ACT V. SCENE I. Enter Duke, Varrius, Lords, Angelo, Efcalus, Lucio, and Citizens, at feveral doors. Duke. Y very worthy coufin, fairly met; M% Our old and faithful friend, we're glad to fee you. Ang. and Efe. Happy return be to your royal Grace ! Duke. Many and hearty thanks be to you both: We've made enquiry of you, and we hear Such goodness of your juftice, that our foul Cannot but yield you forth to publick thanks, Forerunning more requital. Ang. You make my bonds ftill greater. Duke. Oh, your defert fpeaks loud, and I should wrong it To lock it in the wards of covert bofom, When it deferves with characters of brafs A forted refidence, 'gainst the tooth of time And razure of oblivion. Give me your hand And let the subjects fee, to make them know That outward courtefies would fain proclaim Favours that keep within. Come, Efcalus, You must walk by us on our other hand : And good fupporters are you. SCENE II. Enter Peter and Ifabella. Peter. Now is your time: fpeak loud and kneel before him. Ifab. Juftice, O royal Duke! vail your regard Oh worthy Prince, dishonour not your eye 'Till you have heard me in my true complaint, And give me justice, justice, justice, justice. Duke, Relate your wrongs; in what, by whom? be brief: Here is lord Angelo fhall give you justice; Reveal your felf to him. Ifab. Oh worthy Duke, You bid me feek redemption of the devil : Hear Hear me your felf; for that which I must speak Or wring redress from you: oh, hear me here! Ifab. Courfe of juftice! Ang. And he will speak moft bitterly, and ftrange. That Angelo's a murth'rer: is't not strange? Nay, it is ten times true; for truth is truth Duke. Away with her: poor foul, She speaks this in th' infirmity of sense. Ifab. Oh, I conjure thee, Prince, 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 impoffible But one, the wicked'ft caitiff on the ground, In all his dreffings, caracts, titles, forms, Duke. By mine honour, If fhe be mad, as I believe no other, Ifab. Gracious Duke,, Harp not on that; and do not banish reason F 3 For For inequality; but let your reafon Serve to make truth appear where it seems hid, Duke. Many not mad Have fure more lack of reason. What would you fay? To lofe his head; condemn'd by Angelo: Was fent to by my brother; one Lucio being Lucio. That's I, an't like your Grace : Ifab. That's he indeed. Duke. You were not bid to fpeak. [To Lucio. Lucio. No, my good lord, nor with'd to hold my peace, Duke. I wish you now then; Pray you, : take note of it and when you have A bufinefs for yourself, pray heav'n you then Be perfect. Lucio, I warrant your honour, Sir. Duke. The warrant's for your felf; be sure take heed to't. Jfab. This gentleman told fomething of my tale. Lucio. Right. Duke. It may be right, but you are in the wrong To fpeak before your time. Proceed. Ifab. I went To this pernicious caitiff Deputy. Duke. That's fomewhat madly spoken. The phrafe is to the matter. Duke. Mended again: the matter then; proceed. He He would not, but by gift of my chafte body Duke. This is most likely! Ifab. Oh that it were as like as it is true! Duke. By heav'n, fond wretch, thou know't not what thou speak'ft; Or else thou art suborn'd against his honour Stands without blemish; it imports no reason, Offended, he would have weigh'd thy brother by Then oh you bleffed minifters above, Keep me in patience; and with ripen'd time, In countenance! Heav'n fhield your Grace from woe, Duke. I know you'd fain be gone. Ijab. One that I would were here, Friar Lodowick. Against our Substitute! let this Friar be found. Lucio. But yefternight, my lord, fhe and that Friar, I faw them at the prison: a fawcy Friar, A very fcurvy fellow. Peter. Blefs'd be your Grace! I have ftood by, my lord, and I have heard Duke. We did believe No lefs. Know you that Friar Lodowick ? As he's reported by this gentleman; And, on my truft, a man that never yet Did, as he vouches, mifreport your Grace. Lucio. My lord, most villainously he did; believe it. Peter. Well; he in time may come to clear himself But at this inftant he is fick, my lord, Of a ftrange fever. On his meer request, (Being come to knowledge that there was complaint To fpeak as from his mouth, what he doth know By all probation will make up full clear, So vulgarly and perfonally accus'd, Her fhall you hear difproved to her eyes, "Till fhe her felf confefs it. Duke. Good Friar, let's hear it. Do you not smile at this, lord Angelo ? [lfabella is carried off, guarded. SCENE III. Enter Mariana veil'd. Firft let her fhew her face, and after speak. |