1 Gent. Claudio to prison! 'tis not so. Bawd. Nay, but I know, 'tis so: I saw him arrested; saw him carried away; and, which is more, within these three days his head's to be chopped off. Lucio. But, after all this fooling, I would not have it so: Art thou sure of this? Bawd. I am too sure of it: and it is for getting madam Julietta with child. Lucio. Believe me, this may be he promised to meet me two hours since; and he was ever precise in promise-keeping. 2 Gent. Besides, you know, it draws something near to the speech we had to such a purpose. 1 Gent. But most of all, agreeing with the proclamation. Lucio. Away; let's go learn the truth of it. [Exeunt LUCIO and Gentlemen. Bawd. Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat, 5 what with the gallows, and what with poverty, I am custom-shrunk.-How now? what's the news with you? Enter Clown. Clown. Yonder man is carried to prison. 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 houses in the suburbs of Vienna must be pluck'd down. Bawd. And what shall become of those in the city ? Clown. They shall stand for seed: they had gone down too, but that a wise burgher put in for them. Bawd. But shall all our houses of resort in the suburbs be pull'd down? Clown. To the ground, mistress. Bawd. Why, here's a change, indeed, in the commonwealth!-What shall become of me? Clown. Come; fear not you: good counsellors lack no clients though you change your place, you need not [5] This may allude to the sweating sickness, of which the memory was very fresh in the time of Shakspeare: but more probably to the method of cure then used for the diseases contracted in brothels. JOHNS ON, change your trade; I'll be your tapster still. Courage; there will be pity taken on you: you that have worn your eyes almost out in the service, you will be considered. Bawd. What's to do here, Thomas Tapster? Let's withdraw. Clown. Here comes signior Claudio, led by the provost to prison: and there's madam Juliet. [Exeunt. SCENE III. Enter Provost, CLAUDIO, JULIET, and Officers ; LuCIO, and two Gentlemen. Clau. Fellow, why dost thou show me thus to the world? Bear me to prison, where I am committed. Prov. I do it not in evil disposition, But from lord Angelo by special charge. Clau. Thus can the demi-god, Authority, Make us pay down, for our offence by weight.— Lucio. Why, how now, Claudio? whence comes this restraint? Clau. From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty: As surfeit is the father of much fast, So every scope by the immoderate use Turns to restraint: Our natures do pursue Lucio. If I could speak so wisely under arrest, I would send for certain of my creditors: And yet, to say the truth, I had as lief have the foppery of freedom, as the morality of imprisonment.-What's thy offence, Claudio? Clau. What, but to speak of would offend again. Clau. No. Lucio. Lechery? [6] Authority, being absolute in Angelo, is finely stiled by Claudio, the demi-god. To this uncontroulable power, the poet applies a passage from St. Paul to the Romans, ix. 15, 18, which he properly styles, the words of heaven: "for he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy,' &c And again" Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy," &c. HENLEY. " [7] To ravin was formerly used for eagerly or voraciously devouring any thing. STEEVENS. Clau. Call it so. Prov. Away, sir; you must go. Clau. One word, good friend :-Lucio, a word with you. [Takes him aside. Lucio. A hundred, if they'll do you any good. Is lechery so look'd after? Clau. Thus stands it with me :-Upon a true contract, I got possession of Julietta's bed; You know the lady; she is fast my wife, From whom we thought it meet to hide our love, But it chances, The stealth of our most mutual entertainment, With character too gross, is writ on Juliet. Clau. Unhappily, even so. And the new deputy now for the duke,— A horse whereon the governour doth ride, Who, newly in the seat, that it may know He can command, lets it straight feel the spur: Or in his eminence that fills it up, I stagger in :-But this new governour Which have, like unscour'd armour, hung by the wall Freshly on me :-'tis surely, for a name. Lucio. I warrant, it is: and thy head stands so tickle on thy shoulders, that a milk-maid, if she be in love, may sigh it off. Send after the duke, and appeal to him. Claud. I have done so, but he's not to be found. I pr'ythee, Lucio, do me this kind service :— Acquaint her with the danger of my state; I have great hope in that: for in her youth Such as moves men; beside, she hath prosperous art Lucio. I pray, she may as well for the encouragement of the like, which else would stand under grievous imposition; as for the enjoying of thy life, who I would be sorry should be thus foolishly lost at a game of ticktack. I'll to her. Clau. I thank you, good friend Lucio. Clau. Come, officer, away. SCENE IV. [Exeunt. A Monastery. Enter Duke and Friar THOMAS. Duke. No; holy father; throw away that thought; Believe not that the dribbling dart of love Can pierce a complete bosom: why I desire thee Fri. May your grace speak of it? Duke. My holy sir, none better knows than you How I have ever lov'd the life remov'd ; And held in idle price to haunt assemblies, Where youth, and cost, and witless bravery keeps. (A man of stricture, and firm abstinence,) For so I have strew'd it in the common ear, Duke. We have strict statutes, and most biting laws, (The needful bits and curbs for head-strong steeds) Which for these fourteen years we have let sleep; Even like an o'ergrown lion in a cave, That goes not out to prey: Now, as fond fathers [8] Think not that a breast completely armed can be pierced by the dart of love, that comes fluttering without force. JOHNSON. A dribber, in archery, was a term of contempt. STEEVENS. Having bound up the threat'ning twigs of birch, Becomes more mock'd, than fear'd: so our decrees Fri. It rested in your grace To unloose this tied-up justice, when you pleas'd: Duke. I do fear, too dreadful: Sith 't was my fault to give the people scope, And not the punishment. Therefore, indeed, my father, Who may, in the ambush of my name, strike home, To do it slander: And to behold his sway, I will, as 'twere a brother of your order, Visit both prince and people: therefore, I pr'ythee," Like a true friar. More reasons for this action, Only, this one :-Lord Angelo is precise; Is more to bread than stone: Hence shall we see, A Nunnery. SCENE V. Enter ISABELLA and FRANCISCA. Isab. And have you nuns no further privileges? Isab. Yes, truly: I speak not as desiring more ; |