Eiter AB ORSON.

Abhor. Sirrah, bring Barnardine hither.

Clo. Master Barna dine! you must rise and be bang'd, master Barnardine!

Abhor. What, ho, Barnardine!

Barnar. [Within.] A pox o' your throats! Who makes that noise there? What are you?

Clo. Your friends, sir, the hangmen: you must be so good, sir, to rise and be put to death. Barnar. [Within.] Away, you rogue, away; am sleepy.

Dr. Tell him, he must awake, and that quick

Iv too.

Clo. Pray, master Barnardine, awake till you are executed, and sleep afterwards.

Abhor. Go in to him, and fetch him out.

Co. He is coming, sir, he is coming; I hear his straw rustle.

Abhor. Look you, sir, here comes your ghostly father. Do we jest now, think you?

Duke. Sir, induced by my charity, and hearing how hastily you are to depart. I am come to advise you. comfort you, and pray with you.

Barnar. Friar, not 1; I have been drinking hard all night, and I will have more time to prepare me. or they shall beat out my brains with billets: I will not consent to die this day, that's certain.

Duke. O, sir, you must: and therefore I beseech

you,

Look forward on the journey you shall go.

Enter ISABELLA.

Isah. Ho, by your leave.

Duke. Good morning to you, fair and gracious daughter.

Isah. The better, given me by so holy a man. Hath yet the deputy sent my brothers pardon? Duke. He hath releas'd him, Isabel from the world:

His head is off, and sent to Angelo
Isab. Nay, but it is not so.
Duke.

It is no other:

Show your wisdom, daughter, in your close patience. Isab. O, I will to him, and pluck out his eyes. 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.

The duke comes home to-morrow;- nay, dry your

eyes;

One of our convent, and his confesssor,

man's persuasion.

Duke. But hear you

Barnar. Not a word; if you have anything to sy to me, come to my ward; for thence will not I to-day. [Exit.

Prov.

Here, in the prison, father,
There died this morning of a cruel fever
Gne Ragozine, a most notorious pirate,

A man of Claudio's years; his beard and head,
Just of his color: What if we do omit

This reprobate, till he were well inclined;
And satisfy the deputy with the visage
Of Razozine, more like to Claudio?

Duke. 0, 'tis an accident that heaven provides!
Despatch it presently; the hour draws on
Prefix'd by Angelo: See this be done,
And sent according to command; whiles I
Persuade this rude wretch willingly to die.
Proc. This shall be done, good father, presently.
But Barnardine must die this afternoon:
And how shall we continue Claudio,
To save me from the danger that might come,
If he were known alive!

Duke. Let this be done: put them in secret holds,
Both Barnardine and Claudio: Ere twice
The sun hath made his journal greeting to
The under generation, you shall find
Your safety manifested.

Proc. I am your free dependant.
Dike.

Quick, despatch,

And send the head to Angelo. Now will write letters to Angelo,-• The antipodes.

Exit Provost.

Notice to Escalus and Angelo;

Who do prepare to meet him at the gates,
There to give up their power. If you can, pace
your wisdom

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 honor.

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 my holy order,
If I pervert your course.-Who's here?

Lucio.

Enter LUCIO.

Good even!

Friar, where is the provost? Duke. Not within, sil. 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 corners had been at home, he had lived. [Erit ISABELLA. Duke. Sir, the duke is marvellous little beholden to your reports; but the best is, he lives not in them.

Laucio. 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. 1 Go.

9 Your heart's desire.

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 nough.

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 the rotten medlar.

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

Lucin. By my troth, I'll go with thee to the lane's end: If bawdy talk offend you, we'll have very little of it: Nay, friar, I am a kind of burr, I shall stick. [Exeunt. SCENE IV-A Room in Angelo's House. Enter ANGELO and ESCALUS. Escal. Every letter he hath writ hath disvouch'd other.

Ang. In most uneven and distracted manner. His actions show much like to madness: pray heaven, his wisdom be not tainted! And why meet him at the gates, and re-deliver our authorities there!

Escal. I guess not.

Ang. And why should we proclaim it in an hour before his entering, that, if any crave redress of injustice, they should exhibit their petitions in the street!

Escal. He shows his reason for that: to have a despatch of complaints, and to deliver us from devices hereafter, which shall then have no power to stand against us.

Ang. Well, I beseech you, let it be proclaim'd: Betimes i' the morn, I'll call you at your house: Give notice to such men of sort and suita As are to meet him. Escal.

I shall, sir; fare you well. [Exit.

Ang. Good night. This deed unshapes me quite, makes me unpreg

But it confounds the breather. He should have liv'd, Save that his riotous youth, with dangerous sense,

sounded;

The generous and gravest citizens
Have hents the gates, and very near upon
The duke is ent'ring; therefore hence, away.

[Exeunt

SCENE I-A public place near the City Gate. MARIANA (veld), ISABELLA and PETER at a distance. Enter at opposite doors, DUKE, VARRIUS, Lords; ANGELO, ESCALUS, LUCio, Provost, Officers, and Citizens.

Duke. My very worthy cousin, fairly met :Our old and faithful friend, we are glad to see you. Ang, and Escal. Happy return be to your royal grace!

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. Duke. O, your desert speaks loud; and I 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 hand,
And let the subject see, to make them know
That outward courtesies would fain proclaim
Favors that keep within.-Come, Escalus:
2 Figure and rank.

You must walk by us on our other hand;-
And good supporters are you.

PETER and ISABELLA come foreward. 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, dishonor not your eye
By throwing it on any other object,
Till you have heard me in my true complair.,
And give me justice, justice, justice, justice!
Duke. Relate your wrongs: In what? By whom'
Be brief:

Here is lord Angelo shall give you justice;
Reveal yourself to him.

Isab.

O, worthy duke, You bid me seek redemption of the devil: Hear me yourself; for that which I must speak Must either punish me, not being believ'd, Or wring redress from you: hear me,O,hear me, here. Ang. My lord, her wits, I fear me, are not firm She hath been a suitor to me for her brother Cut off by course of justice.

Most noble.

Isab.

By course of justice! | Ang. And she will speak most bitterly and strange. Lab. Most strange, but yet most truly will I speak: That Angelo's forsworn, is it not strange? That Angelo's a murde er, is't not strange? That Angelo is an adulterous thief, An hypocrite, a virgin-violator; Is it not strange, and strange? Duke.

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 have 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.
Iab.

And is this all?

Isub. 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 believ'st There is another comfort than this world, That thou neglect me not with that opinion That I am touch'd with madness: make not impos

sible

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:-An 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 meddling friar, I do not like the man: had he been lay, my lord, For certain words he spake against your grace In your retirement, I had swinged him soundly. Duke. Words against me! This' a good friar,belike' And to set on this wretched woman here Against our substitute!-Let this triar 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

Harp not on that, nor do not banish reason
For inequality: but let your reason serve
To make the truth appear, where it seems hid;
And hide the false, seems true.
Duke.
Many that are not mad,
Have sure more lack of reason. What would you say?
Isa. I am the sister of one Claudio,
Condemn'd, upon the law of fornication,
To lose his head; condemn'd by Angelo!
I. in probation of a sisterhood,

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

Luico.

That's I, an't like your grace: I came to her from Claudio, and desire'd her To try her gracious fortune with lord Angelo, For her poor brother's pardon.

Isab.

That's he, indeed.

Duke. You were not bid to speak. Lucio.

Nor wish'd to hold my peace.

Duke.

No, my good lord;

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.

Lio. I warrant your honor.

Duke. The warrant's for yourself; take heed to it. Isab. This gentleman told somewhat of my tale. Lucio. Right.

Duke. It may be right; but you are in the wrong To speak before your time.-Proceed. [sab.

I went

To this pernicious caitiff deputy-
Dike. That's somewhat madly spoken.

I-ab.

The phrase is to the matter.

Pardon it;

Duke. Mended again: the matter?-Proceed. Lab. In brief.-to set the needless process by, How I persuaded how I pray'd and kneet'd, How he refell'da me, and how I reply'd;

For this was of much length;) the vile conclusion

I now begin with grief and shame to utter;

He would not but by gift of my chaste body

To his concupiscible intemperate lust,

Release my brother; and after much debatement
My sisterly remorse confutes mine honor,

And I did yield to him: But the next morn betimes,
His purpose surfeiting, he sends a warrant
For my poor brother's head.

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 meddler.
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, he 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 complaint
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 woman,
(To justify this worthy nobleman,

So vulgarly and personally accus'd,)
Her shall you hear disprove to her eyes,
Till she herself confess it.
Duke.

Good friar, let's hear it-
[ISABELLA is carried off, guarded; and
MRIANA 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 your judge
of your own cause.-Is this the witness, friar!
First, let her show her face; and, after, speak.
Mr. Pardon, my lord; I will not show my face,
Until my husband bid me.
Dike.

Are nothing then-Neither maid, widow, nor wife?
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

some cause

To prattle for himself.

Lucio. Well, my lord.

Mari. My lord, I do confess I ne'er was married. And, I confess, besides, I am no maid:

I have known my husband; yet my husband knows

That evere knew me.

Lucin. He was drunk, then, my lord; it can be no better.

Luke. For the benefit of silence, 'would thou wert so too!

Lucio Well, my lord.

Duke This is no witness for lord Angelo.
Mr. Now I come to't, my lord:

She that accuses him of fornication,

In self-same manner doth accuse my husband: And charges him, my lord, with such a time, When I'll depose I had him in mine arms. With all the effect of love.

Ang.

Charges she more than ine?

Mari. Not that I know.
Duke.
No! you say your husband?
Muri. Why, just, my lord, and that is Angelo,
Who thinks, he knows, that he ne'er knew my body,
But knows, he thinks, that he knows Isabel's.
Ang. This is a strange abuse:-Let's see thy face.
Miri. My husband bids me; now I will unmask,
[Unveiling.

This is that face, thou cruel Angelo,
Which once thou swor'st was worth the looking on:
This is the hand, which, in a vow'd contract,
Was fast belock'd in thine: this is the body
That took away the match from Isabel,

And 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:
And, five years since, there was some speech of
marriage

Betwixt myself and her; which was broke off,
Partly, for that her promised proportions
Come short of composition; but in chief,
For that her reputation was disvalued
In levity: since which time, of five years,

Lucio. Cucullus non facit monachum: honest in nothing but in his clothes; and one that hath spoke most villanous speeches of the due.

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 shail 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. 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 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 some time honored 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:

Mari.

Noble prince,

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

As there is sense in truth, and truth in virtue,
I am aflanced 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

I did but smile till now:

Let me in safety raise me from my knees,
Or else forever be confixed here,
A marble monument!
Ang.
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 practice1 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,

Though they would swear down each particular

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,that 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, glance 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,
Where I have seen corruption boil and bubble,
Till it o'er-run the stew: laws for all faults;
But faults so countenanced, that the strong statutes
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 absence of the duke. And do you remember

Lucio. O, did you so? 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.