The Complete Works of William Shakespeare

SCENE III.-The Same.
Enter Provost, CLAUDIO, and Officers.

Claud. Fellow, why dost thou show me thus to
th' 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 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 't is just.

Enter Lucio and two Gentlemen."

tickle on thy shoulders, that a milk-maid, 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 my 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,

Lucio. Why, how now, Claudio? whence comes this When she will play with reason and discourse, restraint?

Claud. From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty:
As surfeit is the father of much fast,

So every scape 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
And yet, to
would send for certain of my creditors.
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? murder?

Claud. No.

Lucio. Lechery?

Claud. Call it so.

Prov. Away, sir! you must go.

you.

Claud. One word, good friend.-Lucio, a word with [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 contract,

I got possession of Julietta's bed:

You know the lady; she is fast my wife,
Save that we do the pronunciation lack
Of outward order: this we came not to,
Only for procuration 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 me all the enrolled penalties,

Which have, like unscour❜d armour, hung by the wall
So long, that nineteen zodiacks have gone round,
And none of them heen worn; and, for a name,
Now puts the drowsy and neglected act
Freshly on me :-'t is surely, for a na ne.

And she can well persuade.

Lucio. I pray, she may: as well for the encourage. ment 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.
Lucio. Within two hours.

Claud.

Come, officer; away! [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 burning youth.

Fri.
May your grace speak of it?
Duke. My holy sir, none better knows than you
How I have ever lov'd the life remov'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 travell'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 me, why I do this?

Fri. Gladly, my lord.

Duke. We have strict statutes, and most biting laws,
(The needful bits and curbs to head-strong steeds")
Which for this fourteen years we have let sleep';
Even like an o'er-grown lion in a cave,

That goes not out to prey: now, as fond fathers,
Having bound up the threat'ning twigs of birch
Only to stick it in their children's sight,

For terror, not to use, in time the rod' sío

More mock'd than feared; so our most just 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

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 fear, too dreadful:

Sith 't was my fault to give the people scope,
'T would be my tyranny to strike and gall them

Lucio. I warrant it is; and thy head stands so For what I bid them do: for we bid this be done,

1 Enter Provost, CLAUDIO, JULIET, and Officers; Lucio and two Gentlemen: in f. e.

An allusion to St. Paul's Ep. to Romans ix: Old Eds 1 Tric-trac. 8 weeds: in f. e.

Greedily devour.

denunciation in f. e. propagation in f. e. 15. Not in f. e. 10 f. e. : and Knight: slip. Theobald suggested the change also. In time, the rod Becomes more mock'd, than fear'd: so our decrees,

Becomes was added by Pope.

When evil deeds have their permissive pass,
And not due punishment. Therefore, indeed, my father,
I have on Angelo imposed the office,

Who may, in th' ambush of my name, strike home,
And yet my nature never in the sight,'

To draw on slander. And to behold his sway,
I will, as 't were a brother of your order,
Visit both prince and people: therefore, I pr'ythee,
Sapply 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?

Isab. Yes, truly: I speak not as desiring more,
But rather wishing a more strict restraint

Upon the sisterhood, the votarists of saint Clare. | Lucio. [Within.] Ho! Peace be in this place!

Who's that which calls?

Isab.
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 vowed, 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.

[Lucio calls. [Exit FRANCISCA. Isab. Peace and prosperity! Who is't that calls? Enter LUCIO.

Lucio. Hail, virgin, if you be, as those cheek-roses Proclaim you are no less, 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,

The rather, for I now must make you know

I am that Isabella, and his sister.

This is the point.

The duke, who's 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 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 have for long run by the hideous law,
As mice by lions.) hath picked out an act,
Under whose heavy sense your brother's life
Falls into forfeit: he arrests him on it,
And follows close the rigor 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 business 'twixt you and your poor brother.
Isab. Doth he so seek his life?
Lucio.

Hath censur'd him

Lucio. Gentle and fair, your brother kindly greets And make us lose the good we oft might win,

you.

Not to be weary with you, he's in prison. Isah. Woe me! for what?

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,

Lucio. For that, which, if myself might be his judge, All their petitions are as freely theirs

He should receive his punishment in thanks.

He hath got his friend with child.

Isab. Sir, make me not your scorn,*

Lucio. Tis true. I would not, though 'tis my familiar sin

With maids to seem the lapwing, and to jest,
league far from heart, play with all virgins so;
Loid you as a thing ensky'd, and sainted
By your renouncement, an immortal spirit,
Ard to be talked with in sincerity,

As with a saint.

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'll send him certain word of my success.
Lucio. I take my leave of you.

Isab.

Good sir, adieu. [Exeunt

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 your blood
Could have attain'd th' 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. 'Tis one thing to be tempted, Escalus,
Another thing to fall. I not deny,

The jury, passing on a 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 know the laws,

That thieves do pass on thieves? 'Tis very pregnant,
The jewel that we find, we stoop and take it,
Because we see it but what we do not see
We tread upon, and never think of it.
You may not so extenuate his offence,

For I have had such faults: but rather tell me,
When I, that censure him, do so offend,
Let mine own judgment pattern out my death,
And nothing come in partial. Sir. he must die.
Escal. Be it as your wisdom will.
Ang.

Where is the provost ?

Enter Provost.

Prov. Here, if it like your honour.
Ang.

Escal. This comes off well here's a wise officer.
Ang. Go to: what quality are they of? Elbow is
your name: why dost thou not speak, Elbow ?
Clo. He cannot, sir, he's out at elbow.

Ang. What are you, sir?

Elb. He, sir? a tapster, sir; parcel-bawd; one that serves a bad woman, whose house, sir, was, as they say, pluck'd down in the suburbs; and now she professes a hot-house, which, I think, is a very ill house too.

Escal. How know you that?

Elb. My wife, sir, whom I detest before heaven and your honour,

Escal Dost thou detest her therefore?

Elb. I say, sir, I will detest myself also, as well as she, that this house, if it be not a bawd's house, it is pity of her life, for it is a naughty house.

Escal. How dost thou know that, constable? Elb. Marry sir, by my wife; who, if she had been a woman cardinally given, might have been accused in fornication, adultery, and all uncleanliness there.

Escal. By the woman's means?

Elb. Ay, sir, by mistress Over-done's means; but as she spit in his face, so she defied him.

Clo. Sir, if it please your honour, this is not so. Elb. Prove it before these varlets here, thou honourable man; prove it.

Escal. [To ANGELO.] Do you hear how he misplaces? Clo. Sir, she came in great with child, and longing (saving your honour's reverence) for stew'd prunes : sir we had but two in the house, which at that very distant time stood, as it were, in a fruit-dish, a dish of some three-pence your honours have seen such dishes: they are not China dishes, but very good dishes.

Escal. Go to, go to: no matter for the dish, sir. Clo. No, indeed, sir, not of a pin; you are therein in the right; but to the point. As I say, this mistress Elbow, being as I say, with child, and being great See that Claudio belly'd, and longing, as I said, for prunes, and having but two in the dish, as I said, master Froth here, this very man, having eaten the rest, as I said, and, as I say paying for them very honestly;-for, as you know master Froth, I could not give you three-pence again. Froth. No, indeed.

Be executed by nine to-morrow morning.
Bring him his confessor, let him be prepar'd,
For that's the utmost of his pilgrimage. [Exit Provost.
Escal. Well, heaven forgive him, and forgive us all!
Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall:
Some run from breaks' of ice. and answer none,
And some condemned for a fault alone.

Enter ELBOW, FROTH, Clown, Officers, &c.
Elb. Come, bring them away.
If these be good
people in a common-weal, that do nothing but use their
abuses in common houses, I know no law: bring them
away.

Ang. How now, sir? What's your name, and what's the matter?

Elb. If it please your honour, I am the poor duke's constable, and my name is Elbow: I do not lean upon justice, sir; and do bring in here before your good honour two notorious benefactors.

Ang. Benefactors! Well; what benefactors are they! are they not malefactors?

Elb. If it please your honour, I know not well what they are; but precise villains they are, that I am sure of, and void of all profanation in the world that good Christians ought to have.

1 fell.

Clo. Very well: you being then, if you be remem ber'd cracking the stones of the foresaid prunes. Froth. Ay, so I did, indeed.

Clo. Why, very well; I telling you then, if you be remember'd, that such a one, and such a one, were pas: cure of the thing you wot of, unless they kept very good diet, as I told you.

Froth. All this is true.
Clo. Why, very well then.

Escal. Come; you are a tedious fool: to the purpose. -What was done to Elbow's wife, that he hath cause to complain of? Come me to what was done to her. Clo. Sir, your honour cannot come to that yet. Escal. No, sir, nor I mean it not.

Clo. Sir, but you shall come to it, by your honour's leave. And I beseech you, look unto master Froth here, sir; a man of fourscore pound a year, whose father died at Hallowmas--Was't not at Hallowmas master Froth?

brakes was altered to breaks by Steevens. Dyce would read brakes (instruments of torture) of vice.

Froth. All-hallowed eve.

Clo. Why, very well: I hope here be truths. He, sir, sitting, as I say, in a lower chair, sir-'t was in the Bunch of Grapes, where, indeed, you have a delight to sit. have you not?

Froth. I have so; because it is an open room, and good for windows.

Clo. Why, very well, then I hope here be truths. Ang. This will last out a night in Russia, When nights are longest there. I'll take my leave, And leave you to the hearing of the cause, Hoping you'll find good cause to whip them all. Escal. I think no less. Good morrow to your lordship. [Exit ANGELO. Now, sir, come on: what was done to Elbow's wife, once more?

Clo. Once, sir? there was nothing done to her once. Elb. I beseech you, sir, ask him what this man did to my wife.

Clo. I beseech your honour, ask me.

Escal. Well, sir, what did this gentleman to her?
Clo. I beseech you, sir, look in this gentleman's face.
-Good master Froth, look upon his honour; 'tis for a
good purpose. Doth your honour mark his face?
Escal. Ay, sir, very well.

Clo. Nay, I beseech you, mark it well.
Estal. Well, I do so.

Clo. Doth your honour see any harm in his face?
Escal. Why, no.

Clo. I'll be supposed upon a book, his face is the worst thing about him. Good, then; if his face be the worst thing about him, how could master Froth do the constable's wife any harm? I would know that of your honour.

Escal. He's in the right. Constable, what say you

to it?

Eb. First, an it like you, the house is a respected house; next, this is a respected fellow, and his mistress is a respected woman.

Clo. By this hand, sir, his wife is a more respected person than any of us all.

Eib. Varlet, thou liest thou liest, wicked varlet. The time is yet to come that she was ever respected with man, woman, or child.

Clo. Sir, she was respected with him before he married with her.

Escal. Which is the wiser here? Justice, or Iniquity-Is this true?

Elb. O thou caitiff! O thou varlet! O thou wicked Hannibal! I respected with her before I was married to her ?—If ever I was respected with her, or she with me, let not your worship think me the poor duke's officer.-Prove this, thou wicked Hannibal, or I'll have mine action of battery on thee.

Escal. If he took you a box o' th' ear, you might have your action of slander too.

E.b. Marry, I thank your good worship for it. What ist your worship's pleasure I shall do with this wicked caitiff?

Escal. Truly, officer, because he hath some offences him that thou wouldst discover if thou couldst, let him continue in his courses till thou know'st what

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

Escal. Are you of fourscore pounds a year.?
Froth. Yes, an 't please you, sir.
Escal. So. What trade are you of, sir?
Clo. A tapster; a poor widow's tapster.
Escal. Your mistress' name?

Clo. Mistress Over-done.

Escal. Hath she any more than one husband? Clo. Nine, sir; Over-done by the last.

Escal. Nine-Come hither to me, master Froth. Master Froth, I would not have you acquainted with tapsters; they will draw you, master Froth, and you will hang them: get you gone, and let me hear no more of you.

Froth. I thank your worship. For mine own part, I never come into any room in a taphouse, but I ani drawn in.

Escal. Well; no more of it, master Froth; farewell. [Erit FROTH.]-Come you hither to me, master tapster. What's your name, master tapster?

Clo. Pompey.

Escal. What else? Clo. Bum, sir.

Escal. 'Troth, and your bum is the greatest thing about you; so that, in the beastliest sense, you are Pompey the great. Pompey, you are partly a bawd, Pompey, howsoever you color it in being a tapster. Are you not? come, tell me true: it shall be the better for you.

Clo. Truly, sir, I am a poor fellow that would live. Escal. How would you live, Pompey? by being a bawd? What do you think of the trade, Pompey? is a lawful trade?

Clo. If the law would allow it, sir.

Escal. But the law will not allow it, Pompey; nor it shall not be allowed in Vienna.

Clo. Does your worship mean to geld and spay all the youth of the city?

Escal. No, Pompey.

Clo. Truly, sir, in my poor opinion, they will to 't then. If your lordship will take order for the drabs and the knaves, you need not fear the bawds.

Escal. There are pretty orders beginning, I can tell you: it is but heading and hanging.

Clo. If you head and hang all that offend that way but for ten years together, you'll be glad to give out a commission for more heads. If this law hold in Vienna ten years, I'll rent the fairest house in it after three pence a day.' If you live to see this come to pass, say Pompey told you so.

Escal. Thank you, good Pompey; and in requital of your prophecy, hark you :-I advise you, let me not find you before me again upon any complaint whatsoever; no, not for dwelling where you do: if I do, Pompey, I shall beat you to your tent, and prove a shrewd Cæsar to you. In plain dealing, Pompey, I shall have you whipt. So, for this time, Pompey, fare you well.

Clo. I thank your worship for your good counsel, but I shall follow it, as the flesh and fortune shall better determine.

Whip me? No, no; let carman whip his jade; The valiant heart's not whipt out of his trade. [Exit. Escal. Come hither to me, master Elbow; come hither, master constable. How long have you been in this place of constable?

Elb. Seven year and a half, sir.

Escal. I thought by your readiness in the office, you had continued in it some time. You say, seven years together?

Altered by Malone to "should." 9 bay: in f

the in f.A

Elb. And a half, sir.

Escal. Alas! it hath been great pains to you. They do you wrong to put you so oft upon 't. Are there not men in your ward sufficient to serve it?

Elb. Faith, sir, few of any wit in such matters. As they are chosen, they are glad to choose me for them: I do it for some piece of money, and go through with all.

Escal. Look you bring me in the names of some six or seven, the most sufficient of your parish.

Elb. To your worship's house, sir?

Isab. I am a woeful suitor to your honour, Please but your honour hear me. Ang.

Well; what's your suit? Isub. There is a vice that most I do abhor, And most desire should meet the blow of justice, For which I would not plead, but that I must; For which I must not plead, but that I am At war 'twixt will, and will not. Ang.

Well; the matter? Isab. I have a brother is condemn'd to die : I do beseech you, let it be his fault,

Escal. To my house. Fare you well. [Exit ELBOW. And not my brother.

What's o'clock, think you?

Just. Eleven, sir.

Prov. [Aside.] Heaven give thee moving graces. Ang. Condemn the fault, and not the actor of it? Why, every fault's condemn'd ere it be done. Mine were the very cipher of a function, To fine the faults, whose fine stands in record, And let go by the actor.

It is but needful:

Mercy is not itself, that oft looks so;
Pardon is still the nurse of second woe.
But yet, poor Claudio!—There is no remedy.
Come, sir.

entreat him;

SCENE II.-Another room in the Same.
Enter PROVOST and a SERVANT.

Serv. He's hearing of a cause: he will come straight.

I'll tell him of you.

Prov. Pray you, do.

[Exit SERVANT.] I'll know His pleasure; may be, he will relent. Alas! He hath but as offended in a dream:

All sects, all ages smack of this vice, and he
To die for it!

You could not with more tame a tongue desire it.
To him, I say.

Isab. Must he needs die?
Ang.

Maiden, no remedy.

Isab. Yes; I do think that you might pardon him, And neither heaven, nor man, grieve at the mercy. Ang. I will not do 't.

But can you, if you would?

lsab. Ang. Look; what I will not, that I cannot do. Isab. But might you do 't, and do the world no

wrong,

If so your heart were touched with that remorse
As mine is to him?
Ang.

He's sentenc'd: 't is too late.
Lucio. [To ISAB.] Thou art too cold.
Isab. Too late? why, no; I, that do speak a word,
May call it back again: Well believe this,
No ceremony that to great ones 'longs,
Not the king's crown, nor the deputed sword,
The marshal's truncheon, nor the judge's robe,
Become them with one half so good a grace

As mercy does. If he had been as you, and you as he, You would have slipt like him; but he, like you, Would not have been so stern.

If he had been as you,
And
you as he, you would have slipp'd like him;
But he, &c.

top: in f. e

« Previous Continue »

Books

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare: With a Life of the Poet