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,
Another thing to fall. I not deny,

The jury, passing on the prisoner's life,
May, in the sworn twelve, have a thief or two
Guiltier than him they try: What's open made to
justice,

That justice seizes. What know the laws,
That thieves do pass on thieves? 'Tis very preg-
nant,"

me,

The jewel that we find, we stoop and take it,
Because we see it; but what we do not see,
We tread upon, and never think of it.
You may not so extenuate his offence,
For I have had such faults; but rather tell
When I, that censure him, do so offend,
Let mine own judgment pattern out my death,
And nothing come in partial. Sir, he must die.
Escal. Be it as your wisdom will.
Ang.
Prov. Here, if it like
Ang.

your

Where is the provost ? honour. See that Claudio Be executed by nine to-morrow morning: Bring him his confessor, let him be prepared; For that's the utmost of his pilgrimage.

[Exit Provost. Escal. Well, heaven forgive him; and forgive us all!

Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall:11
Some run from brakes12 of vice, and answer none;

And some condemned for a fault alone.

Enter ELBOW, FROTH, Clown, Officers, &c. Elb. Come, bring them away; if these be good people in a common-weal, that do nothing but use

their abuses in common houses, I know no law; bring them away.

Ang. How now, sir! What's your name? and what's the matter?

Elb. If it please your honour, I am the poor duke's constable, and my name is Elbow; I do lean upon justice, sir, and do bring in here before your good honour two notorious benefactors.

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 all profanation in the world, that good christians ought to have.

13

Escal. This comes off well; here's a wise officer. Ang. Go to: What quality are they of? Elbow is your name? Why dost thou not speak, Elbow? Clo. He cannot, sir; he's out at elbow.

Ang. What are you, sir?

Elb. He, sir? a tapster, sir; parcel-bawd; one that serves a bad woman; whose house, sir, was as they say, plucked down in the suburbs; and now she professes1 a hot-house, which, I think, is a very ill house too.

Escal. How know you that?

Elb. My wife, sir, whom I detest' before heaven and your honour,—

Escal. How! thy wife?

Elb. Ay, sir; whom, I thank heaven, is an ho

nest woman,—

Escal. Dost thou detest her therefore?

Elb. I say, sir, I will detest myself also, as wel as she, that this house, if it be not a bawd's house, it is pity of her life, for it is a naughty house. Escal. How dost thou know that constable? Elb. Marry, sir, by my wife; who, if she had been a woman cardinally given, might have been accused in fornication, adultery, and all uncleanli ness there.

Escal. By the woman's means?

Elb. Ay, sir, by mistress Over-done's means. but as she spit in his face, so she defied him.

Clo. Sir, if it please your honour, this is not so. Elb. Prove it before these varlets here, thou honourable man, prove it.

Escal. Do

you hear how he misplaces?

[To ANGELO. Clo. Sir, she came in great with child; 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 fruitdish, a dish of some three pence; your honours have seen such dishes; they are not China dishes, but very good dishes.

Escal. Go to, go to: no matter for the dish, 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 child, and being great belly'd, and longing, as I said, for prunes; and having but two in a dish, as I said, master I said, and, as I say, paying for them very honestFroth here, this very man having eaten the rest, as ly;-for, as you know, master Froth, I cou'd not give you three pence again.

Froth. No, indeed.

12 The first folio here reads- Some run from brakes of ice. The correction was made by Rowe. Brakes most probably here signify thorny perplexities; but a brake was also used to signify a trap or snare. Thus in Skelton's Ellinour Rummin:

'It was a stale to take-the devil in a brake. And in Holland's Leaguer, a Comedy, by Sh. Marmion. -her I'll make

A stale to catch this courtier in a brake.'

There can be no allusion to the instrument of torture mentioned by Steevens. A brake seems to have signified an engine or instrument in general.

13 i. e. is well told. The meaning of this phrase, when seriously applied to speech, is This is well delivered,' this story is well told.' But in the present instance it is used ironically.

14 Professes a hot house, i. e. keeps a bagnio. 15 Detest, for protest, or attest.

16 A favourite dish, anciently common in brothels

Clo. Very well: you being then, if you be remember'd, cracking the stones of the aforesaid prunes.

Froth. Ay, so I did, indeed.

Clo. Why, very well: I telling you then, if you be remember'd, that such a one, and such a one, were past cure of the thing you wot of, unless 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 purpath -What was done to Elbow's wife, that he cause to complain of? Come me to what was done to her.

Clo. Sir, your honour 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-holland' eve.

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, indeed, 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'll 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?

Clo. Once, sir? there was nothing done to her

once.

Elb. I beseech you, sir, ask him what this man did to my wife.

Clo. I beseech your honour, ask me.

Escal. Well, sir: What did this gentleman to her?

Clo. I beseech you, sir, look in this gentleman's face:-Good master Froth, look upon his honour; 'tis for a good purpose: Doth your honour mark his face?

Escal. Ay, sir, very well.

Clo. Nav, I beseech you, mark it well.
Escal. Well, I do so.

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 honour.

Escal. He's in the right: Constable, what say

you to it?

the poor duke'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' th' 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 has some of fences 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 :-Thou see'st, thou wicked varlet now, what's come upon thee; thou art to continue now, thou varlet; thou art to continue.

Escal. Where were you born, friend?

[TO FROTH.

Froth. Here in Vienna, sir.
Escal. Are you of tourscore pounds a year?
Froth. Yes, and't please you, sir.
Escal. So. What trade are you of, sir?
[To the Clown.
Clo. A tapster; a poor widow's tapster.
Escal. Your mistress's name?

Clo. Mistress Over-done.

Escal. Hath she had any more than one husband? Clo. Nine, sir; Over-done by the last.

Escal. Nine!-Come hither to me, master Froth. Master Froth, I would not have you ac quainted with tapsters; they will draw you, master Froth, and you will hang them: Get you gone, and let me hear no more of you.

Froth. I thank your worship; for nine own part, I never come into any room in a taphouse, but Ỉ 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, you are Pompey the great. Pompey, you are partly a bawd, Pompey, howsoever you colour it in being a tapster. Are you not? come, tell me true; it shall be the better for you.

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.

then: If your worship will take order for the Clo. Truly, sir, in my poor opinion, they will to't drabs and the knaves, you need not to fear the

Escal. There are pretty orders beginning, I can tell you: It is but heading and hanging.

Clo. 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 me

1 All-holland Eve, the Eve of All Saints' day. 2 Every house had formerly what was called a low chair, designed for the ease of sick people, and occasionally occupied by lazy ones.

3 i. e. constable or clown

in Vienna ten year, I'll rent the fairest house in it, after three pence 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 well. time, Pompey, fare you

Clo. I thank your worship for your good counsel: 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 of 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 half, sir.

Escal. I thought, by your readiness in the office, you had continued in it some time: You say, seven years together?

Elb. And a half, sir.

Just. Eleven, sir.

Escal. I pray you home to dinner with me.
Just. I humbly thank you.

Escal. It grieves me for the death of Claudio;

But there's no remedy.

Just. Lord Angelo is severe.
Escal.

It is but needful:

Mercy is not itself that oft looks so;
Pardon is still the nurse of second woe:
But yet,-Poor Claudio!-There's no remedy.
Come, sir.
SCENE II.

[Exeunt.

I'll tell him of you.

Ang.

See you the fornicatress be remov'd:
Let her have needful, but not lavish, means;

There shall be order for it.

Enter Lucio and ISABELLA.

Prov. Save your honour?

[Offering to retire. Ang. Stay a little while-[To ISA B.] You are welcome What's your will?

Isa. I am a woful suitor to your honour,
Please but your honour hear me.
Ang.

Well; what's your surt?
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.

Ang. Well; the matter? Isab. I have a brother is condemn'd to die: I do beseech you, let it be his fault, And not my brother.1

Prov. Heaven give thee moving graces! Ang. Condemn the fault, and not the actor of it! Why, every fault's condemn'd, ere it be done : Mine were the very cipher of a function, To fine the faults, whose fine stands in record, And let go by the actor. Isab. O just, but severe law! had a brother then.-Heaven keep your honour! [Retiring.

Lucio. [To ISAB.] Give't not o'er so to him
again, intreat him:

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, I say.

Isab. Must he 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,

4

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; I, that do speak a word,
May call it back again: Well, believe this,
No ceremony that to great ones "longs,

Not the king's crown, nor the deputed sword,
The marshal's truncheon, nor the judge's robe,
Become them with one half so good a grace,
As mercy does. If he had been as you,
And you as he, you would have slipt like him;
But he, like you, would not have been so stern.
Ang. Pray you, begone.

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,

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

Ang.

Hath he a sister?

Ang.

Lucio. Ay, touch him: there's the vein. [Aside. Ang. Your brother is a forfeit of the law, And you but waste your words. Isab. Alas! alas! Why, all the souls that were, were forfeit once; And He that might the vantage best have took, Found out the remedy: How would you be, If he, which is the top of judgment, should But judge you as you are? O, think on that And mercy then will breathe within your lips, Like man new made. Ang.

Be you content, fair maid It is the law, not I, condemns your brother: Were he my kinsman, brother, or my son,

as the first man was in his days of innocence."

Ay, well said.

That skins the vice o' the top: Go to your bosom:
Knock there, and ask your heart, what it doth know
That's like my brother's fault: if it confess
A natural guiltiness, such as is his,
Let it not sound a thought upon your tongue
Against my brother's life.
Ang.

She speaks, and 'tis

slept: 2

Those many had not dar'd to do that evil,
If the first man that did the edict infringe
Had answer'd for his deed: now, 'tis awake;
Takes note of what is done; and, like a prophet,
Looks in a glass,' that shows what future evils,
(Either now, or by remissness new-conceiv'd,
And so in progress to be hatch'd and born,)
Are now to have no successive degrees,
But, where they live, to end.

Isab.

Yet show some pity. Ang. I show it most of all, when I show justice; For then I pity those I do not know,4 Which a dismiss'd offence would after gall; And do him right, that, answering one foul wrong, Lives not to act another. Be satisfied: Your brother dies to-morrow: be content.

Isab. So you must be the first, that gives this

sentence:

Thou rather, with thy sharp and sulphurous bolt,
Split'st the unwedgeable and gnarled" oak,
Than the soft myrtle :-But man, proud man!
Drest in a little brief authority:

Most ignorant of what he's most assur'd,
His glassy essence,-like an angry ape,
Plays such fantastick tricks before high heaven.
As make the angels weep: who, with our spleens,
Would all themselves laugh mortal.

Lucio. O, to him, to him, wench: he will relent; He's coming, I perceive't.

Prov. Pray heaven, she win him! Isab. We cannot weigh our brother with ourself: Great men may jest with saints: 'tis wit in them! But, in the less, foul profanation.

Lucio. Thou'rt in the right, girl; more o' that. Isab. That in the captain's but a cholerick word, Which in the soldier is flat blasphemy.

Lucio. Art advis'd o' that? more on't.
Ang. Why do you put these sayings upon me?
Isab. Because authority, though it err like others,

5 Pelting for paltry.

6 Gnarled, knotted.

7 Mr. Douce has remarked the close affinity between this passage and one in the second satire of Persius. Yet we have no translation of that poet of Shakspeare's age.

Ignovisse putas, quia, cum tonat, ocyus ilex Sulfure discutitur sacro, quam tuque domusque ? s The notion of angels weeping for the sins of men is rabbinical. By spleens Shakspeare meant that peculiar turn of the human mind, that always inclines it to a spiteful and unseasonable mirth. Had the angels that, they would laugh themselves out of their immortality, by indulging a passion unworthy of that prerogative

9 Shakspeare has used this indelicate metaphor again in Hamlet - It will but skin and film the ulcerous place'

Fare you well.

Isab. Gentle my lord, turn back.

Ang. I will bethink me:-Come again to-mor

row.

Ang. To-morrow.

Lucio. Go to; it is well away. [Aside to ISABEL
Isab. Heaven keep your honour safe!
Ang.

For I am that way going to temptation,
Where

Isab.

prayers cross.15

Amen. 14 [Aside.

At what hour to-morrow

Shall I attend your lordship?

Ang.

Isab. Save your honour!

At any time 'fore noon.

[Exeunt Lucio, ISABELLA, and Provost. Ang. From thee; even from thy virtue.What's this? what's this? Is this her fault, or mine? The tempter, or the tempted, who sins most? Ha! Not she; nor doth she tempt: but it is 1, That lying by the violet, in the sun, Do, as the carrion does, not as the flower, Corrupt with virtuous season. Can it be, That modesty may more betray our sense16 Than woman's lightness? Having waste ground

enough,

Shall we desire to raze the sanctuary,
And pitch our evils there ? O, fy, fy, fy!
What dost thou? or, what art thou, Angelo?
Dost thou desire her foully, for those things
That make her good? O, let her brother live:
Thieves for their robbery have authority,
When judges steal themselves. What? do I love her,
That I desire to hear her speak again,
And feast upon her eyes? What is't I dream on?
O cunning enemy, that, to catch a saint,
With saints dost bait thy hook. Most dangerous

10 i. e. Such sense as breeds or produces a consequence in his mind. Malone thought that sense here meant sensual desire.

11 Fond, in its old signification sometimes meant foolish. In its modern sense it evidently implied a doting or extravagant affection; here it signifies overvalued or prized by folly.

12 i. e. tried, refined.

13 Preserved from the corruption of the world.

14 Isabella prays that his honour may be safe, meaning only to give him his title: his imagination is caught by the word honour, he feels that it is in danger, and therefore says amen to her benediction.

15 The petition of the Lord's Prayer, 'Lead us not inte temptation,'-is here considered as crossing or intercepting the way in which Angelo was going: he was exposing himself to temptation by the appointment for the morrow's meeting.

16 Sense for sensual appetite.

17 No language could more forcibly express the aggravated profligacy of Angelo's passion, which the purity of Isabella but served the more to inflame. The dese cration of edifices devoted to religion, by converting them to the most abject purposes of nature, was an eastern method of expressing contempt. See 2 Kings, x. 27.