I never fpake with her, faw 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 fenfe 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 laft gone, in's garden-house,

He knew me as a wife; as this is true,

Let me in fafety raise me from my knees;
Or else for ever be confixed here,

A marble monument.

Ang. I did but fmile 'till now.

Now, good my Lord, give me the fcope of juftice; My patience here is touch'd; I do perceive,

Thefe poor informal women are no more

But inftruments of fome more mightier member,
That fets 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'ft thou, thy oaths,
Tho' they would fwear down each particular faint,
Were teftimonies 'gainft his worth and credit,
That's feal'd in approbation? You, Lord Escalus,
Sit with my coufin; lend him your kind pains
To find out this abufe, whence 'tis deriv'd.
There is another Friar, that fet them on;
Let him be fent for.

Peter. Would he were here, my Lord; for he, indeed, Hath fet 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 coufin,
Whom it concerns to hear this matter forth;
Do with your injuries, as feems you beft,

In any chastisement: I for a while

Will leave you; but ftir not you, 'till you have well Determined upon thefe flanderers. [Exit. Efcal. My Lord, we'll do it throughly. Signior Lucio, did not you fay, you knew that Friar Lodowick to be a difhoneft perfan?

Lucio. Cucullus non facit monachum; honeft in nothing, but in his cloaths; and one that hath spoke most villanous fpeeches of the Duke.

Efcal. We hall intreat you to abide here 'till he come, and inforce them against him; we fhall find this. Friar a notable fellow.

Lucio. As any in Vienna, on my word.

Efcal. Call that fame Isabel here once again: I would fpeak with her: pray you, my Lord, give me leave to quetion; you fhall fee how I'll handle her.

Lucio. Not better than he, by her own report.

Efcal Say you?

Lucio. Marry, Sir, I think, if you handled her privately, fhe fhould fooner confefs; perchance, publickly fhe'll be asham'd.

Enter Duke in the Friar's Habit, and Provost ; Isabella is brought in.

Efcal. I will go darkly to work with her.

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

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

Lucio. My Lord, here comes the rafcal I spoke of here with the Provost.

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

Lucio. Mum.

Efcal. Come, Sir, did you fet thefe women on to fander Lord Angelo? they have confefs'd you did. Duke. "Tis falfe.

Efcal. How? know you where you are?

Duke. Refpect to your great place ;, and let the devi

$ 2.

Be

Be fometime honour'd for his burning throne.
Where is the Duke? 'tis he fhould hear me fpeak.
Efcal. The Duke's in us; and we will hear you fpeak :
Look, you fpeak justly.

Duke. Boldly, at leaft. But, oh, poor fouls,
Come you to feek the lamb here of the fox?
Good night to your redrefs: is the Duke gone }
Then is your caufe gone too. The Duke's unjust,
Thus to retort your manifeft appeal;

And put your trial in the villain's mouth,
Which here you come to accufe.

Lucio. This is the rafcal; this is he, I spoke of.
Efcal. Why, thou unrev'rend and unhallow'd Friar,
Is't not enough thou haft fuborn'd these women
T'accufe this worthy man, but with foul mouth,
And in the witnefs of his proper car,

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 you
Joint by joint, but we will know his purpose:
What? unjuft?

Duke. Be not fo hot; the Duke dare no more ftretch
This finger of mine, than he dare rack his own:
His fubject am I not,

Nor here provincial; my bufinefs in this ftate
Made me a looker on here in Vienna;

Where I have feen corruption boil and bubble,
"Till it o'er-run the ftew: laws, for all faults;
But faults fo countenanc'd, that the strong statutes
Stand like the forfeits in a barber's hop,

As much in mock as mark.

Efcal. Slander to th' ftate! away with him to prifon. 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 abfence of the Duke.

Lucia

Lucio. Oh, did you fo? and do you remember what you faid of the Duke?

Duke. Moft notedly, Sir.

Lucio. Do you fo, Sir? and was the Duke a fleshmonger, a fool, and a coward, as you then reported. him to be?

Duke. You muft, Sir, change perfons with me, ere you make that my report: you spoke fo of him, and much more, much worse.

Lucio. Oh thou damnable fellow! did not I pluck thee by the nofe, for thy. fpeeches?

Duke. I proteft, I love the Duke as I love myself. Ang. Hark! how the villain would close now, after his treasonable abuses.

Efcal. Such a fellow is not to be talk'd withal; away with him to prifon: where is the Provoft? away with him to prifon; lay bolts enough upon him; lets him fpeak no more; away with thofe giglets toe, and: with the other confederate companion..

Duke. Stay, Sir, stay awhile..

Ang. What! refifts he? help him, Lucis..

Lucio. Come, Sir; come, Sir; come, Sir; foh, Sir; why, you bald-pated lying rafcal; you must be hooded, muft you? fhow your knave's vifage,, with a pox to you; how your fheep-biting face, and be hang'd an hour: will't not off?

[Pulls off the Friar's hood, and discovers the Dake.
Duke. Thou art the firft knave, that e'er mad'ft a Duke..
First, Provost, let me bail thefe 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 fpoke, I pardon; fit you down ::
To Efcalus
We'll borrow place of him. Sir, by your leave :
Halt thou or word, or wit, or impudence,

That yet can do thee office? if thou haft,,
Rely upon it 'till my tale ba heard,.

And hold no longer out.

T

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Ang. O my dread Lord,

I fhould be guiltier than my guiltinefs,
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 feffion hold upon my fhame;
But let my trial be mine own confeffion :
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.
1

Duke. Go take her hence, and marry her instantly.
Do
you the office, Friar; which confummate,
Return him here again: go with him, Provost.

[Exeunt Angelo, Mariana, Peter, and Provof.. Efcal. My Lord, I am more amaz'd at his dishonour, Than at the ftrangeness of it.

Duke. Come hither, Isabel;

Your Friar is now your Prince as I was then.
Advertifing, and holy to your bufinefs,

Not changing heart with habit, I am still
Attornied at your fervice.

Ifab. Oh, give me pardon,

That I, your vaffal, have employ'd and pain'd
Your unknown fovereignty.

Duke. 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 obfcur'd my felf,
Labouring to fave his life; and would not rather
Make rath remonftrance of my hidden power,
Than let him be fo loft: Oh, moft kind maid,
It was the fwift celerity of his death,
Which, I did think, with flower foot came on,
That brain'd my purpofe: but, peace be with him!
That life is better life, paft fearing death,

Than that which lives to fear: make it your comfort;
So, happy is your brother,

Enter