Duke. Sirrah, no more. Lucio. Enough, my lord. Ang. My lord, I must confess, I know this woman; Partly, for that her promised proportions I never spake with her, saw her, nor heard 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 As words could make up vows: and, my good lord, But Tuesday night last gone, in his garden-house, 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; But instruments of some more mightier member, Duke. Ay, with my heart; And punish them unto your height of pleasure.- Compact with her that's gone! think'st thou, thy oaths, Were testimonies against his worth and credit, That's seal'd in approbation ?-You, lord Escalus, Peter. Would he were here, my lord; for he, indeed, Hath set the women on to this complaint: Your provost knows the place where he abides, And he may fetch him. Duke. Go, do it instantly. [Exit Provost And you, my noble and well-warranted cousin, In any chastisement: I for a while Will leave you; but stir not you, till you have well Escal. My lord, we'll do it thoroughly. [Exit Duke. -Signior Lucio, did not you say, you knew that friar Lodowick to be a dishonest person? Lucio. Cucullus non facit monachum: honest in nothing, but in his clothes; and one that has spoke most villanous speeches of the duke. Escal. We shall entreat you to abide here till he come, and enforce them against him: we shall find this friar a notable fellow. Lucio. As any in Vienna, on my word. Escal. Call that same Isabel here once again; I would speak with her : [To an Attendant.]—Pray you, my lord, give me leave to question; you shall see how I'll handle her. Lucio. Not better than he, by her own report. Escal. Say you? Lucio. Marry, sir, I think, if you handled her privately, she would sooner confess; perchance, publicly she'll be ashamed. Re-enter Officers, with ISABELLA; the Duke, in the Friar's habit, and Provost. 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 :— Escal. The duke's in us; and we will hear you speak : Look, you speak justly. Duke. Boldly, at least:-but, O, poor souls, 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. To call him villain? And then to glance from him to th' duke himself; To the rack with him :-We'll touze you joint by joint, Dare no more stretch this finger of mine, than he Where I have seen corruption boil and bubble, As much in mock as mark.") Escal. Slander to the state! Away with him to priso 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 baldpate: Do you know me? [6] Barber's shops were, at all times, the resort of idle people: "Tonstrina erat quadam: hic solebamus fere "Plerumque eam opperiri”— which Donatus calls apta sedes otiosis. Formerly with us, the better sort of people went to the barber's shop to be trimmed; who then practised the under parts of surgery: so that he had occasion for numerous instruments, which lay there ready for use; and the idle people, with whom his shop was generally crowded, would be perpetually handling and misusing them. To remedy which, I suppose there was placed up against the wall a table of forfeitures, adapted to every offence of this kind; which, it is not likely, would long preserve its authority. WARBURTON. 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 flesh-monger, 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 hooded, 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 ANG. 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, When I perceive, your grace, like power divine, But let my trial be mine own confession; Duke. Come hither, Mariana : Say, wast thou e'er contracted to this woman? Duke. Go take her hence, and marry her instantly.Do you the office, friar; which consummate, Return him here again :-Go with him, Provost. [Exe. 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 Not changing heart with habit, I am still Isab. O, give me pardon, That I, your vassal, have employ'd and pain'd Duke. You are pardon'd, Isabel : And now, dear maid, be you as free to us. Than that which lives to fear: make it your comfort, Re-enter ANGELO, MARIANA, PETER, and Provost. 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 (Being criminal, in double violation Of sacred chastity, and of promise-breach, |