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-

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

I came to her from Claudio, and desired 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. 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
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.

Isab. I went

To this pernicious caitiff deputy.

Duke. That's somewhat madly spoken.

Isab. Pardon it;

The phrase is to the matter.

Duke. Mended again: the matter;-Proceed.
Isab. In brief, to set the needless process by,
How I persuaded, how I pray'd and kneel'd,
How he refell'd* me, and how I replied

(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 honour,

And I did yield to him: But the next morn betimes,
His purpose surfeiting, he sends a warrant

For my poor brother's head.

Duke. This is most likely!

Isab. O, that it were as like, as it is true!

Duke. By heaven, fondt 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 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.

Isab. And is this all?

Then, oh, 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:-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 swing d* 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 abused; First, hath this woman
Most wrongfully accused 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 meret 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 accused),

Her shall you hear disproved to her eyes.

Till she herself confess it.

Duke. Good friar, let's hear it.

[ISABELLA is carried off, guarded; 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 face,

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

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 not,

That ever he knew me.

Lucio. He was drunk then, my lord; it can be no better.
Duke. For the benefit of silence, 'would thou wert so too.
Lucio. Well, my lord.

Duke. This is no witness for lord Angelo.

Mari. 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 me?
Mari. Not that I know.

Duke. No? you say, your husband.

Mari. 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.

Mari. 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, with a vow'd contract,

* Deception.

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 imagined 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
Came short of composition ;* but, in 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 her,
Upon my faith and honour.

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 affianced 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, my good lord, give me the scope of justice;
My patience here is touch'd: I do perceive,
These poor informalt 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,

Though they would swear down each particular saint,
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.

F. Peter. Would he were here, my lord; for he, indeed, Hath set the women to on this complaint:

Your provost knows the place where he abides,

And he may fetch him.

Duke. Go, do it instantly.

And you, my noble and well-warranted cousin,

[Exit PROVOST.

+ Conspiracy.

Whom it concerns to hear this matter forth,*

Do with your injuries as seems you best,

In any chastisement: I for a while

Will leave you; but stir not you, till you have well
Determined upon these slanderers.

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. Cucullus 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 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 shall 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 sometime honour'd 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:

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 retortt 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!

*To the end.

+ Refer back.