mocked; !f he be amazed, he will every way be

mocked.

Mrs. Ford. Well betray him finely. Mrs. Page. Against such lewdsters, and their Those that betray them do no treachery. flccherv Mrs. Ford. The hour draws on: to the oak. to the oak! [Exeunt. SCENE IV.—Windsor Park. Enter Sir Hugh Evans, disguised its a Satyr, -with

Anne Page and others as Fairies. Eva. Trib. trib. fairies: come; and remember your parts. Be pold. I pray you; follow me into the pit; and when I give the watch-'ords, do as 1 pid you: come, come; trib, trib. [Exeunt.

SCENE V.—Another part of the Park. Enter Falstaff disguised as If erne, with a Buck's Head on.

Fat. The Windsor bell hath struck twelve; the minute draws on. Now, the hot-blooded gods assist me !—remember, Jove, thou wast a bull for thy Europa; love set on thy horns :—0 powerful love! that, in some respects, makes a beast a man; in some other, a man a beast.—You were also, Jupiter, a swan for the love of Leda :—O omnipotent love I how near the god drew to the complexion of a goose !—A fault done first in the form of a beast;—O Jove, a beastly fault: and then another fault in the semblance of a fowl: think on't, Jove ; a foul fault.—When gods have hot backs, what shall poor men dot Forme, lam here a Windsor stag ; and the fattest, I think, i' the forest. Send me a cool rut-time, Jove, or who can blame me to piss my tallowt—Who comes heret my doe!

Enter Mrs. Ford and Mrs. Page. Mrs. Ford. Sir John I art thou there, my deerf my male deer!

Fat. My doe with the black scut I—Let the sky rain j>otatoes; let it thunder to the tune of "Green Sleeves:" hail kissing-com tits, and snow e lingoes ; let there come a tempest of provocation, I will shelter me here. \ Embracing her.

Mrs. Ford. Mistress Page is come with me. sweetheart.

Fa/. Divide me like a bribed buck, each a haunch: I will keep my sides to myself, my shoulders for the fellow of this walk, and my horns I bequeath your husbands. Am I a woodman, ha! Speak I like Heme the hunter!—Why, now is Cupid a child of conscience; he makes restitution. As I am a true spirit, welcome! [Noise within.

Mrs. Page. Alas! what noise!

Mrs. Ford. Heaven forgive our sins I

Fat. What should this bet

Mrs'. pZi} Aw*y- awa>'1 I n*yrun

Fat. I think the devil will not have me damned, lest the oil that is in me should set hell on fire; he would never else have crossed me thus.

Enter Sir Hugh Evans, as a Satyr; Mrs. Quickly.
Anne Page, as the Fairy Queen, attended fry
her brother and others, as fairies, -with waxen
tapers on their heads.
Qutik. Fairies, black, grey, green, and white.
You moonshine revellers, and shades of night.
You orphan-heirs of fixed destiny.
Attend your office and your quality.—
Crier Hobgoblin, make the miry o-yes.

Pist. Elves, list your names ; silence, you airy toys I
Cricket, to Windsor chimneys shalt thou leap.
Where fires thou finrTst unrak'd and hearths unswept.
There pinch the inaids as blue as bilberry;
Our radiant queen hates sluts, and sluttery.
Fa/. They are fairies; he that speaks to them,
shall die:

I'll wink and couch: no man their works must eye.

[Lies down upon his face. Eva. Where's Bedet— Go you, and where you find a maid.

That, ere she sleep, has thrice her prayers said.
Raise up the organs of her fantasy.
Sleep she as sound as careless infancy:
But those that steep, and think not on their sins.
Pinch them, arms, legs, backs, shoulders, sides, and
Quick* About, about! [shjns.
Search Windsor castle, elves, within and out:
Strew good luck, ouphes, on every sacred room;

That It may stand till the perpetual doom,

In state as wholesome as in state "its fit;
Worthy the owner, and the owner it.
The several chairs of order look you scour
With juice of balm and every precious flower:
Bach fair instalment, coat, ana several cre^t.
With loyal blazon, ever more be blest I
And nightly, meadow-fairies, look you sing.
Like to the Garter's compass, in ;\ ring:
Th' expressure that it bears, green let it be,
More fertile-fresh than all the field to see;
And, Honi soit qui maty pense, write.
In emerald tufts, flowers purple, blue, and white;
Like sapphire, pearl, ana rich embroidery,
liuckled lielow fair knighthood's bending knee:—
I'airies use flowers for their charactery.
Away I disperse I But, till 'tis one o'clock,
Our dance of custom round about the oak
Of Heme the hunter, let us not forget.
Eva. Pray you, lock hand in hand; yourselves in
order set;

And twenty glow-worms shall our lanterns be.
To guide our measure round about the tree.—
But, stay I I smell a man of middle earth.

Fa/. Heavens defend me from that Welsh fairy, lest he transform me to a piece of cheese I [birth.

Pist. Vile worm, thou wast o'erlook'd, even in thy

Quick. With trial-fire touch ine his finger-end:
If he be chaste, the flame will back descend,
And turn him to no pain; but if he start.
It is the flesh of a corrupted heart.

Pist. A trial, come.

Eva. Come, will this wood take fire?

I They burn him with their tapers. Fat. Oh, oh, oli!

Quick. Corrupt, corrupt, and tainted in desire I— About him, fairies; sing a scornful rhyme: And, as you trip, still pmch him to your time. SONG.

Fie on sinful fantasy!

Fie on lust and luxury!

Lust is but a bloody fire.

Kindled with unchaste desire,

Fed in heart, whose flames aspire.

As thoughts do blow them higher and higher,

Piiuh him, fairies, mutually;

Pinch him for his villainy;

Pmch him, and bum him, and turn him about. Till candles, and star-light, and moonshine be out. During this song, thefairies pinch Falstaff. Doctor Caius comes one way, and steals away a fairy in green ; Slender another way, and takes off a fairy in white ; iixrfFenton comes, and steals away Anne Page. A noise of hunting is made within. The fairies run away. Falstaff pulls off his bucks head, and rises. Enter Page, Ford, Mrs. Page and Mrs. Ford. They lay hold on Falstaff. Page. Nay, do not fly : I think we have watch'd you now;

Will none but Heme the hunter serve your turn t Mrs. Page. I pray you come; hold up the jest no higher.—

Now, good Sir John, how like you Windsor wivest— lee ymi these, husband t do not these fair yukes Become the forest better than the town!

Ford. Now sir. who's a cuckold nowf—Master Brook, FalstarFs a knave, a cuckoldly knave: here ;tre his horns, master Brook: and, master Brook, he

hath enjoyed nothing of Ford's but his buck-basket, his cudgel, and twenty pounds of money, which must be paid to master Brook; his horses are arrested for

it. master Brook.

Mrs, Ford. Sir John, we have had ill luck; we could never meet. I will never take you for my love again; but I will always count you Iuv deer.

Fat, I do begin to perceive that I am made an ass.

Ford. Ay, and an ox too; both the proofs are extant.

Fal. And these are not fairies t I was three or four times in the thought, they were not fairies : and yet the guiltiness Tif my mind, the sudden surprise of my powers, drove the gmssness of the foppery into a received belief, in despite of the teeth of all rhyme and reason, that they were fairies. See now, how wit may be made a Jack-a-lent, when lis upon Ul employment I

Eva. Sir John FalstafF, serve Got, and leave your

desire:-;, and fairies will not pinse you. Ford. Well said, fairy Hugh.

Eva. And leave you your jealousies too, I pray you.

Fork. I will never mistrust my wife again, UN thou art able to woo her in good English.

Fal. Have I laid my brain in the sun, and dried it. that it wants matter to prevent so gross o'cr-reaching as this? Am I ridden with a Welsh goat too! shall! have a coxcomb of frize? 'Tis time I were choked with a piece of toasted cheese. | is all putter.

Eva. Seese is not goot to give putter; your pelly

Fal. Seese and putter! have I lived to stand at the taunt of one that makes fritters of English? This is enough to be the decay of lust and late-walking through the realm.

Airs. Page. Why, Sir John, do you think, though we would have thrust virtue out of our hearts by the head and shoulders, and have given ourselves without scruple to hell, that ever the devil could have madi you our delight?

Ford. What, a hodge-pudding! a bag of flax?

Mrs. Page. A puffed man? [trails?

Page. Old, cold, withered, and of intolerable cn

Ford. And one that is as slanderous as Satan?

Page. And as poor as Job?

Ford. And as wicked as his wife?

Eva. And given to fornications, and to taverns, and sack, and wine, and metheglins, and to drinkings, and swearings and starings, pribbles and prabbles?

Fat. Well, I am your theme; you nave the start of me; I am dejected; I am not able to answer thi Welsh flannel; ignorance itself is a plummet o'er me: use me as you will.

Ford. Marry, sir, we'll bring you to Windsor, to one master Brook, that you have cozened of money, to whom you should have been a pander; over and above that you have suffered, I think, to repay that money will be a biting affliction.

Page. Yet be cheerful, knight: thou shalt eat posset to-night at my house; where I will desire th to laugh at my wife, that now laughs at thee: tell her, master Slender hath married her daughter.

Mrs. Page. [Aside.) Doctors doubt that: if Anne Page be my daughter, she is, by this, doctor Cains' wile.

Enter Slender.

S/e/t. Whoo, ho 1 ho I father Page I [despatched? Page. Son, how now [ how now, son I have you Steu.—Despatched !—I'll make the best in Gloucestershire know on't; would I were hanged, la, else I Page. Of what, son?

Slen. I came yonder at Eton to marry mistress Anne Page, and she's a great lubberly boy. If it had not been i" the church, I would have swinged him. or he should have swinged ine. If I did not think it had been Anne Page, would I might never stir 1—and 'tis a post-master's r>oy.

Page. Upon my life, then, you took the wrong.

Steu. What need you tell me that? I think so,

when I took a boy for a girl. If I had been married to him, for all he was in woman's apparel, I would not have had him.

Page. Why, this Is your own folly. Did not I tell you how you should know my daughter by her garments?

Sten. I went to her in white, and cried, "Mum,TM and she cried "Budget.'' as Anne and I had appointed ; and yet it was not Anne, but a post-master's

boy.

Mrs. Page. Good George, ht not angry: I knew of your purpose; turned my daughter into green , and, indeed, she is now with the doctor at the deanery, and there married.

Enter Doctor Cains.

Cants. VereismistressP;

Page? By gar, I am cozened: I ha' married ttn garcoti, a boy; un paisan, by gar, a boy; it is not Anne Page: by gar, I am cozened. Mrs. Page.- Why, did you take her in green? Cants. Ay, by gar, and 'tis a boy: by gar, I'll raise all Windsor. [Exit. Ford. Thisisstrange. WhohathgottherifihtAnnel Page. My heart misgives me: here comes master Fenton.

Enter Fenton and Anne Page. How now, master Fenton! [pardon! Anne. Pardon, good father!—good my mother. Page. Now, mistress,—how chance you went not with master Slender! [maid? Mrs. Page. Why went you not with master doctor, Fettt. You do amaze her: hear the truth of it. You would have married her most shamefully. Where there was no proportion held in love. The truth is, she and I, long since contracted. Are now so sure, that nothing can dissolve Us. The offence is holy that she hath committed; And this deceit loses the name of craft. Of disobedience, or unduteous title: Since therein she doth evitate and shun A thousand irreligious cursed hours. Which forced marriage would have brought upon her.

Ford. Stand not amaz'd: here is no remedy.— In love, the heavens themselves do guide the state; !oney buys lands, and wives are sold by fate. Fat. I am "glad, though you have ta'en a special and to strike at me. that your arrow hath glanced. Page. Well, what remedy ?—Fenton, heaven give thee Joy !— What cannot be eschew'd must be embrae'd. Fal. When night-dogs run, all sorts of deerare chas'd. Afrs. Patre. Well, I will inuse no farther.—Master Heaven give you many, many merry days \ [Fenton, Good husband, let us every one go home. And laugh this sport o'er by a country fire; Sir John and all.

Ford. Let it be so.—Sir John,

To master Brook you yet shall hold y<mr word;
For he, to-night, shall lie with mistress Ford. [Exeunt.

Vincentio, Duke <yVienna,

Angelo, Lord Deputy in (he Duke's absence.

Escalus, an Ancient Lord,joined -with Ang-elo in the

deputation.
Claudio, a young Gentleman.
Lucio, a Fantastic.
Tiuo other like Gentlemen.
Varrius, a Gentleman attending on the Duke.
Provost.

ssr

A Justice.

SCENE,

Elbow, a simple Constable.

Froth, a foolish Gentleman.

Clown ; a Servant to Mistress Overdone.

Abhorson, an Executioner.

Barnardine, a dissolute Prisoner.

Isabella, sister to Claudio. Mariana, betrothed to Angela Juliet, beloved of Claudio. rrancisca, a Nun. Mistress Overdone, a Batvd. Lords, Officers, Citizens, Boy, and Attendant!. ■Vienna.

ACT I.

SCENE Li—Am Apartment in the Duke's Palace.

Enter Duke, Escalus, Lords, and Attendants. Duke. Escalus,— /•scat. My lord f

Duke. Of government the properties to unfold, "Would seem in me t' affect speech and discourse, Since I am put to know that your own science Exceeds, in that, the lists of all advice My strength can give you: then no more remains. But that to your sufficiency, as your worth is able; And let them work. The nature of our people, Our city's institutions, and the terms For common justice, you're as pregnant in As art and practice hath enriched any That we remember. There is our commission. From which we would not have you warp.—Call hither, I say, bid come before us Angelo.—

{Exitan Attendant.
What figure of us think you he will bear I
For, you must know, we have with special soul
Elected hiin our absence to supply;
Lent him our terror, drest him with our love;
And given his deputation all the organs
Of our own power. What think you of it I

Escal. If any in Vienna be of worth
To undergo such ample grace and honour,
It is lord Angelo.

Duke. Look where he comes.

Enter Angelo.

Ang. Always obedient to your grace's will, I come to know your pleasure.

Duke, Angelo, There is a kind of character in thy life, That, to th' observer, doth thy history Fully unfold. Thyself and thy belongings Are not thine own so proper, as to waste Thyself upon thy virtues, them on thee. Heaven doth with us, as we with torches do; Not light them for themselves; for if our virtues Did not go forth of us, 'twere all alike As if wenad them not. Spirits are not finely touch'd, But to fine issues; nor nature never lends The smallest scruple of her excellence. But, like a thrifty goddess, she determines Herself the glory of a creditor,— Both thanks and use. But I do bend my speech To one that can my part in him advertise; Hold, therefore, Angelo:

[ Tendering his commission. In our remove, be thou at full ourself; Mortality and mercy in Vienna Live in thy tongue and heart. Old Escalus, Though first in question, is thy secondary: Take thy commission.

Aug. Now, good my lord.

Let there be some more test made of my metal,
Before so noble and so great a figure
Be stamp'd upon it.

Duke. No more evasion:

We have with a leaven'd and prepared choice
Proceeded to you: therefore take your honours.
Our haste from hence is of so quick condition.
That it prefers itself, and leaves unquestion'd
Matters of needful value. We shall write to you.
As time and our concernings shall importune,
How it goes with us; and do look to know
What doth befall you here. So, fare you well:
To the hopeful execution do I leave you
Of your commissions.

Aug. Yet, give leave, my lord,

That we may bring you something on the way.

Duke. My haste may not admit it;
Nor need you, on mine honour, have to do
With any scruple: your scope is as mine own,
So to enforce or qualify the laws
As to your soul seems good. Give me your hand:
I'll privily away. I love the people.
But do not like to stage me to their eyes:
Though it do well, 1 Ho not relish well
Their loud applause and aves vehement;
Nor do 1 think the man of safe discretion,
That does affect it. Once more, fare you well.

Ang. The heavens give safety to your purposes 1

Escal. Lead forth, and bring you back in happiness I

Duke. I thank you. Fare you well. {Exit.

Escal. I shall desire you, sir, to give me leave To have free speech with you ; and it concerns me To look into the bottom of my place: A power I have, but of what strength and nature I ma not yet instructed.

Ang. 'Tis so with me. Let us withdraw together, And we may soon our satisfaction have Touching that point.

Escal. Ill wait upon your honour.

[Exeunt.

SCENE U.—A Street. Enter Lucio and two Gentlemen. Lucia. If the duke, with the other dukes, come not to composition with the king of Hungary, why then, all the dukes fall upon the king.

1 Gent. Heaven grant us its peace, but not the king

2 Gent. Amen. [of Hungary's 1 Lucio. Thou concludest like the sanctimonious

pirate, that went to sea with the ten commandments, but scraped one out of the table.

sGettt. "Thoushatt not-stealf

Lucio. Ay. that he razed.

1 Gent. Why, 'twas a commandment to command 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, doth relish the petition well that prays for peace.

a Gent. I never heard any soldier dislike it. Lucio, I believe thee; for I think thou never wast where grace was said.

2 Gent. Not a dozen times at least, i Gent. What, in metre T

Lucio. In any proportion, or in any language.

i Gent. I think, or in any religion.

Lucio. Ay; why not! Grace is grace, despite of all controversy: as, for example,—thou thyself art a wicked villain, despite of all grace. [tween us.

3 Gent. Well, there went but a pair of shears beLucio. I grant; as there may between the lists and the velvet: thou art the list.

1 Gent. And thou the velvet: thou art good velvet; thou art a three-piled piece, 1 warrant thee. I had as lief be a list of an English kersey, as be piled, as thou art piled, for a French velvet. Do 1 speak feelingly now?

Lucia. I think thou dost; and, indeed, with mos' painful feeling of thy speech: I will, out of thine own confession, learn to begin thy health; but, whilst 1 live, forget to drink afier thee. [not?

1 Gent. I think I have done myself wron;;, have 1 a Gent. Yes, that thou hast, whether thou art tainted,

or free.

Lucio. Behold, behold, where madam Mitigation comes 1 I have purchased as many diseases under her roof, as come to—■

a Gent. To what, I pray!

Lucio. 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 sound.

Lucio. Nay, not as one would say, healthy; but so sound as things that are hollow: thy bones are hollow; impiety has made a feast of thee.

Enter Mistress Overdone.

1 Gent. How now! Which of your hips has the most profound sciatica?

Mrs. Oh. Well, well; there's one yonder arrested and carried to prison, was worth five thousand of you

2 Gent. Who s that, I pray thee? fall. Mrs. Ov. Marry, sir, that s Claudio, signior Claudio.

1 Gent. Claudio to prison! 'tis not so.

Mrs. Ov. Nay, but I know'tis so: I saw him arrested; saw him carried away; and, which is more, within these three days his head is to be chopped off.

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

Mrs. Ov. I am too sure of it; and it is for getting madam Julietta with child.

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

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

i Gent. But most of all, agreeing with the procla

Lucio. Away! let's go learn the truth of it.

\Exeunt Lucio and Gentlemen.

Mrs. Ov. Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat, what with the gallows, and what with poverty, I am custom-shrunk.

Enter Clown. How now! what's the news with youf

Clo. Yonder man is carried to prison.

Mrs. Ov. Well; what has he done t

Clo. A woman.

Mrs. Ov. But what's his offence?

Clo. Groping for trouts in a peculiar river.

Mrs. Ov. What, is there a maid with child by him?

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

Mrs. Ov. What proclamation, man?

Clo. All houses in the suburbs of Vienna must be plucked down. fcity':

Mrs. Ov. And what shall become of those in the

Clo. They shall stand forseed : they had gone down too, but that a wise burgher put in for them.

Mrs. Ov. But shall all our houses of resort in the suburbs be pulled down?

Clo. To the ground, mistress.

Airs. Ov. Why, here's a change indeed in the commonwealth! what shall become of me?

Clo. Come; fear not you: good counsellors lack no clients: though you change your place, you need not change your trade; I '11 be your tapster still. Courage T there will be pity taken on you: you that have worn your eyes almost out in the service, you will be considered.

Mrs. Ov. What's to do here, Thomas Tapster? Let's withdraw.

Clo. Here coines signior Claudio, led by the provost to prison; and there's madam Juliet.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.—The Same.

Enter Provost, Claudio, Juliet, and Officers; Llcio
and civo Gentlemen.
Claud. Fellow, why dost thou show me thus to the
Bear me to prison, where I am committed. [world I

Prov. 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 heaven on whom it will, it will;
On whom it will not, so : yet still 'tis just.
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
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 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 it? murdert '.

Claud. No.

Lucio. Lechery?

Claud. Call it so.

Prov. Away, sir; you must go.

Claud. One word, good friend.—Lucio, a word with you. I Takes him aside.

Lucio. A hundred, if they'll do you uny good.— Is lechery so looked after?

Claud. Thus stands it with me :—upon a true conI got possession of Julietta's bed: [tract. 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 so.
And the new deputy now for the duke,—
Whether it be the fault and glimpse of newness,
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 ine all the enrolled penalties.
Which have, like unscourd armour, hung by the
wall

So long, that nineteen zodiacks have gone round.
And none of them been worn; and. for a name,
Now puts the drowsy and neglected act
Freshly on me:—tis surely, for a name.

Lucio. I warrant it is : and thy head stands so tickle 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 pr'ythee, 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 iny state: Implore her, in my voice, that she make friends To the strict deputy; bid herself essay him: I have great hope in that; for in her youth There is a prone and speechless dialect. Such as moves men: beside, she hath prosperous art When she will play with reason and discourse, And well she can persuade.

Lucio. I pray she may; as well for the encourageitient of the like, which else would stand under grievous imposition, a? for the enjoying of thy life, who I would he sorry should be thus foolishly lost at a game of tick-tack. I'll to her.

Claud. I thank you, good friend Lucio.

Lucio. Within two hours.—

Claud. Come, officer, away 1 [Exeunt.

SCENE IV.—A Monastery.
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 burningyouth.

Fri. May your grace speak of it?

Duke. My holy sir, none better knows than you
How I have ever loved the life reinov'd;
And held in idle price to haunt assemblies.
Where youth, and cost, and witless bravery keeps.
I have deliver'd to Lord Angelo
(A man of stricture, and firm abstinence)
My absolute power and place here in Vienna,
And he supposes me ttaveU'd to Poland;
For so I have strew'd it in the common ear,
And so it is receiv'd. Now, pious sir,
You will demand of mc, why I do this?

Fri. Gladly, my lord.

Duke. We have strict statutes, and most biting laws {The needful bits and curbs to headstrong steeds,) Which for these fourteen years we have let sleep; 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 Becomes more mock"d than feard ; 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.

Fri. It rested in your grace

T* 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 'twas my fault to give the people scope,
'Twould 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
I have on Angelo impos'd the office; [father,
Who may, in th' ambush of my name, strike home.
And yet my nature never in the sight.
To do it slander. And to behold his sway,
I will, as 'twere a brother of your order.
Visit both prince and people: therefore, I pr'ythee,
Supply me with the habit, and instruct me
How I may formally in person bear me
Like a true friar. More reasons for this action
At our more leisure shall I render you;
Only, this one:—Lord Angelo is precise;
Stands at a guard with envy; scarce confesses
That his blood flows, or that his appetite
Is more to bread than stone: hence shall we see,
If power change purpose, what our seemers be.

[Exeunt.

SCENE V.—A Nunnery.
Enter Isabella and Francisca.
Isab. And have you nuns no farther privileges?
Fran. Are not these large enough f
Isab. Yes. truly: I speak not as destring more;

But rather wishing a more strict restraint

Upon the sisterhood, the votarists of Saint Clare. Lucia. [Within.[ Hoi Peace be inthisulacel Isab. Who's that which calls t

Fran. It is a man's voice. Gentle Isabella:

Turn you the key. and know his business of him:

You may, I may not; you are yet unsworn.

When you have vow'd, you must not speak with men,

But in the presence of the prioress:

Then, if you speak, you must not show your face;

Or. if you show your face, you must not speak.

He calls again; I pray you, answer him. [Exit. J sab. Peace and prosperity 1 Who is't that calls T

Enter Lucio. Lucio. Hait, virgin, if you be,—as those cheek-roses

Proclaim you are no less 1 Can you so stead me,

As bring me to the sight of Isabella,

A novice of this place, and the fair sister

To her unhappy brother, Claudio?

Isab. Why her unhappy brother! let me ask;

Th.: rather, for I now must make you know

I am that Isabella, and his sister.

Lucio. Gentle and fair, your brother kindly greet*

Not to be weary with you, he's in prison. lyou: Isab. Woeinel for what?

Lucio. For that, which, if myself might be his judge. He should receive his punishment in thanks: e hath got his friend with child.

Isab. Sir, make ine not your story. [familiar sin

Lucia. Tls true. I would not — though 'tis my With maids to seem the lapwing, and to jest, Tongue far from heart—play with all virgins so: I hold you as a thing onsk y <1 am I 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, iu mocking me.

Lucia. Do not believe It. Fewness and truth, 'tis Your brother and his lover have embrae'd: ((fans As those that feed trrow full; as blossoming time. That from the seedness the bare fallow brings To teeming foison; even so her plenteous womb Expressed! his full tilth and husbandry.

Isab. Some one with child by him?— My cousin Juliet?

Lucia. Is she your cousin?

Isab. Adoptedly; as school-maids change their By vain, though apt, affection. [names,

Lucia. She it is.

Isab. 01 let him marry her!

Lucio. This is the point.

The duke is very strangely gone from hence;
Bore many gentlemen, niyself being one,
In hand, and hope of action: but we do learn,
By those that know the very nerves of state.
His givings 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 rebate and blunt his natural edge
With profits of the mind, study and fast
He (to give fear to use and liberty,
Which nave, 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 hiin 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 m> pith
Of business "twixt you and your poor brother.

Isab. Doth he so seek his life?

Lucio.

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?

Lucia. Assay the power you have.

Isab. My power 1 alas, I doubt.—

Lucio. Our doubts arc 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 mother
Notice of my affair. I humbly thank you:
Commend me to my brother: soon at night
I 'II send him certain word of my success.

Lucio, I take my leave of you.

Isab. Good sir, adieu. [Exeunt.

ACT II.

SCENE I.—A Halt in Angelo's House. Enter Angelo, Escalus, a Justice, Provost, Officers,

and ather Attendants. Ang, We must not make a scare-crow of the law. Setting it ap to fear the birds of prey. And let it keep one shape, till custom i 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.

l make it