Whom it concerns to hear this matter forth,* Do with your injuries as seems you best, In any chastisement: I for a while Will leave you; but stir not you, till you have well Determined upon these slanderers. 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 hath 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. [To an Attendant.] I would speak with her: 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 gentle woman 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, Come you to seek the lamb here of the fox? 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! * To the end + Refer back. Is't not enough, thou hast suborn'd these women To call him villain ? And then to glance from him to the duke himself; Duke. Be not so hot; the duke 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 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, good-man 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 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 giglotst too, and with the other confederate companion. [The PROVOST lays hands on the DUKE. Duke. Stay, Sir; stay a while. 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.— * Accountable. † Wantons. First, Provost, let me bail these gentle three :- Lucio. This may prove worse than hanging.. Duke. What you have spoke, I pardon; sit you down.-[To Esc. 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, When I perceive your grace, like power divine, 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 consummate, Return him here again:-Go with him, Provost. [Exeunt ANGELO, MARIANA, PETER, and PROVOST Escal. My lord, I am more amazed at his dishonour, Than at the strangeness of it. Duke. Come hither, Isabel: Your friar is now your prince: As I was then Isab. O, give me pardon, That I, your vassal, have employ'd and pain'd Duke. You are pardon'd, Isabel: Re-enter ANGELO, MARIANA, PETER, and PROVOST. Duke. For this new-married man, approaching here, Whose salt imagination yet hath wrong'd Where Claudio stoop'd to death, and with like haste;- Mari. O, my most gracious Lord, I hope you will not mock me with a husband! Duke. It is your husband mock'd you with a husband: Consenting to the safeguard of your honour, Mari. O, my dear lord, I crave no other, nor no better man. Duke. Never crave him; we are definitive. Mari. Gentle, my liege, Duke. You do but lose your labour; Away with him to death.--Now, Sir, to you. Kneeling. [TO LUCIO. Mari. O, my good lord!-Sweet Isabel, take my part: Lend me your knees, and all my life to come I'll lend you, all my life to do you service. Duke. Against all senset you do impórtune her. Mari. Isabel, Sweet Isabel, do yet but kneel by me; Duke. He dies for Claudio's death. Isab. Most bounteous Sir, Look, if it please you, on this man condemn'd, As if my brother lived: I partly think, [Kneeling. * Angelo's own tongue. † Reason and affection. A due sincerity govern'd his deeds, Till he did look on me; since it is so, Let him not die: My brother had but justice, For Angelo, His act did not o'ertake his bad intent; And must be buried but as an intent That perish'd by the way: thoughts are no subjects; Intents but merely thoughts. Mari. Merely, my lord. Duke. Your suit's unprofitable; stand up, I say I have bethought me of another fault:- Prov. It was commanded so. Duke. Had you a special warrant for the deed? Give up your keys. Prov. Pardon me, noble lord: Duke. What's he? Prov. His name is Barnardine. As you, lord Angelo, have still appear'd, Ang. I am sorry, that such sorrow I procure: [Exit PROVOST. Re-enter PROVOST, BARNARDINE, CLAUDIO, and JULIET. Duke. Which is that Barnardine? Prov. This, my lord. Duke. There was a friar told me of this man : Sirrah, thou art said to have a stubborn soul, For better times to come: Friar, advise him; Prov. This is another prisoner, that I saved, * Consideration. [Unmuffles CLAUDIO. |