perous; and let me desire to know, how you find Claudio prepared? I am made to understand, that you have lent han visitation. Duke. He professes to have received no sinister measure from his judge, but most willingly huinbles himself to the determination of justice: yet had he tramed to hirascif, by the instruction of his frailty, many deceiving promises of life; which I, by my good leisure, have discredited to him, and now is he resolved to die. Esca. You have paid the heavens your function, and the prisoner the very debt of your calling. I have labour'd for the poor gentleman, to the extremest shore of my modesty; but my brother justice have I found so severe, that he hath forced me to tell him, he is indeed-justice. Duke. If his own life answer the straitness of his proceeding, it shall become him well; wherein, if he chance to fail, he hath sentenced himself. Esca. I am going to visit the prisoner: Fare you well. He, who the sword of heaven will bear, To weed my vice, and let his grow! w ACT IV. [Exit. SCENĘ I.-A Room in Mariana's house. Mariana discovered sitting; a Boy singing. SONG. TAKE, oh take those lips away, Lights that do mislead the morn: Mari. Break off thy song, and haste thee quick away; Enter Duke. I cry you mercy, sir; and well could wish Duke. 'Tis good though music oft hath such a charm, To make bad, good, and good provoke to harm. Mari. You have not been inquir'd after: I have sat here all day. Duke. I do constantly believe you :- The time is come, even now. I shall crave your for- Mari. 1 am always bound to you. [Eai What is the news from this good deputy? Which from the vineyard to the garden leads; me a direct answer. To-morrow morning are to die Claudio and Barnardine: Here is in our prison a common executioner, who in his office lacks a helper: if you will take it on you to assist him, it shall redeem you from your gyves; if not, you shall have your full time of imprisonment, and your deliverance with an unpitied whipping for you have been a notorious bawd. Clown. Sir, I have been an unlawful bawd, time out Duke. But shall you on your knowledge find this of mind; but yet I will be content to be a lawful way? Isab. I have ta'en a due and wary note upon't: With whispering and most guilty diligence, The way twice o'er. Duke. Are there no other tokens That stays upon me; whose persuasion is, I come about my brother. 'Tis well borne up. I have not yet made known to Mariana A word of this-What, ho! within! come forth! I pray you, be aequainted with this maid; Isab. I do desire the like. Duke. Do you persuade yourself that I respect you? The vaporous night approaches. Mari. Will't please you walk aside? Duke. O place and greatness, millions of false eyes Run with these false and most contrarious quests Upon thy doings! thousand 'scapes of wit And rack thee in their fancies!-Welcome! how a hangman. I would be glad to receive some instruc- Prov. What ho, Abhorson! where's Abhorson, there? Abhor. Do you call, sir? Prov. Sirrah, here's a fellow will help you to-morrow in your execution: If you think it meet, compound with him by the year, and let him abide here with you; if not, use him for the present, and dismiss him: He cannot plead his estimation with you; he hath been a bawd. Abhor. A bawd, sir? Fie upon him, he will discredit our mystery. Prov. Go to, sir; you weigh equally; a feather will turn the scale. [Exit. Clown. Pray, sir, by your good favour, (for, surely, sir, a good favour you have, but that you have a hanging look,) do you call, sir, your occupation a mystery? Abhor. Ay, sir; a mystery. Cloron. Painting, sir, I have heard say, is a mystery: and your whores, sir, being members of my occupраtion, using painting, do prove my occupation a mystery: but what mystery there should be in hanging, if I should be hang'd, I cannot imagine. Abhor. Sir, it is a mystery. Abhor. Every true man's apparel fits your thief: If it be too little for your thief, your true man thinks it big enough; if it be too big for your thief, your thief thinks it little enough: so every true man's apparel fits your thief. Re-enter Provost. Prov. Are you agreed? Clown. Sir, I will serve him; for I do find, your hangman is a more penitent trade than your bawd; he doth oftener ask forgiveness. Prov. You, sirrah, provide your block and your axe, to-morrow four o'clock. Abhor. Come on, bawd; I will instruct thee in my trade; follow. Clown. I do desire to learn, sir; and, I hope, if you have occasion to use me for your own turn, you shall find me yare: for, truly, sir, for your kindness, I owe you a good turn. Prov. Call hither Barnardine and Claudio: [Exeunt Clown and Abhorson. |