Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven, As innke the angels weep!

Lucio. O, to him, to him, wench; he will relent. He's coming, I perceive 't. [self: Isab. We cannot weigh our brother with ourGreat men may jest with saints: 'tis wit in them; But, in the less, foul profanation.

Ang. Why do you put these sayings upon me? Isab. Because authority, though it err like Hath yet a kind of medicine in itself, [others, That skins the vice o' the top. Go to your bosom; Knock there; and ask your heart, what it doth That's like my brother's fault: if it confess [know A natural guiltiness, such as is his,

Let it not sound a thought upon your tongue
Against my brother's life.

Ang. She speaks, and 'tis

Such sense, that my sense breeds with it.
Fare you well.

Isab. Gentle my lord, turn back.

[Going.

Ang. I will bethink me:-Come again to

morrow.

Isab. Hark, how I'll bribe you. Ang. How! bribe me?

[Going.

[with you.

Isab. Ay, with such gifts that heaven shall share Lucio. You had marr'd all else.

Isab. Not with fond shekels of the tested gold, Or stones, whose rates are either rich or poor As fancy values them; but with true prayers That shall be up at heaven, and enter there, Ere sunrise: prayers from preserved souls, From fasting maids, whose minds are dedicate To nothing temporal.

Ang.

Well come to me to-morrow. Lucio. Go to: 'tis well; away.

[Aside to ISABEL. Isab. Heaven keep your honour safe! Ang. Amen: For I am that way going to temptation, [Aside. Where prayers cross. Isab. At what hour to-morrow Shall I attend your lordship? Ang. Isab. Save your honour!

At any time 'fore noon.

[Exeunt Lucio, ISAB., and Prov. Ang. From thee; even from thy virtue !-What's this? what's this? Is this her fault, or mine?

The tempter or the tempted, who sins most? Ha! Can it be,

That modesty may more betray our sense
Than woman's lightness? Having waste ground
enough,

Shall we desire to raze the sanctuary?
O, fie, fie, fie!

What dost thou, or what art thou, Angelo?
O, let her brother live:

Thieves for their robbery have authority, [her,
When judges steal themselves. What! do I love
That I desire to hear her speak again,

And feast upon her eyes? This virtuous maid Subdues me quite :-Ever till now,

When men were fond, I smil'd, and wonder'd how.

[Exit.

SCENE II.-The Street. Enter ELBOW, POMPEY, FROTH, and two

Tipstaves.

Elb. Come, bring them away: if these be good people in a commonweal that do nothing but use their abuses in common houses, I know no law; bring them away.

Enter ESCALUS and two Apparitors. Esca. How now, sir! What's your name? and what's the matter?

Elb. If it please your honour, I am the poor duke's constable, and my name is Elbow; I do lean upon justice, sir, and do bring in here before your good honour two notorious benefactors.

Esca. Benefactors! Well; what benefactors are they? are they not malefactors?

Elb. If it please your honour, I know not well what they are: but precise villains they are, that I am sure of; and void of all profanation in the world, that good Christians ought to have.

Escal. This comes off well; here's a wise officer. What are you, sir?

Elb. He, sir? a tapster, sir; one that serves a bad woman; whose house, sir, was, as they say, pluck'd down in the suburbs; and now she professes a hot-house, which, I think, is a very ill house too.

Escal. How know you that?

Elb. My wife, sir, whom I detest* before heaven and your honour,

Escal. How! thy wife!

Elb. Ay, sir; whom, I thank heaven, is an honest woman,

Escal. Dost thou detest her therefore? Elb. I say, sir, I will detest myself also, as well as she, that this house is a naughty house.

Escal. How dost thou know that, constable? Elb. Marry, sir, by my wife; who, if she had been a woman cardinally given, might have been accus'd in adultery, and all uncleanliness there.

Escal. By the woman's means?

Elb. Ay, sir, by Mistress Over-done's means: but as she spit in his face, so she defi'd him.

Pom. Sir, if it please your honour, this is not so. Elb. Prove it before these varlets here, thou honourable man; prove it.

Pom. Sir, she came in great with child; and longing (saving your honour's reverence) for stew'd prunes; sir, we had but two in the house, which at that very distant time stood, as it were, in a fruit-dish, a dish of some three-pence; your honours have seen such dishes; they are not China dishes, but very good dishes.

[sir.

Escal. Go to, go to; no matter for the dish, Pom. No, indeed, sir, not of a pin; you are therein in the right: but, to the point: as I say, this Mistress Elbow, being, as I say, with child, and longing, as I said, for prunes; and having but two in the dish, as I said, Master Froth here, this very man, having eaten the rest, as I said, and, as I say, paying for them very honestly;for, as you know, Master Froth, I could not give you three-pence again.

Froth. No, indeed.

Pom. Very well: you being then

Escal. Come, you are a tedious fool: to the purpose.-What was done to Elbow's wife, that he hath cause to complain of? Come we to what was done to Elbow's wife; once more. [once.

Pom. Once, sir? there was nothing done to her Elb. I beseech you, sir, ask him what this man did to my wife.

Escal. Well, sir: What did this gentleman to her?

Pom. I beseech you, sir, look in this gentleman's face: Good Master Froth, look upon his honour; 'tis for a good purpose: Doth your honour mark his face?

[face?

Escal. Ay, sir, very well.
Pom. Doth your honour see any harm in his
Escal. Why, no.

Pom. I'll be suppos'd upon a book, his face is the worst thing about him. Good then; if his

• For protest.

face be the worst thing about him, how could Master Froth do the constable's wife any harm? I would know that of your honour.

Escal. Constable, what say you to it?

Elb. First, an' it like you, the house is a respected house; next, this is a respected fellow; and his mistress is a respected woman.

Pom. By this hand, sir, his wife is a more respected person than any of us all.

Elb. Varlet, thou liest; thou liest, wicked varlet; the time is yet to come that she was ever respected with man, woman, or child.

Pom. Sir, she was respected with him before he married with her.

Escal. Which is the wiser here? Justice, or iniquity?-Is this true?

Elb. O thou caitiff! O thou varlet! O thou wicked Hannibal; I respected with her, before I was married to her! If ever I was respected with her, or she with me, let not your worship think me the poor duke's officer:-Prove this, thou wicked Hannibal, or I'll have mine action of batt'ry on thee.

Escal. If he took you a box o' th' ear, you might have your action of slander too.

Elb. Marry, I thank your good worship for it: What is 't your worship's pleasure I shall do with this wicked caitiff?

Escal. Truly, officer, because he hath some offences in him that thou would'st discover if thou could'st, let him continue in his courses till thou know'st what they are.

Elb. Marry, I thank your worship for it :Thou seest, thou wicked varlet now, what's come upon thee; thou art to continue now, thou varlet; thou art to continue.

Escal. Come hither to me, Master Froth. Master Froth, I would not have you acquainted with tapsters; they will draw you, Master Froth, and you will hang them. Get you gone, and let me hear no more of you.

Froth. I thank your worship: For mine own part, I never come into any room in a tap-house, but I am drawn in.

Escal. Well; no more of it, Master Froth: farewell. [Exit FROTH.]-Come you hither to me, Master Tapster; what's your name, Master Tapster?

Pom. Pompey.

Escal. I advise you, let me not find you before me again upon any complaint whatever; if I do, Pompey, I shall beat you to your tent, and prove a shrewd Cæsar to you; in plain dealing, Pompey, I shall have you whipped: so for this time, Pompey, fare you well.

Pom. I thank your worship for your good counsel; but I shall follow it as the flesh and fortune shall better determine. [Exit Poм.

Escal. Come hither to me, Master Elbow; come hither, Master Constable. How long have you been in this place of constable?

Elb. Seven year and a half, sir.

Escal. I thought by your readiness in the office, you had continued in it some time: You say seven years together?

Elb. And a half, sir.

Escal. Alas! It hath been great pains to you! They do you wrong to put you so oft upon 't: Are there not men in your ward sufficient to serve it?

Elb. Faith, sir, few of any wit in such matters: as they are chosen, they are glad to choose me for them; I do it for some piece of money, and go through with all.

For cannibal.

Escal. Look you bring me in the names of some six or seven, the most efficient of your parish. Elb. To your worship's house, sir? Escal. To my house: Fare you well. [Exeunt ESCALUS, Apparitors, ELBOW, and Tipstaves.

SCENE III.-A Room in ANGELO's House.
Enter ANGelo.

Ang. When I would pray and think, I think
and pray
[words;
To several subjects. Heaven hath my empty
Whilst my invention, hearing not my tongue,
Anchors on Isabel. Heaven in my mouth;
And in my heart, the strong and swelling evil
Of my conception.
Enter THOMAS.

How now! who's there?
Tho.

Desires access to you.

Ang. Teach her the way. O heavens!

One Isabel, a sister,

[Exit THOMAS.

Ang. Say you so? then I shall pose you quickly. Which had you rather, that the most just law Now took your brother's life; or, to redeem him, Give up your person to such sweet uncleanness, As she that he hath stain'd?

Isab.

Sir, believe this: I had rather give my body than my soul. [sins Ang. I talk not of your soul: Our compell'd Stand more for number than for accompt. Isab. How say you?

Ang. Nay, I'll not warrant that; for I can speak
Against the thing I say. Answer to this;-
I, now the voice of the recorded law,
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 't,
I'll take it as a peril to my soul;
It is no sin at all, but charity.

Ang. Pleas'd you to do 't at peril of your soul, Were equal poise of sin and charity.

Isab. That I do beg his life, if it be sin, Heaven let me bear it! you granting of my suit, If that be sin, I'll make it my morn-prayer To have it added to the faults of mine, And nothing of your answer.

Ang. Admit no other way to save his life, (As I subscribe not that, nor any other, But in the loss of question,) that you, his sister, 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 No earthly mean to save him, but that either You must lay down the treasures of your person To this supposed, or else to let him suffer; What would you do?

Isab. As much for my poor brother as myself: That is, were I under the terms of death, Th' impression of keen whips I'd wear as rubies, And strip myself to death, as to a bed That long I have been sick for, ere I'd yield My person up to shame.

Ang.

Then must your brother die. Isab. And 'twere the cheaper way: Better it were a brother died at once, Than that a sister, by redeeming him, Should die for ever.

[tence

And from this testimony of your own sex,
(Since, I suppose, we are made to be no stronger
Than faults may shake our frames,) let me be
I do arrest your words. Be that you are,
That is, a woman; if you be more, you're none;
If you be one, (as you are well express'd
By all external warrants,) show it now,
By putting on the destin❜d livery.

[lord,

Isab. I have no tongue but one: gentle my Let me entreat you speak the former language. Ang. Plainly conceive, I love you. [me Isab. My brother did love Juliet; and you tell That he shall die for 't.

Ang. He shall not, Isabel, if you give me love.
Isab. I know, your virtue hath a license in 't,
Which seems a little fouler than it is,
To pluck on others.

Ang.
Believe me, on mine honour,
My words express my purpose.

What man thou art.

Isab. Ha! little honour to be much believ'd, And most pernicious purpose !-Seeming, seemI will proclaim thee, Angelo; look for 't! [ing!Sign me a present pardon for my brother, Or, with an outstretch'd throat, I'll tell the world [aloud, Ang. Who will believe thee, Isabel? My unsoil'd name, th' austereness of my life, My vouch against you, and my place i' the state, Will so your accusation overweigh, That you shall stifle in your own report, And smell of calumny. I have begun; And now I give my sensual race the rein: Fit thy consent to my sharp appetite; Or else he must not only die the death, But thy unkindness shall his death draw out To lingering sufferance: answer me to-morrow, Or, by the affection that now guides me most, I'll prove a tyrant to him. [Exit ANGELO.

Isab. To whom should I complain? Did I tell this,

Who would believe me? O perilous mouths!
That bear in them one and the self-same tongue,
Either of condemnation or approof!

Bidding the law make court'sy to their will;
Hooking both right and wrong to th' appetite,
To follow as it draws! I'll to my brother:
Though he hath fall'n by prompture of the blood,
Yet hath he in him such a mind of honour,
That, had he twenty heads to tender down
On twenty bloody blocks, he'd yield them up,
Before his sister should her person stoop
To such abhorr'd pollution.

I'll tell him yet of Angelo's request,

And fit his mind to death for his soul's rest. [Exit.

Act Third.

SCENE I.-A Room in the Prison.. Enter DUKE, as a Friar, CLAUDIO, and Provost. Duke. So then, you hope of pardon from Lord Angelo?

Claud. The miserable have no other medicine, But only hope :

I have hope to live, and am prepar'd to die. [life
Duke. Be absolute for death; either death or
Shall thereby be the sweeter. Reason thus with
If I do lose thee, I do lose a thing
That none but fools would keep: a breath thou art,
(Servile to all the skiey influences,)

[life:

That dost this habitation where thou keep'st Hourly afflict: merely, thou art Death's fool; For him thou labour'st by thy flight to shun, And yet runn'st toward him still. Thou art not noble,

For all th' accommodations that thou bear'st
Are nurs'd by baseness. Thou'rt by no means
valiant,

For thou dost fear the soft and tender fork
Of a poor worm.
Happy thou art not;

For what thou hast not, still thou striv'st to get,
And what thou hast, forgett'st.
Thou hast nor youth, nor age;
But, as it were, an after-dinner's sleep,
Dreaming on both for all thy blessed youth
Becomes as aged, and doth beg the alms
Of palsied eld; and when thou art old and rich,
Thou hast neither heat, affection, limb,nor beauty,
To make thy riches pleasant. What's yet in this,
That bears the name of life? Yet in this life
Lie hid more thousand deaths: yet death we fear,
That makes these odds all even.

To sue to live, I find I seek to die;
And, seeking death, find life: Let it come on.
Isab. [Without.] What, ho! Peace here; grace
and good company!

Prov. Who's there? come in the wish de-
serves a welcome.
[Exit Prov.
Duke. Dear sir, ere long I'll visit you again.
Claud. Most holy sir, I thank you.
Isab. [Without.] My business is a word or two
with Claudio.

Enter Provost and ISABELLA.

Prov. [Without.] And very welcome. Look, signior, here's your sister.

Duke. Provost, a word with you. Bring me to hear them speak, where I may be Conceal'd. [Exeunt the DUKE and Prov. Claud. Now, sister, what's the comfort? Isab. Lord Angelo, having affairs to heaven, Intends you for his swift ambassador, Where you shall be an everlasting leiger :* Therefore, your best appointment make with speed;

To-morrow you set on. Claud.

Is there no remedy?

Isab. None, but such remedy as, to save a head, To cleave a heart in twain.

Claud.

But is there any?

Isab. Yes, brother, you may live;
There is a devilish mercy in the judge,
If you'll implore it, that will free your life,
But fetter you till death.

Claud.
But in what nature?
Isab. In such a one as (you consenting to 't)
Would bark your honour from that trunk
you
And leave you naked.
[bear,
Claud.
Let me know the point.
Isab. O, I do fear thee, Claudio; and I quake,
Lest thou a feverous life should'st entertain,
And six or seven winters more respect
Than a perpetual honour. Dar'st thou die?
The sense of death is most in apprehension;
And the poor beetle, that we tread upon,
In corporal sufferance finds a pang as great
As when a giant dies.

Claud.

If I must die,

Why give you me this shame ?

I will encounter darkness as a bride,
And hug it in mine arms.

Isab. There spake my brother; there my father's grave

Did utter forth a voice! Yes, thou must die:
Thou art too noble to conserve a life [puty,
In base appliances. This outward-sainted de-
Whose settled visage and deliberate word
Nips youth i' the head, and follies doth emmew,
As falcon doth a fowl,-is yet a devil.
Claud.

The priestly Angelo?
Isab. O, 'tis the cunning livery of hell,
The damned'st body to invest and cover
In priestly guards! Dost thou think, Claudio,
If I would yield to him my honour up,
Thou might'st be freed?

Claud.
O, heavens! it cannot be.
Isab. Yes, he would give 't thee, from this
rank offence,

So to offend him still. This night's the time
That I should do what I abhor to name,
Or else thou diest to-morrow.

Isab. Be ready, Claudio, for your death toClaud. O, Isabel ![morrow.

Isab. What says my brother? Claud. Death is a fearful thing. Isab. And shamed life a hateful. [where; Claud. Ay, but to die, and go we know not To lie in cold obstruction, and to rot; This sensible warm motion to become A kneaded clod; and the delighted spirit To bathe in fiery floods, or to reside In thrilling regions of thick-ribbed ice; To be imprison'd in the viewless winds, And blown with restless violence round about The pendent world; or to be, worse than worst, Of those that lawless and incertain thoughts Imagine, howling!-'tis too horrible! The weariest and most loathed worldly life, That age, ache, penury, and imprisonment Can lay on nature, is a paradise To what we fear of death.

Take my defiance;

Die! perish! might but my bending down

Reprieve thee from thy fate, it should proceed:
I'll pray a thousand prayers for thy death,-
No word to save thee.

Claud. Nay, hear me, Isabel.
Isab.
O fie, fie, fie!

Thy sin's not accidental, but a trade:
'Tis best that thou diest quickly.
Claud.
O hear me, Isabella.
Re-enter the DUKE.

Duke. Vouchsafe a word, young sister, but one
Isab. What is your will?

[word.

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 a while.

Duke. [To CLAUD., aside.] Son, I have overheard what hath pass'd between you and your sister. Angelo had never the purpose to corrupt her; only he hath made an assay of her virtue, to practise his judgment 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.

Claud. 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.

Provost, a word with you.

Re-enter Provost.

Prov. What's your will, father?

[Exit CLAUD.

Duke. 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 assault that Angelo hath made to you, fortune hath convey'd to my under