Isab. O, let him marry her! Of business 'twixt you and your poor brother. Has censur'd him Assay the power you have. Isab. My power! Alas! I doubt, Lucio. Our doubts are traitors, As they themselves would owe them. But, speedily. ACT II. [Exeunt. SCENE I.-A Hall in Angelo's house. Enter ANGELO, ESCALUS, a Justice, Provost, Officers, and other Attendants. Ang. We must not make a scare-crow of the law, Setting it up to fear the birds of prey, And let it keep one shape, till custom make it Escal. Ay, but yet (Whom I believe to be most strait in virtue,) Could have attain'd the effect of your own purpose, The jewel that we find, we stoop and take it, Ang. See that Claudi Be executed by nine to-morrow morning: Exit Proves Enter ELBOW, FROTH, Clown, Officers, &c. Elb. Come, bring them away; if these be good people in a common-weal, that do nothing but ase their abuses in common houses, I know no law; bring them away. Ang. How now, sir! What's your name? and what's the matter? Elb. If it please your honour, I am the poor dake constable, and my name is Elbow; I do lean upon justice, sir, and do bring in here before your good honour two notorious benefactors. Ang. Benefactors? Well; what benefactors are they are they not malefactors? Elb. If it please your honour, I know not well what they are: but precise villains they are, that I am sure of; and void of all profanation in the world, that good christians ought to have. Escal. This comes off well; here's a wise office. Ang. Go to: what quality are they of? Elbow is your name? Why dost thou not speak, Elbow? Clo. He cannot, sir; he's out at elbow. Ang. What are you, sir? Elb. He, sir? a tapster, sir; parcel-bawd; that serves a bad woman; whose house, sir, was, as they say, pluck'd down in the suburbs; and now she professes a hot-house, which, I think, is a very house too. Escal. How know you that? Elb. My wife, sir, whom I detest before heaven and your honour,— Escal. How! thy wife? Elb. Ay sir; whom, I thank heaven, is an honest woman, Escal. Dost thou detest her therefore? Elb. I say, sir, I will detest myself also, as well as she, that this house, if it be not a bawd's house, it is pity of her life, for it is a naughty house. Escal. How dost thou know that, constable? Elb. Marry, sir, by my wife; who, if she had been a woman cardinally given, might have been accused in fornication, adultery, and all uncleanle ness there. Escal. By the woman's means? Elb. Ay, sir, by mistress Over-done's means: bat as she spit in his face, so she defied him. Clo. Sir, if it please your honour, this it not so. Elb. Prove it before these varlets here, thou bonourable man, prove it. Escal. Do you hear how he misplaces? (To Angela. Escal. Go to, go to; no matter for the dish, sir. Cio. No indeed, sir, not of a pin; you are therein in the right: but, to the point: as I say, this mistress Ebow, being, as I say, with child, and being great belly'd, and longing, as I said, for prunes; and having but two in the dish, as I said, master Froth here, this very man, having eaten the rest, as I said, and, as I say, paying for them very honestly;-for, as you know, master Froth, I could not give you three-pence again. Froth. No, indeed. Clo. Very well: you being then, if you be remember'd, cracking the stones of the foresaid prunes. Froth. Ay, so I did, indeed. Clo. Why, very well: I telling you then, if you be remember'd, that such a one, and such a one, were past cure of the thing you wot of, unless they kept very good diet, as I told you. Froth. All this is true. Clo. Why, very well then. Escal. Come, you are a tedious fool to the purDose-What was done to Elbow's wife, that he ath cause to complain of? Come me to what was done to her. Clo. Sir, your honour cannot come to that yet. Co. Sir, but you shall come to it, by your hoter's leave: and, I beseech you, look into master Foth here, sir; a man of fourscore pound a year; #se father died at Hallowmas :-Was't not at Hallowmas, master Froth? Froth. All-hollond eve. Clo. Why, very well; I hope here be truths: he, ar, sitting, as I say, in a lower chair, sir;-'twas in he Bunch of Grapes, where, indeed, you have a Jeight to sit : have you not? Froth. I have so; because it is an open room, and good for winter. Cle. Why, very well then;-I hope here be truths. Ang. This will last out a night in Russia, en nights are longest there: I'll take my leave, And leave you to the hearing of the cause; doing, you'll find good cause to whip them all. Escal. I think no less: good morrow to your lordship. (Exit Angelo. Now, sir, come on: what was done to Elbow's wife, ace more? Clo. Once, sir? there was nothing done to her once. Eh. I beseech you, sir, ask him what this man hd to my wife. Clo. I beseech your honour, ask me. Clo. Nay, I beseech you, mark it well. Cio. Doth your honour see any harm in his face? at of your honour. Clo. I'll be supposed upon a book, his face is the orst thing about him: good then; if his face be worst thing about him, how could master Froth the constable's wife any harm? I would know [to it? Escal. He's in the right: constable, what say you Elb. First, an it like you, the house is a respected ase; next, this is a respected fellow; and his tress is a respected woman. C. By this hand, sir, his wife is a more repected person than any of us all. Eb. Varlet, thou liest; thou liest, wicked varlet: the time is yet to come, that she was ever respected with man, woman, or child. Clo. Sir, she was respected with him before he married with her. Escal. Which is the wiser here? justice, or ini quity?-Is this true? Elb. O thou caitiff! O thou varlet! O thou wicked Hannibal! I respected with her, before I was married to her! If ever I was respected with her, or she with me, let not your worship think me the poor duke's officer:-Prove this, thou wicked Hannibal, or I'll have mine action of battery on thee. Escal. If he took you a box o' th' ear, you might have your action of slander too. Elb. Marry, I thank your good worship for it: what is't your worship's pleasure I should do with this wicked caitiff? Escal. Truly, officer, because he hath some of fences in him, that thou wouldst discover if thou couldst, let him continue in his courses, till thou know'st what they are. Elb. Marry, I thank your worship for it :-Thou see'st, thou wicked varlet now, what's come upon thee; thou art to continue now, thou varlet; thou art to continue. Escal. Where were you born, friend? (ToFroth.) Escal. Are you of fourscore pounds a-year? Escal. Hath she had any more than one husband? Escal. Nine!--Come hither to me, master Froth. Master Froth, I would not have you acquainted with tapsters; they will draw you, master Froth, and you will hang them: get you gone, and let me hear no more of you. Froth. I thank your worship: for mine own part, I never come into any room in a taphouse, but I am drawn in. Escal. Well; no more of it, master Froth, farewell. [Exit Froth.]-Come you hither to me, master tapster; what's your name, master tapster? Clo. Pompey. Escal. What else? Clo. Bum, sir. Escal. Troth, and your bum is the greatest thing about you; so that, in the beastliest sense, you are Pompey the great. Pompey, you are partly a bawd, Pompey, howsoever you colour it in being a tapster. Are you not? come, tell me true; it shall be the better for you. Clo. Truly, sir, I am a poor fellow, that would live. Escal. How would you live, Pompey? by being a bawd? What do you think of the trade, Pompey? is it a lawful trade? Clo. If the law would allow it, sir. Escal. But the law will not allow it, Pompey; nor it shall not be allowed in Vienna. Clo. Does your worship mean to geld and spay all the youths in the city? Escal. No, Pompey. Clo. Truly, sir, in my poor opinion, they will to't then if your worship will take order for the drabs and the knaves, you need not to fear the bawds. : Escal. There are pretty orders beginning, I can tell you: it is but heading and hanging. Clo. If you head and hang all that offend that way but for ten year together, you'll be glad to give out a commission for more heads. If this law hold in Vienna ten years, I'll rent the fairest house in it, after three-pence a bay: if you live to see this come to pass, say Pompey told you so. Escal. Thank you, good Pompey; and, in requital of your prophecy, hark you,-I advise you, let me not find you before me again upon any complaint whatsoever, no, not for dwelling where you do: if I | Let her have needful, but not lavish, means: Clo. I thank your worship for your good counsel; but I shall follow it, as the flesh and fortune shalĺ better determine. Whip me? No, no; let carman whip his jade; Elb. Seven years and a half, sir. Escal. I thought, by your readiness in the office, you had continued in it some time: you say, seven years together? Elb. And a half, sir. Escal. Alas! it hath been great pains to you! They do you wrong to put you so oft upon't; are there not men in your ward sufficient to serve it? Elb. Faith, sir, few of any wit in such matters: as they are chosen, they are glad to choose me for them; I do it for some piece of money, and go through with all. Escal. Look you, bring me in the name of some six or seven, the most sufficient of your parish. Elb. To your worship's house, sir? Escal. To my house fare you well. [Exit Elbow. What's o'clock, think you? Just. Eleven, sir. Escal. I pray you home to dinner with me. Escal. It grieves me for the death of Claudio; Just. Lord Angelo is severe. It is but needful: Mercy is not itself, that oft looks so; [Exeunt. Enter LUCIO and ISABELLA. I had a brother then.—Heaven keep your honour! Lucio. (To Isab.) Giv't not o'er so: to him again Kneel down before him, hang upon his gown; Isab. Must he needs die? Maiden, no remedy Isab. If so your heart were touch'd with that remorse Ang. Isab. I would to heaven I had your potency, Lucio. Ay, touch him: there's the vein. (Aside Alas! alas! Isab. Ang. morrow. Isab. To-morrow? O, that's sudden! Spare his He's not prepar'd for death! Even for our kitchens We kill the fowl of season; shall we serve heaven [you : [slept : With less respect than we do minister Isab. Yet, show some pity. Ang. I show it most of all, when I show justice; For then I pity those I do not know, Which a dismiss'd offence would after gall; Isab. So you must be the first, that gives this sen tence; Isab. Could great men thunder As Jove himself does, Jove would ne'er be quiet, Would use his heaven for thunder: nothing but a rather, with thy sharp and sulphurous bolt, dost ignorant of what he's most assur'd, a make the angels weep; who, with our spleens, Vould all themselves laugh mortal. Lacio. O, to him, to him, wench: he will relent; l's coming, I perceive 't. Prov. Pray heaven, she win him! Isab. We cannot weigh our brother with ourself: reat men may jest with saints: 'tis wit in them; lat in the less, foul profanation. Lecio. Thou'rt in the right, girl; more o' that. Isub. That in the captain's but a cholerick word, Vrch in the soldier is flat blasphemy. Lucio. Art advis'd o' that? more on't. Ang. Why do you put these sayings upon me? Isab. Because authority, though it err like others, lath yet a kind of medicine in itself, wat skins the vice o' the top: go to your bosom; nock there; and ask your heart, what it doth know ast's like my brother's fault: if it confess A satural guiltiness, such as is his, et it not sound a thought upon your tongue izainst ray brother's life. She speaks, and 'tis Ang. sah sense, that my sense breeds with it.-Fare you Lab. Gentle my lord, turn back. [well. Ang. I will bethink me:-Come again to-morrow. Isab. Hark! how I'll bribe you: good my lord, Ang. How! bribe me? [turn back. Isab. Ay, with such gifts, that heaven shall share with you. Lucio. You had marr'd all else. Isab. Not with fond shekels of the tested gold, Or stones, whose rates are either rich, or poor, As fancy values them: but with true prayers, That shall be up at heaven, and enter there, Ere sun-rise: prayers from preserved souls, from fasting maids, whose minds are dedicate To nothing temporal. Ang. I-morrow. Well: : come to me Shall I attend your worship? Ang. Isab. Save your honour! Ang. At any time 'fore noon. [enough, [Exeunt Lucio, Isabella, and Provost. To sin in loving virtue; never could the strumpet, When men were fond, I smil'd, and wonder'd how. (Exit SCENE III-A Room in a Prison. I come to visit the afflicted spirits Here in the prison: do me the common right (needful. Prov. I would do more than that, if more were Enter JULIET. Look, here comes one; a gentlewoman of mine, repent, As that the sin hath brought you to this shame,Which sorrow is always toward ourselves, not heaven; Lucio. Go to; it is well; away. (Aside to Isabel.) Showing, we'd not spare heaven, as we love it, H pray To several subjects: heaven hath my empty words; And in my heart, the strong and swelling evil How now, fair maid? Than to demand what 'tis. Your brother cannot live. Ang. Yet may he live a while; and, it may be, As long as you, or I : yet he must die. Isab. Under your sentence? Ang. Yea. Isab. When, I beseech you? that in his reprieve, Longer, or shorter, he may be so fitted, That his soul sicken not. Ang. Ha! Fy, these filthy vices! It were as good Their saucy sweetness, that do coin heaven's image, Isab. "Tis set down so in heaven, but not in earth. Isab. I'll take it as a peril to my soul. It is no sin at all, but charity. Please you to dot, Ang. Pleas'd you to do't, at peril of your soul, Were equal poize of sin and charity. Isab. That I do beg his life, if it be sin, Heaven, let me bear it! you granting of my suit, If that be sin, I'll make it my morn prayer To have it added to the faults of mine, And nothing of your answer. Ang. Nay, but hear me: Your sense pursues not mine: either you are ignorant. Or seem so, craftily; and that's not good. Isab. Let me be ignorant, and in nothing good, But graciously to know I am no better. Ang. Thus wisdom wishes to appear most bright, When it doth tax itself: as those black masks Proclaim an enshield beanty ten times louder Than beauty could displayed-But mark me; To be received plain, I'll speak more gross: Your brother is to die. Isab. So. Ang. And his offence is so, as it appears Accountant to the law upon that pain. Isab. True. Ang. Admit no other way to save his life, (As I subscribe not that, nor any other, But in the loss of question,) that you, his sister, Finding yourself desir'd of such a person, Whose credit with the judge, or own great place, Could fetch your brother from the manacles Of the all-binding law; and that there were No earthly mean to save him, but that either You must lay down the treasures of your body To this supposed, or else let him saffer; What would you do? Isab. As much for my poor brother, as myself: That is, were I under the terms of death, The impression of keen whips I'd wear as rubies. And strip myself to death, as to a bed That longing I have been sick for, ere I'd yield My body up to shame. Ang. Then must your brother de Isab. And 'twere the cheaper way: Better it were, a brother died at once, Than that a sister, by redeeming him, Should die for ever. Ang. Were not you then as cruel as the sentence That you have slander'd so? Isab. Ignomy in ransom, and free pardon, Are of two houses: lawful mercy is Nothing a-kin to foul redemption. Ang. You seem'd of late to make the law a tyrant. And rather prov'd the sliding of your brother A merriment than a vice. Isab. O, pardon me, my lord; it oft falls out, To have what we'd have, we speak not what we mean I something do excuse the thing I hate, For his advantage, that I dearly love. Ang. We are all frail. Isab. Else let my brother die. If not a feodary, but only he, Nay, women are frail to Isab. Ay, as the glasses where they view the selves; Which are as easy broke as they make forms. Women!-Help heaven! men their creation mar In profiting by them. Nay, call us ten times frai For we are soft as our complexions are, |