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 now begin with grief and shame to utter: He would not, but by gift of my chaste body To his concupiscible intemperate lust, Release my brother; and, after much debatement, My sisterly remorse confutes mine honour, And I did yield to him: but the next morn betimes, His purpose surfeiting, he sends a warrant For my poor brother's head.

Duke.

This is most likely!

Isab. O that it were as like as it is true!
Duke. By heaven, fond wretch, thou know'st not
what thou speak'st; ̧

Or else thou art suborn'd against his honour,
In hateful practice: first, his integrity

Stands without blemish :-next, it imports no reason,
That with such vehemency he should pursue
Faults proper to himself: if he had so offended,
He would have weigh'd thy brother by himself,
And not have cut him off: some one hath set you on;
Confess the truth, and say by whose advice
Thou cam'st here to complain.

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

In countenance!-Heaven shield your grace from

woe,

As I, thus wrong'd, hence unbelieved go!

Duke. I know, you'd fain be gone :-An officer! To prison with her :-Shall we thus permit A blasting and a scandalous breath to fall On him so near us? This needs must be a practice. Who knew of your intent, and coming hither? Isab. One that I would were here, friar Lodowick.

Duke. A ghostly father, belike:-Who knows that Lodowick ?

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
I saw them at the prison: a saucy friar, [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 soil with her,
As she from one ungot.

We did believe no less.

Duke. 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 meddler, 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 villanously; believe it.

F. Peter. Well, he in time may come to clear himself;

But at this instant he is sick, my lord,
Of a strange fever: upon his mere request,
(Being come to knowledge that there was complaint
Intended 'gainst lord Angelo,) came I hither,
To speak, as from his mouth, what he doth know
Is true, and false; and what he with his oath,
And all probation, will make up full clear, [man,
Whensoever he's convented. First, for this wo-

| (To justify this worthy nobleman,
So vulgarly and personally accus'd,)
Ber shall you hear disproved to her eyes,
Till she herself confess it.
Duke.

Good friar, let's hear it. (Isabella is carried off, guarded; and Mariana comes forward.)

Do you not smile at this, lord Angelo?-
O heaven! the vanity of wretched fools!—
Give us some seats.-Come, cousin Angelo;
In this I'll be impartial; be you judge
Of your own cause.-Is this the witness, friar?
First, let her show her face; and, after, speak.
Mari. Pardon, my lord; I will not show my face,
Until my husband bid me.

Duke.

Mari. No, my lord.

What, are you married'

Duke. Mari.

Duke. A widow, then?

Mari.

Neither, my lord.

Why, you

Duke. Are nothing then :-Neither maid, widow, nor wife Lucio. My lord, she may be a punk; for many of them are neither maid, widow, nor wife. Duke. Silence that fellow: I would, he had some To prattle for himself.

Lucio. Well, my lord.

[cause

Mari. My lord, I do confess I ne'er was married, And, I confess, besides, I am no maid:

I have known my husband; yet my husband knows That ever he knew me.

Lucio. He was drunk then, my lord; it can be no better.

Duke. For the benefit of silence, 'would the wert so too.

I am affianc'd this man's wife, as strongly
As words could make up vows: and my good lord,
Bat Tuesday night last gone, in his garden-house,
He knew me as a wife: as this is true

Let me in safety raise me from my knees;

Or else for ever be confixed here,

A marble monument!

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 women are no more Bat instruments of some more mightier member, That sets them on: let me have way, my lord, To find this practice 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,

[saint, Though they would swear down each particular Were testimonies against his worth and credit, That's seal'd in approbation?-You, lord Escalus, St with my cousin; lend him your kind pains To find out this abuse, whence 'tis deriv'd.There is another friar that set them on; Let him be sent for.

F. Peter. Would he were here, my lord: for he, indeed,

Hath set the women on 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,
Whom it concerns to hear this matter forth,
Do with your injuries as seems you best,
In any chastisement. I for a while
Will leave you; but stir not you, till you have well
Determined upon these slanderers.

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?

Lacio. Cucullus non facit monachum: honest in a thing, 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.

Laucio. Not better than he, by her own report.
Escal. Say you?

Lucio. Marry, sir, I think, if you handled her privately, she would sooner confess; perchance, publicly she'll be ashamed.

Duke. Boldly, at least:-But, O, poor souls,
Come you to seek the lamb here of the fox?
Good night to your redress. Is the duke gone?

Then is your cause gone too. The duke's unjust,
Thus to retort your manifest appeal,
And put your trial in the villain's mouth,
Which here you come to accuse.

Lucio. This is the rascal; this is he I spoke of Escal. Why, thou unreverend and unhallow'd friar!

Is't not enough, thou hast suborn'd these women
To accuse this worthy man; but, in foul mouth,
And in the witness of his proper ear,

To call him villain?

And then to glance from him to the duke himself;
To tax him with injustice? Take him hence;
To the rack with him:-We'll touze you joint by
joint,

But we will know this purpose.-What! unjust?
Duke. Be not so hot; the duke

Dare no more stretch this finger of mine, than he
Dare rack his own; his subject am I not,
Nor here provincial: my business in this state
Made me a looker-on here in Vienna,
Where I have seen corruption boil and bubble,
Till it o'er-run the stew: laws, for all faults;
But faults so countenanc'd, that the strong statutes
Stand like the forfeits in a barber's shop,
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? what you said of the duke? Duke. Most notedly, sir.

And do you remember

Lucio. Do you so, sir? And was the duke a flesh-monger, 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.

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: bere, with the provost.

Escal. In very good time:-speak not you to him tll we call upon you. Lucio. Mum.

Escal. Come, sir: did you set these women on to slander lord Angelo? they have confess'd you Duke. Tis false. [did.

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
Look, you speak justly.
[speak:

:

panion. (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, with a pox to you! show your sheep-biting face, and be hang'd an hour! Will't not off?

[Duke.)

(Pulls off the Friar's hood, and discovers the 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,
That yet can do thee office? If thou hast,

Isab.

O, give me pardon,

That I, your vassal, have employ'd and pain'd
Your unknown sovereignty.
Duke.

You are pardon'd, Isabel:
And now, dear maid, be you as free to us.
Your brother's death, I know, sits at your heart;
And you may marvel, why I obscur'd myself,
Labouring to save his life; and would not rather
Make rash remonstrance of my hidden power,
Than let him so be lost: O, most kind maid,
It was the swift celerity of his death,
Which I did think with slower foot came on,
That brain'd my purpose: but, peace be with him!
That life is better life, past fearing death,

Than that which lives to fear: make it your comfort, So happy is your brother.

Re-enter ANGELO, MARIANA, PETER, and Provost. I do, my lord,

Isab.

Duke. For this new-married man, approaching here,

Whose salt imagination yet hath wrong'd
Your well-defended honour, you must pardon
For Mariana's sake: but as he adjudged your
brother,

(Being criminal, in double violation
Of sacred chastity, and of promise-breach,
Thereon dependent, for your brother's life,)
The very mercy of the law cries out
Most audible, even from his proper tongue,
An Angelo for Claudio, death for death.
Haste still pays haste, and leisure answers leisure;
Like doth quit like, and Measure still for Measure.
Then, Angelo, thy fault's thus manifested:
Which though thou wouldst deny, denies thee
vantage:

We do condemn thee to the very block,
Where Claudio stoop'd to death, and with like
haste;
Away with him.
Mari.
I hope you will not mock me with a husband!
Duke. It is your husband mock'd you with a
husband:

O, my most gracious lord,

Consenting to the safeguard of your honour,
I thought your marriage fit; else imputation,
For that he knew you, might reproach your life,
And choke your good to come: for his possessions,
Although by confiscation they are ours,
We do instate and widow you withal,
To buy you a better husband.

Mari.
O, my dear lord,
I crave no other, nor no better man.

Mari.

Isabel, Sweet Isabel, do yet but kneel by me; Hold up your hauds, 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, As if my brother liv'd: I partly think,

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,
In that he did the thing for which he died:
For Angelo,

His act did not o'ertake his bad intent;
And must be buried but as an intent

That perish'd by the way: thoughts are no subjects,
Intents but merely thoughts.

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 beheaded 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

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.

What's he? His name is Barnardine Duke. I would thou had'st done so by ClaudiaGo, fetch him hither; let me look upon him, Exit Provost Escal. I am sorry, one so learned and so wise As you, lord Angelo, have still appear'd, Should slip so grossly, both in the heat of blood, And lack of temper'd judgment afterwards.

Ang. I am sorry, that such sorrow I procure! And so deep sticks it in my penitent heart, That I crave death more willingly than mercy; 'Tis my deserving, and I do entreat it. Re-enter Provost, BARNARDINE, CLAUDIO, and JULIET.

Duke. Which is that Barnardine?

Prov. This, my lord. Duke. There was a friar told me of this man:Sirrah, thou art said to have a stubborn soul, That apprehends no further than this world, And squar'st thy life according. Thou'rt condemn'd. But for those earthly faults, I quit them all; And pray thee, take this mercy to provide For better times to come:- -Friar, advise him: I leave him to your hand.-What muffled fellow's that?

Prov. This is another prisoner, that I sav'd, That should have died when Claudio lost his head;

As like almost to Claudio, as himself.

(Unmuffles Claudio.) Duke. If he be like your brother, To Isabella.) for his sake

Is he pardon'd; and, for your lovely sake,
Give me your hand, and say you will be mine,
He is my brother too: but fitter time for that.
By this, lord Angelo perceives he's safe;
Methinks, I see a quickening in his eye :-
Well, Angelo, your evil quits you well:
Look that you love your wife; her worth, worth
I find an apt remission in myself: [yours.-
And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon:-
You, sirrah, (To Lucio.) that knew me for a fool,
a coward,

One all of luxury, an ass, a madman;
Wherein have I so deserv'd of you,
That you extol me thus?

Lucio. 'Faith my lord, I spoke it but according to the trick: 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.-
Proclaim it, provost, round about the city;
If any woman's wrong'd by this lewd fellow,
(As I have heard him swear himself, there's one
Whom be begot with child,) let her appear,
And he shall marry her; the nuptial finish'd,

Let him be whipp'd and hang'd.

made

Lucio. I beseech your highness, do not marry me to a whore! Your highness said even now, you a duke; good my lord, do not recompense me in making me a cuckold.

Duke. Upon mine honour, thou shalt marry her. Thy slanders I forgive; and therewithal Remit thy other forfeits :-Take him to prison: And see our pleasure herein executed.

Lucio. Marrying a punk, my lord, is pressing to death, whipping, and hanging.

Duke. Slandering a prince deserves it.-
She, Claudio, that you wrong'd, look you restore.-
Joy to you, Mariana!-love her, Angelo;

I have confess'd her, and I know her virtue.-
Thanks, good friend Escalus, for thy much goodness
There's more behind, that is more gratulate.
Thanks, provost, for thy care, and secrecy;
We shall employ thee in a worthier place:-
Forgive him, Angelo, that brought you home
The head of Ragozine for Claudio's;
The offence pardons itself.-Dear Isabel,
I have a motion much imports your good:
Whereto, if you'll a willing ear incline,
What's mine is yours, and what is yours is mine:-
So, bring us to our palace; where we'll show
What's yet behind, that's meet you all should know.
[Exeunt.