I never fpake with her, saw her, nor heard from her, Upon my faith and honour.

Mari. Noble Prince, As there comes light from heav'n, and words from

breath, As there is sense in truth, and truth in virtue, I am affianc'd this man's wife, as strongly As words could make up vows : and, my good Lord, But Tuesday night last gone, in's garden-house, He knew me as a wife; as this is true, Let me in Safety raise me from

my

knees; Or else for ever be confixed here, A marble monument.

Ang. I did but smile 'till now. Now, good my Lord, give me the scope of justice; My patience here is touch'd; I do perceive, These poor informal women are no more But inftruments of some more mightier member, That sets them on. Let me have way, my Lord, To find this practice out. Duke. Ay, with my heart

; And punish them unto your height of pleasure. Thou foolish Friar, and thou pernicious woman, Compact with her that's gone ; think’lt thou, thy oaths, 'Tho' they would swear down each particular saint, Were teftimonies 'gainst his worth and credit, That's seal'd in approbation? You, Lord Escalus, Sit with my cousin; lend him your kind pains To find out this abufe, whence 'cis deriv'd, There is another Friar, that set them on; Let him be sent for.

Peter. Would he were here, my Lord; for he, indeed,
Hath set the women on to this complaint.
Your Provost knows the place, where he abides ;
And he may fetch him.

Duke. Go, do it instantly.
And you, my noble and well-warranted cousin,
Whom it concerns to hear this matter forch;
Do with your injuries, as feems you beft,

LA

In any chastisement: I for a while
Will leave you ; but stir not you,

'till
you

have well Determined upon these slanderers.

[Exit. Escal. My Lord, we'll do it throughly. Signior Lucio, did not you say, you knew that Eriar Lodowick to be a dishoneft person?

Lucio. Cucullus non facit monachum; honest in nothing, but in his cloaths; and one that hath spoke most vila lanous speeches of the Duke.

Escal. We fall intrcat you to abide here 'till he come, and inforce them against him; we shall find this. Friar a notable fellow.

Lucio. As any in Vienna, on my word.

Escal. Call that same Isabel here once again : I would speak with her : pray you, my Lord, give me leave to quetion; you man see how I'll handle her.

Lucio. Not better than lie, by her own report.
Efcal Say you?

Lucio. Marry, Sir, I think, if you handled her pri-
vately, she should sooner confess; perchance, publickly
The'll be asham'd.
Enier Duke in the Friar's Habit, and Provost; Isabella

is brought ina Escal. I will go darkly to work with her.

Lucio. That's the way ; for women are light at mida night.

Ejcal. Come on, mistress : here's a gentlewoman denies all that you have said.

Lucio. My Lord, here comes the rascal I spoke of here with the Provojt.

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

Lucio. Mum.

Escal. Come, Sir, did you set these women on to Hander Lord Angelo ? they have confess’d

you:

did Duke. 'Tis false. Escal. How? know you where you are? Duke. Respect to your great place ;, and let the devil

Be

Be sometime honour'd for his burning throne.
Where is the Duke ? 'tis he should hear me fpeak.

Escal. The Duke's in us; and we will hear you speak : Look, you speak juftly,

Duke. Boldly, at least. But, oh, poor fouls,
Come you to seek the lamb here of the fox?
Good night to your iedress: is the Duke gone ?
Then is your cause gone too. The Duke's unjust,
Thus to retort your manifelt appeal ;
And put your trial in the villain's mouth,
Which here you come to accuse.

Lucio. This is the rascal; this is he, I spoke of.

Escal. Why, thou unrev'rend and un hallow'd Friar, Is’t not enough thou haft suborn'd these women T'accuse this

worthy man, but with foul mouth, And in the witness of his proper ear, To call him villain ; and then glance from him To th' Duke himself, to tax him with injustice ? Take him hence; to th' rack with him : we'll touze yok Joint hy joint, but we will know his purpose What? unjuft?

Duke. Be not so hot; the Duke dare no more ftretck. This finger of mine, than he dare rack his own : His subject am I not, Nor here provincial; my business in this state Made me a laoker on here in Vienna ; Where I have seen corruption boil and bubble, "Till it o'er-run the stew: 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.

Escal. Slander to th' ftatė! away with him to prison.

Ang. What can you vouch against him, fignior Lucio? Is this the man, that you did tell us of? Lucio. "Tis he, my Lord. Come hither, goodman

bald-pate; Do you know me?

Duke. I remember you, Sir, by the found of your voice. I met you at the prison in the absence of the Duke.

Lucia

him to be?

kucio. Oh, did you for and do you remember whats you said of the Duke?

Duke. Most notedly, Sir.

Lucie. Do you so, 'Sir? and was the Duke a Aleshmonger, a fool, and a coward, as you then reported.

Duke. You must, Sir, change persons with me, ere you make that my report: you spoke so of him, and much more, much worse.

Lucio. Oh thou damnable-fellow! did not I pluck: thee by the nose, for thy speeches?

Duke. I proteft, I love tře Duke as I love myself.

Ang. Hark! how the villain would close now, after his treasonable abuses..

Escal. Such a fellow is not to be talk'd. withal z: away with him to prison: where is the Provost? away with him to prison ;. lay, bolts enough upon him ; lets him speak no more ; away, with those giglets too, and: with the other confederate companion.,

Duke. Stay, Sir, stay a while..
Ang. What! refifts he? help him, Lucis..

Lucio. Come, Sir; come, Sir ;. come, Sir; foh, Sir; why, you bald-pated lying rascal ; you must be hooded, must you? how your knave's visage,, with a pox to you; show your feep-biting face, and be hang'd an hour : will’t not off..

Pulls off the Friar's bood, and discovers the Dake.
Duke. Thou art the first knave, that e'er mad'ft'a Duke,
First, Provojl, let me bail these gentle three.
Sneak not away, Sir; for the Friar and you.
Must have a word anon: lay hold on him,
· Lucio. This may prove worse than hanging.
Duke. What you have spoke, I pardon, lit you down ::

To Escalusconi
We'll barrow place of him. Sir, by your leave :
Had 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 ionger out.

$. 3

T

Ang. O my dread Lord,
I should be guiltier than my guiltiness,
To think I can be undiscernable ;
When I perceive your Grace, like pow'r divine,
Hath look'd upon my paffes: then, good Prince,
No longer session hold upon my Mame;
But let my trial be mine own confefsion :
Immediate fentence then, and fequent death,
Is all the grace I beg.

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 instantly. Do you the office, Friar ; which confummate, Return him here again: go with him, Provojt.

[Exeunt Angelo, Mariana, Peter, avd Provof. Escal. My Lord, I am more amaz'd at his dishonour, Than at the strangeness of it.

Duke. Come hither, Isabel ;
Your Friar is now your Prince : as I was then.
Advertising, and holy to your bofiness,
Not changing heart with habit, I am still,
Actornied at your

service.
Isab. Oh, give me pardon,
That I, your vassal, have employ'd and pain'd
Your unknown fovereignty.

Dvke. You are pardon'd, Isabel :
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 obscur'd myself,
Labouring to save his life; and would not rather
Make raih remonftrance of

my

hidden Than let him be lo loit: Oh, most kind maid, ft was the swist celeri:y 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 lite, paft fearing death, Than that which lives to fear : make it your comfort ; So, happy is your brother,

power,