nefit: redeem your brother from the angry law; do no ftain to your own gracious perfon; and much please the abfent duke, if, peradventure, he fhall ever return to have hearing of this business.

Ifab. Let me hear you fpeak further: I have fpirit to do any thing, that appears not foul in the truth of my fpirit.

Duke. Virtue is bold, and goodness never fearful. Have you not heard speak of Mariana, the fifter of Frederick, the great foldier, who mifcarried at fea?

Ifab. I have heard of the lady, and good words went with her name.

Duke. Her fhould this Angelo have marry'd; was affianc'd to her by oath, and the nuptial appointed: between which time of the contract, and limit of the folemnity, her brother Frederick was wreck'd at fea, having in that perifh'd veffel the dowry of his fifter. But mark, how heavily this befel to the poor gentlewoman: there fhe loft a noble and renowned brother, in his love toward her ever most kind and natural; with him the portion and finew of her fortune, her marriage dowry; with both, her combinate husband, this wellfeeming Angelo.

Ifab. Can this be fo? Did Angelo fo leave her? Duke. Left her in her tears, and dry'd not one of them with his comfort; fwallow'd his vows whole, pretending, in her, difcoveries of difhonour in few, beitow'd her on her own lamentation, which yet fhe wears for his fake; and he, a marble to her tears, is washed with them, but relents not.

Ifab. What a merit were it in death, to take this poor maid from the world! What corruption in this life, that it will let this man live!-But how out of this can fhe avail?

Duke. It is a rupture that you may easily heal: and the cure of it not only faves your brother, but keeps you from difhonour in doing it.

Ifab. Shew me how, good father.

Duke. This fore-nam'd maid hath yet in her the continuance of her first affection; his unjuft unkindness, that in all reafon fhould have quenched her love, hath, like an impediment in the current, made it more violent and unruly. Go you to Angelo; answer his requiring with a plausible obedience; agree with his demands to the point; only refer yourself to this advantage-firft, that your stay with him may not be long; that the time may have all fhadow and filence in it; and the place answer to convenience: this being granted in courfe, now follows all. We fhall advise this wronged maid to ftead up your appointment, go in your place; if the encounter acknowledge itself hereafter, it may compel him to her recompence: and here, by this, is your brother faved, your honour untainted, the poor Mariana advantaged, and the corrupt deputy fealed. The maid will I frame, and make fit for his attempt. If you think well to carry this as you may, the doubleness of the benefit defends the deceit from reproof. What think you of it?

Ifab. The image of it gives me content already; and, I truft, it will grow to a most profperous perfection.

Duke. It lies much in your holding up: Hafte

you

you fpeedily to Angelo; if for this night he entreat you to his bed, give him promife of fatisfaction. I will presently to St Luke's; there, at the moated grange refides this dejected Mariana: at that place call upon me; and difpatch with Angelo, that it may be quickly.

fab. I thank you for this comfort: Fare you well, good father. [Exeunt feverally.

SCENE 11. The Street.

Re-enter Duke as a Friar, Elbow, Clown, and Officers.

Elb. Nay, if there be no remedy for it, but that. you will needs buy and fell men and women like beafts, we fhall have all the world drink brown and white baftard.

Duke. Oh, heavens! what ftuff is here?

Clown. 'Twas never merry world, fince, of two ufuries, the merrieft was put down, and the worfer allow'd by order of law a furr'd gown to keep him warm; and furr'd with fox and lamb-fkins too, to fignify, that craft, being richer than innocency, ftands for the facing.

Elb. Come your way, fir:- -Bless you, good father friar.

Duke. And you, good brother father: What offence hath this man made you, fir?

Elb. Marry, fir, he hath offended the law; and, fir, we take him to be a thief too, fir; for we have found upon him, fir, a strange pick-lock, which we have fent to the deputy.

Duke. Fie, firrah; a bawd, a wicked bawd! The evil that thou caufeft to be done,

That is thy means to live: Do thou but think

E 2

What

What 'tis to cram a maw, or cloath a back,
From fuch a filthy vice: fay, to thyfelf-
From their abominable and beastly touches
I drink, I eat, array myself, and live.
Canft thou believe thy living is a life,

So ftinkingly depending? Go, mend, go, mend. Clown. Indeed, it does ftink in fome fort, fir but yet, fir, I would prove

Duke. Nay, if the devil hath given thee proofs for fin,

Thou wilt prove his. Take him to prifon, officer;
Correction and inftruction must both work,
Ere this rude beast will profit.

Elb. He muft before the deputy, fir; he has given him warning: the deputy cannot abide a whore-mafter: if he be a whore-monger, and comes before him, he were as good go a mile on his errand.

Duke. That we were all, as fome would feem to be; Free from all faults, as faults from feeming free!

Enter LUCIO.

Elb. His neck will come to your waist, a cord, fir.

Clown. I fpy comfort; I cry tleman, and a friend of mine.

bail; here's a gen

Lucio. How now, noble Pompey? what, at the heels of Cæfar? art thou led in triumph? What, is there none of Pigmalion's images, newly made woman, to be had now, for putting the hand in the pocket and extracting it clutch'd? what reply? ha? what fay'ft thou to this tune, matter, and method? Is't not drown'd i' the last rain? ha? what fay'st thou, trot? is the world as it was, man?

Which is the way? is it fad, and few words? or how? the trick of it?

Duke. Still thus, and thus! ftill worfe!

Lucio. How doth my dear morfel, thy mistress? procures fhe ftill? ha?

Clown. Troth, fir, fhe hath eaten up all her beef, and fhe is herself in the tub.

Lucio. Why, 'tis good; it is the right of it; it must be fo: ever your freth whore, and your powder'd bawd! an unfhun'd confequence; it must be fo: Art going to prifon, Pompey?

Clown. Yes, faith, fir.

Lucio. Why, 'tis not amifs, Pompey : Farewell: go; fay, I fent thee thither. For debt, Pompey? or how?

Elb. For being a bawd, for being a bawd.

Lucio. Well, then imprifon him: if imprisonment be the due of a bawd, why, 'tis his right: Bawd is he, doubtlefs, and of antiquity too; bawdborn. Farewell, good Pompey: Commend me to the prifon, Pompey: You will turn good hufband now, Pompey; you will keep the house.

Clown. I hope, fir, your good worship will be my bail.

Lucio. No, indeed will I not, Pompey; it is not the wear. I will pray, Pompey, to encrease your bondage: if you take it not patiently, why, your mettle is the more: Adieu, trufty Pompey.Blefs you, friar.

Duke. And you.

Lucio. Does Bridget paint ftill, Pompey? ha?
Elb. Come your ways, fir; come.

Clown. You will not bail me then, fir?
E 3

Lucio.