Isab. I am directed by you. Duke. This letter then to friar Peter give: "Tis that he sent me of the duke's return: Say, by this token, I desire his company At Mariana's house to-night. Her cause and yours And shall be absent. Wend you with this letter; Enter LUCIO. Lucio. Friar, where is the provost? Good even! Not within, sir. Lucio. O, pretty Isabella, I am pale at mine heart to see thine eyes so red: thou must be patient: I am fain to dine and sup with water and bran; I dare not for my head fill my belly; one fruitful meal would set me to't; but they say the duke will be here to-morrow. By my troth, Isabel, I loved thy brother: if the old fantastical duke of dark corners had been at home, he had lived. [Exit ISABELLA. Duke. Sir, the duke is marvellous little beholden to your reports; but the best is, he lives not in them.2 Lucio. Friar, thou knowest not the duke so well as I do: he's a better woodman 3 than thou takest him for. Duke. Well, you'll answer this one day. Fare ye well. Lucio. Nay, tarry; I'll go along with thee; I can tell thee pretty tales of the duke. 1 Shakspeare uses combine for to bind by a pact or agreement. 2 i. e. he depends not on them. 3 A woodman was an attendant on the forester; his great employment was hunting. Duke. You have told me too many of him already, sir, if they be true; if not true, none were enough. Lucio. I was once before him for getting a wench with child. Duke. Did you such a thing? Lucio. Yes, marry, did I; but was fain to forswear it; they would else have married me to the rotten meddler. Duke. Sir, your company is fairer than honest: rest you well. Lucio. By my troth, I'll go with thee to the lane's end: if bawdy talk offend you, we'll have very little of it: nay, friar, I am a kind of burr; I shall stick. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. A Room in Angelo's House. Enter ANGELO and ESCALUS. Escal. Every letter he hath writ hath disvouched1 other. His Ang. In most uneven and distracted manner. actions show much like to madness: pray Heaven, his wisdom be not tainted! and why meet him at the gates, and redeliver our authorities there? Escal. I guess not. Ang. And why should we proclaim it in an hour before his entering, that, if any crave redress of injustice, they should exhibit their petitions in the street? Escal. He shows his reason for that: to have a despatch of complaints; and to deliver us from devices hereafter, which shall then have no power to stand against us. Ang. Well, I beseech you, let it be proclaimed: Betimes i' the morn, I'll call you at your house: Give notice to such men of sort and suit,2 As are to meet him. 1 Disvouched is contradicted. VOL. I. 51 2 Figure and rank. Escal. Ang. Good night.— I shall, sir: fare you well. [Exit. This deed unshapes me quite, makes me unpregnant,1 The law against it!-But that her tender shame How might she tongue me! Yet reason dares her? For -no: my authority bears a credent2 bulk, That no particular scandal once can touch, But it confounds the breather. He should have lived, With ransom of such shame. 'Would yet he had lived! SCENE V. Fields without the Town. [Exit. Enter Duke in his own habit, and Friar PETER. Duke. These letters at fit time deliver me. [Giving letters. Though sometimes you do blench from this to that, 1 Unready, unprepared. 2 Credent, creditable, not questionable. 3 Dr. Johnson thought the fourth act should end here" for here is properly a cessation of action; a night intervenes, and the place is changed between the passages of this scene and those of the next. The fifth act, beginning with the following scene, would proceed without any interruption of time or place." And bid them bring the trumpets to the gate; F. Peter. It shall be speeded well. Enter VARRIUS. [Exit Friar. Duke. I thank thee, Varrius; thou hast made good haste: Come, we will walk there's other of our friends SCENE VI. Street near the City Gate. Enter ISABELLA and MARIANA. Isab. To speak so indirectly, I am loath; I would say the truth; but to accuse him so, That is your part yet I'm advised to do it; He says, to 'vailful purpose.1 Mari. Be ruled by him. Isab. Besides, he tells me, that, if peradventure He speak against me on the adverse side, I should not think it strange; for 'tis a physic That's bitter to sweet end. Mari. I would, friar Peter— Isab. O, peace; the friar is come. Enter Friar PETER.2 F. Peter. Come, I have found you out a stand most fit, Where you may have such vantage on the duke, Have hent the gates, and very near upon The duke is entering; therefore, hence, away. [Exeunt. 1 This is Mr. Theobald's alteration: the old folio reads vaile full purpose. 2 He is called friar Thomas in the first Act. 3 Generous, for noble. 4 i. e. seized, laid hold on. ACT V. SCENE I. A public Place near the City Gate. MARIANA (veiled), ISABELLA, and PETER, at a distance. Enter, at opposite doors, Duke, VARRIUS, Lords; ANGELO, ESCALUS, LUCIO, Provost, Officers, and Citizens. Duke. My very worthy cousin, fairly met :— Duke. Many and hearty thankings to you both. Ang. You make my bonds still greater. Duke. O, your desert speaks loud; and I should wrong it, To lock it in the wards of covert bosom, PETER and ISABELLA come forward. F. Peter. Now is your time; speak loud, and kneel before him. Isab. Justice, O royal duke! duke! Vail1 Vail1 your regard, 1 To vail is to lower, to let fall, to cast down. |
