Imatges de pàgina
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have spoke, 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 shall know you better, sir, if I may live to report you.

Lucio. I fear you not.

Duke. O! you hope the Duke will return no more, or you imagine me too unhurtful an opposite. But, indeed, I can do you little harm: you'll forswear this again.

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

Duke. Why should he die, sir?

Lucio. Why? for filling a bottle with a tun-dish

I would the Duke, we talk of, were return'd again this ungenitur'd agent will unpeople the province with continency; sparrows must not build in his house-eaves, because they are lecherous. The Duke yet would have dark deeds darkly answer'd; he would never bring them to light: would he were return'd! Marry, this Claudio is condemn'd for untrussing. Farewell, good Friar; I pr'ythee, pray for me. The Duke, I say to thee again, would eat mutton on Fri days. He's now past it; yet, and I say to thee, he would mouth with a beggar, though she smelt brown bread and garlic: say that I said so. Farewell.

[Exit

Duke. No might nor greatness in mortality Can censure 'scape: back-wounding calumny The whitest virtue strikes. What King so strong Can tie the gall up in the slanderous tongue? But who comes here?

Enter ESCALUS, Provost, Bawd, and Officers.

Escal. Go: away with her to prison! Bawd. Good my lord, be good to me; your honour is accounted a merciful man, good my lord.

Escal. Double and treble admonition, and still forfeit in the same kind? This would make mercy swear, and play the tyrant.

Prov. A bawd of eleven years' continuance, may it please your honour.

Bawd. My lord, this is one Lucio's information against me. Mistress Kate Keep-down was with child by him in the Duke's time: he promised her marriage; his child is a year and a quarter old, come Philip and Jacob. I have kept it myself, and see how he goes about to abuse me!

Escal. That fellow is a fellow of much license: - let him be call'd before us. - Away with her to prison! Go to; no more words. [Exeunt Bawd and Officers.] Provost, my brother Angelo will not be alter'd; Claudio must die to-morrow. Let him be furnish'd with divines, and have all charitable preparation : if my brother wrought by my pity, it should not be so with him.

Prov. So please you, this friar hath been with him, and advis'd him for th' entertainment of death. Escal. Good even, good Father.

Duke. Bliss and goodness on you.
Escal. Of whence are you?

Duke. Not of this country, though my chance is now

To use it for my time: I am a Brother
Of gracious order, late come from the See,
In special business from his Holiness.

Escal. What news abroad i' th' world?

Duke. None, but that there is so great a fever on goodness, that the dissolution of it must cure it: novelty is only in request; and it is as dangerous to be aged in any kind of course, as it is virtuous to be constant in any undertaking. There is scarce truth enough alive to make societies secure, but security enough to make fellowships accurs'd. Much upon this riddle runs the wisdom of the world. This news is old enough, yet it is every day's news. I pray you, sir, of what disposition was the Duke?

Escal. One that, above all other strifes, contended especially to know himself.

Duke. What pleasure was he given to ? Escal. Rather rejoicing to see another merry, than merry at any thing which profess'd to make him rejoice: a gentleman of all temperance. But leave we him to his events, with a prayer they may prove prosperous, and let me desire to know how you find Claudio prepar'd. I am made to understand that you have lent him visitation.

Duke. He professes to have received no sinister measure from his judge, but most willingly humbles himself to the determination of justice; yet had he framed to himself, by the instruction of his frailty, many deceiving promises of life, which I, by my good leisure, have discredited to him; and now is he resolv'd to die.

Escal. You have paid the Heavens your function, and the prisoner the very debt of your calling. I have labour'd for the poor gentleman to the extremest shore of my modesty; but my brother justice have I found so severe, that he hath forc'd me to tell him, he is indeed - Justice.

Duke. If his own life answer the straitness of his

proceeding, it shall become him well; wherein if he chance to fail, he hath sentenc'd himself.

Escal. I am going to visit the prisoner. Fare you well.

Duke. Peace be with you!

[Exeunt ESCALUS and Provost.

He, who the sword of Heaven will bear,
Should be as holy as severe ;
Pattern in himself to know,
Grace to stand, and virtue go;
More nor less to others paying,
Than by self offences weighing.
Shame to him, whose cruel striking
Kills for faults of his own liking!
Twice treble shame on Angelo,
To weed my vice, and let his grow!
O, what may man within him hide,
Though angel on the outward side!
How may likeness wade in crimes,
Making practice on the times,
To draw with idle spiders' strings
Most pond'rous and substantial things!
Craft against vice I must apply.
With Angelo to-night shall lie
His old betrothed, but despised :
So disguise shall, by th' disguised,
Pay with falsehood false exacting,
And perform an old contracting.

[Exit.

ACT IV.

SCENE I. - A Room at the Moated Grange.

MARIANA discovered sitting: a Boy singing.

T

SONG.

AKE, O! take those lips away,
That so sweetly were forsworn ;

And those eyes, the break of day,
Lights that do mislead the morn :
But my kisses bring again,

bring again,

Seals of love, but seal'd in vain,

seal'd in vain.

Mari. Break off thy song, and haste thee quick

away:

Here comes a man of comfort, whose advice
Hath often still'd my brawling discontent.

Enter DUKE.

[Exit Boy.

I cry you, mercy, sir, and well could wish
You had not found me here so musical :
Let me excuse me, and believe me so,

My mirth it much displeas'd, but pleas'd my woe. Duke. 'Tis good: though music oft hath such a charm,

To make bad good, and good provoke to harm. I pray you, tell me, hath any body inquired for me here to-day? Much upon this time have I promis'd here to meet.

Mari. You have not been inquired after: I have sat here all day.

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