Let me know the point. I. O, I do fear thee, Claudio; and I quake, Clau. I will encounter darkness as a bride, And hug it in mine arms. fab. There spake my brother; there my father's Death is a fearful thing. Isab. And shamed life a hateful. Clau. Ay, but to die, and go we know not where ; The weariest and most loathed worldly life, To what we fear of death. Clau. Sweet sister, let me live: What sin you do to save a brother's life, Nature dispenses with the deed so far, That it becomes a virtue. Isab. O, you beast! Ne'er issu'd from his blood. Take my defiance: Thy sin's not accidental, but a trade: Mercy to thee would prove itself a bawd: 'Tis best that thou diest quickly. Clau. O hear me, Isabella. Re-enter Duke. [Going. Duke. Vouchsafe a word, young sister, but one word. Isab. What is your will? Duke. Might you dispense with your leisure, I would by and by have some speech with you: the satisfaction I would require, is likewise your own benefit. Isab. I have no superfluous leisure: my stay, must be stolen out of other affairs; but I will attend you awhile. Duke. [To Claudio, aside.] Son, I have overheard what hath past between you and your sister. Angelo had never the purpose to corrupt her; only he hath made an essay of her virtue, to practise his judgement with the disposition of natures: she having the truth of honour in her, hath made him that gracious denial which he is most glad to receive: I am confessor to Angelo, and I know this to be true; therefore prepare yourself to death: Do not satisfy your resolution with hopes that are fallible: to-morrow you must die; go to your knees, and make ready. Clau. Let me ask my sister pardon. I am so out of love with life, that I will sue to be rid of it. Duke. Hold you there: Farewell,- [Er Clau. Re-enter Provost. Provost, a word with you. Prov. What's your will, father? Duke. That now you are come, you will be gone :Leave me a while with the maid; my mind promises with my habit, no loss shall touch her by my company. Prov. In good time. [Exit Prov. Duke. The hand, that hath made you fair, hath made you good: the goodness, that is cheap in beauty, makes beauty brief in goodness; but grace, being the soul of your complexion, should keep the body of it ever fair. The assault, that Angelo hath made to you, fortune hath conveyed to my understanding; and, but that frailty hath examples for his falling, I should wonder at Angelo. How would you do to content this substitute, and to save your brother? Isab. I am now going to resolve him: I had rather my brother die by the law, than my son should be unlawfully born. But O, how much is the good duke deceived in Angelo! If ever he return, and I can speak to him, I will open my lips in vain, or discover his government. Duke. That shall not be much amiss: Yet, as the matter now stands, he will avoid your accusation; he made trial of you only.-Therefore, fasten your ear on ray advisings; to the love I have in doing good, a remedy presents itself. I do make myself believe, that you may most uprighteously do a poor wronged lady a merited benefit; redeem your brother from the angry law; do no stain to your own gracious person; and much please the absent duke, if, peradventure, he shall ever return to have hearing of this business. Isab. Let me hear you speak further; I have spirit to do any thing that appears not foul in the truth of my spirit. Duke. Virtue is bold, and goodness never fearful. Have you not heard speak of Mariana, the sister of Frederick, the great soldier, who miscarried at sea? Isab. I have heard of the lady, and good words went with her name. Duke. Her should this Angelo have married; was affianced to her by oath, and the nuptial appointed: || between which time of the contract, and limit of the solemnity, her brother Frederick was wrecked at sea, having in that perish'd vessel the dowry of his sister. But mark, how heavily this befel to the poor gentlewoman: there she lost a noble and renowned brother, in his love toward her ever most kind and natural; with him the portion and sinew of her fortune, her marriage-dowry; with both, her combinate husband, this well-seeming Angelo. Isab. Can this be so? Did Angelo so leave her? Duke. Left her in her tears, and dry'd not one of them with his comfort; swallowed his vows whole, pretending, in her, discoveries of dishonour: in few, bestowed her on her own lamentation, which she yet wears for his sake; and he, a marble to her tears, is washed with them, but relents not. Isab. What a merit were it in death, to take this poor maid from the world? What corruption in this life, that it will let this man live!-But how out of this can she avail? Duke. It is a rupture that you may easily heal: and the cure of it not only saves your brother, but keeps yon from dishonour in doing it. Isab. Show me how, good father. Duke. This fore-named maid hath yet in her the continuance of her first affection; his unjust unkindness, that in all reason should have quenched her love, hath, like an impediment in the current, made it more violent and unruly. Go you to Angelo; answer his quiring with a plausible obedience; agree with his demands to the point: only refer yourself to this advantage, first that your stay with him may not be long; that the time may have all shadow and silence in it; and the place answer to convenience: this being granted in course, now follows all. We shall advise this wronged maid to stead up your appointment, go in your place; if the encounter acknowledge itself hereafter, it may compel him to her recompense: and here, by this, is your brother saved, your honour untainted, the poor Mariana advantaged, and the corrupt deputy scaled. The maid will I frame, and make fit for his attempt. If you think well to carry this as you may, the doubleness of the benefit defends the deceit from reproof. What think you of it? Isab. The image of it gives me content already; and, I trust, it will grow to a most prosperous perfection. Duke. It lies much in your holding up: Haste you speedily to Angelo; if for this night he entreat you to his bed, give him promise of satisfaction. I will presently to St. Luke's; there, at the moated grange, resides this dejected Mariana: at that place call upon me; and despatch with Angelo, that it may be quickly. Isab. I thank you for this comfort: Fare you well, good father. [Exeunt severally. SCENE II.-The Street before the Prison. Enter Duke, as a friar; to him Elbow, Clown, and Off cers. Elb. Nay, if there be no remedy for it, but that you will needs buy and sell men and women like beasts, we shall have all the world drink brown and white bastardDuke. O heavens ! what stuff is here? Clown. 'Twas never merry world, since, of two usuries, the merriest was put down, and the worser allow'd by order of law a furr'd gown to keep him warm; and furr'd with fox and lamb-skins too, to signify that craft, being richer than innocency, stands for the facing. Elb. Come your way, sir :-Bless you, good father friar. Duke. And you, good brother father: What offence hath this man made you, sir? Elb. Marry, sir, he hath offended the law; and, sir, we take him to be a thief too, sir; for we have found upon him, sir, a strange pick-lock, which we have sent to the deputy. Duke. Fie, sirrah; a bawd, a wicked bawd! So stinkingly depending? Go, mend, go, mend. Duke. Nay, if the devil hath given thee proofs for sin Thou wilt prove his.-Take him to' prison, officer; Correction and instruction must both work, Ere this rude beast will profit. Elb. He must before the deputy, sir; he has given him warning: the deputy cannot abide a whoremaster: if he be a whoremonger, and comes before him, he were as good go a mile on his errand. Duke. That we were all, as some would seem to be, Free from our faults, as faults from seeming, free! Enter Lucio. Elb. His neck will come to your waist, a cord, sir. Clown. I spy comfort; I-ery, bail: here's a gentle- ; that he was got between two stock-fishes :-But it is man, and a friend of mine. Lucie. How now, noble Pompey? What, at the heels of Cæsar? Art thou led in triumph? What, is there none of Pygmalion's images, newly made women, to be kad now, for putting the hand in the pocket and extracting it clutch'd? What reply? Ha? What say'st thau to this tune, matter, and method? Is't not drown'd the last rain? Ha? What say'st thou, trot? Is the world as it was, man? Which is the way? Is it sad, and few words? Or how? The trick of it? Du. Still thus, and thus! still worse! Clown. Troth, sir, she hath eaten up all her beef, and she is herself in the tub. Lucts. Why, 'tis good; it is the right of it; it must be so: Ever your fresh whore, and your powder'd hawd: An unshunn'd consequence; it must be so : Art going to prison, Pompey! Clown. Yes, faith, sir. Lucia. Way, 'tis not amiss, Pompey: Farewell: Go; may, I sent thee thither. For debt, Pompey? Or how? Ell. For being a bawd, for being a bawd. Lucio. Well, then imprison him: If imprisonment be the due of a bawd, why, 'tis his right: Bawd is he, doubtless, and of antiquity too; bawd-born.-Farewell, good Pompey: Commend me to the prison, Pompey; You will turn good husband now, Pompey; you will keep the house. Ciawn. I hope, sir, your good worship will be my bail Lurie. No, indeed, will I not, Pompey; it is not the wear. I will pray, Pompey, to increase your bondage: if you take it not patiently, why, your mettle is the more: Adien, trusty Pompey.-Bless you, friar. Duke. And you. Lucie. Does Bridget paint still, Pompey? Ha? Clown. You will not bail me then, sir? Lucia. Then, Pompey? nor now.-What news abread, friar? What news? Elb. Come your ways, sir; come. [Exe. Elbow, Clown, and Officers. What news, friar, of the Duke? Duke. I know none: Can you tell me of any? Lurio. Some say, he is with the emperor of Russia; other some, he is in Rome : But where is he, think you? Duke. I know not where: But wheresoever, I wish him well. Laris. It was a mad fantastical trick of him, to steal from the state, and usurp the beggary he was never born to. Lord Angelo dukes it well in his absence; he puts trangression to't. Duke. He does well in't. Lucio. A little more lenity to lechery would do no harm in him: something too crabbed that way, friar. Duke. It is too general a vice, and severity must cure i. Laris. Yes, in good sooth, the vice is of a great kindred; it is well ally'd: but it is impossible to extirp it quite, friar, till eating and drinking be put down. They ay, this Angelo was not made by man and woman, after the downright way of creation: Is it true, think from? Duke. How should he be made then? Lice. Some report, a sca-maid spawn'd him:-Some, certain, that, when he makes water, his urine is congeal'd ice; that I know to be true: and he's a motion ungenerative, that's infallible. Duke. You are pleasant, sir; and speak apace. Lucio. Why, what a ruthless thing is this in him, for the rebellion of a cod-piece, to take away the life of a man? Would the duke, that is absent, have done this? Ere he would have hang'd a man for the getting a hundred bastards, he would have paid for the nursing a thousand: He had some feeling of the sport; he knew the service, and that instructed him to mercy. Duke. I never heard the absent duke much detected for women; he was not inclined that way. Lucio. O, sir, you are deceived. Duke. "Tis not possible. Lucio. Who? not the duke? yes, your beggar of fifty-and his use was, to put a ducat in her clackdish the duke had crotchets in him: He would be drunk too; that let me inform you. Duke. You do him wrong, surely. Lucio. Sir, I was an inward of his: A shy fellow was the duke: and, I believe, I know the cause of his withdrawing. Duke. What, I pr'ythee, might be the cause? Lucio. No, pardon ;-'tis a secret must be lock'd within the teeth and the lips: but this I can let you understand,-The greater file of the subject held the duke to be wise. Duke. Wise? why, no question but he was. Lucio. A very superficial, ignorant, unweighing fel low. Duke. Either this is envy in you, folly, or mistaking; the very stream of his life, and the business he hath helmed, must, upon a warranted need, give him a better proclamation. Let him be but testimonied in his own bringings forth, and he shall appear to the envious, a scholar, a statesman, and a soldier: Therefore, you speak unskilfully; or, if your knowledge be more, it is much darken'd in your malice. Lucio. Sir, I know him, and love him. Duke. Love talks with better knowledge, and knowledge with dearer love. Lucio. Come, sir, I know what I know. Duke. I can hardly believe that, since you know not what you speak. But, if ever the duke return, (as our prayers are he may) let me desire you to make your answer before him: If it be honest you 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 deceived 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 answered; he would never bring them to light: Would he were return'd! Marry, this Claudia 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 Fridays. 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 Enter Escalus, Provost, Bawd, and Officers. Bawd. Good my lord, be good to me; your honour is accounted a merciful man: good my lord. Esca. Double and treble admonition, and still forfeit in the same kind? This would make merey 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 a gainst 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. Esca. That fellow is a fellow of much license :-let him be called before us.-Away with her to prison: Go to; no more words. [Exe. Bed and Officers.]— Provost, my brother Angelo will not be alter'd, Claudio must die to-morrow: let him be furnished 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 advised him for the entertainment of death. Esca. Good even, good father. Duke. Bliss and goodness on you! Esca. 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, lately come from the see, Esca. What news abroad i' the 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? Esca. One, that, above all other strifes, contended especially to know himself. Duke. What pleasure was he given to? Esca. 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 prepared? I am made to understand, that you have lent bin visitation. Duke. He professes to have received no sinister measure from his judge, but most willingly hunbles himself to the determination of justice: yet had he tramed to himstif, by the instruction of his frailty, many deceiv ing promises of life; which I, by my good leisure, have discredited to him, and now is he resolved to die. Eca. 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 forced 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 sentenced himself. Esca. I am going to visit the prisoner: Fare you well. Duke. Peace be with you! [Exit Esca. and Prov. 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, made in crimes, Making practice on the times, 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 despis'd; So disguise shall, by the disguis'd, Pay with falsehood false exacting, And perform an old contracting. ACT IV. [Exit. SCENE I-A Room in Mariana's house. Mariana discovered sitting; a Boy singing. SONG. TAKE, oh take those lips away, That so sweetly were forsworn; Seals of love, but seal'd in vain, Mari. Break off thy song, and haste thee quick away; I cry you mercy, sir; and well could wish My mirth is 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 inquir'd after: I have sat here all day. Duke. I do constantly believe you :- The time is come, even now. I shall crave your for bearance a little; may be. I will call upon you anon for some advantage to yourself. Mari. 1 am always bound to you. [Ea What is the news from this good deputy? Isab. He hath a garden circummur'd with brick, Duke. But shall you on your knowledge find this Imb. I have ta'en a due and wary note upon't : Duke. Duke. 'Tis well borne up. I pray you, be acquainted with this maid; Isab. I do desire the like. I shall attend your leisure; but make haste; Mari. Will't please you walk aside? And rack thee in their fancies!-Welcome! how a Re-enter Mariana and Isabella. Isab. She'll take the enterprize upon her, father, If you advise it. Duke. It is not my consent, Little have you to say, But my entreaty too. When you depart from him, but, soft and low, Mari. Fear me not. Duke. Nor, gentle daughter, fear you not at all: He is your husband on a pre-contract: Sith that the justice of your title to him Doth flourish the deceit. Come, let us go; me a direct answer. To-morrow morning are to die Claudio and Barnardine: Here is in our prison a common executioner, who in his office lacks a helper: if you will take it on you to assist him, it shall redeem you from your gyves; if not, you shall have your full time of imprisonment, and your deliverance with an unpitied whipping; for you have been a notorious bawd. Clown. Sir, I have been an unlawful bawd, time out of mind; but yet I will be content to be a lawful hangman. I would be glad to receive some instruction from my fellow partner. Prov. What ho, Abhorson! where's Abhorson, there? Abhor. Do you call, sir? Prov. Go to, sir; you weigh equally; a feather will turn the scale. [Exit. Clown. Pray, sir, by your good favour, (for, surely, sir, a good favour you have, but that you have a hanging look,) do you call, sir, your occupation a mystery? Abhor. Ay, sir; a mystery. Clown. Painting, sir, I have heard say, is a mystery :· and your whores, sir, being members of my occupation, using painting, do prove my occupation a mystery: but what mystery there should be in hanging, if I should be bang'd, I cannot imagine. Abhor. Sir, it is a mystery. Clown. Proof. Abhor. Every true man's apparel fits your thief: If it be too little for your thief, your true man thinks it big enough; if it be too big for your thief, your thief thinks it little enough: so every true man's apparel fits your thief. Re-enter Provost. Prov. Are you agreed? Clown. Sir, I will serve him; for I do find, your hangman is a more penitent trade than your bawd; he doth oftener ask forgiveness. Prov. You, sirrah, provide your block and your axe, to-morrow four o'clock. Abhor. Come on, bawd; I will instruct thee in my trade; follow. Clown. I do desire to learn, sir; and, I hope, if you have occasion to use me for your own turn, you shall find me yare: for, truly, sir, for your kindness, I owe you a good turn. Prov. Call hither Barnardine and Claudio: Being a murderer, though he were my brother. Our corn's to reap, for yet our tithe's to sow. [Excu. Look, here's the warrant, Claudio, for thy death: SCENE IL-A Room in the Prison. Enter Provost and Clown. Proc. Come hither, sirrah: Can you cut off a man's head? Clown. If the man be a bachelor, sir, I can: but if he be a married man, he is his wife's head, and I can never ent off a woman's head. "Tis now dead midnight, and by eight to-morrow Prov. Who can do good on him? Well, go, prepare yourself. But hark, what noise? [Knocking within. Pree. Come, sir, leave me your snatches, and yield Heaveu give your spirits comfort!-By and by: |
