Duke. This is most likely! Ifab. Oh, that it were as like, as it is true! Duke. By heaven, fond wretch, thou know' not what thou speak'ft; Or else thou art fuborn'd against his honour Ifab. And is this all? Then, oh, you blessed ministers above, In countenance!--Heaven fhield your grace from woe, As I, thus wrong'd, hence unbelieved go! Duke. I know, you'd fain be gone:--An officerTo prifon with her :-Shall we thus permit A blasting and a scandalous breath to fall On him fo near us? This needs must be a practice. Who knew of your intent, and coming hither? Ifab. One that I would were here, friar Lodowick. Duke. A ghoftly father, belike who knows that Lodowick? Lucio. My lord, I know him; 'tisa 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 fwing'd him foundly. Duke. Words against me? this' a good friar belike! And to fet on this wretched woman here Against our fubftitute !-Let this friar be found. Peter. Bleiled be your royal grace! I have stood by, my lord, and I have heard Who is as free from touch or foil with her Duke. We did believe no lefs. Know you that friar Lodowick, which he speaks of? Of a strange fever: upon his mere request, So vulgarly and perfonally accus'd) Her fhall you hear difproved to her eyes, Duke. Good friar, let's hear it. Do you not fmile at this lord Angelo?- Give us fome feats.-Come, cousin Angelo; Enter MARIANA, veil'd. First, let her fhew her face; and, after, speak. Mari. Pardon, my lord; I will not fhew my face, Until my husband bid me. Duke. What, are you marry'd? Mari. No. my lord. Duke. Are you a maid? Mari. No, my lord. Duke. A widow, then? Mari. Neither, my lord. Duke. Why, you are nothing then :Neither maid, widow, nor wife. Lucio. My lord, the may be a punk, for many of them are neither maid, widow, nor wife. Duke. Silence that fellow: I would, he had fome To prattle for himself. Lucio. Well, my lord. [caufe, Mari. My lord, I do confefs, I ne'er was marry'd And, I confefs, befides, I am no maid: I have known my husband; yet my husband knows That ever he knew me. [not Lucio. He was drunk, then, my lord; it can be no better. Duke. For the benefit of filence, 'would thou wert fo too. Lucio. Well, my lord. Duke. This is no witnefs for lord Angelo. Mari. Now I come to't, my lord: that accufes him of fornication, In felf fame manner doth accufe my husband; Ang. Charges fhe more than me? [To MARI. Duke. No? you fay, your husband. This is that face, thou cruel Angelo, Duke. Know you this woman? Lucio. Carnally, she says. Duke. Sirrah, no more. Lucio. Enough, my lord. Ang. My lord, I must confefs, I know this woman; And, five years fince, there was fome fpeech of mar riage Betwixt myself and her! which was broke off, H 2 Mari. Mari. Noble prince, As there comes light from heaven, and words from breath, As there is fente in truth, and truth in virtue, A marble monument! Ang. I did but smile 'till now; Now, my good lord, give me the scope of justice; Duke. Ay, with my heart; And punith them unto your height of pleasure.— Thou foolith friar; and thou pernicious woman, Compact with her that's gone! think't thou thy oaths, Though they would fwear down each particular faint, Were teltimonies against his worth and credit, Peter. Would he were here, my lord; for he, inHath fet the women on to this complaint: [deed, Your provoft knows the place where he abides, And |