Or, by the affection that now guides me most,
I'll prove a tyrant to him: As for you,
Say what you can, my falfe o'erweighs your true.

[Exit.

Tab. To whom should I complain? Did I tell this,
Who would believe me? O perilous mouths,
That bear in them one and the felf-fame tongue,
Either of condemnation or approof!

Bidding the law make court'fy to their will;
Hooking both right and wrong to the appetite,
To follow, as it draws; I'll to my brother :

Though he hath fallen by prompture of the blood,
Yet hath he in him fuch a mind of honour,
That had he twenty heads to tender down
On twenty bloody blocks, he'd yield them up,
Before his fifter should her body stoop
To fuch abhorr'd pollution.

Then, Ifabel, live chatte, and brother, die:
More than our brother is our chastity.
I'll tell him yet of Angelo's request,

And fit his mind to death, for his foul's rest.

[Exi

Duke.

ACT III.

SCENE I
The Prifon.

Enter Duke, Claudio, and Provoft.

S°,

then you hope of pardon from lord
Angelo ?

Claud. The miferable have no other medicine,
But only hope :

For thy own bowels, which do call thee fire,
The mere effufion of thy proper loins,

Do curfe the gout, ferpigo 7, and the rheum,
For ending thee no fooner: Thou haft nor youth,
But, as it were, an after-dinner's fleep, [nor age;
Dreaming on both for all thy blefied youth
Becomes as aged, and doth beg the alms

Of paified eld 9; and when thou art old, and rich,
Thou haft neither heat, affection, limb, nor beauty
To make thy riches pleasant. What's yet in this,
That bears the name of life? Yet in this life
[life-Lye hid more thousand deaths 10: yet death we fear,

I have hope to live, and am prepar'd to die.
Duke. Be abfolute for death 2; either death or life
Shall thereby be the fweeter. Reafon thus with
If I do lofe thee, I do lofe a thing,

[art,

That none but fools would keep 3: a breath thou That makes thefe odds all even.
Servile to all the skiey influences
That do this habitation, where thou keep'ft,
Hourly afflict: merely, thou art death's fool;
For him thou labour it by thy flight to fhun,
And yet runneft toward him ftill 4: Thou art not
noble ;

Claud. I humbly thank you.

To fue to live, I find, I feek to die;
And, feeking death, find life: Let it come on.
Enter Ifabella.

For all the accommodations, that thou bear'ft,
Are nurs'd by bafenefs: Thou art by no means
valiant ;

For thou doft fear the foft and tender fork
Of a poor worm: Thy best of rett is fleep,
And that thou oft provok'ft; yet grofly fear st
Thy death, which is no more. Thou art not thyself;
For thou exift'it on many a thousand grains
That iffue out of duft: Happy thou art not;
For what thou haft not, ftill thou striv'ft to get;
And what thou hait, forget'ft: Thou art not certain,
For thy complexion fhifts to strange effects 6,
After the moon; If thou art rich, thou art poor;
For, like an afs, whofe back with ingots bows,
Thou bear it thy heavy riches but a journey,
And death unloads thee; Friend haft thou none;

Ifab. What, ho! Peace here; grace and good
company!
[a welcome.
Prov. Who's there? Come in: the with deferves
Duke. Dear fir, ere long I'll vifit you again.
Claud. Moft holy fir, I thank you.

Ifab. My bufinefs is a word or two with Claudio.
Prov. And very welcome. Look, fignior, here's
Duke. Provoit, a word with you. [your fifter.
Prov. As many as you please.
[ceal'd,
Duke. Bring them to speak where I may be con-
Yet hear them.
[Exeunt Duke and Provoft.
Claud. Now, fifter, what's the comfort?
Ijab. Why, as all comforts are, most good in
Lord Angelo, having affairs to heaven,
Intends you for his fwift embassador,
Where you fhall be an everlasting leiger II: [fpeed ;
Therefore your best appointment 12 make with
To-morrow you fet on.

[deed:

I That is, temptation, inftigation. * Meaning, be determined to die, without any hope of life. 3 Keep in this place fignifies to care for. 4 In the old farces called Moralities, the fool of the piece, in order to fhew the inevitable approaches of death, is made to employ all his ftratagems to avoid him; which, as the matter is ordered, bring the fool at every turn into his very jaws. 5 Worm is here fubitituted for any creeping thing or ferpent. For effects we fhould read affects; that is, affections. 7'A kind of tetter. The drift of this period is to prove, that neither youth nor age can be faid to be really enjoyed, which, in poetical language, is,-We have neither youth nor age. • Eld is here used for old age, or perfons worn out with years. 10 Meaning a thoufand deaths befides thofe which have been mentioned. 11 Leiger is the fame with refident. 12 Appointment means preparation,

G4

Claude

That thus can make him bite the law by the nofe?

Ifab. None, but fuch remedy, as, to fave a head, When he would force it 4, fure it is no fin:

1 To emmew is a term in falconry. The meaning of the paffage is, In whofe prefence the follies of youth are afraid to fhew themfelves. 2 To caft a pond is to empty it of mud. 3 That is, in the ornaments of royalty. 4 That is, tranfgrefs or violate, fure it is no fin in me. 5 Laftingly. That is, the fpirit accustomed here to cafe and delights. This was properly urged as an aggrava tion to the fharpnefs of the torments fpoken of. 7 Wilderness is here ufed for wildness. Defiance is refufal. 9 An eftablished habit.

while.

alw

De ftolen out of other affairs; but I will attend you a was affianc'd to her by oath, and the nuptial appointed: between which time of the contract, and Duke. [To Claudio afde.] Son, I have overheard limit of the folemnity, her brother Frederick was what hath paft between you and your fifter. An-wreck'd at fea, having in that perifh'd veffel the gelo had never the purpose to corrupt her; only he dowry of his fifter. But mark, how heavily this hath made an affay of her virtue, to practife his befel to the poor gentlewoman: there the loft a judgment with the diposition of natures: the, noble and renowned brother, in his love toward her. having the truth of honour in her, hath made him ever moft kind and natura!; with him the portion that gracious denial, which he is moft glad to re- and finew of her fortune, her marriage-dowry; reive: I am confeífor to Angelo, and I know this with both, her combinates husband, this well-feemto be true; therefore prepare yourself to death:-ing Angelo. Do not fatisfy your retolution with hopes that are fallible: to-morrow you maft die; go to your knees, and make ready.

Claud. Let me ask my fifter pardon. I am fo out of love with life, that I will fue to be rid of it. [Exit Claudio. Re-enter Provoft. Duke. Hold you there : Farewell. Provoft, a word with you.

Prov. What's your will, father?

Duke. That now you are come, you will be gone: Leave me a while with the maid; my mind promifes with my habit, no loss shall touch her by my company.

Ifab. Can this be fo? Did Angelo fo leave her?

Duke. Left her in her tears, and dry'd not one of them with his comfort; fwallow'd his vows whole, pretending, in her, discoveries of dishonour: in few, beitow'd her on her own lamentation, which yet she wears for his fake; and he, a marble to her tears, is washed with them, but relents not.

Ifab. What a merit were it in death, to take this: poor maid from the world! What corruption in this life, that it will let this man live!--But how out of this can the avail?

Duke. It is a rupture that you may easily heal: and the cure of it not only faves your brother, but keeps you from difhonour in doing it.

Prou. In good time 2. [Exit Prov. Dak:. The hand, that hath made you fair, hath jab. Shew me how, good father. made you good: the goodness, that is cheap in Duke. This fore-named maid hath yet in her the beauty, makes beauty brief in goodnefs; but grace, continuance of her firft afection; his unjust unbeing the foul of your complexion, fhould keep kindness, that in all reason fhould have quenched, the body of it ever fair. The affault, that Angelo her love, hath, like an impediment in the current, hath made to you, fortune hath convey'd to my made it more violent and unruly. Go you to Anunderstanding; and, but that frailty hath examples gelo; antwer his requiring with a plausible obefor his failing, Ifhould wonder at Angelo; Howdience; agree with his demands to the point; only would you do to content this fubftitute, and to fave refer yourfelf to this advantage, firit, that your your brother? tay with him may not be long; that the time may have all fhadow and ficnce in it; and the place answer to convenience: this being granted in courfe, now follows all. We shall advite this wronged maid to ftead up your appointment, go in your place; if the encounter acknowledge itself hereafter, it may compel him to her recompence: Duke. That shall not be much amifs: yet, as the and here, by this, is your brother faved, your homatter now ftands, he will avoid your accufation; nour untainted, the poor Mariana advantaged, and he made trial of you only.-Therefore faften your the corrupt deputy fcaled 4. The maid will I frame ear on my advifings; to the love I have in doing and make fit for his attempt. If you think well to good, a remedy prefents itfelf. I do make myfelf carry this as you may, the doubleness of the benefit believe, that you may most uprighteously do a poor defends the deceit from reproof. What think wronged Jady a merited benefit; redeem your bro-you of it?

Ifah. I am now going to refolve him: I had rather my brother die by the law, than my ton fhould be unlawfully born. But oh, how much is the good duke deceived in Angelo! If ever he returns, and I san fpeak to him, I will open my lips in vain, or difco.er his government.

ther from the angry law; do no ftain to your own Ifub. The image of it gives me content already; gracious perfon; and much pleate the abient duke, and, I truít, it will grow to a moft profperous perif, peradventure, he fhall ever return to have hearing of this bufinefs.

Ijab. Let me hear you speak further: I have spirit to do any thing, that appears not foul in the truth of my fpirit.

Duke. Virtue is bold, and goodness never fearful. Have you not heard speak of Mariana, the fifter of Frederick, the great foldier, who mitcarried at fea? Hab. I have heard of the lady, and good words went with her name.

Duke. Her fhould this Angelo have marry'd;

fection.

Duke. It lies much in your holding up: Hafte you speedily to Angelo; if for this night he intreat you to his bed, give him promife of fatisfaction. I will presently to St. Luke's; there, at the moated grange 5 refides this dejected Mariana: at that place call upon me; and difpatch with Angelo, that it may be quickly.

Ifub. I thank you for this comfort: Fare you well, good father.

[Exeunt feverally.

1 Perfevere in that refolution. 2 i. e. Very well. 3 Combinate means betrothed. 4 To fcale means, to difconcert, to put into confufion. 5 Á grange is a folitary farm-house.

SCENE

SCENE II.

The Street.

Re-enter Duke as a Friar, Elbow, Clown, and Officers. Elb. Nay, if there be no remedy for it, but that you will needs buy and fell men and women like beafts, we shall have all the world drink brown and white bastard.

Duke. Oh, heavens! what stuff is here?

Clown. 'Twas never merry world, fince, of two ufuries, the merriest was put down, and the worfer allow'd by order of law a furr'd gown to keep him warm; and furr'd with fox and lamb-ikins too, to fignify, that craft, being richer than innocency, ftands for the facing.

Elb. Come your way, fir:-Blefs you, good father friar.

Duke. And you, good brother father: What offence hath this man made you, fir?

Elb. Marry, fir, he hath offended the law; and, fir, we take him to be a thief too, fir; for we have found upon him, fir, a ftrange pick-lock, which we have fent to the deputy.

Duke. Fie, firrah; a bawd, a wicked bawd!
The evil that thou caufeft to be done,

That is thy means to live: Do thou but think
What 'tis to cram a maw, or cloath a back,
From fuch a filthy vice: fay to thyself,—
From their abominable and beaftly touches
I drink, I eat, array myfelf, and live.
Canft thou believe thy living is a life,
So ftinkingly depending? Go, mend, go, mend.
Clown. Indeed, it does stink in fome fort, fir:
but yet, fir, I would prove-▬▬▬

[fin,
Duke. Nay, if the devil hath given thee proofs for
Thou wilt prove his. Take him to prifon, officer;
Correction and inftruction must both work,
Ere this rude beast will profit.

Elb. He muft before the deputy, fir; he has given him warning: the deputy cannot abide a whore-mafter if he be a whore-monger, and comes before him, he were as good go a mile on his errand.

::

Duks. That we were all as fome would feem to be, Free from all faults, as faults from seeming free! Enter Lucio.

Elb. His neck will come to your waist, a cord, fir.

there none of Pigmalion's images, newly made woman, to be had now, for putting the hand in the what fay'ft thou to this tune, matter, and method? pocket and extracting it clutch'd? What reply? ha? Is't not drown'd i' the laft rain? ha? What say'it thou, trot 3? is the world as it was, man? Which is the way? is it fad, and few words? or how? the trick of it?

Duke. Still thus, and thus! ftill worse!

Lucio. How doth my dear morfel, thy mistress? procures fhe ftill? ha?

Clown. Treth, fir, fhe hath eaten up all her beef, and the is herself in the tub 4,

Lucio. Why, 'tis good; it is the right of it; it muft be fo: ever your fresh whore, and your powder'd bawd: an unfhunn'd confequence; it muft be fo: Art going to prifon, Pompey? Clown. Yes, faith, fir.

Lucio. Why 'tis not amifs, Pompey: farewell: go; fay, I fent thee thither. For debt, Pompey? or how?

Elb. For being a bawd, for being a bawd.

Lucio. Well, then imprifon him; if imprifon ment be the due of a bawd, why, 'tis his right: Bawd is he, doubtless, and of antiquity too; bawdborn. Farewell, good Pompey: Commend me to the prifon, Pompey: You will turn good hufband now, Pompey; you will keep the houfe. Clown. I hope, fir, your good worthip will be my bail.

Lucio. No, indeed, will I not, Pompey; it is not the wear 5. I will pray, Pompey, to encrease your bondage: if you take it not patiently, why, your mettle is the more: Adieu, trufty Pompey. -Blefs you, friar.

Duke. And you.

Lucio. Does Bridget paint ftill, Pompey? ha?
Eib. Come your ways, fir; come.
Clown. You will not bail me then, fir?
Lucio. Then, Pompey? nor now. What
news abroad, friar? what news?

Elb. Come your ways, fir, come.
Lucio. Go, to kennel, Pompey,-go.

[Exeunt Elbow, Clown, and Officers. What news, friar, of the duke?

Duke. I know none; Can you tell me of any? Lucio. Some fay, he is with the emperor of Ruffia: other fome, he is in Rome: But where is

Clown. I fpy comfort; I cry, bail: here's a gen- he, think you? tleman, and a friend of mine.

Lucio. How now, noble Pompey? what, at the heels of Cæfar? art thou led in triumph? What, is

Duke. I know not where: but wherefoever, I wish him well.

Lucio. It was a mad fantastical trick of him, to

1 A kind of fweet wine, then much in vogue. 2 Meaning, his neck will be tied, like your waift, with a rope. 3 Trot is a familiar addrefs to a man, among the provincial vulgar. 4 Dr. Warburton fays, the author here alludes to the lues venerea, and its effects. At that time the cute of it was per formed either by guaiacum, or mercurial unctions: and in both cafes the patient was kept up very warm and close; that in the first application the sweat might be promoted; and left, in the other, he fhould take cold, which was fatal. "The regimen for the courfe of guaiacum (fays Dr. Freind in his Hiftory of Phyfick, vol. II. p. 380.) was at fift ftrangely circumftantial; and fo rigorous, that the patient was put into a dungeon in order to make him fweat; and in that manner, as Fallopius expreffes it, the bones, and the very man himself was macerated." Wiseman says, in England they ufe a tub for this purpofe, as abroad, a cave, or oven, or dungeon. A perfon under cure for a venereal complaint, is now groffly faid to be in the pickling or powdering tub. That is, it is not the

fashion.

Lever born to.

Ateal from the state, and ufurp the beggary he was Lord Angelo dukes it well in his abience; he puts tranfgreflion to 't.

Duke. He does well in 't.

Lucio. A little more lenity to lechery would do no harm in him; fomething too crabbed that way, friar.

Lucio. Sir, I know him, and I love him. Duke. Love talks with better knowledge, and knowledge with dearer love.

Lucio. Come, fir, I know what I know. Duke. I can hardly believe that, fince you know not what you speak. But, if ever the duke return, (as our prayers are he may) let me defire you to make

Dake. It is too general a vice, and feverity muft your answer before him: If it be honest you have

cure it.

Lacio. Yes, in good footh, the vice is of a great kindred; it is well ally'd: but it is impoffible to extirp it quite, friar, till eating and drinking be put down. They fay, this Angelo was not made by man and woman, after the downright way of creation: Is it true, think you?

Dake. How should he be made then?

Lacis. Some report, a fea-maid spawn'd him *-

fpoke, you have courage to maintain it: I am bound to call upon you, and I pray you, your name?

Lucio. Sir, my name is Lucio; well known to the duke.

Duke. He fhall know you better, fir, if I may live to report you.

Lucio. I fear you not.

Lucio. I'll be hang'd firft: thou art deceiv'd in me, friar. But no more of this: Canft thou tell, if Claudio die to-morrow, or no?

Dake. Oh, you hope the duke will return no fome, that he was got between two stock-fifhes: more; or you imagine me too unhurtful an oppo-But it is certain, that when he makes water, his fite. But, indeed, I can do you little harm: you'll urine is congeal'd ice; that I know to be true:- forfwear this again. and he is a motion ungenerative; that's infallible. Duke. You are pleafant, fir; and speak apace. Lucio. Why, what a ruthless thing is this in him, for the rebellion of a cod-piece, to take away the life of a man? Would the duke, that is abfent, Lucio. Why? for filling a bottle with a tunhave done this? Ere he would have hang'd a man dish. I would, the duke, we talk of, were refor the getting a hundred baftards, he would have turn'd again: this ungenitur'd agent will unpeople paid for the nurfing a thoufand: he had fome feel-the province with continency; fparrows must not ing of the fport; he knew the fervice, and that build in his house-eaves, because they are lecherous. inftructed him to mercy. The duke yet would have dark deeds darkly an

Duke. Why should he die, fir?

Duke. I never heard the abfent duke much de-fwered; he would never bring them to light :-tected for women; he was not inclin'd that way. Lacio. Oh, fir, you are deceiv'd. Duke. 'Tis not poffible.

Lucio. Who? no: the duke? yes, your beggar of fifty;—and his ufe was, to put a ducket in her clack-difh2: the duke had crotchets in him: He would be drunk too; that let me inform you.

Dake. You do him wrong, furely.

Lucio. Sir, I was an inward 3 of his: A fhy fellow was the duke; and, I believe, I know the caufe of his withdrawing.

Duke. What, I pr'ythee, might be the cause? Lucio. No-pardon;tis a fecret must be lock'd within the teeth and the lips: but this I can let you understand,—The greater file 4 of the subject held the duke to be wife.

Duke. Wife? why, no question but he was. Lucio. A very fuperficial, ignorant, unweighing fellow.

Would he were return'd! Marry, this Claudio is
condemned for untruffing. Farewell, good friar ;
I pr'ythee, pray for me. The duke, I fay to thee
again, would eat mutton on Fridays 6. He's now
paft it; yet, and I fay to thee, he would mouth
with a beggar, though the smelt brown bread and
garlick: fay, that I faid fo. Farewell. [Exit.

Duke. No might nor greatnefs in mortality
Can cenfure 'fcape; back-wounding calumny
The whiteft virtue strikes: What king fo strong,
Can tie the gall up in the flanderous tongue ?
But who comes here?

Enter Escalus, Provoft, Bawd, and Officers.
Efcal. Go, away with her to prison.
Bawd. Good my lord, be good to me; your ho-
nour is accounted a merciful man: good my lord.

Efcal. Double and treble admonition, and still forfeit in the fame kind? this would make mercy fwear, and play the tyrant.

Prov. A bawd of eleven years continuance, may

Duke. Either this is envy in you, folly, or miftaking; the very stream of his life, and the bufi- it please your honour. nefs he hath helmed 5, muft, upon a warranted

Batud. My lord, this is one Lucio's information need, give him a better proclamation. Let him be against me: Miftrefs Kate Keep-down was with but teftimonied in his own bringings forth, and he child by him in the duke's time; he promis'd her fhall appear, to the envious, a scholar, a statesman, marriage; his child is a year and quarter old, and a foldier: Therefore, you speak unfkilfully;come Philip and Jacob; I have kept it myself; or, if your knowledge be more, it is much dark-and fee, how he goes about to abuse me. ened in your malice. Efcal. That fellow is a fellow of much licence :

I The meaning of this paffage is, that though Angelo have the organs of generation, yet that he makes no more use of them, than if he were an inanimate puppet. 2 A wooden-difh with which beggars, in thofe times, used to make known their poverty, by clacking its moveable cover to fhew that it was empty. 3 Iaward means intimate. 4 The greater number. 5 That is, fcered through. Meaning, would have a wench, which was called a laced mutton. See note 2, p. 24.

-let