Page images
PDF
EPUB

And he may fetch him.

Duke. Go, do it inftantly.

And you my noble and well-warranted coufin, Whom it concerns to hear this matter forth, Do with your injuries as feems you best,

In

any chaftifement: I for a while

Will leave you; ftir not you, till you have well Determined upon those flanderers.

[Exit.

Efcal. My lord, we'll do it thoroughly.-Signior Lucio, did not you fay, you knew, that friar Lodowick to be a dilhoneft perfon?

Lucio. Cucullus non facit monachum: honest in nothing but in his cloaths; and one that hath spoke moft villanous fpeeches of the duke.

Efcal. We fhall entreat you to abide here till he come, and enforce them against him. We fhall find this friar a notable fellow.

Lucio. As any in Vienna, on my word!

Efcal. Call that fame Ifabel here once again: I would fpeak with her: Pray you, my lord, give me leave to question; you fhall fee how I'll handle her. Lucio. Not better than he, by her own report. Efcal. Say you?

Lucio. Marry, fir, I think, if you handled her privately, fhe would fooner confefs: perchance publickly fhe'll be asham'd.

Enter Duke in the Friar's habit, and Provoft. ISABELLA is brought in.

Efcal. I will go darkly to work with her. Lucio. That's the way; for women are light at midnight.

Efcal. Come on, miftrefs; here's a gentlewo man denies all that you have faid. H 3

Lucio.

Lucio. My lord, here comes the rafcal I spoke of; here with the provost.

Efcal. In very good time:-speak not you to him, 'till we call upon you.

Lucio. Mum.

Efcal. Come, fir; did you fet these women on to flander lord Angelo? they have confefs'd you did. Duke. 'Tis falfe.

Efcal. How! know you where you are?

Duke. Refpect to your great place! and let the devil Be fometime honour'd for his burning throne :Where is the duke? 'tis he fhould hear me fpeak. Efcal. The duke's in us; and we will hear you Look, you fpeak justly.

[fpeak: Duke. Boldly, at leaft:-But, oh, poor fouls, Come you to feek the lamb here of the fox? Good night to your redress: Is the duke gone: Then is your caufe 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 accufe.

Lucio. This is the rafcal; this is he I fpoke of.
Efcal. Why, thou unreverend and unhallow'd
friar !

Is't not enough thou hast fuborn'd these women To accufe 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 fo hot; the duke

Dare

Dare no more stretch this finger of mine, than he
Dare rack his own; his fubject I am not,
Nor here provincial: my business in this state
Made me a looker-on here in Vienna,

Where I have feen corruption boil and bubble,
'Till it o'er-run the ftew: laws for all faults;
But faults fo countenanc'd, that the strong statutes
Stand like the forfeits in a barber's fhop,

As much in mock as mark.

Efcal. Slander to the ftate? Away with him to prifon.

Ang. What can you vouch against him, signior Is this the man, that you did tell us of? [Lucio? Lucio. 'Tis he, my lord. Come hither, goodman bald-pate: Do you know me?

Duke. I remember you, fir, by the found of your voice: I met you at the prifon, in the absence of the duke.

Lucio. Oh, did you fo? And do you

what you faid of the duke.

Duke. Moft notedly, fir.

remember

Lucio. Do you fo, fir? And was the duke a fleshmonger, a fool, and a coward, as you

ed him to be?

then report

Duke. You muft, fir, change perfons with me, ere you make that my report: you, indeed, spoke fo of him; and much more, much worse.

Lucio. O thou damnable fellow! Did not I pluck thee by the nofe for thy fpeeches?

Duke. I proteft, I love the duke, as I love myself. Ang. Hark! how the villain would close now, after his treasonable abuses.

Efcal. Such a fellow is not to be talk'd withal: Away with him to prifon :-Where is the provoft? Away

-Away with him to prifon; lay bolts enough upon him: let him fpeak no more:-away with those giglots too, and with the other confederate companion. [The Provoft lays hands on the Duke. Duke. Stay, fir; ftay a while.

Ang. What! refifts he? Help him, Lucio.

Lucio. Come, fir; come, fir; come, fir: foh, fir; Why, you bald-pated, lying rafcal! you must be hooded, muft you? show your knave's visage, with a pox to you! fhew your theep-biting face, and be hang'd an hour! Will't not off?

[Pulls off the friar's hood, and difcovers the Duke. Duke. Thou art the first knave that e'er mad'ft a duke.

Firft, provost, let me bail thefe gentle three :Sneak not away, fir; [to Lucio.] for the friar and you Must have a word anon:-lay hold on him.

down.

Lucio. This may prove worfe than hanging. Duke. What you have fpoke, I pardon; fit you [To Efcalus: 'We'll borrow place of him :-Sir, by your leave. Haft thou or word, or wit, or impudence, That yet can do thee office? if thou haft, Rely upon it till my tale be heard,

And hold no longer out.

Ang. O my dread lord,

I fhould be guiltier than my guiltinefs,
To think I can be undifcernible,

When I perceive, your grace, like power divine,
Hath look'd upon my paffes: Then, good prince,
No longer feffion hold upon my fhame,
But let my trial be mine own confeffion;
Immediate fentence then, and fequent death,
Is all the grace I beg.

Duke

Duke. Come hither, Mariana :

Say, waft thou e'er contracted to this woman?
Ang. I was, my lord.

Duke. Go, take her hence, and marry her inftantly.

Do you the office, friar; which confummate,
Return him here again :-Go with him, provoft.
[Exeunt ANGELO, MARIANA, PETER, and Provoft.
Efcal. My lord, I am more amaz'd at his difho-
Than at the ftrangeness of it.
[nour,

Duke. Come hither, Ifabel:
Your friar is now your prince: As I was then
Advertising, and holy to your business,
Not changing heart with habit, I am still
Attorney'd at your fervice.

Ifab. Oh, give me pardon,

That I, your vaffal, have employ'd and pain'd Your unknown fovereignty.

Duke. You are pardon'd, Ifabel:

And now, dear maid, be you as free to us.
Your brother's death, I know, fits at your heart:
And you may marvel, why I obfcur'd myself,
Labouring to fave his life; and would not rather
Make rash remonftrance of my hidden power,
Than let him be fo loft: Oh, most kind maid,
It was the swift celerity of his death,

Which I did think with flower 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 comSo, happy is your brother.

[fort,

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

Duke.

« PreviousContinue »