Lucio. Marry, sir, I think, if you handled her privately, she would sooner confess; perchance, publickly she'll be ashamed. Re-enter Officers, with ISABELLA; the Duke, in the

Friar's habit, and Prooost.
Escal. I will go darkly to work with her.

Lucio. That's the way; for women are light at midnight.

Escal. Come on, mistress ; [To Isabella.] here's a gentlewoman denies all that you have said.

Lucio. My lord, here comes the rascal I spoke of; here with the provost.

Escal. In very good time :--speak not you to him, till we call upon you.

Lucio. Mum,

Escal. Come, sir : Did you set these women on to slander lord Angelo ? they have confess'd you did.

Duke. Tis false.
Escal. How! know you where you are ?
Duke. Respect to your great place! and let the

devil
Be sometime honour'd for his burning throne :
Where is the duke ? 'tis he should hear me speak.
Escal. The duke's in us; and we will hear you

speak : Look, you speak justly.

Duke. Boldly, at least :-But, O, poor souls, Come you to seek the lamb here of the fox ? Good night to your redress. Is the duke gone? Then is your cause gone too. The duke's unjust,

Thus to retort your manifest appeal,
And put your trial in the villain's mouth,
Which here

you come to accuse.
Lucio. This is the rascal ; this is he I spoke of.

Escal. Why, thou unreverend and unhallow'd friar! Is't not enough, thou hast suborn'd these women

To accuse this worthy man; but, in foul mouth,
And in the witness of his proper ear,
To call him villain ?
And then to glance from him to the duke himself;
To tax him with injustice ? – Take him hence;
To the rack with him :-We'll touze you joint by

joint,
But we will know this purpose :-

-What! unjust? Duke. Be not so hot; the duke Dare no more stretch this finger of mine, than he Dare rack his own; his subject am I not, Nor here provincial : My business in this state Made me a looker-on here in Vienna, Where I have seen corruption boil and bubble, Till it o'er-run the stew: laws, for all faults; But faults so countenanc'd, that the strong statutes Stand like the forfeits 67 in a barber's shop, As much in mock as mark. Escal. Slander to the state! Away with him to

prison. Ang. What can you vouch against him, signior

Lucio ? Is this the man,

that you did tell us of ? Lucio. 'Tis he, my lord. Come hither, goodman bald-pate : Do you know me?

Duke. I remember you, sir, by the sound of your voice: I met you at the prison, in the absence of the duke.

Lucio. O, did you so ? And do you remember what you said of the duke ?

Duke. Most notedly, sir.

Lucio. Do you so, sir ? And was the duke a fleshmonger, a fool, and a coward, as you then reported him to be ?

Duke. You must, sir, change persons with me, ere you make that my report: you, indeed, spoke so of him; and much more, much worse.

Lucio. O thou damnable fellow! Did not I pluck thee by the nose, for thy speeches ?

Duke. I protest, I love the duke, as I love myself.

Ang. Hark! how the villain would close now, after his treasonable abuses.

Escal. Such a fellow is not to be talk'd withal :Away with him to prison :- Where is the provost ? Away with him to prison; lay bolts enough upon him: let him speak no more :-Away with those giglots too, and with the other confederate companion.

[The Provost lays hands on the Duke. Duke. Stay, sir ; stay a while. Ang. What! resists he? Help him, Lucio.

Lucio, Come, sir ; come, sir; come, sir ; foh, sir: Why, you bald-pated, lying rascal! you must be whooded, must you ? Show your knave's visage, with a

pox to you! show your sheep-biting face, and be hang'd an hour! Will’t not off?

[Pulls off the friar's hood, and discovers the Duke.

Duke. Thou art the first knave, that e'er made a

duke. First, Provost, let me bail these gentle three :Sneak not away, sir ; [to Lucio.] for the friar and

you Must have a word anon :-lay hold on him.

Lucio. This may prove worse than hanging. : Duke. What you have spoke, I pardon; sit you down.

[To Escalus. We'll borrow place of him :-Sir, by your leave :

[To Angelo.
Hast thou or word, or wit, or impudence,
That yet can do thee office? If thou hast,
Rely upon it till my tale be heard,
And hold no longer out.
Ang.

O my dread lord,
I should be guiltier than my guiltiness,
To think I can be undiscernable,
When I perceive, your grace, like power divine,
Hath look'd upon my passes : Then, good prince,
No longer session hold upon my shame,
But let my trial be mine own confession;
Immediate sentence then, and sequent death,
Is all the grace I'beg.
Duke.

Come hither, Mariana :-
Say, wast thou e'er contracted to this woman?

Ang. I was, my lord.

Duke. Go take her hence, and marry her instantly. Do

you the office, friar; which consuinmate, Return him here again :-Go with him, Provost.

[E.teunt Angelo, Mariana, Peter, and Provost.

Escal. My lord, I am more amaz'd at his dishonour, Than at the strangeness of it. Duke,

Come hither, Isabel :
Your friar is now your prince : As I was then
Advertising, and holy to your business,
Not changing heart with habit, I am still
Attorney'd at your service.
Isab.

O, give me pardon,
That I, your vassal, have employ'd and pain'd
Your unknown sovereignty.
Duke.

You are pardon'd, Isabel :
And now, dear maid, be you as free to us.
Your brother's death, I know, sits at your heart;
And you may marvel, why I obscur'd myself,
Labouring to save his life; and would not rather
Make rash remonstrance of my hidden power,
Than let him so be lost: 0, most kind maid,
It was the swift celerity of his death,
Which I did think with slower foot came on,
That brain'd 68

my purpose: But, peace be with

bim! That life is better life, past fearing death, Than that which lives to fear: make it your comfort, So happy is your brother. Re-enter ANGELO, MARIANA, Peter, and Provost. Isab.

I do, my lord. Duke. For this new-married man, approaching here, Whose salt imagination yet hath wrong'd. Your well-defended honour, you must pardon For Mariana's sake: but as he adjudg'd your brother,