Duke. For this new-marry'd man, approaching Whofe falt imagination yet hath wrong'd [here, Your well-defended honour, you must pardon him For Mariana's fake: But as he adjudg'd your bro(Being criminal, in double violation [ther

Of sacred chastity; and of promife-breach,
Thereon dependant, for your brother's life),
The very mercy of the law cries out
Moft audible, even from his proper tongue,
An Angelo for Claudio, death for death.
Hafte ftill pays hafte, and leisure answers leisure;
Like doth quit like, and Meafure still for Meafure.
Then, Angelo, thy fault's thus manifefted;
Which, though thou would'st deny, denies thee van-
We do condemn thee to the very block, [tage:
Where Claudio ftoop'd to death, and with like
Away with him.

[hafte ;Mari. Oh, my moft gracious lord, I hope, you will not mock me with a husband! Duke. It is your husband mock'd you with a hufband:

Confenting to the fafeguard of your honour,
I thought your marriage fit; elfe imputation,
For that he knew you, might reproach your life,
And choak your good to come : for his poffetlions,
Although by confifcation they are ours,

We do enftate and widow you withal,

To buy you a better husband.

Mari. Oh, my dear lord,

I crave no other, nor no better man.

Duke. Never crave him; we are definitive.
Mari. Gentle my liege

Duke. You do but lofe your labour;

Away

Away with him to death.-Now, fir, to you. [To Lucio.

Mari. Oh, my good lord!-Sweet Isabel, take

my part;

Lend me your knees, and all my life to come
I'll lend you all my life to do you service.

Duke. Against all fense you do importune her:
Should the kneel down, in mercy of this fact,
Her brother's ghost his paved bed would break
And take her hence in horror.

Mari. Ifabel,

Sweet Ifabel, do yet but kneel by me;

Hold up your hands, fay nothing, I'll fpeak all.
They fay, best men are moulded out of faults;
And, for the most, become much more the better
For being a little bad; fo may my husband.
Oh, Ifabel, will you not lend a knee?

Duke. He dies for Claudio's death.
Ifab. Molt bounteous fir,

[Kneeling.

Look, if it please you, on this man condemn'd,
As if my brother liv'd: I partly think,
A due fincerity govern'd his deeds,

'Till he did look on me; fince it is fo,

Let him not die: my brother had but justice
In that he did the thing for which he dy'd:
For Angelo,

His act did not o'ertake his bad intent;

And must be bury'd but as an intent,

That perifh'd by the way: thoughts are no fubjects; Intents, but merely thoughts.

Mari. Merely, my lord.

Duke. Your fuit's unprofitable; stand up, I say.— I have bethought me of another fault :Provost, how came it, Claudio was beheaded

At

At an unusual hour?

Prov. It was commanded fo.

Duke. Had you a fpecial warrant for the deed? Prov. No, my good lord; it was by private me fage.

Duke. For which I do difcharge you of your Give up your keys.

Prov. Pardon me, noble lord:

I thought it was a fault, but knew it not;
Yet did repent me after more advice:

[office:

For teftimony whereof, one in the prifon,
That fhould by private order else have dy'd,
I have referv'd alive.

Duke. What's he?

Prov. His name is Barnardine.

Duke. I would, thou had'st done fo by Claudio.Go, fetch him hither; let me look upon him. [Exit Provf

Efcal. I am forry, one fo learned and fo wife As you, lord Angelo, have still appear'd, Should flip fo grofsly, both in the heat of blood, And lack of temper'd judgment afterward.

Ang. I am forry, that fuch forrow I procure; And fo deep sticks it in my penitent heart, That I crave death more willingly than mercy; 'Tis my deferving, and I do entreat it.

Re-enter Provoft, BARNARDINE, CLAUDIO, and Jv

LIETTA.

Duke. Which is that Barnardine?

Prov. This, my lord.

Duke. There was a friar told me of this man:Sirrah, thou art faid to have a stubborn foul, That apprehends no further than this world,

Ad

And fquar'ft thy life according: Thou'rt condemn'd;

But, for those earthly faults I quit them all;
I pray thee, take this mercy to provide

For better times to come :-Friar, advise him;
I leave him to your hand.-What muffled fellow's
that?

Prov. This is another prifoner, that I fav'd, Who fhould have dy'd when Claudio loft his head; As like almost to Claudio, as himself.

Duke. If he be like your brother, for his fake

[To ISAB. Is he pardon'd; and, for your lovely fake, Give me your hand, and say, you will be mine, He is my brother too: But fitter time for that. By this, lord Angelo perceives he's fafe; Methinks, I fee a quick'ning in his eye :Well, Angelo, your evil quits you well: Look, that you love your wife; her worth, worth I find an apt remiflion in myself; [yours.-And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon :You, firrah, that knew me for a fool, a coward, [To LUCIO. One all of luxury, an afs, a mad-man; Wherein have I deferved fo of you, That you extol me thus?

Lucio. 'Faith, my lord, I spoke it but according to the trick: if you will hang me for it, you may, but I had rather it would please you, I might be whip'd.

Duke. Whip'd first, fir, and hang'd after. Proclaim it, provoft, round about the city; If any woman's wrong'd by this lewd fellow (As I have heard him fwear himself, there's one

I

W

Whom he begot with child), let her appear,
And he fhall marry her: the nuptial finifh'd,
Let him be whip'd and hang'd.

Lucio. I befeech your highnefs, do not marry me to a whore! your highness faid even now, I made you a duke; good, my lord, do not recompense me, in making me a cuckold.

Duke. Upon mine honour, thou fhalt marry her. Thy flanders I forgive; and therewithal

Remit thy other forfeits :

Take him to prison :

And see our pleasure herein executed.

Lucio. Marrying a punk, my lord, is preffing to death, whipping, and hanging.

Duke. Sland'ring a prince deferves it.

She, Claudio, that you wrong'd, look you restore.-
Joy to you, Mariana !-love her, Angelo;
I have confefs'd her, and I know her virtue.-
Thanks, good friend Efcalus, for thy much goodness:
There's more behind, that is more gratulate.-
Thanks, provoft, for thy care, and fecrefy;
We fhall employ thee in a worthier place :-
Forgive him, Angelo, that brought you home
The head of Ragozine for Claudio's;
The offence pardons itself.-Dear Isabel,
I have a motion much imports your good;
Whereto if you'll a willing ear incline,

What's mine is yours, and what is yours is mine:-
So bring us to our palace; where we'll fhow
What's yet behind, that's meet you all should know.

[Exeunt

THE END.