Prov. I do it not in evil disposition, But from Lord Angelo by special charge.

Claud. Thus can the demigod 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 't is just.

Re-enter LUCIO and two Gentlemen.

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

Claud. From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty:

As surfeit is the father of much fast,
So every scope1 by the immoderate use

1 Scope, license.

130

Turns to restraint. Our natures do pursue, Like rats that ravin' down their proper2 bane, A thirsty evil; and when we drink we die. Laucio. 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? Claud. What but to speak of would offend again.

Lucio. What, is 't murder?

Claud. No.

Lucio. Lechery?

140

Lucio, a [Takes him aside.

Lucio. A hundred, if they'll do you any good. Is lechery so look'd after?

Claud. Thus stands it with me:-upon a true contráct

I got possession of Julietta's bed:

150

You know the lady; she is fast my wife,
Save that we do the denunciation3 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 so.
And the new deputy now for the duke-
[Whether it be the fault and glimpse of new-

I prithee, Lucio, do me this kind service:
This day my sister should the cloister enter
And there receive her approbation:
Acquaint her with the danger of my state;
Implore her, in my voice, that she make friends
To the strict deputy; bid herself assay him:
I have great hope in that; for in her youth
There is a prone" and speechless dialect,
Such as move men; beside, she hath prosper-
ous art

When she will play with reason and discourse,
And well she can persuade.

191

2 Proper, own.

5 Tickle, ticklish.

* Denunciation, formal declaration.

* Propagation, augmentation.

VOL. V.

• Prone, appealing.

20

The needful bits and curbs to headstrong
weeds,
Which for this fourteen years we have let slip;
Even like an o'ergrown lion in a cave,

That goes not out to prey. Now, as fond fathers,

Having bound up the threatening twigs of birch,

Only to stick it in their children's sight
For terror, not to use, in time the rod 's
More mock'd than fear'd; so our decrees,
Dead to infliction, to themselves are dead,
And liberty plucks justice by the nose;
The baby beats the nurse, and quite athwart
Goes all decorum.

29

To unloose this tied-up justice when you pleas'd:

And it in you more dreadful would have seem'd Than in Lord Angelo.

Duke. I do fear, too dreadful: Sith 't was my fault to give the people scope, "T would be my tyranny to strike and gall them For what I bid them do: for we bid this be

done,

When evil deeds have their permissive pass, And not the punishment. Therefore, indeed, my father,

I have on Angelo impos'd the office;

40

Lucio. Hail, virgin, if you be,--as those cheek-roses

I would not-though 't is my familiar sin
With maids to seem the lapwing and to jest,
Tongue far from heart-play with all virgins so:
I hold you as a thing ensky'd and sainted,
By your renouncement an immortal spirit,
And to be talk'd with in sincerity,
As with a saint.

Isab. You do blaspheme the good in mocking me.

Lucio. Do not believe it. Fewness and truth,2 't is thus:

[Your brother and his lover have embrac'd:

1 Your story, ie your jest.

2 Fewness and truth, i.e. briefly and truly.

51

The duke is very strangely gone from hence;
Bore many gentlemen, myself being one,
In hand and hope of action: but we do learn
By those that know the very nerves of state,
His giving-out were of an infinite distance
From his true-meant design. Upon his place,
And with full line of his authority,
Governs Lord Angelo; a man whose blood
Is very snow-broth; one who never feels
The wanton stings and motions of the sense,
[But doth rebate1 and blunt his natural edge
With profits of the mind, study and fast. ]
He-to give fear to use2 and liberty,
Which have for long run by the hideous law,
As mice by lions-hath pick'd out an act,
Under whose heavy sense your brother's life
Falls into forfeit: he arrests him on it;
And follows close the rigour of the statute,
To make him an example. All hope is gone,
Unless you have the grace by your fair prayer
To soften Angelo: and that's my pith of busi-

ness

"Twixt you and your poor brother.

Isab. Doth he so seek his life?

62

Already; and, as I hear, the provost hath

A warrant for his execution.

Isab. Alas, what poor ability's in me
To do him good?
Lucio.

Assay the power you have.
Isab. My power! Alas, I doubt—
Lucio.

Our doubts are traitors, And make us lose the good we oft might win By fearing to attempt. Go to Lord Angelo, And let him learn to know, when maidens sue, Men give like gods; but when they weep and kneel,

All their petitions are as freely theirs
As they themselves would owe them.
Isab. I'll see what I can do.
Lucio.

81

But speedily.

Isab. I will about it straight; No longer staying but to give the mother" Notice of my affair. I humbly thank you: Commend me to my brother: soon at night I'll send him certain word of my success. Lucio. I take my leave of you.

SCENE. I. A hall in Angelo's house. Enter ANGELO, ESCALUS, and a Justice; Provost, Officers and Attendants in waiting behind. Ang. We must not make a scarecrow of the law,

Setting it up to fear the birds of prey,
And let it keep one shape, till custom make it
Their perch, and not their terror.
Escal.

Ay, but yet
Let us be keen, and rather cut a little,
Than fall, and bruise to death. Alas, this
gentleman,

Whom I would save, had a most noble father! Let but your honour know,

Whom I believe to be most strait in virtue,

That justice seizes: what knows the law That thieves do pass on thieves? T is very pregnant,8

8 Pregnant, evident.