Could fetch your brother from the manacles Isab. As much for my poor brother, as myself; Then must your brother die. Leab. And 'twere the cheaper way: Better it were, a brother died at once, Than that a sister, by redeeming him, Should die for ever. Ang. Were not you then as cruel as the sentence That you have slander'd so? Isab. Ignomy in ransom, and free pardon, Are of two houses: lawful mercy is Nothing akin to foul redemption. Ang. You seem'd of late to make the law a tyrant; And rather prov'd the sliding of your brother Isab. O pardon me, my lord; it oft falls out, mean: I something do excuse the thing I hate, By yielding up thy body to my will; And fit his mind to death, for his soul's rest. ACT III. [Erit SCENE 1. A Room in the Prison. Else let my brother die, Duke. So, then you hope of pardon from lord If not a feodary, but only he, Which are as easy broke as they make forms. Ang. I think it well: And from this testimony of your own sex, (Since, I suppose, we are made to be no stronger Than faults may shake our frames) let me be bold; I do arrest your words: Be that you are, Isab. My brother did love Juliet; and you tell me, That he shall die for it. Ang. He shall not, Isabel, if you give me love. Isab. I know, your virtue hath a license in't, Which seems a little fouler than it is, To pluck on others. Ang. Believe me, on mine honour, I will proclaim thee, Angelo; look for't: Ang. Claud. The miserable have no other medicine, But only hope: have hope to live, and am prepar'd to die. Duke. Be absolute for death either death or life, Shall thereby be the sweeter. Reason thus with life, If I do lose thee, I do lose a thing art, (Servile to all the skiey influences,) That dost this habitation, where thou keep'st, Hourly afflict: merely, thou art death's fool: For him thou labour'st by thy flight to shun, And yet runn'st toward him still: Thou art not noble; For all the accommodations that thou bear'st, Are nurs'd by baseness: Thou art by no means valiant; For thou dost fear the soft and tender fork For thon exist'st on many a thousand grains certain ; For thy complexion shifts to strange affects, But, as it were, an after-dinner's sleep, Of palsied eld; and when thou art old, and rich, beauty, To make thy riches pleasant. What's yet in this That bears the name of life? Yet in this life Lie hid more thousand deaths; yet death we fear, That makes these odds all even. I humbly thank you. Isab. What, ho! Peace here; grace and good company! Prov. Who's there? come in; the wish deserves a welcome. Duke. Dear sir, ere long I'll visit you again. Claud. Most holy sir, I thank you. Isab. My business is a word or two with Claudio. Prov. And very welcome. Look, signior, here's your sister. Duke. Provost, a word with you. Yet hear them. [Exeunt Duke and Provost. Lord Angelo, having affairs to heaven, Is there no remedy? remedy, as to save a To cleave a heart in twain. But is there any? Claud. But in what nature ? Isab. In such a one as (you consenting to't) Would bark your honour from that trunk you bear, And leave you naked. Claud. Why give you me this shame? Think you I can a resolution fetch From flowery tenderness? If I must die, I will encounter darkness as a bride, And hug it in mine arms. Isab. There spake any brother; there my fa ther's grave Did utter forth a voice! Yes, thou must die: Whose settled visage and deliberate word The princely Angelo ? Isab. O, the cunning livery of hell, The damned'st body to invest and cover In princely guards! Dost thou think, Claudio, If I would yield him my virginity, Thou might'st be freed ? Claud. O, heavens! it cannot be. Isab. Yes, he would give it thee, from this rank offence, Claud. Yes.-Has he affections in him, That thus can make him bite the law by the nose, When he would force it? Sure it is no sin; Or of the deadly seven it is the least. Isab. Which is the least? Claud. If it were damnable, he being so wise Why, would he for the momentary trick, Be perdurably fin'd ?-O Isabel! Isab. What says my brother? Claud. Death is a fearful thing. To lie in cold obstruction, and to rot: Isab. Alas! alas! Claud. Sweet sister, let me live: Heaven shield, my mother play'd my father fair? Claud. Nay, hear me, Isabel. Isab. O, fie, fie, fie! Thy sin's not accidental, but a trade: Mercy to thee would prove itself a bawd: 'Tis best that thou diest quickly. Claud. Going. O hear me, Isabella. Re-enter Duke. Duke. Vouchsafe a word, young sister, but one word. Isab. What is your will? Duke. Might you dispense with your leisure, I would by and by have some speech with you: the satisfaction I would require, is likewise your own benefit. Isab. I have no superfluous leisure; my stay must be stolen out of other affairs; but I will attend you awhile. Duke. To Claudio, aside.] Son, I have overheard what hath past between you and your sister. Angelo had never the purpose to corrupt her; only he hath made an essay of her virtue, to practise his judgment with the disposition of natures: she having the truth of honour in her, hath made him that gracious denial which he is most glad to receive: I am confessor to Angelo, and I know this to be true; therefore prepare yourself to death: Do not satisfy your Claud. Let me ask my sister pardon. I am so out of love with life, that I will sue to be rid of it. Duke. Hold you there: Farewell. [Exit Claudio. Re-enter Provost. Provost, a word with you. Prov. What's your will, father? Duke. That now you are come, you will be gone: Leave me awhile with the maid; my mind promises with my habit, no loss shall wouch her by my company. Prov. In good time. resolution with hopes that are fallible: to-mor-the continuance of her first affection; his unjust row you must die; go to your knees, and make unkindness, that in all reason should have ready. quenched her 1 ve, hath, like an impediment in the current, made it more violent and unruly. Go you to Angelo: answer his requiring with a plausible obedience; agree with his demands to the point: only refer yourself to this advantage, -first, that your stay with himn may not be long; that the time may have all shadow and silence in it; and the place answer to convenience: this being granted in course, now follows all. We shall advise this wronged maid to stead up your appointment, go in your place; if the encounter acknowledge itself hereafter, it may compel him to her recompense: and bere, by this, is your brother saved, your honour untainted, the poor Mariana advantaged, and the corrupt deputy scaled. The maid will I frame, and make fit for his attempt. If you think well to carry this as you may, the doubleness of the benefit defends the deceit from reproof. What think you of it 7 Isab. The image of it gives me content already; and, I trust, it will grow to a most prosperous perfection. Duke. It lies much in your holding up: Haste you speedily to Angelo; if for this night he en treat you to his bed, give him promise of satis faction. I will presently to St. Luke's there, at the moated grange, resides this dejected Mariana: At that place call upon me: and despatch with Angelo, that it may be quickly. Isab. I thank you for this comfort: Fare you Exeunt severally. [Exit Provost. Duke. That shall not be much amiss: Yet, as SCENE II. The Street before the Prison. have in doing good, a remedy presents itself. Enter Duke, as a Friar; to him Elbow, Clown, 1 do make myself believe, that you may most uprighteously do a poor wronged lady a merited and Officers. benefit; redeem your brother from the angry Elb. Nay, if there be no remedy for it, but law; do no stain to your own gracious person; that you will needs buy and sell men and women and much please the absent duke, if peradven-like beasts, we shall have all the world drink ture, he shall ever return to have hearing of this brown and white bastard. business Isab. Let me hear you speak further; I have spirt to do any thing that appears not foul in the truth of my spirit. Duke. Virtue is bold, and goodness never fear ful. Have you not heard speak of Mariana the sister of Frederick, the great soldier, who mis carried at sea? Isab. I have heard of the lady, and good words went with her name. Duke. Her should this Angelo have married: was affianced to her by oath, and the nuptial appointed: between which time of the contract, and limit of the solemnity, her brother Frede rick was wrecked at sea, having in that perish'd vessel the dowry of his sister. But mark, how heavily this befell to the poor gentlewoman: there she lost a noble and renowned brother, in his love toward her ever most kind and natural; with him the portion and sinew of her fortune, her marriage dowry; with both, her combinate husband. this well-seeming Angelo. Duke. O, heavens! what stuff is here? Clo. "Twas never merry world, sinee of two usuries, the merriest was put down, and the worser allow'd, by order of law, a furr'd gown to keep him warm; and furr'd with fox and lamb-skins too, to signify, that craft being richer than innocency, stands for the facing. Elb. Come your way, sir:-Bless you, good father friar. Duke. And you, good brother father: What offence hath this man made you, sir? Elb. Marry, sir, he hath offended the law; and, sir, we take him to be a thief too, sir; for we have found upon him, sir, a strange picklock, which we have sent to the deputy. Duke. Fie, sirrah; a bawd, a wicked bawd! The evil that thou causest to be done, That is thy means to live: Do thou but think What 'tis to cram a maw, or clothe a back, From such a filthy vice: say to thyself,From their abominable and beastly touches 1 drink, I eat, array myself, and live. Canst thou believe thy living is a life, So stinkingly depending? Go, mend, go, mend. Clo. Indeed, it does stink in some sort, sir; but sir, I would prove Isab. Can this be so? Did Angelo so leave her ? Isab. What a merit were it in death, to take this poor maid from the world! What corrup tion in this life, that it will let this man live But how ont of this can she avail? Duke. It is a rupture that you may easily heal: and the cure of it not only saves your brother, but keeps you from dishonour in doing it. Isab. Show me how, good father. Duke. Nay, if the devil have given thee proofs Thou wilt prove his. Take him to prison, officer; Elb. He must before the deputy, sir; he has given him warning: the deputy cannot abide a whoremaster: if he be a whoremonger, and comes before him, he were as good go a mile on his errand. Duke. That we were all, as some would seem to be, Duke. This forenamed maid hath yet in her Free from our faults, as faults from seeming freet Enter Lucio. Duke. You are pleasant, sir; and speak apace. Elb. His neck will come to your waist, a cord, him, for the rebellion of a cod-piece, to take Lucio. Why, what a ruthless thing is this in dir. Clo. I spy comfort; I cry, bail: Here's a gen-away the life of a man? Would the duke, that is absent, have done this? Ere he would have tleman, and a friend of mine. Lucio. How now, noble Pompey? What, at hang'd a man for the getting a hndred bastards, the heels of Cæsar? Art thou led in triumph. 7 he would have paid for the nursing of a thou What, is there none of Pygmalion's images, knew the service, and that instructed him to sand: He had some feeling of the sport; he newly made woman, to be had now, for putting the hand in the pocket and extracting it clutch'd? What reply? Ha? What say 'st thou to this tune, matter, and method? Is't not drown'd i' the last rain? Ha? What say'st thou, trot? Is the world as it was, man? Which is the way? Is it sad, and few words? Or how? The trick of it? Duke. Still thus, and thus! still worse! Lucio. How doth my dear morsel, thy mistress? Procures she still? Ha? Clo. Troth, sir, she hath eaten up all her beef, and she is herself in the tub. Lucio. Why, 'tis good; it is the right of it; it must be so: Ever your fresh whore, and your powder'd bawd: an unshunn'd consequence; it must be so: Art going to prison, Pompey? Clo. Yes, 'faith, sir. mercy. Duke. I never heard the absent duke much detected for women; he was not inclined that way. Lucio. O, sir, you are deceived. Lucio. Who? not the duke? yes, your begga of fifty and his use was, to put a ducat in he clack-dish: the duke had crotchets in nim: Hi would be drunk too; that let me inform you Duke. You do him wrong, surely. low was the duke: and I believe, I know the Duke. What, I pr'ythee, might be the cause? Lucio. Why, 'tis not amiss, Pompey: Fare-lock'd within the teeth and the fips: but this I well: Go; say, I sent thee thither. For debt, Pompey ? Or how? Elb. For being a bawd, for being a bawd. Lucio. Well, then, imprison him: If imprisonment be the due of a bawd, why, 'tis his right: Bawd is he, doubtless, and of antiquity too bawd-born. Farewell, good Pompey: Commend me to the prison, Pompey; You will turn good husband now, Pompey; you will keep the house. Clo. I hope, sir, your good worship will be my bail. is Lucio. No, indeed, will I not, Pompey; it not the wear. I will pray, Pompey, to increase your bondage: if you take it not patiently, why your mettle is the more: Adieu, trusty Pompey -Bless you, friar. Duke. And you Lucio. Does Bridget paint still, Pompey ? Ha? Clo. You will not bail me then, sir? can let you understand,-The greater file of the subject held the duke to be wise. Duke. Wise? why, no question but he was. Lucio. A very superficial, ignorant, unweighing fellow. Duke. Either this is envy in you, folly, or mistaking; the very stream of his life, and the business he hath helmed, must, upon a warranted, need give him a better proclamation. Let him be but testinonied in his own bringings forth, and he shall appear to the envious, a scholar, a statesman, and a soldier: Therefore, you speak unskilfully; or, if your knowledge be more, it is much darkened in your malice." Lucio. Sir, I know him, and I love him. knowledge with dearer love. Duke. Love talks with better knowledge, and Lucio. Come, sir, I know what I know. Duke. I can hardly believe that, since you know not what you speak. But, if ever the duke return (as our prayers are he may,) let Lucio. Then, Pompey ? nor now.-What news me desire you to make your answer before abroad, friar? What news? Elb. Come your ways, sir; come. [Exeunt Elbow, Clown, and Officers. What news, friar, of the duke? Duke. I know not where: But wheresoever, I wish him well. Lucio. It was a mad fantastical trick of him, to steal from the state, and usurp the beggary. he was never born to. Lord Angelo dukes it well in his absence; he puts transgression to't Duke. He does well in't. Lucio. A little more lenity to lechery would do no harm in him: something too crabbed that way, friar. Duke. It is too general a vice, and severity must cure it. him: If it be honest you have spoke, you have courage to maintain it: I am bound to call upon you; and, I pray you, your name? Lucio. Sir, my name is Lucio: well known to the duke. Duke. He shall know you better, sir, if I may live to report you. Lucio. I fear you not. Duke. O, you hope the duke will return no more; or you imagine me too unhurtful an op posite. But, indeed, I can do you little harm; you'll forswear this again. Lucio I'll be hang'd first: thou art deceived in me, friar. But no more of this: Canst thou tell if Claudio die to-morrow, or no? Duke. Why should he die, sir? Lucio. Why? for filling a bottle with a tundish. I would, the duke, we talk of, were return'd again: this ungenitur'd agent will unpeople the province with continency; sparrows must not build in his house-eaves, because they are lecherous. The duke yet would have dark deeds darkly answered; he would never bring them to light: 'would, he were return'd! Marry, this Claudio is condemn'd for untrussing. Farewell, good friar; I pr'ythee, pray for me. The duke, I say to thee again, would eat mutton on Fridays. He's now past it; yet, and I say to Lucio. Yes, in good sooth, the vice is of a great kindred; it is well ally'd: but it is impossible to extirpate it quite, friar, till eating and drinking be put down. They say, this Angelo was not made by man and woman, after the downright way of creation: Is it true, think you? Duke. How should he be made then? Lucio. Some report a sea-maid spawn'd him: thee, he would mouth with a beggar, though Some that he was begot between two stock-she smelt brown bread and garlick: say, that t [Erit. fishes:-But it is certain, that when he makes said so. Farewell. water his urine is congeal'd ice; that I know Duke. No might nor greatness in mortality to be true: and he is a motion ungenerative, Can censure 'scape; back-wounding calumny that's infallible. The whitest virtue strikes: What king so strong Can tie the gall up in the slanderous tongue ? Enter Escalus, Provost, Bawd, and Officers. Escal. Go, away with her to prison. Baud. Good my lord, he good to me; your honour is accounted a merciful man: good my lord. Escal Double and treble admonition, and still forfeit in the same kind? This would make mercy swear, and play the tyrant. Prov. A bawd of eleven years' continuance, may it please your honour. [Exeunt Escalus and Provost He, who the sword of heaven will bear, Should be as holy as severe; Pattern in himself to know," Grace to stand, and virtue go; More nor less to others paying, Than by self-offences weighing. Shame to him, whose cruel striking Kills for faults of his own liking! Twice treble shame on Angelo, To weed my vice, and let his grow! Bawd. My lord, this is one Lucio's informa-0, what may man within him hide, tion against me: mistress Kate Deep-down was Though angel on the outward side! with child by him in the duke's time, he pro- How may likeness, made in crimes, mised her marriage; his child is a year and a Making, practice on the times, quarter old, come Philip and Jacob: 1 have To draw with ille spiders' strings kept it myself; and see how he goes about to Most pond'rous and substantial things! Craft against vice must apply: With Angelo to-night shall lie His old betrothed, bat despised; So disguise shall, by the disguis'd, Pay with falsehood false exacting, And perform an old contracting. abuse me. Escal. That fellow is a fellow of much license:-let him be called before us.-Away with her to prison: Go to; no more words. [Exeunt Bawd and Officers Provost, my brother Angelo will not be alter'd, Claudio must die to-morrow: let him be furnished with divines, and have all charitable preparation: if my brother wrought by my pity, it should not be so with him. Prov. So please you, this friar hath been with him, and advised him for the entertainment of death. To use it for my time: I am a brother ACT IV. [Exit SCENE I. A Room in Mariana's House. Take, oh take those lips away, That so sweetly were forsworn; bring again, Seals of love, but seal'd in vain,, seal'd in vain. Mari. Break off thy song, and haste the quick away; Exit Boy. Escal. What news abroad i' the world? Duke. None, but that there is so great a fever on goodness, that the dissolution of it must cure it: novelty is only in request; and it is as dan- Here comes a man of comfort, whose advice gerous to be aged in any kind of course, as it Hath often still'd my brawling discontentis virtuous to be constant in any undertaking. There is scarce truth enough alive, to make societies secure; but security enough, to make fellowships accurs'd: much upon this riddle I cry you mercy, sir; and well could wish runs the wisdom of the world. This news is You had not found me here so musical: old enough, yet it is every day's news. I pray you, sir, of what disposition was the duke ? Escal. One, that, above all other strifes, contended especially to know himself. Enter Duke. Let me excuse me, and believe me so,- wo. Duke. 'Tis good: though musick oft hath such a charm, Duke. What pleasure was he given to? Escal. Rather rejoicing to see another merry, To make bad, good, and good provoke to harm, than merry at any thing which professed to I pray you, tell me, hath any body inquired for make him rejoice: a gentleman of all tem- me here to-day ? much upon this time have 1 perance. But leave we him to his events, with promis'd here to meet. a prayer they may prove prosperous; and let me desire to know how you find Claudio prepared. I am made to understand, that you have lent him visitation. Mari. You have not been inquired after: I have sat here all day. Enter Isabella. [Erit. Mari. I am always bound to you. Duke. He professes to have received no sinis- Duke. I do constantly believe you :-The time Duke. If his own life answer the straitness! of his proceeding, it shall become him wei.; wherein, if he chance to fail, he hath sentenced Dimself. brick, Which from the vineyard to the garden leads; |