As mice by lyons;) hath pickt out an act, Seek for his life? Lucio. H'as cenfur'd him already; Ifab. Alas! what poor Ability's in me, to do him good? And make us lofe the good, we oft might win, As they themselves would owe them. Ifab. I will about it ftrait; No longer ftaying, but to give the mother [Exeunt *XX*X*X*X*X*X II. ACT SCENE, the Palace. Enter Angelo, Efcalus, a Justice, and Attendants. WE prey, E muft not make a fcare-crow of the law, Ejcal. Ay, but yet Let us be keen, and rather cut a little, Than fall, and bruife to death. Alas! this gentleman, Whom I would fave, had a most noble father; Let but your honour know, Whom I believe to be moft ftrait in virtue, That, in the working of your own affections, Had time coher'd with place, or place, with withing,, Or that the refolute acting of your blood Could have attain'd th' effect of your own purpose; Whether you had not fometime in your life Err'd in this point, which now you cenfure him, And pull'd the law upon you. Ang. "Tis one thing to be tempted, Escalus, The jury, paffing on the prifoner's life, Guiltier than him they try; what's open made to juftice,, Enter Enter Provoft. Efcal. Be't, as your wisdom will. Ang. Where is the Provost? Prov. Here, if it like your honour. Be executed by nine to-morrow morning. Bring him his confeffor, let him be prepar'd; For that's the utmoft of his pilgrimage. [Exit Provs Some run through brakes of vice, and anfwer none; Enter Elbow, Froth, Clown, and Officers. Elb. Come,, bring them away; if these be good people in a common-weal, that do nothing but ufe 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 Duke's conftable, 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 precife villains they are, that I am fureof; and void of all profanation in the world, that good chriftians ought to have... Efcal. This comes off well; here's a wife officer. Ang. Go to what quality are they of? Elbow iss your name? Why doft thou not speak, Elbow? Clown. He cannot. Sir; he's out at elbow. Ang. What are you, Sir? Alb. He, Sir? a tapfter, Sir; parcel bawd; ;.one that ferves a bad woman; whofe houfe, Sir, was, as they fay, pluckt down in the fuburbs ; and now the profefles. a.hot-houfe; which, I think, is a very ill house too.. Efcal. How know you that? Elb. My wife, Sir, whom I deteft before heav'n and your honour, Efcal. How! thy wife? Elb. Ay, Sir; whom, I thank heav'n, is an honeft woman; Ffcal. Doft thou deteft her therefore? Elb. I fay, Sir, I will deteft my felf alfo, as well as fhe, that this house, if it be not a bawd's house, it is pity of her life, for it is a naughty house. Elcal. How doft thou know that, constable? Elb. Marry Sir, by my wife; who, if she had been a woman cardinally given, might have been accufed in fornication, adultery, and all uncleannefs there. Efcal. By the woman's means? Elb. Ay, Sir, by mistress Over-don's means, but as fhe fpit in his face, fo the defy'd him. Clown. Sir, if it please your honour, this is not fo. Elb. Prove it before thefe varlets here, thou honoural le man, prove it. Escal. Do you hear, how he mifplaces? Clown. Sir, the came in great with child; and longing (faving your honour's reverence) for flew'd prewns; Sir, we had but two in the houfe, which at that very diftant time flood, as it were, in a fruit-dish, a difa of fome three pence; (your honours have feen fuch dishes; they are not China difhes, but very good dishes.) Ejcal. Go to, go to; no matter for the dish, Sir. Clown. No, indeed, Sir, not of a pin; you are therein in the right but to the point; as I fay, this mistress Elbero, Leing, as I fay, with child, and being great belly'd, and longing, as I fay, for prewns; and having but two in the difh, as I faid; mafter Froth here, this very man, having eaten the re, as I faid, and, as I fay, paying for them very honeftly; for, as you know, mater Froth, I could not give you three pence again. Froth. No, indeed. Clown. Very well; you being then, if you be remembred, cracking the ftones of the forefaid prewns. Frah. Ay, fo I did, indeed. Clown. Why, very well; I telling you then, if you be remembred, that fuch a one, and fuch a one, were paft cure of the thing you wot of, unless they kept very good diet, as I told you. Froth. All this is true. Clown. Why, very well then. Efcal. Come, you are a tedious fool; to the purpose: what was done to Elbow's wife, that he hath caufe to complain of? come to what was done to her. Clown. Sir, your honour cannot come to that yet. Clown. Sir, but you fhall come to it, by your honour's leave: and, I beseech you, look into mafter Froth here, Sir, a man of fourscore pound a year; whofe father dy'd at Hallowmas. Was't not at Hallowmas, mafter Froth? Froth. All-holland eve. Clown. Why, very well; I hope here be truths. He, Sir, fitting, as I fay, in a lower chair, Sir; 'twas in the bunch of grapes, where, indeed, you have a delight to fit, have you not? Froth. I have fo, because it is an open room, and good for winter, Clown. Why, very well then; I hope, here be truths. When nights are longeft there. I'll take my leave, Hoping, you'll find good caufe to whip them all. Clown. Once, Sir? there was nothing done to her once. Elb. I befeech you, Sir, ask him what this man did to my wife. Clown I befeech your honour, ask me. Efcal. Well, Sir, what did this gentleman to her? Clown. I beseech you, Sir, look in this gentleman's face; good mafter Froth, look upon his honour ; 'tis for |