I'll make all speed, [Exit. Isab. [Within.] Peace, ho, be here! [know, Duke. The tongue of Isabel:-She's come to If yet her brother's pardon be come hither: But I will keep her ignorant of her good, To make her heavenly comforts of despair, When it is least expected.

gra

Enter ISABELLA. Isab. Ho, by your leave. [cious daughter. Duke. Good morning to you, fair and Isab. The better, given me by so holy a man. Hath yet the deputy sent my brother's pardon? Duke. He hath releas'd him, Isabel, from the His head is off, and sent to Angelo. [world; Isab. Nay, but it is not so.

Duke.
It is no other:
Show your wisdom, daughter, in your close
patience.
[eyes.
Isab. O, I will to him, and pluck out his
Duke. You shall not be admitted to his sight.
Isab. Unhappy Claudio! Wretched Isabel!
Injurious world! Most damned Angelo! [jot:
Duke. This nor hurts him, nor profits you a
Forbear it therefore; give your cause to heaven.
Mark what I say; which you shall find
By every syllable, a faithful verity:
The duke comes home to-morrow ;-nay, dry
your eyes;

One of our convent, and his confessor,
Gives me this instance: Already he hath carried
Notice to Escalus and Angelo;

Who do prepare to meet him at the gates, There to give up their power. If you can, pace your wisdom

In that good path that I would wish it go; And you shall have your bosom on this wretch, Grace of the duke, revenges to your heart, And general honour.

Isab.

I am directed by you. Duke. This letter then to friar Peter give; 'Tis that he sent me of the duke's return: Say, by this token, I desire his company At Mariana's house to-night. Her cause, and yours,

I'll perfect him withal; and he shall bring you Before the Duke; and to the head of Angelo Accuse him home, and home. For my poor self, I am combined by a sacred vow, [letter: And shall be absent. Wendt you with this Command these fretting waters from your eyes With a light heart; trust not my holy order, If I pervert your course.-Who's here? Enter LuCIO.

Good even!

Lucio. Friar, where is the provost? Duke. Not within, sir. Lucio. O, pretty Isabella, I am pale at mine heart, to see thine eyes so red: thou

• Your heart's desire,

wench with child.

Duke. Did you such a thing?

Lucio. Yes, marry, did I: but was fain to forswear it; they would else have married me to the rotten medlar.

Duke. Sir, your company is fairer than honest: Rest you well.

Lucio. By my troth, I'll go with thee to the lane's end: If bawdy talk offend you, we'll have very little of it: Nay, friar, I am a kind of burr, I snan suck. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. A Room in Angelo's House. Enter ANGELO and ESCALUS. Escal. Every letter he hath writ hath disvouch❜d other.

Ang. In most uneven and distracted manner. His actions show much like to madness: pray heaven, his wisdom be not tainted! And why meet him at the gates, and re-deliver our authorities there?

Escal. I guess not.

Ang. And why should we proclaim it in an hour before his entering, that, if any crave redress of injustice, they should exhibit their petitions in the street?

Escal. He shows his reason for that: to have a despatch of complaints; and to deliver us from devices hereafter, which shall then have no power to stand against us. [claiın'd:

Ang. Well, I beseech you, let it be proBetimes i' the morn, I'll call you at your house: Give notice to such men of sort and suitý, As are to meet him.

Escal. I shall, sir: fare you well. [Exit. Ang. Good night.[pregnant, This deed unshapes me quite, makes me unAnd dull to all proceedings. A deflc wer'd maid! And by an eminent body, that enforc'd The law against it!-But that her tender shame Will not proclaim against her maiden loss, How might she tongue me? Yet reason deres ¡ her?-no:

For my authority bears a credent⚫ bulk,
That no particular scandal once can touch,
Bat it confounds the breathert. He should
have liv'd,
(sense,
Save that his riotous youth, with dangerous
Might, in the times to come, have ta'en revenge,
By so receiving a dishonour'd life, [had liv'd!
With ransome of such shame. 'Would yet he
Alack, when once our grace we have forgot,
Nothing goes right; we would, and we would
[Exit.
SCENE V. Fields without the Town.
Enter DUKE in his own habit, and Friar

not.

PETER.

Duke. These letters at fit time deliver me. {Giving letters. The provost knows our purpose, and our plot. The matter being afoot, keep your instruction, And hold you ever to our special drift; Though sometimes you do blench from this to that, [house, As cause doth minister. Go, call at Flavius' And tell him where I stay: give the like notice, To Valentinus, Rowland, and to Crassus, And bid them bring the trumpets to the gate; But send me Flavius first.

F. Peter.

It shall be speeded well. [Exit Friar.

SCENE I.

Enter VARrius.

Duke. I thank thee, Varrius; thou hast

made good haste:

[friends Come, we will walk : There's other of our Will greet us here anon, my gentle Varrius. [Exeunt.

SCENE VI. Street near the City Gate.
Enter ISABELLA and MARIANA.
Isab. To speak so indirectly, I am loath;
I would say the truth; but to accuse him so,
That is your part: yet I'm advis'd to do it;
He says, to veil fullý purpose.

Mari.
Be rul'd by him. [ture
Isab. Besides, he tells me, that, if peradven-
I should not think it strange; for 'tis a physic,
He speak against me on the adverse side,
That's bitter to sweet end.

Mari. I would, friar Peter-
Isab.

O, peace; the friar is come.
Enter Friar PETER.

F. Peter. Come, I have found you out a stand niost fit,

Where you may have such vantage on the [duke, He shall not pass you; Twice have the trumpets sounded;

The generous and gravest citizens
Have hent the gates, and very near upon
The duke is ent'ring; therefore hence, away.
[Exeunt.

A public Place near the City Gate. MARIANA, (veild,) ISABELLA, and PETER, at a distance. "Enter at opposite doors, DUKE, VARBIUS, Lords; ANGELO, ESCALUS, LUCIO, Provest, Officers, & Citizens. Duke. My very worthy cousin, fairly met:Our old and faithful friend, we are glad to see you. [royal grace! Ang, and Escal. Happy return be to your Duke. Many and hearty thankings to you both.

We have made inquiry of you; and we hear Such goodness of your justice, that our soul Cannot but yield you forth to public thanks, Forerunning more requital.

Ang. You make my bonds still greater. Duke. O, your desert speaks loud; and I should wrong it,

To lock it in the wards of covert bosom,
When it deserves with characters of brass
A forted residence, 'gainst the tooth of time,
And razure of oblivion: Give me your hand
And let the subject see, to make them know
That outward courtesies would fain proclaim
Favours that keep within.-Come, Escalus;
You must walk by us on our other hand ;-
And good supporters are you.

PETER and ISABELLA come forward.
F. Peter. Now is your time; speak loud,

and kneel before him.

Credit unquestionable.
Advantage.

Isab. Justice, O, royal duke! Vailtt your

regard

Upon a wrong'd, I'd fain have said, a maid!
O worthy prince, dishonour not your eye
By throwing it on any other object,
Till you have heard me in my true complaint,
And given me, justice, justice, justice, justice!
Duke. Relate your wrongs; In what? By
whom? Be brief:
Here is lord Angelo shall give you justice;
Reveal yourself to him.

Isab.
O, worthy duke,
You bid me seek redemption of the devil:
Hear me yourself; for that which I must speak
Must either punish me, not being believ'd,
Or wring redress from you: hear me, O, hear
me, here.
[firm:

Ang. My lord, her wits, I fear me, are not She hath been a suitor to me for her brother, Cut off by course of justice.

Isab. By course of justice! Ang. And she will speak most bitterly, and strange. [I speak : Isab. Most strange, but yet most truly, will That Angelo's forsworn; is it not strange? That Angelo's a murderer; i'st not strange? That Angelo is an adulterous thief, An hypocrite, a virgin-violator; Is it not strange, and strange? Duke. Nay, ten times strange. Isab. It is not truer he is Angelo, Than this is all as true as it is strange: Availful.

* Start off.

*** Seized,

tt Lower.

There is another comfort than this world,
That thou neglect me not, with that opinion
That I am touch'd with madness: make not
impossible
[sible,
That which but seems unlike: 'tis not impos-
But one, the wicked'st caitiff on the ground,
May seem as shy, as grave, as just, as absolute,
As Angelo; even so may Angelo,

In all his dressings characts, titles, forms,
Be an arch-villain: believe it, royal prince,
If he be less, he's nothing; but he's more,
Had I more name for badness.
Duke.

By mine honesty,
If she be mad, (as I believe no other,)
Her madness hath the oddest frame of sense,
Such a dependency of thing on thing,
As e'er I heard in madness.
Isab.
O, gracions dnke,
Harp not on that; nor do not banish reason
For inequality: but let your reason serve
To make the truth appear, where it seems hid;
And hide the false, seems true.
Duke.
Many that are not mad,
Have, sure,
more lack of reason.-What
would you say?

Isab. I am the sister of one Claudio,
Condemn'd upon the act of fornication
To lose his head; condemn'd by Angelo:
I, in probation of a sisterhood,

Was sent to by my brother; One Lucio
As then the messenger;-

Lucio.

That's I, an't like your grace: I came to her from Claudio, and desir'd 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. [to it. Duke. The warrant's for yourself; take heed Isub. This gentleman told somewhat of my Lucio. Right. [tale.

Duke. It may be right; but you are in the wrong

To speak before your time.-Proceed.
Isub.

I went

To this pernicious caitiff deputy.
Duke. That's somewhat madly spoken.
Isub.
Pardon it;

The phrase is to the matter.

Duke. Mended again: the matter;-Proceed. Isab. In brief,-to get the needless process by, How I persuaded, how I pray'd, and kneel'd, How he refell'd ↑ ine, and how I reply'd;

Habits and characters of office.
I Conspiracy.

(For this was of much length,) the vile con

clusion

I now begin with grief and shame to utter:
He would not, bet by gift of my chaste body
To his concupisle intemperate lust, [ment,
Release my brother; and, after much debate-
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, fonds 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

Isab.

Confess the truth, and say by whose advice
Thou cam'st here to complain.
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?
Isub. One that I would were here, friar
Lodowick.
[that Lodowick?
Duke. A ghostly father, belike:-Who knows
Lucio. My lord, I know him; 'tis a med-
dling friar;
[lord,

I do not like the man: had he been lay, my For certain words he spake against your grace In your retirement, I had swing'd him sonndly. 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 abus'd: First, hath this woma
Most wrongfully accus'd your substitute;
Who is as free from touch or soil with her,
As she from one ungot.
Duke.
We did believe no bem.
Know you that friar Lodowick, that she spasm
of?

F. Peter. I know him for a man divine and Not scurvy, nor a temporary meddler, [holy; 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. [clear himself; F. Peter. Well, he in time may come to But at this instant he is sick, my lord, Of a strange fever: Upon his mere* 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 t. First, for this
(To justify this worthy nobleman, [woman;
So vulgarly and personally accus'd,)
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 P'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 Until my husband bid me. [my face, Duke. What, are you married?

Mari. No, my lord.

Duke.

Are you a maid?

Mari.

Duke. A widow then?

Mari.

No, my lord. 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. [some cause Duke. Silence that fellow: I would, he had To prattle for himself.

Lucio. Well, my lord.

[married; Mari. My lord, I do confess I ne'er was And, I confess, besides, I am no maid: I have known my husband; yet my husband That ever he knew me. [knows not, 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,

face.

But knows, he thinks, that he knows Isabel's.
Ang. This is a strange abuse :-Let's see thy
[unmask. (Unveiling.
Mari. My husband bids me; now I will
This is that face, thou cruel Angelo, [ing on:
Which, once thou swor'st, was worth the look-
This is the hand, which, with a vow'd contract,
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. [woman;

Lucio. Enough, my lord.
Ang. My lord, I must confess, I know this
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
Upon my faith and honour. [from her,
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 affianc'd this man's wife, as strongly
Ac words could make up vows: and, my good
lord,
[house,
But Tuesday night last gone, in his garden-
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, good my lord, give me the scope of justice;

My patience here is touch'd: I do perceive,
These poor informal ¶ women are no more
But instruments of some more mightier mem-
ber,
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,

[saint,

Though they would swear down each particular Were testimonies against his worth and credit, That's seal'd in approbation?-You, lord Es