Duke. You shall not be admitted to his sight. Isab. Unhappy Claudio! Wretched Isabel! Injurious world! Most damned Angelo !

Duke. This nor hurts him, nor profits you a jot:

Forbear it therefore; give your cause to heaven.
Mark what I say; which you shall find
By every syllable, a faithful verity:

Escal. I guess not.

your eyes;

One of our convent, and his confessor,

Gives me this instance: Already he hath carried
Notice to Escalus and Angelo ;

Who do prepare to meet him at the gates,
There to give up their power.

your wisdom

If you can, pace

In that good path that I would wish it go;
And you shall have your bosom on this wretch,
Grace of the duke, revenges to your heart,
And general honour.

Isab. I am directed by you.

Duke. This letter then to friar Peter give; 'Tis that he sent me of the duke's return: Say, by this token, I desire his company

At Mariana's house to night. Her cause, and yours,

I'll perfect him withal; and he shall bring you Before the duke; and to the head of Angelo Accuse him home, and home. For my poor self, I am combined by a sacred vow,

And shall be absent. Wend you with this letter:

Command these fretting waters from your eyes With a light heart; trust not mine holy order, If I pervert your course.-Who's here?

Enter LUCIO.

Lucio. Good even! Friar, where is the provost ?

Duke. Not within, Sir.

Lucio. O pretty Isabella, I am pale at mine heart, to see thine eyes so red: thou must be patient; I am fain to dine and sup with water and bran; I dare not for my head fill my belly; one fruitful meal would set me to't: But they say the duke will be here to-morrow. By my troth, Isabel, I lov'd thy brother: if the old fantastical duke of dark coruers had been at home, he had (Erit ISABELLA. Duke. Sir, the duke is marvellous little beholden to your reports; but the best is, he lives not in them.

lived.

Lucio. Friar, thou knowest not the duke so well as I do he's a better woodman than thou takest him for.

Duke. Well, you'll answer this one day. Fare ye well.

Lucio. Nay, tarry; I'll go along with thee; I can tell thee pretty tales of the duke.

Duke. You have told me too many of him already, Sir, if they be true; if not true, none were enough.

Lucio. I was once before him for getting a wench with child.

Duke. Did you such a thing?

Lucio. Yes, marry, did I: but was fain to forswear it they would else have married me to th: o ten medlar.

Duke. Sir, your company is fairer than honest; Rest you well.

[Exit.

nant,

SCENE V.-Fields without the Town. Enter DUKE in his own habit, and Friar PETER.

Duke. These letters at fit time deliver me.
[Giving letters.

The provost knows our purpose, and our plot.
The matter being afoot, keep your instruction,
And hold you ever to our special drift;
Though sometimes you do blench ¶ from this to
that,

As cause doth minister. Go, call at Flavius" house,

And tell him where I stay: give the like notice,
To Valentinus, Rowland, and to Crassus,
And bid them bring the trumpets to the gate;
But send me Flavius first.

F. Peter. It shall be speeded well.

Happy return be to your

Duke. Many and hearty thankings to you both.

We have made inquiry of you; and we hear
Such goodness of your justice, that our soul
Cannot but yield you forth to public thanks,
Forerunning more requital.

Ang. You make my bonds still greater.

Ang. And she will speak most bitterly, and strange.

Isab. Most strange, but yet most truly, will
I speak :

That Angelo's forsworn; is it not strange ?
That Angelo's a murderer; is't not strange ?
That Angelo is an adulterous thief,

An hypocrite, a virgin violator;
Is it not strange, and strange ?

Duke. Nay, ten times strange.
Isab. It is not truer he is Angelo,
Than this is all as true as it is strange ;
Nay, it is ten times true; for truth is truth
To the end of reckoning.

Duke. Away with her :-Poor soul,

She speaks this in the infirmity of sense.
Isab. O prince, I conjure thee, as thou be
liev'st

There is another comfort than this world,
That thou neglect me not, with that opinion
That I am touch'd with madness: inake not
impossible

That which but seems unlike: 'tis not impossible,

But one, the wicked'st caitiff on the ground,
May seem as shy, as grave, as just, as absolute,
As Angelo; even so may Angelo,

In all his dressings, characts, titles, forms,
Be an arch-villain: believe it, royal prince,
If he be less, he's nothing; but he's more,
Had I more name for badness.

Duke. By mine honesty,

If she be mad, (as I believe no other,)
Her madness hath the oddest frame of sense,
Such a dependency of thing on thing,
As e'er I heard in madness.

Isab. O gracious duke,

Harp not on that; nor do not banish reason
For inequality; but let your reason serve
To make the truth appear, where it seems bid;
And bide the faise, seems true.

Duke. Many that are not mad,

Have, sure, more lack of reason.-What would you say?

Isab. I am the sister of one Claudio. Condemn'd upon the act of fornication

should wrong it,

To lock it in the wards of covert bosom,
When it deserves with characters of brass
A forted residence, 'gainst the tooth of time,
And razure of oblivion: Give me your band,
And let the subjects see, to make them know
That outward courtesies would fain proclaim
Favours that keep within.-Come, Escalus;
You must walk by us on our other hand ;-
And good supporters are you.

PETER and ISABELLA come forward. F. Peter. Now is your time; speak loud, and kneel before him.

Isab. Justice, O royal duke! Vail your regard

Upon a wrong'd, I'd fain have said, a maid!
O worthy prince, dishonour not your eye

By throwing it on any other object,

Till you have heard me in my true complaint
And give me justice, justice, justice, justice !
Duke. Relate your wrongs:

whom? Be brief:

In what? By

I, in probation of a sisterhood,

Was sent to by my brother: One Lucio
As then the messenger ;-

Lucio. That's I, an't like your grace:

I come to her from Claudio, and desir'd her
To try her gracious fortune with lord Angelo,
For her poor brother's pardon.

Isab. That's be, indeed.

Duke. You were not bid to speak.
Lucio. No, my good lord;

Nor wish'd to hold my peace.

Duke. I wish you now then;

Pray you, take note of it: and when you have
A business for yourself, pray heaven, you then
Be perfect.

Lucio. I warrant your honour.

Duke. The warrant's for yourself; take heed to it.

Isab. This gentleman told somewhat of my

To his concupiscible temperate lust, [ment,
Release my brother; and, after much debate-
My sisterly remorse confutes mine honour,
And

did yield to him: But the next morning
betimes,

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

Duke. This is most likely!

Isab. Ob! that it were as like, as it is true! Duke. By heaven, fond + 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 bave 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, O 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 :-Au
officer !

To prison with her :-Shall we thus permit
A blasting and a scandalous breath to fall
On him 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.

Duke. A ghostly father belike:-Who knows that Lodowick ?

Lucio. My lord, I know him; 'tis a medling friar ;

[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 ý him soundly. Duke. Words against me? This' a good friar, belike!

And to set on this wretched woman here
Against our substitute !-Let this friar be found.
Lucio. But yesternight, my lord, she and that
friar

I saw them at the prison: a saucy friar,
A very scurvy fellow.

F. Peter. Blessed be your royal grace!
I have stood by, my lord, and I have heard
Your royal ear abus'd; First, hath this woman
Most wrongfully accus'd your substitute:
Who is as free from touch or soil with her,
As she from one ungot.

Duke. We did believe no less.

Know you that friar Lodowick, that she speaks of? F. Peter. I know him for a man divine and holy;

Not scurvy, nor a temporary medler,
As he's reported by this gentleman;
And, on my trust, a man that never yet
Did, as he vouches, misreport your grace.
Lucio. My lord, most villanously; believe it.
F. Peter. Well, be in time may come to clear
himself:

But at this instant he is sick, my lord,
Of a strange fever: Upon his mere request,
(Being come to knowledge that there was com-
plaint

Intended 'gainst lord Angelo,) came I hither, To speak 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. First, for this

• Pity.

Beat.

woman;

(To justify this worthy nobleinan,
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, gvarded ; 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 my
Until my husband bid me.

Duke. What, are you married?
Mari. No, my lord.

Duke. Are you a maid?

Mari. No, my lord.

Duke. A widow, then?

Mari. Neither, my lord.

Duke. Why, you

[face,

[wife.

Are nothing then :-Neither maid, widow, nor Lucio. My lord, she may be a punk; for many of them are neither maid, widow, nor wife. Duke. Silence that fellow: I would, he had

Mari. My husband bids me; now I will un-
mask.
[Unveiling.
[on:

This is that face, thou cruel Angelo,
Which once thou swor'st, was worth the looking
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,
Aud did supply thee at thy garden-house,
In her imagin'd person.

Duke. Know you this woman?
Lucio. Carnally, she says.
Duke. Sirrah, no more.
Lucio. Enough, my lord.

Ang. My lord, I must confess, I know this,

woman;

[marriage And, five years since, there was some speech of Betwixt myself and her; which was broke off, Partly, for that her promised proportions. Came short of composition; ‡ but, în chief, For that her reputation was disvalued In levity since which time of five years,

I never spake with her, saw her, nor heard from Upon my faith and honour. (her,

Mari. Noble prince,

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

+ Foolish. Simple.

t Conspiracy.

Convened.

Publicly + Deception. 1 Her fortune fell short.

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! think'st thou, thy
oaths,
[saint,
Though they would swear down each particular
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 derived.-
There is another friar that set them on;
Let him be sent for.

Escal. The duke's in us; and we will hear you. 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'ɑ fiiar !

Is't not enough, thou hast suborn'd these women
To accase this worthy man; but, in foul inouth,
And in the witness of his proper ear,
To call him villain?

[self;

Hath set the women on to this complaint: 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: 1 for a while
Will leave you; but stir not you, till you have
Determined upon these slanderers.
[well

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?

Lucio. Lucullus non facit monachum: honest 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 shali 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 ber.

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. 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 bim, till we call upon you.

Lucio. Mum.

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 :

tutes

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

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 ab. sence of the duke.

Lucio. Oh 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 pro vost-Away with him to prison; lay bolts enough upon him: let him speak no more:-Away with those giglots too, and with the other confeder companion.

[The PROVOST lays hands on the DUKD Duke. Stay, Sir; stay a while. Ang. What I 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 sheepbiting 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 vail these gentle three :Sneak not away, Sir; [7b Lucio.] for the friar and you

Must have a word anon-lay hold on him. Lucio. This may prove worse than banging. Duke. What you have spoke, I pardon; sit you down.-[TO ESCALUS.