Barnar. Not a word: if you have any thing to say to me, come to my ward; for thence will not I to day. [Exit. SCENE IX. Enter Provost.

Duke. Unfit to live, or die: oh gravel heart!
Prov. After him, fellows: bring him to the block,

Now, Sir, how do you find the prisoner?

Duke. A creature unprepar'd, unmeet for death;
And to transport him in the mind he is,
Were damnable.

Prov. Here in the prison, father,
There dy'd this morning of a cruel fever
One Ragozine, a most notorious pyrate,
A man of Claudio's years; his beard and head
Just of his colour. What if we omit
This reprobate 'till he were well inclin'd,
And fatisfy the Deputy with the visage
Of Ragozine, more like to Claudio ?

Duke. O, 'tis an accident that heav'n provides :
Dispatch it presently; the hour draws on
Prefixt by Angelo: see this be done,
And fent according to command; while I
Perfuade this rude wretch willingly to die.

Prov. This shall be done, good father, presently.

But Barnardine must die this afternoon :
And how shall we continue Claudio,

To save me from the danger that might come,
If he were known alive?

Duke. Let this be done;

Put them in, secret holds, Claudio and Barnardine :
Ere twice the sun hath made his journal greeting
To th'under generation, you shall find

Your safety manifest.

Prov. I am your free dependant..

Duke. Quick, quick, and send the head to Angelo.

Now will I write letters to Angelo,

[Exit Prov.

The Provoft he shall bear them, whose contents
Shall witness to him I am near at home;
And that by great injunctions I am bound

To enter publickly: him I'll defire

To

To meet me at the confecrated fount,
A league below the city; and from thence,
By cold gradation and well-ballanc'd form,

We shall proceed with Angelo.

Enter Provoft.

1

Prow. Here is the head, I'll carry it my felf. Duke. Convenient is it: make a swift return; For I would commune with you of fuch things That want no ear but yours.

Prov. I'll make all speed.

SCENE X. Isabel within.

Ifab. Peace, hoa, be here!

[Exit.

She comes to know

Duke. The tongue of Ifabel.

If yet her brother's pardon be come hither :

But I will keep her ign'rant of her good,

To make her heav'nly comfort of despair,

When it is least expected.

Ifab. By your leave.

Enter Isabel.

Duke. Good morning to you, fair and gracious daughter.

Ifab. The better, giv'n me by so holy a man:

Hath yet the Deputy fent my brother's pardon?

Duke. He hath releas'd him, Ifabel, from the worlde

His head is off, and fent to Angelo.
Ifab. Nay, but it is not fo.

Duke. It is no other.

Shew wifdom, daughter, in your closest patience.
Ifab. Oh, I will to him, and pluck out his eyes.
Duke. You shall not be admitted to his fight.
Ifab. Unhappy Claudio, wretched Ifabel!

Injurious world, most damned Angelo!

Duke. This hurts not him, nor profits you a jot:
Forbear it therefore, give your caufe to heav'n:
Mark what I fay, which you shall furely find
By ev'ry fyllable a faithful verity.

The Duke comes home to-morrow; dry your eyes;

One of our convent, and his confeffor
Gives me this news: already he hath carry'd

Notice to Efcalus-and Angelo,

Who do prepare to meet him at the gates,

There

There to give up their power. Pace your wisdom
In that good path that I would wish it go,
And you shall have your bosom on this wretch,
Grace of the Duke, revenges to your heart,
And gen'ral honour.

Ifab. I'm directed by you..
Duke. This letter then to Friar Peter give;
'Tis that he sent me of the Duke's return :
Say, by this token, I defire his company
At Mariana's house. Her cause and yours
I'll perfect him withal, and he shall bring you
Before the Duke; and to the head of Angelo
Accuse him home and home. For my poor self,
I am combined by a facred vow,
And shall be absent. Wend you with this letter :
Command these fretting waters from your eyes
With a light heart; trust not my holy order
If I pervert your course. Whc's here ?

SCENE XI. Enter Lucio,

Lucio. Good even;
Friar, where is the Provoft?
Duke. Not within, Sir.

1

Lucio. Oh pretty Ifabella, I am pale at mine heart to see thine eyes so red; thou must be patient; I am fain to dine and sup with water and bran; I dare not for my head fill my belly: one fruitful meal would set me to't. But they say the Duke will be here to-morrow. By my troth, Ifabel, I lov'd thy brother: if the old fantastical Duke of dark corners had been at home, he had lived.

Duke. Sir, the Duke is marvellous little beholden to your reports; but the best is, he lives not in them.

Lucio. Friar, thou knowest not the Duke so well as I do; he's a better woodman than thou tak'st him for.

Duke. Well; you'll answer this one day. Fare ye well. Lucio. Nay, tarry, I'll go along with thee: I can tell thee pretty tales of the Duke.

Duke. You have told me too many of him already, Sir, if they be true; if not, none were enough.

Lucio. I was once before him for getting a wench with

child.

VOL. II.

F

Duke

Duke, Did you such a thing?

Lucio. Yes marry did; but I was fain to forswear it;

they would elfe have marry'd me to the rotten medlar.

Duke. Sir, your company is fairer than honest: rest you well.

Lucio. By my troth, I'll go with thee to the lane's end : if bawdy talk offend you, we'll have very little of it; nay, Friar, I am a kind of bur, I shall stick. [Exeunt.

SCENE XII. The Palace.
Enter Angelo and Escalus.

Efcal. Every letter he hath writ hath disvouch'd other. Ang. In most uneven and distracted manner. His actions shew much like to madness: pray heav'n his wisdom be not tainted! and why meet him at the gates, and deliver our authorities there?

Efcal. I guess not.

Ang. And why should we proclaim it in an hour before his entring, that if any crave redress of injustice, they should exhibit their petitions in the street?

Efcal. He shews his reason for that; to have a dispatch of complaints, and to deliver us from devices hereafter, which shall then have no power to stand against us.

Ang. Well; beseech you, let it be proclaim'd betimes i'th' morn; I'll call you at your house: give notice to such men of fort and fuit as are to meet him.

Efcal. I shall, Sir: fare you well.
Ang. Good night. This deed

[Exit.

dull

Unshapes me quite, makes me unpregnant,
To all proceedings. A defloured maid,
And by an eminent body, that enforc'd
The law againft it! but that her tender shame

Will not proclaim againft her maiden lofs,

How might she tongue me! yet reason dares her: no,

For my authority bears off all credence;

That no particular scandal once can touch,

But it confounds the breather. He should have liv'd,
Save that his riotous youth, with dangerous sense,

Might in the times to come have ta'en revenge

By fo receiving a dishonour'd life,

With ransom of such shame, Would yet he had liv'd!

Alack,

1

Alack, when once our grace we have forgot,
Nothing goes right; we would, and we would not. [Exit.
SCENE XIII. The fields without the Town,
Enter Duke in bis own balit, and Friar Peter,

Duke. These letters at fit time seliver me.
The Provost knows our purpose and our plot:
The matter being afoot, keep your instruction,
And hold you ever to our special drift,

Tho' sometimes you do blench from this to that,
As cause doth minister: call at Flavius' house,
And tell him where I stay; give the like notice
Unto Valentius, Rowland, and to Craffus,
And bid them bring the trumpets to the gate:
But fend me Flavius first.

Peter. It shall be speeded well.

[Exit.

Enter Varrius.

Duke. I thank thee,
Come, we will walk.
Will greet us here anon, my gentle Varrius.

arrius; thou hast made good hafte:
There's other of our friends

Exeunt,

SCENE XV. Enter Isabella and Mariana.

Isab. To speak so indirectly I am loth :
I'd say the truth; but to accuse him so,
That is your part; yet I'm advis'd to do it,
He says to 'vailful purpose.

Mari. Be rul'd by him.

Ifab. Besides, he tells me, that if peradventure

He speak against me on the adverse side,

I should not think it strange; for 'tis a physick
That's bitter to sweet end.

Mari. I would Friar Peter

Ifab. Oh, peace; the friar is come.

Enter Peter.

Peter. Come, I have found out a stand most fit,

Where you may have such vantage on the Duke,

He shall not pass you. Twice have the trumpets founded:

The generous and gravest citizens

Have hent the gates, and very near upon

The Duke is entring: therefore hence, away.

[Exeunt.