The duke comes home to-morrow;-nay, dry your Who do prepare to meet him at the gates, Isab. I am directed by you. At Mariana's house to-night. Her cause, and yours, And shall be absent. Wend you with this letter: Lucio. Enter Lucio. Good even! Duke. 'Not within, sir. Lucio. O, pretty Isabella, I am pale at mine heart, to see thine eyes so red: thou must be patient: I am fain to dine and sup with water and bran; I dare not for my head fill my belly; one fruitful meal would set me to't: But they say the duke will be here tomorrow. By my troth, Isabel, I lov'd thy brother: if the old fantastical duke of dark corners had been at home, he had lived. [Exit Isabella. Friar, where is the provost ? Duke. Sir, the duke is marvellous little beholden to your reports; but the best is he lives not in them. Lucio. Friar, thou knowest not the duke so well as I do he's a better woodman than thou takest him for. Duke. Well, you'll answer this one day. Fare ye well. Lucio. Nay, tarry; I'll go along with thee; I can tell thee pretty tales of the duke." Duke. You have told me too many of them already, sir, if they be true; if not true, none were enough. Lucio. I was once before him for getting a wench with child. Duke. Did you such a thing? Lucic. Yes, marry, did I: but was fain to forswear it; they would else have married me to the rotten medlar. Duke. Sir, your company is fairer than honest: Rest you well. Lucio. By my troth, I'll go with thee to the lane's end: If bawdy talk offend you, we'll have very little of it: Nay, friar, I am a kind of bur, I shall stick. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. A Room in Angelo's House, Enter Angelo and Escalus, Escal. Every letter he hath writ hath disvouch'd other. Ang. In most uneven and distracted manner. His actions show much like to madness: pray heaven, his wisdom be not tainted! And why meet him at the gates, and re-deliver our authorities there? Escal. I guess not. Ang. And why should we proclaim it in an hour before his entering, that, if any crave redress of injustice, they should exhibit their petitions in the street? Escal. He shows his reason for that: to have a despatch of complaints; and to deliver us from devices hereafter, which shall then have no power to stand against us. Ang. Well, I beseech you, let it be proclaim'd: Betimes i'the morn, I'll call you at your house; Give notice to such men of sort and suit, As are to meet him. I shall, sir: fare you well. [Exit. Becal. This deed unshapes me quite, makes me unpregnant, With ransom of such shame. 'Would yet he had [Giving Letters. It shall be speeded well. [Exit. Enter Varrius. SCENE I. A public Place near the City Gate. Mariana (veiled), Isabella, and Peter, at a distance. Enter, at opposite Doors, Duke, Varrius, Lords; Angelo, Escalus, Lucio, Provost, Officers, and Citizens. Duke. My very worthy cousin, fairly met :Our old and faithful friend, we are glad to see you. Ang, and Escal. Happy return be to your royal grace! Duke. Many and hearty thankings to you both. We have made inquiry of you; and we hear Such goodness of your justice, that our soul Cannot but yield you forth to public thanks, Forerunning more requital. Ang. You make my bonds still greater. To lock it in the wards of covert bosom, [wrong it, Duke. O, your desert speaks loud; and I should When it deserves with characters of brass A forted residence, 'gainst the tooth of time, And let the subject see, to make them know And razure of oblivion: Give me your hand, That outward courtesies would fain proclaim Favours that keep within.-Come, Escalus; You must walk by us on our other hand;And good supporters are you. Peter and Isabella come forward. F. Peter. Now is your time; speak loud, and kneel before him. Isab. Justice, O royal duke! Vail your regard Till you have heard me in my true complaint, Here is lord Angelo shall give you justice; [here. Isab. Isab. By course of justice! Ang. And she will speak most bitterly, and strange. I now begin with grief and shame to utter: And I did yield to him: But the next morn betimes, This is most likely! Duke. Or else thou art suborn'd against his honour, Isab. In countenance - Heaven shield your grace from woe, Nay, ten times strange. As I, thus wrong'd, hence unbelieved go! Isab. It is not truer he is Angelo, Away with her :-Poor scul, In all his dressings, characts, titles, forms, Duke. By mine honesty, Isab. I, in probation of a sisterhood, Was sent to by my brother: One Lucio As then the messenger That's I, an't like your grace: Lucio. I came to her from Claudio, and desir'd her To try her gracious fortune with lord Angelo, That's he indeed. Nor wish'd to hold my peace. Duke. No, my good lord; I wish you now then; Lucio. I warrant your honour. Duke. The wariant's for yourself; take heed to it. Duke. It may be right; but you are in the wrong To this pernicious caitiff deputy. Duke. That's somewhat madly spoken. The phrase is to the matter. Pardon it; Duke. Mended again: the matter:-proceed. Isab. In brief,-to set the needless process by, How I persuaded, how I pray'd, and kneel'd, How he refell'd me, and how I reply'd; (For this was of much length, the vile conclusion Duke. I know, you'd fain be gone :-An officer ! Lucio. My lord, I know him; 'tis a meddling friar; A very scurvy fellow. F. Peter Blessed be your royal grace! Lucio. My lord, most villanously; believe it. To speak, as from his mouth, what he doth know So vulgarly and personally accus'd), Duke. Good friar, let's hear it. [Isabella is carried off, guarded: and Mariana comes forward. Do you not smile as this, lord Angelo?- Mari. Duke. A widow then? Duke. What, are you married? Are you a maid? No, my lord. Neither, my lord. Why, you Are nothing then :-Neither maid, widow, nor wife? Ang. Charges she more than me? Mari. Not that I know. This is that face, thou cruel Angelo, And did supply thee at thy garden-house, Duke. Know you this woman? Lucio. Carnally, she says. Duke. Sirrah, no more. Lucio. Enough, my lord. Ang. My lord, I must confess, I know this woman; And, five years since, there was some speech of marriBetwixt myself and her; which was broke off, [age Partly, for that her promised proportions Came short of composition; but, in chief, For that her reputation was disvalued In levity since which time of five years, I never spake with her, saw her, nor heard from her, Upon my faith and honour. Mari. Noble prince, As there comes light from heaven, and words from breath, As there is sense in truth, and truth in virtue, As words could make up vows: and, my good lord, 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 women are no more But instruments of some more mightier member, [indeed, 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 villanons 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. 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 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. 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 :Where is the duke? 'tis he should hear me speak. Escal. The duke's in us; and we will hear you speak: Look, you speak justly. Duke. Boldly, at least:-But, O, poor souls, Lucio. This is the rascal; this is he I spoke of. And then to glance from him to the duke himself; Dare no more stretch this finger of mine, than he 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 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 giglots too, and with the other confederate companion. [The Provost lays Hands on the Duke. Duke. Stay, sir; stay a while. 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, 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. First, provost, let me bail these gentle three :Sneak not away, sir; [To Lucio] for the friar and you Must have a word anon :-lay hold on him. Lucio. This may prove worse than hanging.. Duke. What you have spoke, I pardon; sit you down. [To Escalus. We'll borrow place of him :-Sir, by your leave: [To Angelo. Hast thou or word, or wit, or impudence, Ang. O my dread lord, I should be guiltier than my guiltiness, When I perceive, your grace, like power divine, Come hither, Mariana :- 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 amaz'd at his dishonour, Than at the strangeness of it. Duke. Not changing heart with habit, I am still Isab. O, give me pardon, That I, your vassal, have employ'd and pain'd Your unknown sovereignty. Duke. You are pardon'd, Isabel : Re-enter Angelo, Mariana, Peter, and Provost. Duke. For this new-married man, approaching here, Of sacred chastity, and of promise-breach, Most audible, even from his proper tongue, Haste still pays haste, and leisure answers leisure; Mari. I crave no other, nor no better man. [Kneeling. You do but lose your labour: Away with him to death.-Now, sir, [To Lucio] to you. 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 sense you do importane her: Should she kneel down, in mercy of this fact, Her brother's ghost his paved bed would break, And take her hence in horror. Mari. Isabel, Sweet Isabel, do yet but kneel by me; Hold up your hands, say nothing, I'll speak all, They say, best men are moulded out of faults; And, for the most, become much more the better For being a little bad: so may my husband. O, Isabel will you not lend a knee? Duke. He dies for Claudio's death! Isab. Most bounteous sir, [Kneeling. Look, if it please you, on this man condemn'd, 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, His act did not o'ertake his bad intent; That perish'd by the way thoughts are no subjects; Mari. Merely, my lord. Duke. Your suit's unprofitable; stand up, I say.I have bethought me of another fault: Provost, how came it, Claudio was bebeaded At an unusual hour! Prov. It was commanded so. Duke. Had you a special warrant for the deed? Prov. No, my good lord; it was by private message. Duke. For which I do discharge you of your office: Give up your keys. Prov. Pardon me, noble lord: I thought it was a fault, but knew it not; Yet did repent me, after more advice: For testimony whereof, one in the prison, That should by private order else have died, I have reserv'd alive. Duke. Prov. His name is Barnardine. Duke. I would thou had'st done so by Claudio.Go, fetch him hither; let me look upon him. [Exit Provost. What's he? Escal. I am sorry one so learned and so wise Ang. I am sorry, that such sorrow I procare: Re-enter Provost, Barnardine, Claudio, and Juliet. I leave him to your hand.-What muffled fellow's that? [Unmuffles Claudio. Duke. If he be like your brother, [To Isabella] for his sake Is he pardon'd; And, for your lovely sake, Methinks, I see a quick'ning in his eye:- And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon; One all of luxury, an ass, a madman; Lucio. 'Faith, my lord, I spoke it but according to Lucio. I beseech your highness, do not marry me to a whore! 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. Lucio. Marrying a punk, my lord, is pressing to death, whipping, and hanging. Duke. Sland'ring a prince deserves it.- I have confess'd her, and I know her virtue.- Mess. O, he is returned; and as pleasant as ever he was. Beat. He set up his bills here in Messina, and challenged Cupid at the flight and my uncle's fool, read Enter Leonato, Hero, Beatrice, and others, with a ing the challenge, subscribed for Cupid, and chal Mess. But few of any sort, and none of name. Leon. A victory is twice itself, when the achiever brings home full numbers. I find here, that Don Pedro hath bestowed much honour on a young Florentine, called Claudio. Mess. Much deserved on his part, and equally remembered by Don Pedro: he hath borne himself beyond the promise of his age; doing, in the figure of a lamh, the feats of a lion: he hath, indeed, better bettered expectation, than you must expect of me to tell you how. Leon. He hath an uncle here in Messina will be very much glad of it. Mess. I have already delivered him letters, and there appears much joy in him; even so much, that joy could not show itself modest enough, without a badge of bitterness. Leon. Did he break out into tears? Leon. A kind overflow of kindness: There are no faces truer than those that are so washed. How much better is it to weep at joy, than to joy at weeping? Beat. I pray you, is signior Montanto returned from the wars, or no? Mess. I know none of that name, lady; there was none such in the army of any sort. Leon. What is he that you ask for, niece? lenged him at the bird-bolt.-I pray you, how many hath he killed and eaten in these wars! But how many hath he killed? for, indeed, I promised to eat all of his killing. Leon. Faith, niece, you tax signior Benedick too much; but he'll be meet with you, I doubt it not. Mess. He hath done good service, lady, in these wars. Beat. You had musty victual, and he hath holp to eat it: he is a very valiant trencher-man, he hath an excellent stomach. Mess. And a good soldier too, lady. Beat. And a good soldier to a lady;-But what is he to a lord? Mess. A lord to a lord, a man to a man; stuffed with all honourable virtues. Beat. It is so, indeed; he is no less than a stuffed man but for the stuffing,-Well, we are all mortal. Leon. You must not, sir, mistake my niece: there is a kind of merry war betwixt signior Benedick and her they never meet, but there is a skirmish of wit between them. Beat. Alas, he gets nothing by that. In our last conflict, four of his five wits went halting off, and now is the whole man governed with one so that if he have wit enough to keep himself warm, let him bear it for a difference between himself and his horse: for it is all the wealth that he hath left, to be known a reasonable creature.-Who is his companion now! He hath every month a new sworn brother. Mess. Is it possible? Beat. Very easily possible: he wears his faith but as the fashion of his hat, it ever changes with the next block. Mess. I see, lady, the gentleman is not in your books. |