Lucio. Then, Pompey? nor now.abroad, friar? what news? What news Elb. Come your ways, fir, come. [Exeunt ELBOW, Clown, and Officers What news, friar, of the duke? Duke. I know none; can you tell me of any. Lucio. Some fay, he is with the emperor of Ruffia; other some, he is in Rome. is he, think you? But where Duke. I know not where: But wherefoever, I wifh him well. Lucio. It was a mad fantastical trick of him, to fteal from the state, and ufurp the beggary he was Lord Angelo dukes it well in his never born to. abfence; he puts trangreffion to't. Duke. He does well in't. Lucio. A little more lenity to lechery would do no harm in him: fomething too crabbed that way, friar. Duke. It is too general a vice, and severity must cure it. Lucio. Yes, in good footh, the vice is of a great kindred; it is well ally'd: but it is impoffible to extirp it quite, friar, till eating and drinking be put down. They fay, this Angelo was not made by man and woman, after the downright way of creation. Is it true, think you. Duke. How fhould he be made then? Lucio. Some report, a fea-maid fpawn'd him:Some, that he was begot between two stock-fishes:But it is certain, that when he makes water, his urine is congeal'd ice; that I know to be true. and he is a motion ungenerative, that's infallible. Duke. Duke. You are pleasant, fir; and speak apace. Lucio. Why, what a ruthless thing is this in him for the rebellion of a cod-piece, to take away the life of a man? Would the duke that is abfent, have done this? ere he would have hang'd a man for the getting of a hundred baftards, he would have paid for the nursing a thousand: he had fome feeling of the fport; he knew the fervice, and that inftructed him to mercy. Duke. I never heard the abfent duke much detected for women; he was not inclin'd that way. Lucio. O, fir, you are deceiv'd. Duke. 'Tis not poffible. Lucio. Who? not the duke? yes, your beggar of fifty ;—and his ufe was, to put a ducket in her clack-difh the duke had crotchets in him: He would be drunk too; that let me inform you. Duke. You do him wrong, furely. Lucio. Sir, I was an inward of his : A fhy fellow was the duke: and, I believe, I know the caufe of his withdrawing. Duke. What, I pr'ythee, might be the cause? Lucio. No-pardon ;-'tis a fecret must be lock'd within the teeth and lips: but this 1 can you understand-The greater file of the fubject held the duke to be wife. let Duke. Wife? why, no queftion but he was. Lucio. A very fuperficial, ignorant, unweighing fellow. Duke. Either this is envy in you, folly, or mistaking; the very ftream of his life, and the business he hath helmed, muft, upon a warranted need, give him a better proclamation. Let him be but teftimonied in his own bringings forth, and he Aa III. fhall appear, to the envious, a fcholar, a ftatef man, and a foldier: Therefore, you speak unskil-. fully; or, if your knowledge be more, it is much darken'd in your malice. Lucio. Sir, I know him, and I love him. Duke. Love talks with better knowledge, and knowledge with dearer love. Lucio. Come, fir, I know what I know. Duke. I can hardly believe that, fince you know not what you fpeak. But, if ever the duke return, (as our prayers are he may) let me defire you to make your anfwer before him: If it be honeft you have spoke, you have courage to maintain it: I am bound to call upon you; and, I pray you, your name? Lucio. Sir, my name is Lucio; well known to the duke. Duke. He fhall know you better, fir, if I may live to report you. Lucio. I fear you not. Duke. Oh, you hope the duke will return no more; or you imagine me too unhurtful an oppofite. But, indeed, I can do you little harm: you'll forfwear this again. Lucio. I'll be hang'd firft: thou art deceiv'd in me, friar. But no more of this: Canft thou tell, if Claudio die to-morrow or no? Duke. Why fhould he die, fir? Lucio. Why, for filling a bottle with a tun-dish. I would the duke we talk of, were return'd again: this ungenitur'd agent will unpeople the province with continency; fparrows must not build in his houfe-eaves, because they are lecherous. The duke yet would have dark deeds darkly answered; he would would never bring them to light: would he were return'd! marry, this Claudio is condemn'd for untruffing. Farewell, good friar; I pr'ythee, pray for me. The duke, I fay to thee again, would eat mutton on Fridays. He's now past it; yet, and I fay to thee, he would mouth with a beggar, though the fmelt brown bread and garlick: fay, that I faid fo. Farewell. [Exit. Enter ESCALUS, Provoft, Bawd, and Officers. Bawd. Good my lord, be good to me; your honour is accounted a merciful man: good my lord. Efcal. Double and treble admonition,, and ftill forfeit in the fame kind? this would make mercy fwear, and play the tyrant. Prov. A bawd of eleven years continuance, may it please your honour. Bawd. My lord, this is one Lucio's information against me: mistress Kate Keep-down was with child by him in the duke's time, he promised her marriage; his child is a year and a quarter old, come Philip and Jacob; I have kept it myself; and fee, how he goes about to abuse me. Efcal. That fellow is a fellow of much li cence-let him be call'd before us.-Away with her to prison: Go to; no more words. [Exeunt with the Bawd.] Provoft, my brother Angelo will. not Aa III not be alter'd; Claudio must die to-morrow: let him be furnifh'd with divines, and have all chari table preparation: if my brother wrought by my pity, it should not be fo with him. Prov. So please you, this friar has been with him, and advis'd him for the entertainment of death. Efcal. Good even, good father. Duke. Blifs and goodness on you! Efcal. Of whence are you? Duke. Not of this country, though my chance To use it for my time: I am a brother [is now Of gracious order, lately come from the fee, In fpecial bufinefs from his holiness. Efcal. What news abroad i' the world? Duke. None, but that there is fo great a fever on goodness, that the diffolution of it must cure it: novelty is only in requeft; and it is as dangerous to be aged in any kind of courfe, as it is vir tuous to be conftant in any undertaking. There is scarce truth enough alive to make societies fecure; but fecurity enough, to make fellowships accurs'd: Much upon this riddle runs the wifdom of the world. This news is old enough, yet it is every day's news. I pray you, fir, of what dif pofition was the duke? Efcal. One, that, above all other strifes, contended especially to know himfelf. Duke. What pleasure was he given to? Efcal. Rather rejoicing to fee another merry, than merry at any thing which profess'd to make him rejoice: a gentleman of all temperance. But leave we him to his events, with a prayer they may prove profperous; and let me defire to know how |