To this pernicious caitiff deputy.
Duke. That's somewhat madly spoken.
Isab.
Pardon it;

The phrase is to the matter.

Duke. Mended again: the matter? - Proceed. Isab. In brief, -to set the needless process by, How 1 persuaded, how I pray'd and kneel'd. How he refell'd1 me, and how I reply'd; (For this was of much length,) the vile conclusion I now begin with grief and shame to utter;

He would not but by gift of my chaste person Release my brother; and after much debatement My sisterly remorse2 confutes mine honour. And I did yield to him: But the next morn betimes

1.

His purpose surfeiting, he sends a warrant
For my poor brother's head.

Duke.
This is most likely.
Isab. O, that it were as like as it is true!
Duke. By heaven, fond & wretch, thou know'st
not what thou speak'st;

Or else thou art suborn'd against his honour,
In hateful practice: First, hisintegrity [reason,
Stands without blemish:-next, it imports no
That with such vehemency he should pursue
Faults proper to himself: if he had so offended,
He would have weigh'd thy brother by himself,
And not have cut him off: Some one hath set you
Confess the truth, and say by whose advice [on:
Thou cam'st here to complain.

Isab.

And is this all? Then, oh, you blessed ministers above, Keep me in patience; and, with ripen'd time, Unfold the evil which is here wrapt up [woe, In countenance!-Heaven shield your grace from As I, thus wrong'd, hence unbelieved go.

Duke. I know you'd fain be gone:-An officer! To prison with her:-Shall we thus permit A blasting and a scandalous breath to fall On him so near us? This needs must be a practice. -Who knew of your intent, and coming hither? I. One that I would were here, friar Lodowick. 1 Refuted, 3 Pity. 8 Foolish.

Duke. A ghostly father, belike.-Who knows that Lodowick?

L. My lord, I know him; 'tis a meddling friar; I do not like the man: had he been lay, 1 my lord, For certain words he spake against your grace In your retirement, I had swing'd 2 him soundly.

D. Words against me? This a good friar, beAnd to set on this wretched woman here [like! Against our substitute - Let this friar be found.

L. But yesternight, my lord, she and that friar I saw them at the prison: a saucy friar, A very scurvy fellow.

F. Peter. Blessed be your royal grace! I have stood by, my lord, and I have heard Your royal ear abus'd: First, hath this woman Most wrongfully accus'd your substitute: Who is as free from touch or guilt with her As she from one unborn. Duke.

We did believe no less. Know you that friar Lodowickthat she speaks of? F. Pet. I know him foraman divine and holy:

Not scurvy, nor a temporary 3 meddler,
As he's reported by this gentleman;
And, on my trust, a man that never yet,
Did, as he vouches, misreport your grace.

Lucio. My lord, most villainously! believe it.
F. Peter. Well, he in time may come to clear
But at this instant he is sick, my lord, [himself;
Of a strange fever: Upon his mere request
(Being come to knowledge that there was com-

plaint

Intended 'gainst lord Angelo), came I hither,
To speak, as from his mouth, what he doth know
Is true, and false; and what he with his oath,
And all probation, will make up full clear,
Whensoever he's convented. First, for this
(To justify this worthy nobleman, [woman;
So vulgarly and personally accus'd,)
Her shall you hear disproved to her eyes,
Till she herself confess it.

Duke.

Good friar, let's hear it.
[Isabella is carried off, guarded; and
Mariana comes forward.

Do you not smile at this, lord Angelo?-
O heaven! the vanity of wretched fools!
Give us some seats. Come, cousin Angelo,
In this I'll be impartial; be you judge
Of your own cause. Is this the witness, friar?
First, let her show her face; and, after, speak.
Mari. Pardon, my lord; I will not show my
Until my husband bid me.
[face
What, are you married?

Duke.

Mari. No, my lord. Duke.

Mari.

Are you a maid?

No, my lord.

Neither, my lord.

Duke. A widow then? Mari.

Why, you [wife? Are nothing then!-Neither maid, widow, nor Mar. My lord, I do confess I ne'er was married; And I confess, besides, I am no maid: I have known my husband; yet my husband That ever he knew me. [knows not Lucio. He was drunk, then, my lord; it can be no better. [wert so too! Duke. For the benefit of silence, 'would thou Lucio. Well, my lord.

Duke. This is no witness for lord Angelo.
Mari. Now I come to't, my lord:

She that accuses him of fornication,
In self-same manner doth accuse my husband,
And charges him, my lord, with such a time,
When I'll depose I had him in mine arms.

Ang.

Charges she more than me? Mari. Not that I know. Duke.

No? you say your husband? Mari. Why, just my lord, and that is Angelo. A. This is a strange abusel:-Let's see thy face. Mar. My husband bids me; now I will unmask. [Unveiling. This is that face, thou cruel Angelo, fon: Which once thou swor'st was worth the looking This is the hand, which, with a vow'd contract, Was fast belock'd in thine: and this is she That took away the match from Isabel, And did supply thee at thy garden-house, In her imagin'd person.

Duke.

Know you this woman?

A. Mylord, I must confess, I know this woman; And, five years since, there was some speech of

marriage

Betwixt myself and her; which was broke off,
Partly, for that her promised proportions
Came short of composition; but in chief,
For that her reputation was disvalued

In levity: since which time, of five years, [her:
I never spake with her, saw her, nor heard from
Upon my faith and honour.

Mari.

Noble prince, [breath, As there comes light from heaven, andwords from As there is sense in truth, and truth in virtue, I am affianc'd this man's wife, asstrongly [lord, As words could make up vows; and, my good But Tuesday night last gone, in his 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 instruments of some more mightier member, That sets them on: Let me have way, my lord, To find this practices 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'st thou thy oaths, [saint,

Though they would swear down each particular
Were testimonies against 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 abuse, whence 'tis derived.-
There is another friar that set them on;
Let him be sent for.

[indeed,

F. Peter. Would he were here, my lord; for he, 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. - [Exit Provost. And you, my noble, and well-warranted cousin, 1 Deception. 2 Crazy. 8 Conspiracy.

Whom it concerns to hear this matter forth,
Do with your injuries as seems you best,
In any chastisement: I for a while
[well
Will leave you; but stir not you, till you have
Determined upon these slanderers,

Escal. My lord, we'll do it thoroughly.-[Exit Duke.] Signior Lucio, did not you say, you knew that friar Lodowick to be a dishonest person?

Lucio. Cucullus non facit monachum: honest in nothing but in his clothes; and one that hath spoke most villainous speeches of the duke.

Escal. We shall entreat you to abide here till he come, and enforce 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; [To an Attendant.] I would speak with her: Pray you, my lord, give me leave to question; you shall see how I'll handle her.

Re-enter Officers, with Isabella; the Duke in the Friar's habit, and Provost.

Escal. Come on, mistress: [To Isabella.] here's a gentlewoman denies all that you have said. Lucio. My lord, here comes the rascal I spoke of; here, with the provost.

Escal. In very good time:-speak not you to him, till we call upon you.

Lucio. Mum.

Escal. How! know you where you are? Duke. Where is the duke? 'tis he should hear [speak:

me speak.

Escal. The duke's in us; and we will hear you Look, you speak justly.

Duke. Boldly, at least:-But, O, poor souls, Come you to seek the lamb here of the fox? Good night to your redress. Is the duke gone? Then is your cause gone too. The duke's unjust, Thus to retort your manifest 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 unreverend and unhallow'd
friar?
[women,

Is't not enough that thou hast suborn'd these
To accuse this worthy man; but in foul mouth,
And in the witness of his proper ear,
To call him villain?
And then to glance from him to the duke himself;
To tax him with injustice?-Take him hence;
To the rack with him:-We'll touze you joint
by joint,

But we will know this purpose:-What! unjust?
Duke. Be not so hot; the duke
Dare no more stretch 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 looker-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 so countenanc'd, that the strong

statutes

Stand like the forfeits in a barber's shop, As much in mock as mark.

Escal. Slander to the state! Away with him to prison.

A. What can you vouch against him, signior Is this the man that you did tell us of? [Lucio? Lucio. 'Tis he, my lord. Come hither, goodman bald-pate: Do you know me?

Duke. I remember you, sir, by the sound of your voice: I met you at the prison in the absence of the duke.

Lucio. O, did you so? And do you remember what you said of the duke?

Duke. Most notedly, sir.

Lucio. Do you so, sir? And was the duke a fleshmonger, a fool, and a coward, as you then reported him to be?

Duke. You must, sir, change persons with me, ere you make that my report: you, indeed, spoke so of him; and much more, much worse. Lucio. Thou fellow! Did not I pluck thee by the nose for thy speeches?

D. I protest I love the 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 talked withal:-Away with him to prison. Where is the provost? Away with him to prison; lay bolts enough upon him: let him speak no more. Away with those giglots,1 too, and with the other confederate companion.

[The Provost lays hands on the Duke. Duke. Stay, sir; stay awhile. Ang. What! resists he? Help him, Lucio. Lucio. Come, sir; come, sir; come, sir; foh, sir: Why, you bald-pated, lying rascal! you must be hooded, must you? Show your knave's visage! Show your sheep-biting face, and be hang'd an hour! Will 't not off?

Do you the office, friar; which consummate, Return him here again:-Go with him, provost. [Exeunt Angelo, Mariana, Peter, and Provost.

Escal. My lord, I am more amazed at his Than at the strangeness of it. [dishonour, Duke. Come hither, Isabel: Your friar is now your prince: As I was then Advertising, 1 and holy to your business, Not changing heart with habit, I am still Attorney'd at your service. Isab.

O give me pardon, That I, your vassal, have employ'd and pain'd Your unknown sovereignty. Duke.

You are pardon'd, Isabel:

And now, dear maid, be you as free to us. Your brother's death, I know, sits at your heart; And you may marvel why I obscur'd myself, Labouring to save his life; and would not rather Make rash remonstrance of my hidden power, Than let him be so lost: O, most kind maid, It was the swift celerity of his death, Which I did think with slower foot came on, That brain'd my purpose: But peace be with That life is better life, past fearing death, (him! Than that which lives to fear: make it your So happy is your brother.

Isab.

[comfort,

[Pulls off the Friar's hood & discovers the Duke. Duke. Thou art the first knave that e'er made a duke.

First, provost, let me bail these gentle three: Sneak not away, sir; [To Lucio.] 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; sit
you down.
[To Escalus.
We'll borrow place of him:-Sir, by your leave:
[To Angelo.

Hast thou or word, or wit, or impudence,
That yet can do thee office? If thou hast,
Rely upon it till my tale be heard,

And hold no longer out.

Ang.

O my dread lord,

I should be guiltier than my guiltiness,
To think I can be undiscernible,

When I perceive your grace, like power divine,
Hath look'd upon my passes: 2 Then good prince,
No longer session hold upon my shame,
But let my trial be mine own confession;
Immediate sentence then, and sequent death,
Is all the grace I beg.

Come hither, Mariana?Say, wast thou e'er contracted to this woman? Ang. I was, my lord. Duke. Go, take her hence, and marry her

vantage:

We do condemn thee to the very block
Where Claudio stoop'd to death, and with like
Away with him.
[haste:-
Mari.

O my most gracious lord,
I hope you will not mock me with a husband!
Duke. It is your husband mock'd you with a

husband: