Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub
[blocks in formation]

Enter Lucio, and two Gentlemen,

Lucio.TF the Duke, with the other Dukes, come not

with the other King of Hungar)

why, then all the Dukes fall upon the King.

i Gent. Heav'n grant us its peace, but not the King of Hungary's!

2 Gent. Amen.

Lucio. Thou conclud'ft like the fanctimonious Pirate, that went to fea with the ten Commandments, but fcrap'd one out of the Table.

2 Gent. Thou shalt not steal.Lucio, Ay, that he raz'd.

1 Gent. Why, 'twas a Commandment to command the captain and all the reft from their functions; they put forth to fteal; there's not a foldier of us all, that, in the thanksgiving before meat, does relifh the petition well that prays for Peace.

2 Gent. I never heard any foldier diflike it.

Lucio. I believe thee: for, I think, thou never waft were grace was faid.

2 Gent. No? a dozen times at leaft.

1 Gent. What, in meeter?

Lucio. In any proportion, or in any language. 1 Gent. I think, or in any religion.

Lucio. Ay, why not? grace is grace, defpight of all controverfy; as for example, thou thyfelf art a wicked villain, defpight of all grace.

1 Gent. Well; there went but a pair of sheers be

tween us.

Lucio. I grant; as there may between the lifts and the velvet. Thou art the lift.

1 Gent. And thou the velvet; thou art good vel

vet; thou'rt a three-pil'd piece, I warrant thee: I had as lief be a lift of an English kerley, as be pil'd, as thou art pil'd, for a French velvet. Do I fpeak feelingly now?

Lucio. I think, thou doft; and, indeed, with most painful feeling of thy fpeech: I will, out of thine own confeffion, learn to begin thy health; but, whilft I live, forget to drink after thee.

1 Gent. I think, I have done myself wrong, have I not?

2 Gent. Yes, that thou haft; whether thou art tainted, or free.

Lucio. Behold, behold, where Madam Mitigation

comes.

1 Gent. I have purchas'd as many diseases under her roof, as come to

2 Gent. To what I pray?

1 Gent. Judge.

2 Gent. To three thousand dollars a year.

1 Gent. Ay, and more.

Lucio. A French crown more.

1 Gent. Thou art always figuring difeafes in me; but thou art full of error; I am found.

Lucio. Nay, not as one would fay healthy; but fo found, as things that are hollow; thy bones are hollow; impiety hath made a feaft of thee.

SCENE

Enter Bawd.

IV.

1 Gent. Hmoft profound sciatica? LOW now, which of your hips has the HOM ?

Bawd. Well, well; there's one yonder arrefted, and carry'd to prifon, was worth five thousand of you all.

1 Gent. Who's that, I pr'ythee?

[ocr errors]

Bawd. Marry, Sir, that's Claudio; Signior Claudio.

A 4

1 Gent.

1 Gent. Claudio to prison ? 'tis not fo.

Bawd. Nay, but I know, 'tis fo; I faw him arrefted; faw him carry'd away; and, which is more, within these three days his head is to be chopt off.

Lucio. But, after all this fooling, I would not have it fo: art thou fure of this?

Bawd. I am too fure of it; and it is for getting madam Julietta with child.

Lucio. Believe me, this may be; he promised to meet me two hours fince, and he was ever precife in promise-keeping.

2 Gent. Befides, you know, it draws fomething near to the fpeech we had to fuch a purpose.

1 Gent. But moft of all agreeing with the Proclamation.

Lucio. Away, let's go learn the truth of it. [Exit. Manet Bawd.

Bawd. Thus, what with the war, what with the fweat, what with the gallows, and what with poverty, I am cuftom-fhrunk. How now ? what's the news with you?

Clown."

SCENE V.

YONI
Y

Enter Clown.

7ONDER man is carry'd to prifon.
Bawd. Well; what has he done?

Clown. A woman.

Bawd. But what's his offence?

Clown. Groping for trouts in a peculiar river. Bawd. What? is there a maid with child by him? Clown. No; but there's a woman with maid by him. You have not heard of the Proclamation, have you?

Bawd. What Proclamation, man ?.

Clown. All houfes in the fuburbs of Vienna muft be pluck'd down.

Bawd.

Bawd. And what shall become of those in the city? Clown. They fhall ftand for feed; they had gone down too, but that a wife burgher put in for them. Bawd. But fhall all our houses of refort in the fuburbs be pull'd down?

Clown. To the ground, miftrefs.

Bawd. Why, here's a change, indeed, in the common-wealth; what shall become of me?

Clown. Come, fear not you; good counsellors lack no clients; though you change your place, you need not change your trade: I'll be your tapfter ftill. Courage, there will be pity taken on you; you that have worn your eyes almost out in the fervice, you will be confidered.

Bawd. What's to do here, Thomas Tapfter? let's withdraw.

Clown. Here comes Signior Claudio, led by the Provoft to prifon; and there's madam Juliet.

Exeunt Bawd and Clown.

[blocks in formation]

Enter Provost, Claudio, Juliet, and Officers. Lucio and two Gentlemen.

Claud. FELLOW, why doft thou show me thus to

Bear me to prison, where I am committed.
Pro. I do it not in evil difpofition,
But from lord Angelo by fpecial charge.

Claud. Thus can the Demi-god, Authority,
Make us pay down, for our offence, by weight.
The words of heav'n; on whom it will, it will;
On whom it will not, fo; yet ftill 'tis juft.

Lucio. Why, how now, Claudio? whence comes this reftraint?

Claud. From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty; As furfeit is the father of much fast,

So ev'ry scope by the immod'rate ufe
Turns to restraint: our natures do pursue,
Like rats that ravin down their proper bane,
A thirty evil; and when we drink, we die.

Lucio. If I could speak fo wifely under an arreft, I would fend for certain of my creditors; and yet, to fay 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't, murder?

Claud. No.

Lucio. Letchery?

Claud. Call it fo.

Prov. Away, Sir, you must go.

Claud. One word, good friend:Lucio, a word with you.

Lucio. A hundred; if they'll do you any good: is letchery fo look'd after?

Claud. Thus ftands it with me; upon a true contract

I got poffeffion of Julietta's bed,

(You know the lady,) fhe is faft my wife;
Save that we do the denunciation lack
Of outward order. This we came not to,
Only for propagation of a dower

Remaining in the coffer of her friends;

From whom we thought it meet to hide our love,

'Till time had made them for us.

But it chances,

The ftealth of our *moft mutual entertainment,

With character too grofs, is writ on Juliet.
Lucio. With child, perhaps?

Claud. Unhappily, even fo.

And the new deputy now for the Duke,

(Whether it be the fault, and glimpse, of newnefs;

--moft mutual-] i.e. most intimate. The Phrase is extremely elegant on this Occafion; yet difliked by the Oxford Editor, who strikes out moft.

Or

« ПредишнаНапред »