Isab. Adoptedly; as school-maids change their, May, in the sworn twelve, have a thief or two names, Guiltier than him they try: What's open made

By vain though apt affection.
Lucio.

She it is.

Isab. O let him marry her!
Lucio.
This is the point.
The duke is very strangely gone from hence;
Bore many gentlemen, myself being one,
In hand, and hope of action; but we do learn
By those that know the very nerves of state,
His givings out were of an infinite distance
From his true-meant design. Upon his place,
And with full line of his authority,
Governs lord Angelo; a man, whose blood
Is very snow-broth; one who never feels
The wanton stings and motions of the sense;
But doth rebate and blunt his natural edge
With profits of the mind, study and fast.
He (to give fear to use and liberty,
Which have, for long, run by the hideous law,
As mice by lions) hath pick'd out an act,
Under whose heavy sense your brother's life
Falls into forfeit: he arrests him on it;
And follows close the rigour of the statute,
To make him an example: all hope is gone,
Unless you have the grace by your fair prayer
To soften Angelo: And that's my pith

Of business 'twixt you and your poor brother.
Isab. Doth he so seek his life?
Lucio.

Has censur'd him

Isab. I will about it straight;
No longer staying but to give the mother
Notice of my affair. I humbly thank you:
Commend me to my brother: soon at night
I'll send him certain word of my success.
Lucio. I take my leave of you.
Isab.

ACT II.

Good sir, adieu.
[Exeunt.

SCENE 1. A Hall in Angelo's House. Enter Angelo, Escalus, a Justice, Provost, Officers, and other Attendants.

Ang. We must not make a scare crow of the law,
Setting it up to fear the birds of prey,

And let it keep one shape, till custom make it
Their perch, and not their terror.
Escal.

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 me,
When 1, 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.
Where is the provost
Prov. Here, if it like your honour.
Ang.

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;
Some run from brakes 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. Escal. This comes off well; here's a wise offi

cer.

Ang. Go to: What quality are they of? El. bow 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 professes 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?

Elh. Ay, sir; whom, I thank heaven, is ar honest woman.

Escal. Dost thou detest her therefore?

Ay, but yet Elb. I say, sir, I will detest myself also, as well as she, that this house, if it be not a bawd's gen-house, it is a pity of her life, for it is a naughty

Let us be keen, and rather cut a little,
Than fall, and bruise to death: Alas! this
tleman,

Whom I would save, had a most noble father.
Let out 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

pose,

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 uncleanliness there.

Escal. By the woman's means?

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

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,

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 fruit-dish, a dish of some three pence: your honours have seen such dishes; they are not China dishes, but very good dishes.

Elb. Varlet, thou liest; thou liest, wicked var let: the time is yet to come, that she was ever respected with man, woman, or child. Clo. Sir, she was respected with him before he married with her.

Escal. Go to, go to: no matter for the dish, sir. Escal. Which is the wiser here? Justice, or IniClo. No, indeed, sir, not of a pin; you are there-quity ? Is this true?

in in the right: but, to the point: As I say, this Elb. O thou caitiff! O thou varlet! O thou mistress Elbow being, as I say, with child, and wicked Hannibal! I respected with her, before being great belly'd, and longing, as I said, for I was married to her? If ever I was respected prunes; and having but two in the dish, as I said, with her, or she with me, let not your worship master Froth here, this very man having eaten think me the poor duke's officer:-Prove this, the rest, as I said, and, as I say, paying for them thou wicked Hannibal, or I'll have mine action very honestly;-for, as you know, master Froth, of battery on thee. I cou'd not give you three pence again.

Froth. No, indeed.

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 purpose,-What was done to Elbow's wife, that he hath 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?

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 offences 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 seest, thou wicked varlet now, what's come upon thee; thou art to continue nów, thou var. let; thou art to continue.

[To Froth.

Escal. Where were you born, friend?
Froth. Here in Vieuna, sir.
Escal. Are you of fourscore 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 hus.
band 7

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, mas-
ter Froth, and you will hang them: Get you
gone, and let me hear no more of you.
Froth. I thank your worship: for mine own
I never come into any room in a taphouse,
but I am drawn in.

party'

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; Escal. Well; no more of it, master Froth: Hoping, you'll find good cause to whip them all. farewell. [Exit Froth. J-Come you hither to me, Escal. I think no less; Good morrow to your master tapster; what's your name, master taplordship. [Exit Angelo.ster? Now, sir, coine 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.

Cla. I beseech your honour, ask me. Escal. Well, sír: 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. Nay, beseech you, mark it well.
Escal. Well, I do so.

Clo. Doth your honour see any harm in his face
Escal. Why, no.

7

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?

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."

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

Escal. There are pretty orders beginning, I Elb. First, an it like you, the house is a respect-can tell you: It is but heading and hanging. ed house; next, this is a respected fellow; and his mistress is a respected woman

Clo. If you head and hang all that offend that way but for ten year together, you'll be glad to Clo. By this hand, sir, his wife is a more re-give out a commission for more heads. If this spected person than any of us all.

law hold in Vienna ten year, I'll rent the fairest

house in it, after three pence a day: if you live to
see this come to pass, say, Pompey told you so.
Escal. Thank you, good Pompey: and, in re-
quital of your prophecy, hark you,-1 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 time, Poinpey, fare you well.
Clo. I thank your worship for your good coun-
sel: but I shall follow it as the flesh and fortunei
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.

Ang.
Hath he a sister?
Prov. Ay, my good lord: a very virtuous maid,
And to be shortly of a sisterhood,
If not already.

Ang.

Well, let her be admitted.

[Erit Servant.
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 Isab.] You are
welcome: What's your will?
Isab. I ani a woful suitor to your honour,
Please but your honour hear me.
Ang.
Well; what's your suit
And most desire should meet the blow of justice
Isab. There is a vice, that most I do abhor,
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 7
Isab. I have a brother is condemn'd to die:
do beseech you, let it be his fault,
And not my brother.

I

Prov.

Escal. Alas! it hath been great pains to you! They do you wrong to put you so oft npon't: Are there not men in your ward sufficient to serve it? Heaven give thee moving graces! Elb. Faith, sir, few of any wit in such matters: Why, every fault's condemn'd, ere it be done : Ang. Condemn the fault, and not the actor of it! as they are chosen, they are glad to choose me Mine were the very cipher of a function, for them; I do it for some piece of money, and To fine the faults, whose fine stands in record, go through with all.

Escal. Look you, bring me in the names of some six or seven, the most sufficient of your parish.

Elb. To your worship's house, sir? Escal. To my house: Fare you well. Elbow.] What's o'clock, think you? Just. Eleven, sir.

[Exit

Escal. I pray you home to dinner with me.
Just. 1 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 wo:
But yet,-Poor Claudio !-There's no remedy.
Come, sir.

SCENE II. Another Room in the same.

Enter Provost and a Servant.

And let go by the actor.

Isab.

had a brother then.-Heaven keep your hoO just, but severe law! [Retiring. Lucio. [To Isab.] Give't not o'er so: to him

nour!

again, entreat 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; 1 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,

Serv. He's hearing of a cause; he will come If so your heart were touch'd with that remorse straight.

I'll tell him of you.

Prov. 'Pray you, do. [Exit Servant.] I'll know
His pleasure: may be, he will relent: "Alas,
He hath but as offended in a dream!

All sects, all ages smack of this vice; and he
To die for it!-

Go to; let that be mine:
Do you your office, or give up your place,
And you shall well be spar'd.
Prov.

1 crave your honour's pardon.

What shall be done, sir, with the groaning Juliet
She's very near her hour.
Dispose of her

Ang.

To some more fitter place; and that with speed.

?

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.

1sab. I would to heaven I had your potency,
And you were Isabel! should it then be thus?'
No; 1 would tell what 'twere to be a judge,
And what a prisoner.

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; Serv. Here is the sister of the man condemn'd, And mercy then will breathe within your lips, Desires access to you.

Re-enter Servant.

Like man new made.

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

Ang.
Be you content, fair maid;
It is the law, not 1, condemns your brother:
Were he my kinsman, brother, or my son,
It should be thus with him ;-he must die to-mor-

row.

Isab. To-morrow? O, that's sudden! Spare him, spare him:

He's not prepar'd for death! Even for our kit-
chens

We kill the fowl of season: shall we serve heaven
With less respect than we do minister

To our gross selves? Good, good my lord, bethink
you,

Who is it that hath died for this offence?
There's many have committed it.
Lucio.
Ang. The law hath not been dead, though it
Ay, well said.

hath slept:

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,
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.

row.

Isab. Hark, how I'll bribe you: Good my lord,
turn back.

Isab. Ay, with such gifts, that heaven shall
Ang. How bribe me?
Lucio. You had marr'd all else.
share with you.
Or stones, whose rates are either rich, or poor,
Isab. Not with fond shekels of the tested gold,
As fancy values them: but with true prayers,
That shall be up at heaven, and enter there,
Ere sun-rise; prayers from preserved souls,
From fasting maids, whose minds are dedicate
To nothing temporal.
Well: come to me

Ang.
To-morrow.

Lucio. Go to: it is well away.

[Aside to Isabel.

Amen :

Isab. Heaven keep your honour safe!
For 1 am that way going to temptation, [Aside.
Ang.
Where prayers cross.

Isab.

At what hour to-morrow
Shall I attend your lordship?
Ang.

At any time 'fore noon.

Isab. Save your honour!

Ang.

[Exeunt Lucio, Isabella, and Provost. 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,

leab. So you must be the first, that gives this Do, as the carrion does, not as the flower,

sentence:

And he, that suffers: 0, it is excellent

Lucio.

To have a giant's strength; but it is tyrannous
To use it like a giant.
That's well said.
Isab. Could great men thunder
As Jove himself does, Jove would ne'er be quiet,
For every pelting, petty officer,

Would use his heaven for thunder; nothing but
thunder.

Merciful heaven!

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 our-
self:

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,

Hath yet a kind of medicine in itself,

That skins the vice o' the top: Go to your bo

Corrupt with virtuous season.
Can it be,
That modesty may more betray our sense
Than woman's lightness? Having waste ground
enough,

Shall we desire to raze the sanctuary,
What dost thou ? or, what art thou, Angelo?
And pitch our evils there? O, fie, fie, fie!
Dost thou desire her foully, for those things
That make her good? O, let her brother live:
Thieves for the 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 doth bait thy hook! Most dangerous
Is that temptation, that doth goad us on
To sin in loving virtue: never could the strumpet,
With all her double vigour, art, and nature.
Subdues me quite;-Ever, till now,
Once stir my temper; but this virtuous maid
When men were fond, I smil'd, and wonder'd
[Exit.

how!
SCENE III. A Room in a Prison.
Enter Duke, habited like a Friar, and Provost.
Duke. Hail to you, Provost! so I think you

Duke. Love you the man that wrong'd you? Juliet. Yes, as I love the woman that wrong'd him.

Duke. So then, it seems, your most offenceful|

act

Was mutually committed?

Juliet.

Mutually.

Duke. Then was your sin of heavier kind than his.

Juliet. I do confess it, and repent it, father. Duke. 'Tis meet so, daughter: But lost you do repent,

Ang. Yea.

Isab. When, I beseech you? that in his re
prieve,

Longer, or shorter, he may be so fitted,
That his soul sicken not.

Ang. Ha! Fie, these filthy vices! It were as
good

To pardon him, that hath from nature stolen
A man already made, as to remit
Their saucy sweetness, that do coin heaven's
image

As that the sin hath brought you to this shame,-In stamps that are forbid: 'tis all as easy
Which sorrow is always toward ourselves, not
heaven;

Showing, we'd not spare heaven as we love it,
But as we stand in fear,-

Juliet. I do repent me, as it is an evil;
And take the shame with joy.

Duke.

There rest.

[Exeunt. SCENE IV. A Room in Angelo's House. Enter Angelo.

Ang. When I would pray and think, I think and pray

To several subjects: heaven hath any words;

empty

Whilst my invention, hearing not my tongue,
Anchors on Isabel: Heaven in my mouth,
As it I did but only chew his name;
And in my heart, the strong and swelling evil
Of my conception: The state, whereon I studied,
Is like a good thing, being often read,
Grown fear'd and tedious; yea, my gravity,
Wherein (let no man hear me) I take pride,
Could I, with boot, change for an idle plume,
Which ther beats for vain. O place! O form!
How often dost thou with thy case, thy habit,
Wrench awe from fools, and tie the wiser souls.
To thy false seeming? Blood, thou still art blood!
Let's write good angel on the devil's horn,
"Tis not the devil's crest.

Falsely to take away a life true made,
As to put metal in restrained means,
To make a false one.

Isab. 'Tis set down so in heaven, but not in
earth.

Ang. Say you so 7 then I shall pose you quickly.
Which had you rather, That the most just law
Now took your brother's life; or, to redeem him,
Give up your body to such sweet uncleanness,
As she that he hath stain'd?
Isab.
Sir, believe this,
I had rather give my body than my soul.
Ang. talk not of your sonl: Our compell'd
Stand more for number than account.
Isab.

sins

How say you? Ang. Nay, I'll not warrant that; for I can speak

Against the thing I say. Answer to this;-
I, now the voice of the recorded law,
Might there not be a charity in sin,
Pronounce a sentence on your brother's life:

To save this brother's life?

Isab.

Please you to do't,
I'll take it as a peril to my soul,
It is no sin at all, but charity.
Ang. Pleas'd you to do't, at peril of your soul,
Were equal poise of sin and charity.

Isab. That I do beg his life, if it be sin,
Heaven, let me bear it! you granting of my suit,
If that be sin, I'll make it my morn prayer
To have it added to the faults of mine,
And nothing of your answer.

Ang.

Your sense pursues not mine: either you are
Nay, but hear me:
ignorant,

Or seem so, craftily; and that's not good.
Isab. Let me be ignorant, and in nothing good,
But graciously to know I am no better.

Ang. Thus wisdom wishes to appear most
bright,

When it doth tax itself: as these black masks
Proclaim an enshield beauty ten times louder
Than beauty could display'd.-But mark me;
To be received plain, I'll speak more gross :

Your brother is to die.

1sab. So.

Ang. And his offence is so, as it appears
Accountant to the law upon that pain.
Isab. True.

Ang. Admit no other way to save his life,
(As I subscribe not that, nor any other.
But in the loss of question,) that you, his sister,
Finding yourself desir'd of such a person,
Whose credit with the judge, or own great place