Lucio. If the

Enter Lucio, and two Gentlemen,
F

to composition with the King of Hungary, why, then all the Dukes fall upon the King.

i Gent. Heav'n grant us its peace, but not the King of Hungary's !

2 Gent. Amen.

Lucio. Thou conclud'st like the sanctimonious Pi. rate, that went to fea with the ten Commandments, but scrap'd one out of the Table.

2 Gent. Thou shalt not steal. Lucio, Ay, that he raz’d.

i Gent. Why, 'twas a Commandment to com.. mand the captain and all the rest from their functions; they put forth to steal ; there's not a soldier of us. all, that, in the thanksgiving before meat, does relish the petition well that prays for Peace. 2 Gent. I never heard

any

soldier dislike it. Lucio. I believe thee : for, I think, thou never wait were grace was said.

2 Gent. No? a dozen times at least. i Gent. What, in meeter ? Lucio. In any proportion, or in any language. i Gent. I think, or in any religion. Lucio. Ay, why not? grace is grace, despight of all controversy ; as for example, thou thyself art a wicked villain, despight of all grace.

i Gent. Well; there went but a pair of sheers between us. Lucio. I grant; as there may

vet; thou'rt a three-piťd piece, I warrant thee : I had as lief be a list of an English kersey, as be pild, as thou art pild, for a French velvet. Do I speak feelingly now?

Lucio. I think, thou doft; and, indeed, with most painful feeling of thy speech : I will, out of thine own confession, learn to begin thy health ; but, whilft I live, forget to drink after thee.

1 Gent. I think, I have done myself wrong, have I not ?

2 Gent. Yes, that thou hast ; whether thou art tainted, or free.

Lucio. Behold, behold, where Madam Mitigation

comes.

i Gent. I have purchas'd as many diseases under her roof, as come to

2 Gent. To what I pray ?
i Gent. Judge.
2 Gent. To three thousand dollars a year.
i Gent. Ay, and more.
Lucio. A French crown more.

i Gent. Thou art always figuring diseases in me; but thou art full of error ;

I am found. Lucio. Nay, not as one would say healthy ; but fo found, as things that are hollow; thy bones are hollow; impiety hath made a feast of thee.

I Gent.

OW now, which of your hips has the

most Bawd. Well, well; there's one yonder arrested, and carry'd to prison, was worth fíve thousand of

you all.

i Gent. Who's that, I pr’ythee ?
Bawd. Marry, Sir, that's Claudio ; Signior Claudio.

A4

i Gent.

1 Gent. Claudio to prison ? ’tis not so.

Bawd. Nay, but I know, 'tis so; I saw him arrested; saw him carry'd away; and, which is more, within these three days his head is to be chopt off.

Lucio. But, after all this fooling, I would not have it so : art thou sure of this ?

Bawd. I am too fure of it; and it is for getting madam Julietta with child,

Lucio. Believe me, this may be; he promised to meet me two hours since, and he was ever precise in promise-keeping.

& Gent. Besides, you know, it draws something near to the speech we had to such a purpose.

i Gent. But most of all agreeing with the Proclamation.

Lucio. Away, let's go learn the truth of it. (Exit.

Manet Bawd. Bawd. Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat, what with the gallows, and what with poverty, I am custom-shrunk. How now ? what's the news with you?

S CE N E V.

Enter Clown. Clown.

man is .

; Clown. A woman. Bawd. But what's his offence? Clown. Groping for trouts in a peculiar river. Bawd. What ? is there a maid with child by him?

Clown. No; but there's a woman with maid by him. You have not heard of the Proclamation, have you?

Bawd. What Proclamation, man ?

Clown. All houses in the suburbs of Vienna muft be pluck'd down.

Bawd,

Bawd. And what shall become of those in the city ?

Clown. They shall stand for seed; they had gone down too, but that a wise burgher put in for them.

Bawd. But shall all our houses of resort in the suburbs be pull'd down?

Clown. To the ground, mistress.

Bawd. Why, here's a change, indeed, in the common-wealth; what shall become of me?

Clown. Come, fear not you; good counsellors lack no clients ; though you change your place, you need not change your trade: I'll be your tapster ftill. 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.

Exeunt Bawd and Clown.

Fth

Enter. Provost, Claudio, Juliet, and Officers. Lucio

and two Gentlemen. Claud. [ELLOW, why dost thou show me thus to

th' world? Bear me to prison, where I am committed.

Pro. I do it not in evil disposition, But from lord Angelo by special charge.

Claud. Thus can the Demi-god, Authority, Make us pay down, for our offence, by weight. The words of heav'n; on whom it will, it will; On whom it will not, fo; yet still 'tis just.

Lucio. Why, how now, Claudio ? whence comes this restraint ?

Claud. From 100 much liberty, my Lucio, liberty ; As surfeit is the father of much fast,

So ev'ry scope by the immod'rate use
Turns to restraint : our natures do pursue,
Like rats that ravin down their proper bane,
A thirsty evil; and when we drink, we die.

Lucio. If I could speak fo 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?

Claud. What, but to speak of, would offend again.
Lucio. What is't, murder?
Claud. No.
Lucio. Letchery?
Claud. Call it fo.
Prov. Away, Sir, you

must

go. Claud. One word, good friend Lucio, a word

with you.

Lucio. A hundred; if they'll do you any good : is letchery fo look'd after ? Claud. Thus stands it with me; upon a true con

tract I got possession of Julietta's bed, (You know the lady.) she is fast my wife; Save that we do the 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.

Lucio. With child, perhaps?

Claud. Unhappily, even fo. And the new deputy now for the Duke, (Whether it be the fault, and glimpfe, of newness ;

*-most mutual--] i.e. most intimate. The Phrase is extremely elegant on this Occalon; yet disliked by the Oxford Editor, who strikes out mnoft.

Or