to it? you well. Esca. Why, no. Esca. How would you live, Pompey? by being a Clown. I'll be supposed upon a book, his face is the bawd? What do you think of the trade, Pompey? is worst thing about him: Good then; if his face be the it a lawful trade? worst thing about him, how could master Froth do the Clown. If the law would allow it, sir. constable's wife any harm? I would know that of Esca. But the law will not allow it, Pompey ; nor your honour. it shall not be allowed in Vienna. Esca. He's in the right : Constable, what say you Clown. Does your worship mean to geld and spay all the youth in the city ? Elb. First, an it like you, the house is a respected Esca. No, pompey. house ; next, this is a respected fellow; and his mis- Clown. Truly, sir, in my poor opinion, they will to't tress is a respected woman. then : If your worship will take order for the drabs Clown. By this hand, sir, his wife is a more respect- and the knaves, you need not to fear the bawds. ed person than any of us all. Esca. There are pretty orders beginning, I can tell Elb. Varlet, thou liest ; thou liest, wicked varlet; you : It is but heading and hanging. the time is yet to come, that she was ever respected Clown. If you head and hang all that offend that with man, woman, or child. way but for ten year together, you'll be glad to give Clown. Sir, she was respected with him before he out a commission for more heads. If this law hold in married with her. Vienna ten year, I'll rent the fairest house in it, after Esca. Which is the wiser here? Justice, or Iniqui-three-pence a bay: If you live to see this come to pass, ty?- Is this true? say, Pompey told you so. Elb. O thou caitiff! O thou varlet! O thou wicked Esca. Thank you, good Pompey : and, in requita! Hannibal! I respected with her, before I was married of your prophecy, lark you, - 1 advise you, let me not to her? If ever I was respected with her, or she with find you before me again upon any complaint whatso me, let not your worship think me the poor duke's ever, no, not for dwelling where you do ; if I do, officer :-Prove this, thou wicked Hannibal, or r'n Pompey, I shall beat you to your tent, and prove a have mine action of battery on thee. shrewd Cæsar to you ; in plain dealing, Pompey, I Esca. If he took you a box ’o the ear, you might shall have you whipt: so, for this time, Pompey, fare have your action of slander too. Elb. Marry, I thank your good worship for it: What Clown. I thank your worship for your good counsel: is't your worship's pleasure I should do with this wick- but I shall follow it, as the flesh and fortune shall beted caitiff? ter determine. Esca. Truly, officer, bccause he hath some offences Whip me ? No, no ; let carman whip his jade ; The valiant heart's not whipt out of his trade. (Exit. in him, that thou wouldst discover if thou couldst, let Esca. Come hither to me, master Elbow ; come him continue in his courses, till thou know'st what hither, master constable. How long have you been in they are. Elb. Murry, I thank your worship for it:-Thou this place of constable ? Elb. Seven year and a half, sir. seest, thou wicked varlet now, what's come upon thee; thou art to continue now, thou varlet; thou art to Esca. I thought, by your readiness in the office, you had continued in it some time : You say, seven years continue. Esca. Where were you born, friend ? [To Froth. together? Froth. Here, in Vienna, sir. Elh. And a half, sir. Esca. Are you of fourscore pounds a year? Esca. Alas! it hath been great pains to you! They Froth. Yes, and't please you, sir. do you wrong to put you so oft upon't: Are there not Esca. So.-What trade are you of, sir ? [To the Clow. men in your ward sufficient to serve it? Elb. Faith, sir, few of any wit in such matters : as Clown. A tapster; a poor widow's tapster. Esca. Your mistress's name? they are chosen, they are glad to choose me for them ; I do it for some piece of money, and go through with Clown. Mistress Over-done. all. Esca. Hath she had any more than one husband ? Clown. Nine, sir ; Over done by the last. Esca. Look you, bring me in the names of some six Esca. Nine !-Come hither to me, master Froth. or seven, the most sufficient of your parish. Master Froth, I would not have you acquainted with Elb. To your worship's house, sir ? tapsters ; they will draw you, master Froth, and you Esca. To my house : Fare you well. [Ex. Elb. will hang them : Get you gone, and let me hear no What's o'clock, think you ? more of you. Just. Eleven, sir. Froth. I thank your worship : For mine own part, Esca. I pray you home to dinner with me. Just. I humbly thank you. I never come into any room in a taphouse, but I am Esca. It grieves me for the death of Claudio ; drawn in. But there's no remedy. Esca. Well; no more of it, master Froth: farewell. Just. Lord Angelo is severe. [Exit Froth.)-Come you hither to me, master tap Esca. It is but needful : ster; what's your name, master tapster? Clown. Pompey. Merey is not itself, that oft looks so ; Pardon is still the nurse of second woe: Ent yet-poor Claudio !--There's no remedy. [E.reunt, Esca. Troth, and your bum is the greatest thing about you ; so that, in the beastliest sense, you are SCENE 11.- Another Room in the same. Enter Pre Pompey the Great. Pompey, you are partly a bawd, vost and a Servant. Pompey, howsoever you colour it in being a tapster. Serr. He's hearing of a cause; he will come straight. Are you not ? come, tell me true ; it shall be the bet- I'll tell him of you. jer for you. Prov. Pray you, do. [E.r. Serv.] I'll know Clown. Truly, sir, I am a pocr fellow, that would live. His pleasure ; may be, he will relent : Alas, He hath but as offended in a dream! Ang. Look, what I will not, that I cannot do. Al sects, all ages smack of this vice ; and he Isab. But might you do't, and do the world no wrong, To die for it! If so your heart were touch'd with that remorse Enter Angelo. As mine is to him? Ang. Now, what's the matter, provost ? Ang. He's sentenced ; 'tis too late. Lucio. You are too cold. Prot. Is it your will Clandio shall die to-morrow? [To Isab. Isab. Too late? why, no ; I, that do speak a word, Ang. Did I not tell thee, yea ? hadst thou not order? May call it back again: Well, believe this, No ceremony that to great ones 'longs, Not the king's crown, nor the deputed sword, Under your good correction, I have seen, The marshal's truncheon, nor the judge's robe, Become them with one half so good a grace, As mercy does. If he had been as you, And you as he, you would have slipt like him ; But he, like you, would not have been so stern. Ang. Pray you, be gone. Isab, I would to heaven I had your potency, And you were Isabel! should it be then thus ? No; I would tell what 'twere to be a judge, And what a prisoner. To save more fitter place ; and that with speed. Lucio. (Aside.] Ay, touch him: there's the vein. Re-enter Servant. Ang. Your brother is a forfeit of the law, Sero. Here is the sister of the man condemn'd, And you but waste your words. Isab. Alas! alas! Why, all the souls that were, were forfeit once; And He that might the vantage best have took, Found out the remedy: How would you be, If He, which is the top of judgement, should Well, let her be admitted— [E.x. Serv. But judge you as you are? O, think on that ; See you the fornicatress be remov'd ; And mercy then will breathe within your lips Let her have needful, but not lavish, means ; Like man new made. There shall be order for it. Ang. Be you content, fair maid; It is the law, not I, condemns your brother : Were he my kinsman, brother, or my son, spare him: land. I am a woeful suitor to your honour, He's not prepar'd for death! Even for our kitchens Please but your honour hear me. We kill the fowl of season: shall we serve heaven Ang. Well; what's your suit ? With less respect than we do minister lich. There is a vice, that most I do abhor, To our gross selves? Good, good my lord, bethink you: And most desire should meet the blow of justice ; Who is it that hath died for this offence ? For which I would not plead, but that I must; There's many have committed it. Fer whicla I must not plead, but that I am Lucio. Ay, well said. At war, twixt will, and will not. Ang. The law hath not been dead, though it hath Ang Well; the matter? slept: leat. I have a brother is condemned to die : Those many had not dar'd to do that evil, I do beseech you, let it be his fault, If the first man, that did the edict infringe, And not my brother. Had answer'd for his deed: now, 'tis awake; Prou. Heaven give thee moving graces ! Takes note of what is done ; and, like a prophet, And so in progress to be hatch'd and born) But, where they live, to end. Isab. Yet show some pity. I had a brother then.-Heaven keep your honour ! Ang. I show it most of all, when I show justice; [Retiring. || For then I pity those I do not know, Lucis. (To Isab.] Give't not o'er so: to him again, || Which a dismiss'd offence would after gall; entreat him; And do him right, that, answering one foul wrong, Kool down before him, hang-apon his gown ; Lives not to act another. Be satisfied; You are too cold : If you should need a pin, Your brother dics to-morrow; be content. You could not with more tamne a tongue desire it : Isaó. So you must be the first, that gives the senTo kite, I say. Irab. Must he needs die ? And he, that suffers : 0, it is excellent Ang. Maiden, no remedy, To have a giant's strength; but it is tyrannous leab. Tes; I do think that you might pardon him, To use it like a giant. And neither heaven, nor man, grieve at the merey Lucio. That's well said. Ang. I will not do't. Isab. Could great men thunder Isob. Bnt can you, if you would ? As Jore himself does, Jove would neer be quiet, tence ; : For every pelting, petty officer, Shall we desire to raise the sanctuary, Would use his heaven for thunder; nothing but thun- And pitch our evils there? O, fie, fie, fie! -Merciful heaven! [der, || What dost thou? or what art thou, Angelo? Thou rather, with thy sharp and sulphurous bolt, Dost thou desire her foully, for those things Splitt'st the unwedgeable and gnarled oak, That make her good? O, let her brother live: Than the soft myrtle ;-0, but man, proud man! Thieves for their robbery have authority, Drest in a little brief authority; When judges steal themselves. What ? do I love her, Blost ignorant of what he's most assurd, That I desire to hear her speak again, And feast upon her eyes? What is't I dream on? Is that temptation, that doth goad us on With all her double vigour, art, and nature, Prov. Pray heaven, she win him! Once stir my temper ; but this virtuous maid Isab. We cannot weigh our brother with ourself": Subdues me quite ;-Ever, till now, Great men may jest with saints : 'tis wit in them; When men were fond, I smild, and wonder'd how. But, in the less, foul profanation. [E.rit. Lucio. Thou'rt in the right, girl; more o' that. Isab. That in the captain's but a choleric word, SCENE III.- A Room in a Prison. Enter Duke, Which in the soldier is flat blasphemy. habited like a friar, and Prevost. Lucio. Art advisd o' that? more on't. Duke. Hail to you, provost ! so I think you are. Ang. Why do you put these sayings upon me? Prov. I am the provost: What's your will, good Isab. Because authority, though it err like others, friar? Hath yet a kind of medicine in itself, Duke. Bound by my charity, and my bless'd order, That skims the vice o' the top: Go to your bosom; I come to visit the afflieted spirits Knock there; and ask your heart, what it doth know Here in the prison : do me the common right 'That's like my brother's fault: if it confess To let me see them; and to make me know A natural guiltiness, such as is his, The nature of their crimes, that I may minister Let it not sound a thought upon your tongue To them accordingly. Against my brother's life. Prů. I would do more than that, if more were needAng. She speaks, and 'tis ful. Such sense, that my sense breeds with it.-Fare you Enter Juliet. well. Look, here comes one ; a gentlewoman of mine, Isab. Gentle my lord, turn back. Who falling in the flames of her own youth, Ang. I will be think me:--Come again tomorrow. Hath blister'd her report : She is with child ; Isab. Hark, how I'll bribe you: Good my lord, turn And he that got it, sentenc'd : a young man back. More fit to do another such offence, Ang. How! bribe me? Than die for this. Isab. Ay, with such gifts that heaven shall share Duke. When must he die? Prov. As I do think, to-morrow: Lucio. You had marr'd all else. I have provided for you : stay a while, (TO Juliet. Isab. Not with fond shekels of the tested gold, And you shall be conducted. Or stones, whose rates are either rich or poor, Duke. Repent you, fair one, of the sin you carry ? As fancy values them: but with true prayers, Juliet. I do ; and bear the sbame most patiently. That shall be up at heaven, and enter there, Duke. I'll teach you how you shall arraign your conEre sun-rise; prayers from preserved souls, science, From fasting maids, whose minds are delicate And try your penitence, if it be sound, To nothing temporal. Or hollowly put on. Ang. Well: come to me to-morrow. Julict. I'll gladly learn. Lucio. Go to; it is well; away. [Aside to Isab. Duke. Love you the man that wrongd you ? Isab. Heaven keep your honour safe! Juliet. Yes, as I love the woman that wrong'd him. Ang. Amen! For I Duke. So then, it seems, your most offenceful act Am that way going to temptation, [Aside. Was mutually committed ? Where prayers cross. Julict. Mutually. Duke. Then was your sin of heavier kind than his. Shall I attend your lordship? Juliet. I do confess it, and repent it, father. Ang. At any time 'fore noon. Duke. 'Tis meet so, daughter: But lest you do reIsab. Save your honour! pent, [Exeunt Lucio, Isab. and Prov. As that the sin hath brought you to this shame,Ang. From thee; even from thy virtue ! Which sorrow is always toward ourselves, not leaven ; What's this? what's this? Is this her fault, or mine? | Showing, we'd not spare heaven, as we love it, The tempter, or the tempted, who sins most? Ha! But as we stand in fear,Not she; nor doth she tempt: but it is I, Juliet. I do repent me, as it is an evil: That lying by the violet, in the sun, And take the shame with joy. Do, as the carrion does not as the flower, Duke. There rest. Corrupt with virtuous season. Can it be, Your partner, as I hear, must die to-morrow, That modesty may more betray our sense And I am going with instruction to him.Than woman's lightness ? Having wasto ground c- Grace go with you ! Benedicite ! [Exit, nough, Julice. Must die te-morrow ! 0, injurious love, with you. 71 That respites me a life, whose very comfort Isab. Sir, believe this, I had rather give my body than my soul. Stand more for number than accompt. Isab. How say you? gelo. Ang. Nay, I'll not warrant that ; for I can speak Pronounce a sentence on your brother's life : Might there not be a charity in sin, To save this brother's life? Isab. Please you to do's, It is no sin at all, but charity. Ang. Pleas'd you to do't, at peril of your soul, Were equal poize of sin and charity. Isab. That I do beg his life, if it be sin, If that be gin, I'll make it my moin prayer Ang. Nay, but bear me : *Ta not the devil's crest. Your sense pursues not mine: either you are ignorant ; Enter Servant. Or seem so, craftily; and that's not good. Isab. Let me be ignorant, and in nothing good, But graciously to know I am no better. Ang. Thus wisdom wishes to appear more briglu, When it doth tax itself: as these black masks Proclaim an enshield beauty ten times louder Than beauty could displayed.-But mark me ; Making both it unable for itself, To be received plain, I'll speak more gross : And dispossessing all the other parts Your brother is to die. Isab. So. Ang. And his offence is so, as it appears Accountant to the law upon that pain. Isab. True. Ang. Admit no other way to save his life, (As I subscribe not that, nor any other, quit their own part, and in obsequious fondness Crosd to his presence, where their untaught love But in the loss of question,) that you, his sister, Must needs appear offence. Finding yourself desir'd of such a person, Whose credit with the judge, or own great place, Could fetch your brother from the manacles Of the all-binding law; and that there were lacte I am come to know your pleasure. No earthly mean to save him, but that either To this supposed, or else let him suffer; (Retiring. || That is, Were I under the terms of death, And strip myself to death, as to a bed That longing I have been sick for, ere I'd yield My body up to shame. Ang. Then must your brother die. Lager, or shorter, he may be so fitted, Isab. And 'twere the cheaper way i That his soul sicken not. Better it were, a brother died at once, Ang. Ha! Fie, these filthy vices ! It were as good Than that a sister, by redeeming him, To parton him, that hath from nature stolen Should die forever. Ang. Were not you then as cruel as the sentence Isah. Ignomy in ransom, and free pardon, Are of two houses : lawful mercy is As to put mette in restrained means, Nothing akin to foul redemption. To make a false one. Ang. You seemd of late to make the law a tyrant ; lab. 'Tis set down so in heaven, but not in earth. And rather prov'd the sliding of your brother Ang. Say you so ? then I shall poze you quickly. A merriment than a vice. For his advantage that I dcarly love. : a Ang. We are all frail. I'll tell him yet of Angelo's request, Isab. Else let iny brother die, And fit his mind to death, for his soul's rest. [Es it. ACT III. SCENE I.-A Room in the Prison. Enter Duke, Women !-Help heaven! men their creation mar Claudio, and Prevost. In profiting by them. Nay, call us ten times frail ; Duke. For we are soft as our complexions are, SO, then you hope of pardon from lord Angelo? And credulous to false prints. Clau. The miserable have no other medicine, Ang. I think it well : But only hope: And from this testimony of your own sex, I have hope to live, and am prepar'd to die. (Since, I suppose, we are made to be no stronger Duke. Be absolute for death ; either death, or life, Than faults may shake our frames) let me be bold ;- Shall thereby be the sweeter. Reason thus with lifeI do arrest your words ; Be that you are, If I do lose thee, I do lose a thing That is, a woman; if you be more, you're none : That none but fools would keep: a breath thou art, If you be one, (as you are well express'd (Servile to all the skiey influences) By all external warrants,) show it now, That dost this babitation, where thou keep'st, By putting on the destin'd livery. Hourly afflict: merely, thou art death's fool ; Isab. I have no tongue but one: gentle my lord, For him thou labour'st by thy Right to shun, Let me entreat you speak the former language. And yet runn'st toward him still : Thou art not noble; Ang. Plainly conceive, I love you. For all the accommodations that thou bear'st, Isab. My brother did love Juliet; and you tell me, Are nurs'd by baseness: Thou art by no means valThat he shall die for it.' iant; Ang. He shall not, Isabel, if you give me love. For thou dost fear the soft and tender fork Isab. I know, your virtue hath a license in't, Of a poor worm: Thy best of rest is sleep, Which seems a little fouler than it is, And that thou oft provok'st; yet grossly fear'st To pluck on others. Thy death, which is no more. Thou art not thyself; Ang. Believe me, on mine honour, For thou exist'st on many a thousand grains My words express my purpose. That issue out of dust: Happy thou art not: Isab. Ha! little honour to be much believ'd, For what thou hast not, still thou striv'st to get ; And inost pernicious purpose !-Seeming, seeming !- And what thou hast forgettist : Thou art not certain ? I will proclaim thee, Angelo; look fort: For thy complexion shifts to strange effects Sign me a present pardon for my brother, After the moon: If thou art rich, thou art poor ; Or, with an outstretch'd throat, I'll tell the world For, like an ass, whose back with ingots bows, Aloud, what man thou art. Thou bear'st thy heavy riches but a journey, Ang. Who will believe thee, Isabel; And death unloads thee: Friend hast thou none; My unsoil'd name, the austereness of my life, For thine own bowels, which do call thee sire, My vouch against you, and my place i' the state, The mere effusion of thy proper loins, Will so your accusation over-weigh, Do curse the gout, serpigo, and the rheum, That you shall stifle in your own report, For ending thee no sooner: Thou hast nor youth, nor And smell of calumny. I have begun; age; And now I give my sensual race the rein: But, as it were, an after-dinner's sleep, Fit thy consent to my sharp appetite; Dreaming on both: for all thy blessed youth Become as aged, and doth beg the alms Thou hast neither heat, affection, limb, nor beauty, Or else he must not only die’ the death, To make thy riches pleasant. What's yet in this, But thy unkindness shall his death draw out That bears the name of life? Yet in this life To lingering sufferance : Answer me to-morrow, Lie hid more thousand deaths : yet death we fear, Or, by the affection that now guides me most, That makes these odds all even. I'll prove a tyrant to him i As for you, Clau. I humbly thank you. Say what you can, my false o'erweighs your true. To sue to live, I fiud, I seek to die; [Exit. And, seeking death, find life: Let it come on. Isab. To whom shall I complain? Did I tell this, Enter Isabella. Who would believe me? O perilous mouths, Isab. What, ho! Peace here ; grace and good conThat bear in them one and the self-same tongue, pany! Either of condemnation or approof! Prov. Who's there? Come in: the wish deserves a Bidding the law make court'sy to their will; welcome. Hooking both right and wrong to the appetite, Duke. Dear sir, ere long I'll visit you again. To follow as it draws! I'll to my brother: Clau. Most holy sir, I thank you. 'Though he hath fallen by prompture of the blood, Isab. My business is a word or two with Claudio. Yet hath he in him such a mind of honour, Prov. And very welcome. -Look, signior, here's That had he twenty heads to tender down On twenty bloody blocks, he'd yield them up, Duke. Provost, a word with you. Before his sister should her body stoop Prov. As many as you please. To such abhorr'd pollution. Duke. Bring them to speak where I may be conThen, Isabel, live chaste, and, brother, die: ceal'd, More than our brother is our chastity. Yet hear them. (Excunt Duke and Protost. your sister. |