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 consider'd.

[Loud voices heard without. Mrs. Ov. What's to do here, Thomas tapster? let's withdraw.

Pom. Here comes Signior Claudio, led by the provost to prison; and there's Madam Juliet.

[Exeunt. Enter Provost, CLAUDIO, Juliet, and

Officers. Claud. 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.

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 scope by the immoderate use

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121

180

140

And none of them been worn; and, for a name, Now puts the drowsy and neglected act Freshly on me:—'t is surely for a name.

Lucio. I warrant it is: and thy head stands so tickles on thy shoulders, that a milkmaid, if she be in love, may sigh it off. Send after the duke, and appeal to him. Claud. I have done so, but he's not to be

found. 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.

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 ticktack. I'll to her. Claud. I thank you, good friend Lucio.

[Provost advances. Lucio. Within two hours. Claud. Come, officer, away! [E.ceunt.

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Turns to restraint. Our natures do pursue, Like rats that ravin' down their proper2 bane, A thirsty evil; and when we drink we die.

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? Claud. What but to speak of would offend

again.
Lucio. What, is 't murder?
Claud. No.
Lucio. Lechery?
Claud. Call it so.
Pror. Away, sir! you must go.
Claud. 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? (laud. Thus stands it with me :-upon a

true contract
I got possession of Julietta's bed:
You know the lady; she is fast my wife,
Save that we do the denunciation 3 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

ness, Or whether that the body public be A horse whereon the governor doth ride, Who, newly in the seat, that it may know He can command, lets it straight feel the spur; Whether the tyranny be in his place, Or in his eminence that fills it up, I stagger in:--but this new governor ] Awakes me all the enrolled penalties Which have, like unscour'd armour, hung by

the wall So long, that nineteen zodiacs have gone round,

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SCENE III. The entrance to a monastery.

162

Enter DUKE and FRIAR THOMAS. Duke. No, holy father; throw away that

thought; Believe not that the dribbling dart of love Can pierce a complete bosom. Why I desire

thee To give me secret harbour, hath a purpose More grave and wrinkled than the aims and

ends Of burning youth.

Fri. T. May your grace speak of it? Duke. My holy sir, none better knows than

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you

5 Tickle, ticklish.

6 Prone, appealing. 7 Tick-tack, a sort of backgammon (French, tric-trac).

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124

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

Proclaim you are no less! Can you so stead1 me
As bring me to the sight of Isabella,
A novice of this place, and the fair sister
To her unhappy brother Claudio?

20

Isab. Why "her unhappy brother"? let me ask,

21

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.1
Lucio.

29

"T is true.

All hope is gone,

As those that feed grow full, as blossoming. time

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51

Lucio.

This is the point. 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 rebatel and blunt his natural edge With profits of the mind, study and fast. ] He—to give fear to use? 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?

Lucio.

Has censur'ds him
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.

But speedily.
Isab. I will about it straight;
No longer staying but to give the mothers
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.
Isab.

Good sir, adieu. [Exeunt severally.

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62

70

11

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, in the working of your own affections, Had time coher'd with place, or place with

wishing, Or that the resolute acting of our blood Could have attain'd the effect of your own

purpose, Whether you had not sometime in

your

life Err'd in this point which now you censure him, And pull’d the law upon you.

Ang. 'T is one thing to be tempted, Escalus, Another thing to fall. [I not deny, The jury, passing on the prisoner's life, May in the sworn twelve have a thief or two Guiltier than him they try. What's open

made to justice, That justice seizes: what knows the law That thieves do pass on thieves ? 'T is very

pregnant,

19

B Pregnant, evident.