Interlude; one sir Topas, sir; but that's all one:-By the Lord, jool, I am not mud;But do you remember? Madum, why laugh you at such a bari en vascal? an you smile not, he's gagg'd: And thus the whirligig of time brings in his revenges.

Mal. I'll be revenged on the whole pack of you. [Euit. Uli. He hath been most notoriously abus'd. Duke. Pursue him, and entreat him to a peace:

He hath not told us of the captain yet;

When that is known and golden time convents,

A solemn combination shall be made

Of our dear souls-Mean time, sweet sister,
We will not part from hence.-Cesario, come,
For so you shall be, while you are a man;
But, when in other habits you are seen,
Orsino's mistress, and his fancy's queen.

[Exeunt.

Clo.

SONG.

When that I was and a little tiny boy, With hey, ho, the wind and the rain, A foolish thing was but a toy,

For the rain it raineth every day. But when I came to mun's estate, With hey, ho, the wind and the rain, 'Gainst knave and thief men shut their gate,

For the rain it raineth every day. But when I came, ai.is! to wire,

With hey, ho, the wind and the rain, By swaggering could I never thrive, For the rain it ruineth every day. But when I came unto my bed,

With hey, ko, the wind and the rain, With toss-pots still had drunken head, For the ram it ruineth every day. A great while ago the world begun, With hey, ho, the wind and the rain, But that's all one, our play is done, And we'll strive to please you every day. [Exit.

Shall serve.

VINCENTIO, duke of Vienna.
ANGELO, lord deputy in the duke's absence.
ESCALUS, an ancient lord, joined with
Angelo in the deputation.
CLAUDIO, a young gentleman.

Lucio, a fantastic.

Two other like gentlemen.

A JUSTICE.

ELBOW, a simple constable.
FROTH, a foolish gentleman.
CLOWN, servant to Mrs. Over-done.
ABHORSON, an executioner.
BARNARDINE, a dissolute prisoner.
ISA BELLA, sister to Claudio.

THOMAS, two friars.

PETER,

Duke. Escalus,Escal. My lord. Duke. Of government the properties to unfold, [course; Would seem in me to affect speech and disSince I am put to know, that your own science, Exceeds, in that, the lists of all advice My strength can give you: Then no more remains [able, But that to your sufficiency, as your worth is And let them work. The nature of our people Our city's institutions, and the terms For common justice, you are as pregnant † in, As art and practice hath enriched any That we remember: There is our commission, From which we would not have you warp. I say,bid come before us Angelo.[Call hither, [Exit an Attendant. What figure of us think you he will bear? For you must know, we have with special soul Elected him our absence to supply; Lent him our terror, drest him with our love;! And given his deputation all the organs Of our own power: What think you of it? Escal. If any in Vienna be of worth To undergo such ample grace and honour, It is lord Angelo.

Enter ANGELO.

Duke. Look, where he comes. Ang. Always obedient to your grace's will, I come to know your pleasure. Duke.

Angelo,

There is a kind of character in thy life,
That, to the observer, doth thy history
Fully unfold; Thyself and thy belongings
Are not thine own so propers, as to waste
Thyself upon thy virtues, them on thee.
Heaven doth with us, as we with torches do,
Not light them for themselves: for if our
Did not go forth of us, 'twere all alike [virtues
As if we had them not. Spirits are not finely
touch'd,

But to fine issues: nor nature never lends
The smallest scruple of her excellence,
But, like a thrifty goddess, she determines
Herself the glory of a creditor, [speech
Both thanks and use. But I do bend my
To one that can my part in him advértise;
Hold therefore, Angelo ;

In our remove, be thou at full ourself;
Mortality and mercy in Vienna
Live in thy tongue and heart: Old Escalus,
Though first in question, is thy secondary :
Take thy commission.
Ang.
Now, good my lord,
Let there be some more test made of my metal,
Before so noble and so great a figure
Be stamp'd upon it.

Duke.

No more evasion: We have with a leaven'd and prepared choice Proceeded to you; therefore take your honours. Our haste from hence is of so quick condition, That it prefers itself, and leaves unquestion'd Matters of needful value. We shall write to you, As time and our concernings shall impórtune, How it goes with us; and do look to know What cloth befall you here. So, fare you well: To the hopeful execution do I leave you Of your commissions.

So much thy own property. Interest.

Ang. Yet, give leave, my lord, That we may bring you something on the way. Duke. My haste may not admit it; Nor need you, on mine honour, have to do With any scruple: your scope is as mine So to enforce, or qualify the laws, [own; As to your soul seems good. Give me your Pll privily away: I love the people, [hand; But do not like to stage me to their eyes: Though it do well, I do not relish well Their loud applause, and arest vehement; Nor do I think the man of safe discretion, That does affect it. Once more, fare you well. Ang. The heavens give safety to your purposes! [happiness.

1 Gent. And thou the velvet: thou art good velvet; thou art a three-pil'd piece, I warrant thee: I had as lief be a list of an English kersey, as be pil'd, as thou art pil'd, for a French velvet. Do I speak feelingly now?

Lucio. I think thou dost; and, indeed, with most painful feeling of thy speech: I will, out of thine own confession, learn to begin thy health; but, whilst I live, forget to drink after thee.

1 Gent. I think, I have done myself wrong; have I not?

2 Gent. Yes, that thou hast; whether thou art tainted, or free.

Lucio. Behold, behold, where madam Mi

leave

[me To have free speech with you; and it concerns To look into the bottom of my place : [nature A power I have; but of what strength and I am not yet instructed. [together, Ang. 'Tis so with me:-Let us withdraw And we may soon our satisfaction have Touching that point. Escal.

I'll wait upon your honour. [Exeunt.

SCENE II. A Street. Enter LUCIO and two Gentlemen. Lucio. If the duke, with the other dukes, come not to composition with the king of Hungary, why, then all the dukes fall upon the king.

1 Gent. Heaven grant us its peace, but not the king of Hungary's!

2 Gent. Amen.

1 Gent. Judge.

2 Gent. To three thousand dollars a-year. 1 Gent. Ay, and more.

Lucio. A French crown ¶ more.

1 Gent. Thou art always figuring diseases in me; but thou art full of error; I am sound. Lucio. Nay, not as one would say, healthy; but so sound, as things that are hollow: thy bones are hollow; impiety has made a feast of thee. Enter Bawd.

1 Gent. How now? Which of your hips has the most profound sciatica?

Bawd. Well, well; there's one yonder arrested, and carried to prison, was worth five thousand of you all.

1 Gent. Who's that, I pray thee? Bawd. Marry, sir, that's Claudio, signior Claudio.

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.

Gent. But most of all, agreeing with the

all grace.

Gent. Well, there went but a pair of sheers between us§.

Lucio, I grant; as there may between the lists and the velvet: Thou art the list.

Lucio. Away; let's go learn the truth of it. [Exeunt LUCIO and Gentlemen. Bawd. Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat **, what with the gallows, and what with poverty, I am custom-shrunk. How now? what's the news with you? Enter Clown.

Clo. Yonder man is carried to prison.
Bawd. Well; what has he done?
Clo. A woman.

Measure.

A cut of the same cloth. ¶ Corona Vencris.

Bawd. But what's his offence?

Clo. Groping for trouts in a peculiar river. Bawd. What, is there a maid with child by him?

Clo. No; but there's a woman with maid by him: You have not heard of the proclamation, have you?

Bawd. What proclamation, man.

Claud. One word, good friend :-Lucio, word with you. [Takes him aside. Lucio. A hundred, if they'll do you any Is lechery so look'd after? [good.Claud. 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,

must be pluck'd down.

Bawd. And what shall become of those in the city?

Clo. 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?

Clo. To the ground, mistress. Bawd. Why, here's a change, indeed, in the commonwealth! What shall become of me? Clo. Come; fear not you; good counsellors lack no clients: though you change your place, you need not 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.

Clo. Here comes signior Claudio, led by the provost to prison: and there's madam Juliet. [Exeunt.

SCENE III. The same.
Enter Provost*, CLAUDIO, JULIET, and
Officers; Lucio, and two Gentlemen.
Claud. 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.

Claud. Thus can the demi-god, Authority, Make us pay down for our offence by weight. The words of heaven;-on whom it will,it will; On whom it will not, so; yet still 'tis just. Lucio. Why, how now, Claudio? whence comes this restraint?

Claud. From too much liberty, my Lacio, As surfeit is the father of much fast, [liberty: So every scope by the immoderate use Turns to restraint: Our natures do pursue, (Like rats that ravint down their proper bane,). A thirsty evil; and when we drink, we die.

Of outward order: this we came not to,
Only for propagation of a dower
Remaining in the coffer of her friends; [love,
From whom we thought it meet to hide our
Tilltime had made them for us. But it chances,
The stealth of our most mutual entertainment
With character too gross, is writ on Juliet.
Lucio. With child, perhaps?
Claud. Unhappily, even so.
And the new deputy now for the duke,-
Whether it be the fault and glimpse of new-
Or whether that the body public be [ness;
A horse whereon the governor doth ride,
Who, newly in the seat, that it may know
He can command, lets it straight feel the spur:
Whether the tyranny be in his place,
Or in his eminence that fills it up,
I stagger in:-But this new governor
Awakes me all the enrolled penalties,
Which have, like unscour'd armour hung, by
the wall
[round,
So long, that nineteen zodiacs have gone
And none of them been worn; and, for a name,
Now puts the drowsy and neglected act
Freshly on me :--'tis surely for a name.

Lucio. I warrant, it is: and thy head stands so tickleg on thy shoulders, that a milk maid, if she be in love, may sigh it off. Send after the duke, and appeal to him. [found.

Claud, I have done so, but he's not to be I pr'ythee, Lucio, do me this kind service: This day my sister should the cloister enter, And there receive her approbation] : Acquaint her with the danger of my state; Implore her, in my voice, that she make friends To the strict deputy; bid herself assay him; I have great hope in that: for in her youth There is a prone and speechless dialect, Such as moves men; beside, she hath prosperous art

When she will play with reason and discourse, And well she can persuade.

Claud. I thank you, good friend Lucio.
Lucio. Within two hours.———
Claud. Come, officer, away.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV. 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

To give me secret harbour, hath a purpose
More grave and wrinkled than the aims and
Of burning youth.
[ends
Fri.
May your grace speak of it?
Duke. My holy sir, none better knows than
How I have ever lov'd the life remov'd; [you
And held in idle price to haunt assemblies,
Where youth, and cost, and witless bravery
I have delivered to lord Angelo (keeps.
(A man of strictures, and firm abstinence,)
My absolute power and place here in Vienna,
And be supposes me travell'd to Poland;
For so I have strew'd it in the common ear,
And so it is receiv'd: Now, pious sir,
You will demand of me, why I do this?
Fri. Gladly, my lord.
[biting laws,
Duke. We have strict statutes, and most
(The needful bits and curbs for head-strong
steeds,)
[sleep;
Which for these fourteen years we have let
Even like an o'er-grown lion in a cave,
That goes not out to prey: Now, as fond fathers
Having bound up the threat'ning twigs of birch,
Only to stick it in their children's sight,
For terror, not to use; in time the rod [crees,
Becomes more mock'd, than fear'd: so our de-
Dead to infliction, to themselves are dead;
And liberty plucks justice by the nose;
The baby beats the nurse, and quite athwart
Goes all decorum.

Fri.

It rested in your grace

To unloose this tied-up justice, when you pleas'd:

And it in you more dreadful would have seem'd,
Than in lord Angelo.
Duke.
I do fear, too dreadful :
Sith 'twas my fault to give the people scope,
Twould be my tyranny to strike, and gall them
For what I bid them do: For we bid this be
done,

When evil deeds have their permissive pass, And not the punishment. Therefore, indeed, my father,

I have on Angelo impos'd the office; Who may, in the ambush of my name, strike home,

And yet my nature never in the sight,

To do it slander: And to behold his sway,
I will, as 'twere a brother of your order, [thee,
Visit both prince and people: therefore, I pr'y.
Supply me with the habit, and instruct me
How I may formally in person bear me
Like a true friar. More reasons for this action,
At our more leisure shall I render you;
only, this one:-Lord Angelo is precise;
Stands at a guard¶ with envy; scarce confesses
that his blood flows, or that his appetite [see,
Is more to bread than stone: Hence shall we
of power change purpose, what our seemers

be.

• Completely armed. On his defence.

[Exeunt.

SCENE V. A Nunnery.

Enter ISABELLA and FRANCISCA. Isab, And have you nuns no further privileges?

Fran. Are not these large enough? [more; Isab. Yes, truly: I speak not as desiring But rather wishing a more strict restraint Upon the sisterhood, the votarists of saint Clare.

Lucio. Ho! Peace be in this place? [Within.] Isab. Who's that which calls? Fran. It is a man's voice: Gentle Isabella, Turn you the key, and know his business of him; You may, I may not; you are yet unsworn: When you have vow'd, you must not speak with But in the presence of the prioress: [men, Then, if you speak, you must not show your face; Or, if you show your face, you must not speak. He calls again; I pray you, answer him. [Exit FRANCISCA.

Isab. Peace and prosperity! Who is't that calls?

Enter Lucio.

Lucio. Hail, virgin, if you be; as those cheek-roses

Proclaim you are no less! Can you so stead me,
As bring me to the sight of Isabella,
A novice of this place, and the fair sister
To her unhappy brother Claudio?

Isab. Why her unhappy brother? let me ask The rather, for I now must make you know I am that Isabella, and his sister.

Lucio. Gentle and fair, your brother kindly

greets you:

Not to be weary with you, he's in prison.
Isab. Woe me! For what? [his judge,
Lucio. For that, which, if myself might be
He should receive his punishment in thanks:
He hath got his friend with child.

Isab. Sir, make me not your story **.
Lucio.
It is true.

I would not-though 'tis my familiar sin
With maids to seem the lapwing, and to jest,
Tongue far from heart,-play with all virgins
I hold you as a thing ensky'd, and sainted: [so:
By your renouncement, an immortal spirit ;
And to be talk'd with in sincerity,
As with a saint.

Isab. You do blaspheme the good, in mocking me. ['tis thus: Lucio. Do not believe it. Fewness and truthtt, Your brother and his lover have embrac❜d: As those that feed grow full; as blossoming time, That from the seedness the bare fallow brings To teeming foison‡‡; even so her plenteous womb

Expresseth his full tilth 55 and husbandry. Isub. Some one with child by him?-My Lucio. Is she your cousin? [consin Juliet? Isab. Adoptedly; as school-maids change By vain though apt affection. [their names She it is.

Lucio.

Strictness. I Since.

+ In few and true words.

Tilling.