Duke. Or else thou art suborn'd against his honour, Isab. And is this all? Then, oh, you blessed ministers above, Keep me in patience; and, with ripen'd time, Unfold the evil which is here wrapt up Why, you Mari. Duke. Are nothing then :- - Neither maid, widow, nor wife? In countenance! - Heaven shield your grace from And, I confess, besides, I am no maid: Lucio. My lord, I know him; 'tis a meddling friar; I do not like the man: had he been lay, my lord, For certain words he spake against your grace In your retirement, I had swing'd him soundly. Duke. Words against me? This' a good friar, belike! And to set on this wretched woman here Against our substitute ! - Let this friar be found. Lucio. But yesternight, my lord, she and that friar I saw them at the prison: a saucy friar, A very scurvy fellow. F. Peter. Blessed be your royal grace! I have stood by, my lord, and I have heard Your royal ear abus'd: First, hath this woman Most wrongfully accus'd your substitute: Who is as free from touch or guilt with her As she from one unborn. Duke. We did believe no less. Know you that friar Lodowick, that she speaks of? F. Peter. I know him for a man divine and holy: Not scurvy, nor a temporary medler, As he's reported by this gentleman; And, on my trust, a man that never yet, Did, as he vouches, misreport your grace. Lucio. My lord, most villainously! believe it. But at this instant he is sick, my lord, 8 So vulgarly and personally accus'd,) Good friar, let's hear it. [ISABELLA is carried off, guarded; and MARIANA Comes forward. I have known my husband; yet my husband knows not, That ever he knew me. Lucio. He was drunk, then, my lord; it can be no better. Duke. For the benefit of silence, 'would thou wert so too! Lucio. Well, my lord. Duke. This is no witness for lord Angelo. Mari. Now I come to't, my lord : She that accuses him of fornication, Charges she more than me? This is that face, thou cruel Angelo, Duke. Betwixt myself and her; which was broke off, Mari. Noble prince, As there comes light from heaven, and words from breath, As there is sense in truth, and truth in virtue, 9 Deception Ang. I did but smile till now: Now, good my lord, give me the scope of justice; My patience here is touch'd: I do perceive, These poor informal 1 women are no more But instruments of some more mightier member, That sets them on: Let me have way, my lord, To find this practice 2 out. Duke. Ay, with my heart; And punish them unto your height of pleasure. Thou foolish friar; and thou pernicious woman, Compact with her that's gone! think'st thou thy oaths, Though they would swear down each particular saint, Were testimonies against his worth and credit, That's seal'd in approbation? You, lord Escalus, Sit with my cousin; lend him your kind pains To find out this abuse, whence 'tis derived. There is another friar that set them on; Let him be sent for. And then to glance from him to the duke himself; F. Peter. Would he were here, my lord; for he, Stand like the forfeits in a barber's shop, 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, Do with your injuries as seems you best, 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 hath spoke most villainous 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. Re-enter Officers, with ISABELLA; the Duke, in the Friar's habit, and Provost. 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. 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, goodman 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 fleshmonger, 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 abominable 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 talked 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 3 too, and with the other confederate companion. [The Provost lays hands on the Duke. Duke. Stay, sir; stay awhile. 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! 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. You are pardon'd, Isabel : Re-enter ANGELO, MARIANA, PETER, and Provost. Whose foul imagination yet hath wrong'd Of sacred chastity, and of promise-breach, Then, Angelo, thy fault's thus manifested; We do condemn thee to the very block Look, if it please you, on this man condemn'd, His act did not o'ertake his bad intent, Mari. Prov. Escal. I am sorry, one so learned and so wise Ang. I am sorry, that such sorrow I procure : Wherein have I so deserved of you, Lucio 'Faith, my lord, I spoke it but according to the trick 9: If you will hang me for it, you may, but I had rather it would please you, I might be whipp'd. Duke. Whipp'd first, sir, and hang'd after. - Re-enter Provost, BARNARDINE, CLAUDIO, and (As I have heard him swear himself, there's one JULIET. Prov. This is another prisoner, that I sav'd, [Unmuffles CLAUDIO. Duke. If he be like your brother, [To ISABELLA.] for his sake Is he pardon'd; and for your lovely sake, Whom he hath injured thus,) let her appear, Lucio. I beseech your highness, do not marry me So. Your highness said even now, I made you a duke; good my lord, do not recompense me, in making me a cuckold. Duke. Upon mine honour, thou shalt marry her. Duke. Sland'ring a prince deserves it. Look that you love your wife; her worth, worth I have a motion much imports your good; |