Some rife by fin, and fome by virtue fall:

Some run from brakes of vice, and anfwer none : And fome 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 ufe their abuses in common houses, I know no law: bring them away.

Ang. How now, fir! 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 lean upon justice, fir, 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 precife villains they are, that I am fure of; and void of all profanation in the world, that good christians ought to have.

Efcal. This comes off well: here's a wife officer. Ang. Go to: What quality are they of? Elbow is your name? Why doit thou not fpeak, Elbow? Clown. He cannot, fir? he's out at elbow. Ang. What are you, fir?

Elb. He, fir? a tapiter, fir; parcel-bawd; one that ferves a bad woman; whofe houfe, fir, was, as they fay, pluc';'d down in the fuburbs; and now she professes a hot-house, which, I think, is a very ill houfe too.

Efcal. How know

you that?

Elb. My wife, fir, whom I deteft before heaven

Efcal. How! thy wife?

Elb. Ay, fir; whom, I thank heaven, is an ho neft woman ;——

Efcal. Doft thou deteft her therefore?

Elb. I fay, fir, I will deteft myself also, as wel as fhe, that this houfe if it be not a bawd's hou it is pity of her life, for it is a naughty houfe.

Efcal. How doft thou know that, constable? Elb. Marry, fir, by my wife; who, if he had been a woman cardinally given, might have been accufed in fornication, adultery, and all unclean nefs there.

Efcal. By the woman's means?

Elb. Ay, fir, by mistress Over-done's means: but as fhe fpit in his face, fo the defy'd him. Clown. Sir, if it please your honour, this is not fo Elb. Prove it before thefe varlets here,-thou honourable man, prove it.

Efcal. Do you hear how he misplaces?

[To ANGELO.

Clown. Sir, fhe came in great with child; and longing (faving your honour's reverence) for stew'd prunes; fir, we had but two in the house, which, at that very diftant time ftood as it were, in a fruit-dish, a difh of fome three pence; your honours have feen fuch difhes; they are not China difhes, but very good dishes.

Efcal. Go to, go to; no matter for the difh, fir. Clown. No, indeed, fir, not of a pin; you are therein in the right: but, to the point: As, I fay, this mistress Elbow, being, as I fay, with child, and being great belly'd, and longing, as I faid, for prunes; and having but two in the difh, as I faid, mafter Froth here, this very man having

eaten

eaten the reft, as I faid, and, as I fay, paying for them very honeftly;-for, as you know, mafter Froth, I cou'd not give you three-pence again. Froth. No, indeed.

Clown. Very well: you being then if you be remember'd, cracking the ftones of the forefaid prunes. Froth. Ay, fo I did, indeed.

Clown. Why, very well; I telling you then, if you be remember'd, that such a one, and fuch a one, were past cure of the thing you wot of unless they kept very good diet, as I told you. Froth All this is true.

Clown. Why, very well then.

Efcal. Come. you are a tedious fool: to the purpofe. What was done to Elbow's wife, that he hath caufe to complain of? come me to what was done to her.

Clown. Sir, your honour cannot come to that yet. Efcat. No, fir, nor I mean it not.

Clown. Sir, but you fhall come to it, by your honour's leave: And I befeech you, look into mafter Froth here, fir; a man of fourfcore pound a year; whofe father dy'd at Hallowmas :-Was it not at Hallowmas, mafter Froth?

Froth. All-hollond eve.

Clown. Why, very well: I hope here be truths: He, fir, fitting, as I fay, in a lower chair, fir ;— 'twas in the Bunch of Grapes, where, indeed you have a delight to fit, have you not?

Froth. I have fo, because it is an open room, and good for winter.

Clown. Why, very well then ;-I hope here be truths.

Ang. This will last out a night in Ruffia,

When

When nights are longeft there: I'll take my leave And leave you to the hearing of the cause; Hoping you'll find good caufe to whip them all. Efcal. I think no lefs: Good-morrow to you lordship. [Exit ANGELO Now, fir, come on: What was done to Elbow wife, once more?

Clown. Once, fir! there was nothing done #

her once.

Elb. I befeech you, fir, ask him what this ma did to my wife?

Clown. I befeech your honour, afk me.

Efcal. Well, fir; what did this gentleman to her Clown. I beseech you, fir, look in this gentle man's face :-Good mafter Froth, look upon hi honour; 'tis for a good purpofe: Doth your ho nour mark his face?

Efcal. Ay, fir, very well.

Clown. Nay, I befeech you mark it well.
Efcal. Well, I do fo.

Clown. Doth your honour fee any harm in his face
Efcal. Why, no.

Clown. I'll be fuppos'd upon a book, his face is the worst thing about him: Good then; if his face be the worst thing about him, how could mafter Froth do the conftable's wife any harm? would know that of your honour.

Efcal. He's in the right: conftable, what fay you to it?

Elb. First, an it like you, the houfe is a refpec table house; next, this is a respected fellow; and his mistress is a refpected woman.

Clown. By this hand, fir, his wife is a more refpected perfon than any of us all.

EB.

Elb. Varlet, thou lieft; thou lieft, wicked vart: the time is yet to come, that fhe was ever repected with man, woman, or child.

Clown. Sir, fhe was refpected with him before married with her.

Efcal. Which is the wifer here? Justice or Iniity-Is this true?

Elb. O thou caitiff! O thou varlet! O thou icked Hannibal! I refpected with her, before I as married to her? If ever I was refpected with r, or the with me, let not your worship think e the poor duke's officer:-Prove this, thou icked Hannibal, or I'll have mine action of batry on thee.

Efcal. If he took you a box o' the ear, you might ave your action of flander too.

Elb. Marry, I thank your good worship for it: That is't your worthip's pleature I thall do with is wicked caitiff?

Efcal. Truly, officer, becaufe he hath fome ofces in him, that thou wouldst difcover if thou ouldt, let him continue in his courfes, till thou noweft what they are.

Elh. Marry, I thank your worship for it :--Thou te't, thou wicked varlet now, what's come upon hee; thou art to continue now, thou varlet; thou irt to continue

Efcal. Where were you born, friend?

Froth. Here in Vienna, fir.

[To FROTH.

Efcal. Are you of fourfcore pounds a year? broth. Yes, an't pleafe you, fir.

Efcal. So.-What trade are you of, fir?

[To the Clown.

Clown.