Isab. O, I will to him, and pluck out his eyes. Duke. You shall not be admitted to his sight. Isab. Unhappy Claudio! Wretched Isabel! Injurious world! Most damned Angelo! Duke. This nor hurts him nor profits you a jot: 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 Who do prepare to meet him at the gates, Isab. I am directed by you. Duke. This letter then to Friar Peter give; At Mariana's house to-night. Her cause, and yours, And shall be absent. Wend you with this letter: Lucio. Enter LUCIO. Good even! Duke. Not within, sir. Lucio. O, pretty Isabella, I am pale at mine heart, to see thine eyes so red: thou must be patient: I am fain to dine and sup with water and bran; I dare not for my head fill my belly; one fruitful meal would set me to 't: But they say the duke will be here tomorrow. By my troth, Isabel, I lov'd thy brother; if the old fantastical duke of dark corners had been [Exit ISABELLA. Duke. Sir, the duke is marvellous little beholden to your reports; but the best is, he lives not in them. Lacie. Friar, thou knowest not the duke so well as I do: be's a better woodman than thou takest him for. Duke. Well, you'll answer this one day. Fare ye well. Friar, where is the provost? at home, he had lived. Lucio. Nay, tarry; I'll go along with thee; I can tell thee pretty tales of the duke. Duke. You have told me too many of him already, sir, if they be true; if not true, none were enough. Lucio. I was once before him for getting a 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 shall stick. [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 shew 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 shews 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. Ang. Well, I beseech you, let it be proclaim'd: Betimes i' the morn, I'll call you at your house: Give notice to such men of sort and suit, As are to meet him. Escal. I shall, sir: fare you well. [Exit. Ang. Good night.— This deed unshapes me quite, makes me unpregnant, And dull to all proceedings. A deflower'd maid! And by an eminent body, that enforc'd [no : The law against it!-But that her tender shame With ransome of such shame. 'Would yet he had liv'd! SCENE V.-Fields without the Town. Enter DUKE in his own habit, and Friar PETer. Duke. These letters at fit time deliver me. [Giving letters. F. Peter. It shall be speeded well. [Exit Friar. Duke. I thank thee, Varrius; thou hast made good Come, we will walk There's other of our friends Will greet us here anon, my gentle Varrius. [Exeunt. SCENE VI.-Street near the City Gate. Enter ISABELLA and MARIANA. Mari. That's bitter to sweet end. Mari. I would, friar Peter- 1 O, peace; the friar is come. Enter Friar PETER. F. Peter. Come, I have found you out a stand most Where you may have such vantage on the duke, [fit, He shall not pass you; Twice have the ACT V. trumpets | That thou neglect me not, with that opinion, [sounded; That I am touch'd with madness; make not impossible That which but seems unlike: 'tis not impossible 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, SCENE I.—A public Place near the City Gate. MARIANA (veiled), ISABELLA, and PETER, at a distance. Enter at opposite doors, DUKE, VARRIUS, Lords; ANGELO, ESCALUS, LUCIO, Provost, Officers, and Citizens. Duke. My very worthy cousin, fairly met :- Duke. Many and hearty thankings to you both. Ang. When it deserves with characters of brass PETER and ISABELLA come forward. F. Peter. Now is your time; speak loud, and Isab. Justice, O royal duke! Vail your regard Duke. Relate your wrongs: In what? By whom? me, Isab. In all his dressings, characts, titles, forms, To this pernicious caitiff deputy. The phrase is to the matter. I went. Pardon it; Duke. Mended again: the matter;-Proceed. Isab. It is not truer he is Angelo, Away with her ;-Poor soul, Or else thou art suborn'd against his honour, Stands without blemish :-next, it imports no reason, |