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. Clown. Here comes signior Claudio, led by the provost to prison and there's madam Juliet. : SCENE III. [Exeunt. Enter Provost, CLAUDIO, JULIET, and Officers; LUCIO, and two Gentlemen. Clau. 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. Clau. 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? Clau. From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty: So every scope by the immoderate use Lucio. If I could speak so wisely under an arrest, I would send for certain of my creditors: And yet, to say the truth, I had as lief have the foppery of freedom, as the morality of imprisonment.-What's thy offence, Claudio? Clau. What, but to speak of would offend again. Lucio. What is it? murder? Clau. No. Lucio. Lechery? [6] Authority, being absolute in Angelo, is finely stiled by Claudio, the demi-god. To this uncontroulable power, the poet applies a passage from St. Paul to the Romans, ix. 15, 18, which he properly styles, the words of heaven: "for he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy,' "&c. And again: "There fore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy," &c. HENLEY. [7] To ravin was formerly used for eagerly or voraciously devouring any thing. STEEVENS Clau. Call it so. Prov. Away, sir; you must go. Clau. One word, good friend :-Lucio, a word with you. [Takes him aside. Lucio. A hundred, if they'll do you any good. Is lechery so look'd after? Clau. Thus stands it with me :-Upon a true contràct, I got possession of Julietta's bed; You know the lady; she is fast my wife, Save that we do th' denunciation lack Of outward order: this we came not to, Only for propagation of a dower Remaining in the coffer of her friends; From whom we thought it meet to hide our love, Till time had made them for us. But it chances, The stealth of our most mutual entertainment, With character too gross, is writ on Juliet. Clau. Unhappily, even so. And the new deputy now for the duke,— A horse where on the governor doth ride, Or in his eminence that fills it up, I stagger in :-But this new governor Which have, like unscour'd armour, hung by th' wall 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 tickle on thy shoulders, that a milk-maid, if she be in love, may sigh it off. Send after the duke, and appeal to him. Clau. I have done so, but he's not to be found. I pr'ythee, Lucio, do me this kind service :— To the strict deputy; bid herself assay him; Such as moves men; beside, she hath prosperous art Lucio. I pray, she may: as well for the encouragement of the like, which else would stand under grievous imposition; as for the enjoying of thy life, who I would be sorry should be thus foolishly lost at a game of tick-tack. I'll to her. Clau. I thank you, good friend Lucio. Lucio. Within two hours,Clau. Come, officer, away. SCENE IV. [Exeunt. A Monastery. Enter Duke and Friar THOMAS. Can pierce a complete bosom: why I desire thee More grave and wrinkled than the aims and ends Fri. May your grace speak of it? Duke. My holy sir, none better knows than you How I have ever lov'd the life remov'd; And held in idle price to haunt assemblies, Where youth, and cost, and witless bravery keeps. (A man of stricture, and firm abstinence,) My absolute power and place here in Vienna, For so I have strew'd it in the common ear, Duke. We have strict statutes, and most biting laws, That goes not out to prey: Now, as fond fathers [8] Think not that a breast completely armed can be pierced by the dart of love, that comes fluttering without force. JOHNSON. A dribber, in archery, was a term of contempt. STEEVENS. Having bound up the threat'ning twigs of birch, For terror, not to use; in time the rod Becomes more mock'd, than fear'd: so our decrees, Fri. It rested in your grace To unloose this tied-up justice, when you pleas'd: Duke. I do fear, too dreadful : Sith 'twas my fault to give the people scope, And not the punishment. Therefore, indeed, my father, Who may, in the ambush of my name, strike home, To do it slander: And to behold his sway, I will, as 'twere a brother of your order, Visit both prince and people: therefore, I pr'ythee, Is more to bread than stone: Hence shall we see, If power change purpose, what our seemers be. SCENE V. A Nunnery. Enter ISABELLA and FRANCISCA. Isab. Yes, truly: I speak not as desiring more; [Exe. Fran. It is a man's voice: Gentle Isabella, Turn you the key, and know his business of him; When you have vow'd, you must not speak with men, Then, if you speak, you must not show your face; [Exit FRAN 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? Lucio. For that, which, if myself might be his judge, He should receive his punishment in thanks: He hath got his friend with child. Isab. Sir, make me not your story. I would not-though 'tis my familiar sin Tongue far from heart,-play with all virgins so : By your renouncement, an immortal spirit; As with a saint. Isab. You do blaspheme the good, in mocking me. Lucio. Do not believe it.' Fewness and truth, 'tis thus : Your brother and his lover have embrac'd: As those that feed grow full; as blossoming time, [9] It is a quality of the lapwing, that is here alluded to, perpetually to fly so low and so near the passenger, that he thinks he has it, and then is suddenly gone again. This made it a proverbial expression to signify a lover's falsehood; and it seems to, be a very old one. WARBURTON. [1] i. e. Be assured, I would not mock you. iti. e. Do not suppose that I would mock you. So afterwards: "Do not believe MALONE. |