As there comes light from heaven, and words from breath,

As there is sense in truth, and truth in virtue,
I am affianc'd this man's wife, as strongly

As words could make up vows: and, my good lord,
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 practice out.

Ay, with my heart;

Duke. 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, Though they would swear down each particular saint, 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 deriv'd.There is another friar that set them on;

And you, my noble and well-warranted cousin,
Whom it concerns to hear this matter forth,
Do with your injuries, as seem you best,
In any chastisement: I for a while

Will leave you; but stir not you, till you have well
Determined upon these slanderers.

Esca. 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 has spoke most villanous speeches of the duke.

Esca. We shall entreat you to abide here till he come, and enforce them against him: we shall find this friar a notable fellow.

Lurio. As any in Vienna, on my word.

Esca. Call that same Isabel here once again; I would speak with her: [To an Attendant.]-Pray you, my lord, give me leave to question; you shall see how Til handle her.

Lucio. Not better than he, by her own report.
Esca. Say you?

Lucio. Marry, sir, I think, if you handle her privately, she would sooner confess; perchance, publicly she'll be ashamed.

Reenter Officers, with Isabella; the Duke, in the Friar's habit, and Provost.

Esca. I will go darkly to work with her.

Lucio. That's the way; for women are light at midnight.

Esca. 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.

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

Lucio. Mum.

Esca. Come, sir: Did you set these women on to slander lord Angelo? they have confess'd you did. Duke. 'Tis false.

Esca. How! know you where you are?

Duke. Respect to your great place! and let the devil

Be sometime honour'd for his burning throne:-
Where is the duke? 'tis he should hear me speak,
Esca. The duke's in us; and we will hear you speak:
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.
Esca. Why, thou unreverend and unhallow'd friar!
Is't not enough, thou hast suborn'd these women
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.

Esca. Slander to the state! Away with him to pri

son.

Ang. What can you vouch against him, signior Lucio?

Is this the man that you did tell us of?

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. O thou dampable fellow! Did not I pluck thee by the nose, for thy speeches?

Duke. I protest, I love the duke, as I love myself.

Ang. Hark! how the villain would close now, after his treasonable abuses.

Esca. Such a fellow is not to be talk'd 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 too, and with the other confederate companion.

[The Provost lays hands on the Duke.

Duke. Stay, sir; stay a while. 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, with a pox to you! show your sheep-biting face, and be hang'd an hour! Will't not off?

[Pulls off the Friar's hood, and 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: Then, good prince,
No longer session hold upon my shame,
But let my trial be mine own confession;
Immediate sentence then, and sequent death,

Ang. I was, my lord.

Re-enter Angelo, Mariana, Peter, and Provost.
Isab.
I do, my lord.
Duke. For this new-married man, approaching here,
Whose salt imagination yet hath wrong'd
Your well-defended honour, you must pardon
For Mariana's sake: but as he adjudg'd your brother,
(Being criminal, in double violation

Of sacred chastity, and of promise-breach,
Thereon dependent, for your brother's life,)
The very mercy of the law cries out
Most audible, even from his proper tongue,
An Angelo for Claudio, death for death.
Haste still pays haste, and leisure answers leisure:
Like doth quit like, and Measure still for Measure.—
Then, Angelo, thy fault's thus manifested;

Which though thou wouldst deny, denies thee 'vantage:

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

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 hus-

That I, your vassal, have employ'd and pain'd Your unknown sovereignty.

Duke.

Her brother's ghost his paved bed would break, And take her hence in horror.

Sweet Isabel, do yet but kneel by me;
Hold up your hands, say nothing, I'll speak all.
They say, best men are moulded out of faults;
And, for the most, become much more the better
For being a little bad: so may my husband.
O, Isabel! will you not lend a knee?
Duke. He dies for Claudio's death.

Isab.
Most bounteous sir, [Kneeling.
Look, if it please you, on this man condemn'd,
As if my brother liv'd: I partly think,
A due sincerity govern'd his deeds,
Till he did look on me; since it is so,

Let him not die: My brother had but justice,
In that he did the thing for which he died:
For Angelo,

His act did not o'ertake his bad intent;

And must be buried but as an intent

That perish'd by the way: thoughts are no subjects; Intents but merely thoughts.

Mari.

Merely, my lord.

Duke. Your suit's unprofitable; stand up, I say.—

I have bethought me of another fault :-
Provost, how came it, Claudio was beheaded
At an unusual hour?

Prev.

What's he?

His name is Barnardine. Duke. I would, thou hadst done so by Claudio.Go, fetch him hither; let me look upon him.

[Ex. Provost.
Escal. I am sorry, one so learned and so wise
As you, lord Angelo, have still appear'd,
Should slip so grossly, both in the heat of blood,
And lack of temper'd judgement afterward.

Asg. I am sorry, that such sorrow I procure:
And so deep sticks it in my penitent heart,
That I crave death more willingly than mercy;
'Tis my deserving, and I do entreat it.

Re-enter Provost, Barnardine, Claudio, and Juliet.
Duke. Which is that Barnardine?
Prov.
This, my lord.
Duke. There was a friar told me of this man:-
Sirrah, thou art said to have a stubborn soul,
That apprehends no further than this world,
And squar'st thy life according. Thou'rt condemn'd;
But, for those earthly faults, I quit them all;
And pray thee, take this mercy to provide
For better times to come:-Friar, advise him;

I leave him to your hand.-What muffled fellow's that?
Prev. This is another prisoner, that I sav'd,
That should have dy'd when Claudio lost his head;
As like almost to Claudio, as himself.

[Unmuffles Claudio. Duke. If he be like your brother, for his sake [To Isabel.

Is he pardon'd: And, for your lovely sake,
Give me your hand, and say you will be mine,
He is my brother too: But fitter time for that.
By this, lord Angelo perceives he's safe;
Methinks, I see a quick'ning in his eye:-

Well, Angelo, your evil quits you well:

Look, that you love your wife; her worth, worth

yours.

I find an apt remission in myself:

And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon ;You, sirrah, that knew me for a fool, a coward,

One all of luxury, an ass, a mad-man; Wherein have I deserved so of you, That you extol me thus ?

[To Lucio.

Lucio. 'Faith, my lord, I spoke it but according to the trick: if you will hang me for it, you may; but I had rather it would please you I might be whipp'd. Duke. Whipp'd first, sir, and hang'd after.Proclaim it, Provost, round about the city; If any woman's wrong'd by this lewd fellow, (As I have heard him swear himself, there's one Whom he begot with child,) let her appear, And he shall marry her: the nuptial finish'd, Let him be whipp'd and hang'd.

Lucio. I beseech your highness, do not marry me to a whore! Your highness said even now, I made you a duke; good my lord, do not recompense me, in making me a cuckold.

Duke. Upon mine honour, thou shalt marry her.
Thy slanders I forgive; and therewithal
Remit thy other forfeits :-Take him to prison:
And see our pleasure herein executed.

Lucio. Marrying a punk, my lord, is pressing to death, whipping, and hanging.

Duke. Sland'ring a prince deserves it.-
She, Claudio, that you wrong'd, look you restore.—
Joy to you, Mariana !-love her, Angelo;

I have confess'd her, and I know her virtue.—
Thanks, good friend Escalus, for thy much goodness:
There's more behind, that is more gratulate.-
Thanks, Provost, for thy care and secrecy;
We shall employ thee in a worthier place :—
Forgive him, Angelo, that brought you home
The head of Ragozine for Claudio's ;
The offence pardons itself.-Dear Isabel,
I have a motion much imports your good;
Whereto if you'll a willing ear incline,
What's mine is yours, and what is yours is mine:-
So, bring us to our palace; where we'll show
What's yet behind, that's meet you all should know.

[Exeunt.

I LEARN in this letter, that Don Pedro of Arragon

comes this night to Messina.

Men. He is very near by this; he was not three leagues off when I left him.

Lesn. How many gentlemen have you lost in this action?

Mess. But few of any sort, and none of name. Leon. A victory is twice itself, when the achiever brings home full numbers. I find here, that Don Pe dro hath bestowed much honour on a young Florentine, called Claudio.

Mess. Much deserved on his part, and equally remembered by Don Pedro: He hath borne himself beyond the promise of his age; doing, in the figure of a lamb, the feats of a lion: he hath, indeed, better bet tered expectation, than you must expect of me to tell you how.

Leon. He hath an uncle here in Messina will be very much glad of it.

Mess. I have already delivered him letters, and there appears much joy in him; even so much, that joy could not show itself modest enough, without a badge of bitterness.

Leon. Did he break out into tears?

Mess. In great measure.

Lean. A kind overflow of kindness: There are no faces truer than those that are so washed. How much better is it to weep at joy, than to joy at weeping? Beat. I pray you, is signior Montanto returned from the wars, or no?

Mess. I know none of that name, lady; there was none such in the army of any sort.

Leon. What is he that you ask for, niece?
Here. My cousin means signior Benedick of Padua.
Mess. O, he is returned; and as pleasant as ever he

823.

Beat. He set up his bills here in Messina, and challenged Cupid at the flight: and my uncle's fool, reading the challenge, subscribed for Cupid, and challeng. d him at the bird-bolt.-I pray you, how many hath

he killed and eaten in these wars? But how many hath he killed? for, indeed, I promised to eat all of his killing.

Leon. Faith, niece, you tax signior Benedick too much; but he'll be meet with you, I doubt it not. Mess. He hath done good service, lady, in these

wars.

Beat. You had musty victual, and he hath holp to eat it: he is a very valiant trencher-man, he hath an excellent stomach.

Mess. And a good soldier too, lady.

Beat. And a good soldier to a lady;-But what is he to a lord?

Mess. A lord to a lord, a man to a man; stuffed with all honourable virtues.

Beat. It is so, indeed; he is no less than a stuffed man: but for the stuffing,-Well, we are all mortal.

Leon. You must not, sir, mistake my niece: there is a kind of merry war betwixt signior Benedick and her: they never meet, but there is a skirmish of wit between them.

Beat. Alas, he gets nothing by that. In our last conflict, four of his five wits went halting off, and now is the whole man governed with one: so that if he have wit enough to keep himself warm, let him bear it for a difference between himself and his horse; for it is all the wealth that he hath left, to be known a reasonable creature.-Who is his companion now? He hath every month a new sworn brother. Mess. Is it possible?

Beat. Very easily possible: he wears his faith but as the fashion of his hat, it ever changes with the next block.

Mess. I see, lady, the gentleman is not in your books.

Beat. No: an he were, I would burn my study. But, I pray you, who is his companion? Is there no young squarer now, that will make a voyage with him to the devil?

Mess. He is most in the company of the right noble Claudio.

Beat. O lord! he will hang upon him like a disease: he is sooner caught than the pestilence, and the taker runs presently mad. God help the noble Claudio! if he have caught the Benedick, it will cost him a thou sand pound ere he be cured.