read it not truly, my ancient skill beguiles me; but in the boldness of my cunning, I will lay myself in hazard. Claudio, whom here you have a warrant to execute, is no greater forfeit to the law than Angelo, who hath sentenced him to make you understand this in a manifested effect, I crave but four days respite for the which you are to do me both a present and a dangerous courtesy.

Prov. Pray, sir, in what?
Duke. In the delaying death.

Prov. Alack! how may I do it? having the hour limited; and an express command, under penalty, to deliver his head in the view of Angelo? I may make my case as Claudio's, to cross this in the smallest.

Duke. By the vow of mine order, I warrant you, if my instructions may be your guide. Let this Barnardine be this morning executed, and his head borne to Angelo.

Prov. Angelo hath seen them both, and will discover the favour.

Duke. O, death's a great disguiser: and you may add to it. Shave the head, and tie the beard; and say, it was the desire of the penitent to be so bared before his death: you know, the course is common. If any thing fall to you upon this, more than thanks and good fortune, by the saint whom I profess. I will plead against it with my life.

Prov. Pardon me, good father; it is against my cath. [deputy? Duke. Were you sworn to the duke, or to the Prov. To him and to his substitutes. Duke. You will think you have made no offence, if the duke avouch the justice of your dealing? Prov. But what likelihood is in that?

Duke. Not a resemblance, but a certainty. Yet since I see you fearful, that neither my coat, integrity, nor my persuasion, can with ease attempt you, I will go further than I meant, to pluck all fears out of you. Look you, sir, here is the hand and seal of the duke. You know the character, I doubt not; and the signet is not strange to you.

Prov. I know them both.

Duke. The contents of this is the return of the doke, you shall anon over-read it at your pleasure; where you shall find, within these two days he will be here. This is a thing that Angelo knows not: for he this very day receives letters of strange tenor; perchance, of the duke's death; perchance, entering into some monastery; but, by chance, nothing of what is writ. Look, the unfolding star calls up the shepherd: put not yourself into amazement, bow these things should be: all difficulties are but easy when they are known. Call your executuner, and off with Bernardine's head: I will give ham a present shrift, and advise him for a better place. Yet you are amazed; but this shall absetely resolve you. Come away; is almost clear dawn. [Exeunt.

SCENE III.-Another Room in the same.
Enter Clown.

Clo. I am as well acquainted here as I was in our house of profession: one would think, it were Mistress Over-done's own house, for here be many 4 her old customers. First, here's young master Rash; he's in for a commodity of brown paper and old ginger, ninescore and seventeen pounds; of which he made five marks, ready money: marry, the ginger was not much in request, for the old women were all dead. Then is there here one master Caper, at the suit of master Three-pile the mercer, for some four suits of peach-coloured satin, which now peaches him a beggar. Then have we here young Dizy, and young master Deep-vow, and master Copper-spur, and master Starve-lackey the rapier and dagger-man, and young Drop-heir that kild lusty Pudding, and master Forthright the tilter, and brave master Shoe-tie the great traveller, and wild Half-can that stabb'd Pots, and, I think,

Abhor. Is the axe upon the block, sirrah?
Clo. Very ready, sir.

Barnar. How now, Abhorson? what's the news with you?

Abhor. Truly, sir, I would desire you to clap into your prayers; for, look you, the warrant's come. Barnar. You rogue, I have been drinking all night, I am not fitted for't.

Clo. O, the better, sir; for he that drinks all night, and is hanged betimes in the morning, may sleep the sounder all the next day.

Enter Duke.

Abhor. Look you, sir, here comes your ghostly father: do we jest now, think you?

Duke. Sir, induced by my charity, and hearing how hastily you are to depart, I am come to advise you, comfort you, and pray with you.

Barnar. Friar, not I; I have been drinking hard all night, and I will have more time to prepare me, or they shall beat out my brains with billets: I will not consent to die this day, that's

certain.

[you,

Duke. O, sir, you must: and therefore, I beseech look forward on the journey you shall go. Barnar. I swear, I will not die to-day for any man's persuasion.

Duke. But hear you,

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.

Enter Provost.

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

[Exeunt Abhorson and Clown. Prov. 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 died this morning of a cruel fever One Ragozine, a most notorious pirate, A man of Claudio's years; his beard, and head, Just of his colour: what if we do omit This reprobate, till he were well inclined; And satisfy the deputy with the visage Of Ragozine, more like to Claudio?

Duke. O, 'tis an accident that heaven provides! Despatch it presently; the hour draws on Prefix'd by Angelo: see, this be done, And sent according to command; whiles I Persuade 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,

The duke comes home to-morrow ;-nay, dry your One of our convent, and his confessor,

Gives me this instance: already he hath carried Notice to Escalus and Angelo;

Who do prepare to meet him at the gates,

Lucio. O, pretty Isabella, I am pale at mine heart, to see thine eyes so red: thou must be pa tient 1 am fain to dine and sup with water and bran; I dare not for my head fill my belly; oue fruitful meal would set me to't: but they say the duke will be here to-morrow. By my troth, Isabel, I lov'd thy brother: if the old fantastical duke of dark corners had been at home, he had lived.

[Exit Isabella. 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 takest 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 true, none were enough.

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

Duke. Did you such a thing?

Lucio. Yes, marry, did I: but was fain to for swear it; they would else have married 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 bar, 1 shall stick. [Exeunt.

SCENE IV. A Room in Angelo's House. Enter ANGELO and ESCALUS. Escal. Every letter he bath writ hath disvouch'd other.

Ang. In most uneven and distracted manner. His actions show much like to madness: pray heaven, his wisdom be not tainted! And why meet him at the gates, and re-deliver our authorities there? Escal. I guess not.

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

Escal. He shows his reason for that: to have a despatch of complaints; and to deliver us from devices hereafter, which shall then have no power to stand against us.

Ang. Well, I beseech you, let it be proclaim'd: Betimes i' the morn, I'll call you at your house: Give notice to such men of sort and suit, As are to meet him. Escal. I shall, sir: fare you well. [Exit. Ang. Good night.—

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 general honour.

Isab.

I am 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 desire his company
At Mariana's house to-night. 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 sacred 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.-Who's here?

[no:

And dull to all proceedings. A deflower'd maid!
And by an eminent body, that enforc'd
The law against it!-But that her tender shame
Will not proclaim against her maiden loss,
How might she tongue me? Yet reason dares her?-
For my authority bears a credent bulk,
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 so receiving a dishonour'd life,
With ransom of such shame. 'Would yet he had
Alack, when once our grace we have forgot,
Nothing goes right; we would, and we would not.
[Exit.

[liv'd!

SCENE V.-Fields without the Town. Enter Duke in his own habit, and Friar PETER. Duke. These letters at fit time deliver me. [Giving letters. The provost knows our purpose, and our plot. The matter being afoot, keep your instruction, And hold you ever to our special drift;

SCENE VI.-Street near the City Gate.

Enter ISABELLA and MARIANA. Isab. To speak so indirectly, I am loath; I would say the truth; but to accuse him so, That is your part: yet I'm advis'd to do it; He says, to veil full purpose.

Mari.

Be rul'd by him. Isab. Besides, he tells me, that, if peradventu.e He speak against me on the adverse side,

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

Mari. I would, friar Peter-
Isab.

O, peace; the friar is come.
Enter Friar PETER.

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

Where you may have such vantage on the duke, He shall not pass you: twice have the trumpets sounded;

The generous and gravest citizens

dave hent the gates, and very near upon
The duke is ent ring; therefore hence, away.

ACT V.

[Exeunt.

SCENE I-A public Place near the City Gate. MARIANA (veiled), ISABELLA, and PETER, at a distance. Enter at opposite doors, DUKE, VARRIUS, Lords: ANGELO. ESCALUS, LUCIO, Provost, Oncers, and Citizens.

Duke. My very worthy cousin, fairly met:— Jur old and faithful friend, we are glad to see you. Ang, and Escal. Happy return be to your royal grace!

Duke. Many and hearty thankings to you both. We have made inquiry of you; and we hear fach goodness of your justice, that our soul Cannot but yield you forth to public thanks, orerunning more requital. Ang. You make my bonds still greater. Duke. O, your desert speaks loud; and I should wrong it,

o lock it in the wards of covert bosom,
When it deserves with characters of brass
A forted residence, 'gainst the tooth of time
And razure of oblivion: give me your hand,
And let the subject see, to make them know
That outward courtesies would fain proclaim
Favours that keep within.-Come, Escalus;
You must walk by us on our other hand;—
And good supporters are you.

PETER and ISABELLA come forward. F. Peter. Now is your time; speak loud, and kneel before him.

Isab. Justice, O royal duke! Vail your regard In a wrong'd, I'd fain have said, a maid! Oworthy prince, dishonour not your eye

By throwing it on any other object,

you have heard me in my true complaint, And given me, , justice, justice, justice, justice!

Duke, Relate your wrongs: in what? By whom? Be brief:

strange.

Ang. My lord, her wits, I fear me, are not firm: She hath been a suitor to me for her brother, Cut off by course of justice! Isab. By course of justice Ang. And she will speak most bitterly, and [speak: Isab. Most strange, but yet most truly, will I That Angelo's forsworn; is it not strange? That Angelo's a murderer; is't not strange? That Angelo is an adult'rous thief, An hypocrite, a virgin-violator; Is it not strange, and strange? Duke.

Nay, ten times strange. Isab. It is not truer he is Angelo, Than this is all as true as it

strange: Nay, it is ten times true; for truth is truth To the end of reckoning.

Duke.
Away with her :-Poor soul,
She speaks this in the infirmity of sense.
Isab. O prince, I conjure thee, as thou believ'st
There is another comfort than this world,
That thou neglect me not, with that opinion
That I am touch'd with madness; make not im-
possible

That which but seems unlike: 'tis not impossible,
But one, the wicked'st caitit on the ground,
May seem as shy, as grave, as just, as absolute,
As Angelo; even so may Angelo,

In all his dressings, characts, titles, forms,
Be an arch-villain; believe it, royal prince,
If he be less, he's nothing; but he's more,
Had I more name for badness.

Duke.

By mine honesty,

If she be mad, (as I believe no other,)
Her madness hath the oddest frame of sense,
Such a dependency of thing on thing,
As e'er I heard in madness.

Isab.

O, gracious duke,

Harp not on that; nor do not banish reason
For inequality: but let your reason serve
To make the truth appear, where it seems hid;
And hide the false, seems true.

Duke.
Many that are not mad,
Have, sure, more lack of reason. What would
you say?

Isab. I am the sister of one Claudio,
Condemn'd upon the act of fornication
To lose his head; condemn'd by Angelo:
I, in probation of a sisterhood,

Was sent to by my brother: one Lucio
Was then the messenger;-

Lucio.

That's I, an't like your grace. I came to her from Claudio, and desir'd her To try her gracious fortune with lord Angelo, For her poor brother's pardon.

Isab.

Duke. You were not bid to speak.
Lucio.

Nor wish'd to hold my peace.

Duke.

That's he, indeed.

No, my good lord;

I wish you now then;

Pray you, take note of it: and when you have A business for yourself, pray heaven, you then Be perfect.

Lucio.

I warrant your honour.

Duke. The warrant's for yourself; take heed to it. Isab. This gentleman told somewhat of my tale. Lucio. Right.

Duke. It may be right; but you are in the wrong To speak before your time.-Proceed. Isab.

I went

To this pernicious caitiff deputy.
Duke. That's somewhat madly spoken.