Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. Measure For Measure (1623 First Folio Edition)
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Act IV
Scene i
1768: Actus Quartus. Scoena Prima.
1769: [ Enter Mariana, and Boy singing.]
1770: [ Song.]
Take, oh take those lips away,
1771: that so sweetly were forsworne,
1772: And those eyes: the breake of day
1773: lights that doe mislead the Morne;
1774: But my kisses bring againe, bring againe,
1775: Seales of loue, but seal'd in vaine, seal'd in vaine.
1776: [ Enter Duke.]
1777:
Mar.
Breake off thy song, and haste thee quick away,
1778: Here comes a man of comfort, whose aduice
1779: Hath often still'd my brawling discontent.
1780: I cry you mercie, Sir, and well could wish
1781: You had not found me here so musicall.
1782: Let me excuse me, and beleeue me so,
1783: My mirth it much displeas'd, but pleas'd my woe.
1784:
Duk.
'Tis good; though Musick oft hath such a charme
1785: To make bad, good; and good prouoake to harme.
1786: I pray you tell me, hath any body enquir'd for mee here
1787: to day; much vpon this time haue I promis'd here to
1788: meete.
1789:
Mar.
You haue not bin enquir'd after: I haue sat
1790: here all day.
1791: [ Enter Isabell.]
1792:
Duk.
I doe constantly beleeue you: the time is come
1793: euen now. I shall craue your forbearance a little, may be
1794: I will call vpon you anone for some aduantage to your
1795: selfe.
1796:
Mar
I am alwayes bound to you. [ Exit.]
1797:
Duk.
Very well met, and well come:
1798: What is the newes from this good Deputie?
1799:
Isab.
He hath a Garden circummur'd with Bricke,
1800: Whose westerne side is with a Vineyard back't;
1801: And to that Vineyard is a planched gate,
1802: That makes his opening with this bigger Key:
1803: This other doth command a little doore,
1804: Which from the Vineyard to the Garden leades,
1805: There haue I made my promise, vpon the
1806: Heauy midle of the night, to call vpon him.
1807:
Duk.
But shall you on your knowledge find this way?
1808:
Isab.
I haue t'ane a due, and wary note vpon't,
1809: With whispering, and most guiltie diligence,
1810: In action all of precept, he did show me
1811: The way twice ore.
1812:
Duk.
Are there no other tokens
1813: Betweene you 'greed, concerning her obseruance?
1814:
Isab.
No: none but onely a repaire ith' darke,
1815: And that I haue possest him, my most stay
1816: Can be but briefe: for I haue made him know,
1817: I haue a Seruant comes with me along
1818: That staies vpon me; whose perswasion is,
1819: I come about my Brother.
1820:
Duk.
'Tis well borne vp.
1821: I haue not yet made knowne to Mariana
1822: [ Enter Mariana.]
1823: A word of this: what hoa, within; come forth,
1824: I pray you be acquainted with this Maid,
1825: She comes to doe you good.
1826:
Isab.
I doe desire the like.
1827:
Duk.
Do you perswade your selfe that I respect you?
1828:
Mar.
Good Frier, I know you do, and haue found it.
1829:
Duke.
Take then this your companion by the hand
1830: Who hath a storie readie for your eare:
1831: I shall attend your leisure, but make haste
1832: The vaporous night approaches.
1833:
Mar
Wilt please you walke aside. [ Exit.]
1834:
Duke.
Oh Place, and greatnes: millions of false eies
1835: Are stucke vpon thee: volumes of report
1836: Run with these false, and most contrarious Quest
1837: Vpon thy doings: thousand escapes of wit
1838: Make thee the father of their idle dreame,
1839: And racke thee in their fancies. Welcome, how agreed?
1840: [ Enter Mariana and Isabella.]
1841:
Isab.
Shee'll take the enterprize vpon her father,
1842: If you aduise it.
1843:
Duke.
It is not my consent,
1844: But my entreaty too.
1845:
Isa.
Little haue you to say
1846: When you depart from him, but soft and low,
1847: Remember now my brother.
1848:
Mar.
Feare me not.
1849:
Duk.
Nor gentle daughter, feare you not at all:
1850: He is your husband on a pre-contract:
1851: To bring you thus together 'tis no sinne,
1852: Sith that the Iustice of your title to him
1853: Doth flourish the deceit. Come, let vs goe,
1854: Our Corne's to reape, for yet our Tithes to sow. [ Exeunt.]
Scene ii
1855: Scena Secunda.
1856: [ Enter Prouost and Clowne.]
1857:
Pro.
Come hither sirha; can you cut off a mans head?
1858:
Clo.
If the man be a Bachelor Sir, I can:
1859: But if he be a married man, he's his wiues head,
1860: And I can neuer cut off a womans head.
1861:
Pro.
Come sir, leaue me your snatches, and yeeld mee
1862: a direct answere. To morrow morning are to die Clau-dio
1863: and Barnardine: heere is in our prison a common exe-cutioner,
1864: who in his office lacks a helper, if you will take
1865: it on you to assist him, it shall redeeme you from your
1866: Gyues: if not, you shall haue your full time of imprison-ment,
1867: and your deliuerance with an vnpittied whipping;
1868: for you haue beene a notorious bawd.
1869:
Clo.
Sir, I haue beene an vnlawfull bawd, time out of
1870: minde, but yet I will bee content to be a lawfull hang-man:
1871: I would bee glad to receiue some instruction from
1872: my fellow partner.
1873:
Pro.
What hoa, Abhorson: where's Abhorson there?
1874: [ Enter Abhorson.]
1875:
Abh.
Doe you call sir?
1876:
Pro.
Sirha, here's a fellow will helpe you to morrow
1877: in your execution: if you thinke it meet, compound with
1878: him by the yeere, and let him abide here with you, if not,
1879: vse him for the present, and dismisse him, hee cannot
1880: plead his estimation with you: he hath beene a Bawd.
1881:
Abh.
A Bawd Sir? fie vpon him, he will discredit our
1882: mysterie.
1883:
Pro.
Goe too Sir, you waigh equallie: a feather will
1884: turne the Scale. [ Exit.]
1885:
Clo.
Pray sir, by your good fauor: for surely sir, a
1886: good fauor you haue, but that you haue a hanging look:
1887: Doe you call sir, your occupation a Mysterie?
1888:
Abh.
I Sir, a Misterie.
1889:
Clo.
Painting Sir, I haue heard say, is a Misterie; and
1890: your Whores sir, being members of my occupation, v-sing
1891: painting, do proue my Occupation, a Misterie: but
1892: what Misterie there should be in hanging, if I should
1893: be hang'd, I cannot imagine.
1894:
Abh.
Sir, it is a Misterie.
1895:
Clo.
Proofe.
1896:
Abh.
Euerie true mans apparrell fits your Theefe.
1897:
Clo.
If it be too little for your theefe, your true man
1898: thinkes it bigge enough. If it bee too bigge for your
1899: Theefe, your Theefe thinkes it little enough: So euerie
1900: true mans apparrell fits your Theefe.
1901: [ Enter Prouost.]
1902:
Pro.
Are you agreed?
1903:
Clo.
Sir, I will serue him: For I do finde your Hang-man
1904: is a more penitent Trade then your Bawd: he doth
1905: oftner aske forgiuenesse.
1906:
Pro.
You sirrah, prouide your blocke and your Axe
1907: to morrow, foure a clocke.
1908:
Abh.
Come on (Bawd) I will instruct thee in my
1909: Trade: follow.
1910:
Clo.
I do desire to learne sir: and I hope, if you haue
1911: occasion to vse me for your owne turne, you shall finde
1912: me y'are. For truly sir, for your kindnesse, I owe you a
1913: good turne. [ Exit]
1914:
Pro.
Call hether Barnardine and Claudio:
1915: Th' one has my pitie; not a iot the other,
1916: Being a Murtherer, though he were my brother.
1917: [ Enter Claudio.]
1918: Looke, here's the Warrant Claudio, for thy death,
1919: 'Tis now dead midnight, and by eight to morrow
1920: Thou must be made immortall. Where's Barnardine?
1921:
Cla.
As fast lock'd vp in sleepe, as guiltlesse labour,
1922: When it lies starkely in the Trauellers bones,
1923: He will not wake.
1924:
Pro.
Who can do good on him?
1925: Well, go, prepare your selfe. But harke, what noise?
1926: Heauen giue your spirits comfort: by, and by,
1927: I hope it is some pardon, or repreeue
1928: For the most gentle Claudio. Welcome Father.
1929: [ Enter Duke.]
1930:
Duke.
The best, and wholsomst spirits of the night,
1931: Inuellop you, good Prouost: who call'd heere of late?
1932:
Pro.
None since the Curphew rung.
1933:
Duke.
Not Isabell?
1934:
Pro.
No.
1935:
Duke.
They will then er't be long.
1936:
Pro.
What comfort is for Claudio?
1937:
Duke.
There's some in hope.
1938:
Pro.
It is a bitter Deputie.
1939:
Duke.
Not so, not so: his life is paralel'd
1940: Euen with the stroke and line of his great Iustice:
1941: He doth with holie abstinence subdue
1942: That in himselfe, which he spurres on his powre
1943: To qualifie in others: were he meal'd with that
1944: Which he corrects, then were he tirrannous,
1945: But this being so, he's iust. Now are they come.
1946: This is a gentle Prouost, sildome when
1947: The steeled Gaoler is the friend of men:
1948: How now? what noise? That spirit's possest with hast,
1949: That wounds th' vnsisting Posterne with these strokes.
1950:
Pro.
There he must stay vntil the Officer
1951: Arise to let him in: he is call'd vp.
1952:
Duke.
Haue you no countermand for Claudio yet?
1953: But he must die to morrow?
1954:
Pro.
None Sir, none.
1955:
Duke.
As neere the dawning Prouost, as it is,
1956: You shall heare more ere Morning.
1957:
Pro.
Happely
1958: You something know: yet I beleeue there comes
1959: No countermand: no such example haue we:
1960: Besides, vpon the verie siege of Iustice,
1961: Lord Angelo hath to the publike eare
1962: Profest the contrarie.
1963: [ Enter a Messenger.]
1964:
Duke.
This is his Lords man.
1965:
Pro.
And heere comes Claudio's pardon.
1966:
Mess.
My Lord hath sent you this note,
1967: And by mee this further charge;
1968: That you swerue not from the smallest Article of it,
1969: Neither in time, matter, or other circumstance.
1970: Good morrow: for as I take it, it is almost day.
1971:
Pro.
I shall obey him.
1972:
Duke.
This is his Pardon purchas'd by such sin,
1973: For which the Pardoner himselfe is in:
1974: Hence hath offence his quicke celeritie,
1975: When it is borne in high Authority.
1976: When Vice makes Mercie; Mercie's so extended,
1977: That for the faults loue, is th' offender friended.
1978: Now Sir, what newes?
1979:
Pro.
I told you:
1980: Lord Angelo (be-like) thinking me remisse
1981: In mine Office, awakens mee
1982: With this vnwonted putting on, methinks strangely:
1983: For he hath not vs'd it before.
1984:
Duk.
Pray you let's heare.
1985: [ The Letter.]
1986: Whatsoeuer you may heare to the contrary, let Claudio be ex-ecuted
1987: by foure of the clocke, and in the afternoone Bernar-dine:
1988: For my better satisfaction, let mee haue Claudios
1989: head sent me by fiue. Let this be duely performed with a
1990: thought that more depends on it, then we must yet deliuer.
1991: Thus faile not to doe your Office, as you will answere it at
1992: your perill.
1993: What say you to this Sir?
1994:
Duke.
What is that Barnardine, who is to be execu-ted
1995: in th' afternoone?
1996:
Pro.
A Bohemian borne: But here nurst vp & bred,
1997: One that is a prisoner nine yeeres old.
1998:
Duke.
How came it, that the absent Duke had not
1999: either deliuer'd him to his libertie, or executed him? I
2000: haue heard it was euer his manner to do so.
2001:
Pro.
His friends still wrought Repreeues for him:
2002: And indeed his fact till now in the gouernment of Lord
2003: Angelo, came not to an vndoubtfull proofe.
2004:
Duke.
It is now apparant?
2005:
Pro.
Most manifest, and not denied by himselfe.
2006:
Duke.
Hath he borne himselfe penitently in prison?
2007: How seemes he to be touch'd?
2008:
Pro.
A man that apprehends death no more dread-fully,
2009: but as a drunken sleepe, carelesse, wreaklesse, and
2010: fearelesse of what's past, present, or to come: insensible
2011: of mortality, and desperately mortall.
2012:
Duke.
He wants aduice.
2013:
Pro.
He wil heare none: he hath euermore had the li-berty
2014: of the prison: giue him leaue to escape hence, hee
2015: would not. Drunke many times a day, if not many daies
2016: entirely drunke. We haue verie oft awak'd him, as if to
2017: carrie him to execution, and shew'd him a seeming war-rant
2018: for it, it hath not moued him at all.
2019:
Duke.
More of him anon: There is written in your
2020: brow Prouost, honesty and constancie; if I reade it not
2021: truly, my ancient skill beguiles me: but in the boldnes
2022: of my cunning, I will lay my selfe in hazard: Claudio,
2023: whom heere you haue warrant to execute, is no greater
2024: forfeit to the Law, then Angelo who hath sentenc'd him.
2025: To make you vnderstand this in a manifested effect, I
2026: craue but foure daies respit: for the which, you are to
2027: do me both a present, and a dangerous courtesie.
2028:
Pro.
Pray Sir, in what?
2029:
Duke.
In the delaying death.
2030:
Pro.
Alacke, how may I do it? Hauing the houre li-mited,
2031: and an expresse command, vnder penaltie, to de-liuer
2032: his head in the view of Angelo? I may make my
2033: case as Claudio's, to crosse this in the smallest.
2034:
Duke.
By the vow of mine Order, I warrant you,
2035: If my instructions may be your guide,
2036: Let this Barnardine be this morning executed,
2037: And his head borne to Angelo.
2038:
Pro.
Angelo hath seene them both,
2039: And will discouer the fauour.
2040:
Duke.
Oh, death's a great disguiser, and you may
2041: adde to it; Shaue the head, and tie the beard, and say it
2042: was the desire of the penitent to be so bar'de before his
2043: death: you know the course is common. If any thing
2044: fall to you vpon this, more then thankes and good for-tune,
2045: by the Saint whom I professe, I will plead against
2046: it with my life.
2047:
Pro.
Pardon me, good Father, it is against my oath.
2048:
Duke.
Were you sworne to the Duke, or to the De-putie?
2049: _
2050:
Pro.
To him, and to his Substitutes.
2051:
Duke.
You will thinke you haue made no offence, if
2052: the Duke auouch the iustice of your dealing?
2053:
Pro.
But what likelihood is in that?
2054:
Duke.
Not a resemblance, but a certainty; yet since
2055: I see you fearfull, that neither my coate, integrity, nor
2056: perswasion, can with ease attempt you, I wil go further
2057: then I meant, to plucke all feares out of you. Looke
2058: you Sir, heere is the hand and Seale of the Duke: you
2059: know the Charracter I doubt not, and the Signet is not
2060: strange to you?
2061:
Pro.
I know them both.
2062:
Duke.
The Contents of this, is the returne of the
2063: Duke; you shall anon ouer-reade it at your pleasure:
2064: where you shall finde within these two daies, he wil be
2065: heere. This is a thing that Angelo knowes not, for hee
2066: this very day receiues letters of strange tenor, perchance
2067: of the Dukes death, perchance entering into some Mo-nasterie,
2068: but by chance nothing of what is writ. Looke,
2069: th' vnfolding Starre calles vp the Shepheard; put not
2070: your selfe into amazement, how these things should be;
2071: all difficulties are but easie when they are knowne. Call
2072: your executioner, and off with Barnardines head: I will
2073: giue him a present shrift, and aduise him for a better
2074: place. Yet you are amaz'd, but this shall absolutely re-solue
2075: you: Come away, it is almost cleere dawne. [ Exit.]
Scene iii
2076: Scena Tertia.
2077: [ Enter Clowne.]
2078:
Clo.
I am as well acquainted heere, as I was in our
2079: house of profession: one would thinke it were Mistris
2080: Ouer-dons owne house, for heere be manie of her olde
2081: Customers. First, here's yong Mr Rash, hee's in for a
2082: commoditie of browne paper, and olde Ginger, nine
2083: score and seuenteene pounds, of which hee made fiue
2084: Markes readie money: marrie then, Ginger was not
2085: much in request, for the olde Women were all dead.
2086: Then is there heere one Mr Caper, at the suite of Master
2087: Three-Pile the Mercer, for some foure suites of Peach-colour'd
2088: Satten, which now peaches him a beggar.
2089: Then haue we heere, yong Dizie, and yong Mr Deepe-vow,
2090: and Mr Copperspurre, and Mr Starue-Lackey the Ra-pier
2091: and dagger man, and yong Drop-heire that kild lu-stie
2092: Pudding, and Mr Forthlight the Tilter, and braue Mr
2093: Shootie the great Traueller, and wilde Halfe-Canne that
2094: stabb'd Pots, and I thinke fortie more, all great doers in
2095: our Trade, and are now for the Lords sake.
2096: [ Enter Abhorson.]
2097:
Abh.
Sirrah, bring Barnardine hether.
2098:
Clo.
Mr Barnardine, you must rise and be hang'd,
2099: Mr Barnardine.
2100:
Abh.
What hoa Barnardine.
2101: [ Barnardine within.]
2102:
Bar.
A pox o'your throats: who makes that noyse
2103: there? What are you?
2104:
Clo.
Your friends Sir, the Hangman:
2105: You must be so good Sir to rise, and be put to death.
2106:
Bar.
Away you Rogue, away, I am sleepie.
2107:
Abh.
Tell him he must awake,
2108: And that quickly too.
2109:
Clo.
Pray Master Barnardine, awake till you are ex-ecuted,
2110: and sleepe afterwards.
2111:
Ab.
Go in to him, and fetch him out.
2112:
Clo.
He is comming Sir, he is comming: I heare his
2113: Straw russle.
2114: [ Enter Barnardine.]
2115:
Abh.
Is the Axe vpon the blocke, sirrah?
2116:
Clo.
Verie readie Sir.
2117:
Bar.
How now Abhorson?
2118: What's the newes with you?
2119:
Abh.
Truly Sir, I would desire you to clap into your
2120: prayers: for looke you, the Warrants come.
2121:
Bar.
You Rogue, I haue bin drinking all night,
2122: I am not fitted for't.
2123:
Clo.
Oh, the better Sir: for he that drinkes all night,
2124: and is hanged betimes in the morning, may sleepe the
2125: sounder all the next day.
2126: [ Enter Duke.]
2127:
Abh.
Looke you Sir, heere comes your ghostly Fa-ther:
2128: do we iest now thinke you?
2129:
Duke.
Sir, induced by my charitie, and hearing how
2130: hastily you are to depart, I am come to aduise you,
2131: Comfort you, and pray with you.
2132:
Bar.
Friar, not I: I haue bin drinking hard all night,
2133: and I will haue more time to prepare mee, or they shall
2134: beat out my braines with billets: I will not consent to
2135: die this day, that's certaine.
2136:
Duke.
Oh sir, you must: and therefore I beseech you
2137: Looke forward on the iournie you shall go.
2138:
Bar.
I sweare I will not die to day for anie mans per-swasion.
2139: _
2140:
Duke.
But heare you:
2141:
Bar.
Not a word: if you haue anie thing to say to me,
2142: come to my Ward: for thence will not I to day.
2143: [ Exit]
2144: [ Enter Prouost.]
2145:
Duke.
Vnfit to liue, or die: oh grauell heart.
2146: After him (Fellowes) bring him to the blocke.
2147:
Pro.
Now Sir, how do you finde the prisoner?
2148:
Duke.
A creature vnpre-par'd, vnmeet for death,
2149: And to transport him in the minde he is,
2150: Were damnable.
2151:
Pro.
Heere in the prison, Father,
2152: There died this morning of a cruell Feauor,
2153: One Ragozine, a most notorious Pirate,
2154: A man of Claudio's yeares: his beard, and head
2155: Iust of his colour. What if we do omit
2156: This Reprobate, til he were wel enclin'd,
2157: And satisfie the Deputie with the visage
2158: Of Ragozine, more like to Claudio?
2159:
Duke.
Oh, 'tis an accident that heauen prouides:
2160: Dispatch it presently, the houre drawes on
2161: Prefixt by Angelo: See this be done,
2162: And sent according to command, whiles I
2163: Perswade this rude wretch willingly to die.
2164:
Pro.
This shall be done (good Father) presently:
2165: But Barnardine must die this afternoone,
2166: And how shall we continue Claudio,
2167: To saue me from the danger that might come,
2168: If he were knowne aliue?
2169:
Duke.
Let this be done,
2170: Put them in secret holds, both Barnardine and Claudio,
2171: Ere twice the Sun hath made his iournall greeting
2172: To yond generation, you shal finde
2173: Your safetie manifested.
2174:
Pro
I am your free dependant. [ Exit.]
2175:
Duke.
Quicke, dispatch, and send the head to Angelo
2176: Now wil I write Letters to Angelo,
2177: (The Prouost he shal beare them) whose contents
2178: Shal witnesse to him I am neere at home:
2179: And that by great Iniunctions I am bound
2180: To enter publikely: him Ile desire
2181: To meet me at the consecrated Fount,
2182: A League below the Citie: and from thence,
2183: By cold gradation, and weale-ballanc'd forme.
2184: We shal proceed with Angelo.
2185: [ Enter Prouost.]
2186:
Pro.
Heere is the head, Ile carrie it my selfe.
2187:
Duke.
Conuenient is it: Make a swift returne,
2188: For I would commune with you of such things,
2189: That want no eare but yours.
2190:
Pro
Ile make all speede. [ Exit]
2191: [ Isabell within.]
2192:
Isa.
Peace hoa, be heere.
2193:
Duke.
The tongue of Isabell. She's come to know,
2194: If yet her brothers pardon be come hither:
2195: But I will keepe her ignorant of her good,
2196: To make her heauenly comforts of dispaire,
2197: When it is least expected.
2198: [ Enter Isabella.]
2199:
Isa.
Hoa, by your leaue.
2200:
Duke.
Good morning to you, faire, and gracious
2201: daughter.
2202:
Isa.
The better giuen me by so holy a man,
2203: Hath yet the Deputie sent my brothers pardon?
2204:
Duke.
He hath releasd him, Isabell, from the world,
2205: His head is off, and sent to Angelo.
2206:
Isa.
Nay, but it is not so.
2207:
Duke.
It is no other,
2208: Shew your wisedome daughter in your close patience.
2209:
Isa.
Oh, I wil to him, and plucke out his eies.
2210:
Duk.
You shal not be admitted to his sight.
2211:
Isa.
Vnhappie Claudio, wretched Isabell,
2212: Iniurious world, most damned Angelo.
2213:
Duke.
This nor hurts him, nor profits you a iot,
2214: Forbeare it therefore, giue your cause to heauen.
2215: Marke what I say, which you shal finde
2216: By euery sillable a faithful veritie.
2217: The Duke comes home to morrow: nay drie your eyes,
2218: One of our Couent, and his Confessor
2219: Giues me this instance: Already he hath carried
2220: Notice to Escalus and Angelo,
2221: Who do prepare to meete him at the gates,
2222: There to giue vp their powre: If you can pace your wis-dome,
2223: In that good path that I would wish it go,
2224: And you shal haue your bosome on this wretch,
2225: Grace of the Duke, reuenges to your heart,
2226: And general Honor.
2227:
Isa.
I am directed by you.
2228:
Duk.
This Letter then to Friar Peter giue,
2229: 'Tis that he sent me of the Dukes returne:
2230: Say, by this token, I desire his companie
2231: At Mariana's house to night. Her cause, and yours
2232: Ile perfect him withall, and he shal bring you
2233: Before the Duke; and to the head of Angelo
2234: Accuse him home and home. For my poore selfe,
2235: I am combined by a sacred Vow,
2236: And shall be absent. Wend you with this Letter:
2237: Command these fretting waters from your eies
2238: With a light heart; trust not my holie Order
2239: If I peruert your course: whose heere?
2240: [ Enter Lucio.]
2241:
Luc.
Good' euen;
2242: Frier, where's the Prouost?
2243:
Duke.
Not within Sir.
2244:
Luc.
Oh prettie Isabella, I am pale at mine heart, to
2245: see thine eyes so red: thou must be patient; I am faine
2246: to dine and sup with water and bran: I dare not for my
2247: head fill my belly. One fruitful Meale would set mee
2248: too't: but they say the Duke will be heere to Morrow.
2249: By my troth Isabell I lou'd thy brother, if the olde fan-tastical
2250: Duke of darke corners had bene at home, he had
2251: liued.
2252:
Duke.
Sir, the Duke is marueilous little beholding
2253: to your reports, but the best is, he liues not in them.
2254:
Luc.
Friar, thou knowest not the Duke so wel as I
2255: do: he's a better woodman then thou tak'st him for.
2256:
Duke.
Well: you'l answer this one day. Fare ye well.
2257:
Luc.
Nay tarrie, Ile go along with thee,
2258: I can tel thee pretty tales of the Duke.
2259:
Duke.
You haue told me too many of him already sir
2260: if they be true: if not true, none were enough.
2261:
Lucio.
I was once before him for getting a Wench
2262: with childe.
2263:
Duke.
Did you such a thing?
2264:
Luc.
Yes marrie did I; but I was faine to forswear it,
2265: They would else haue married me to the rotten Medler.
2266:
Duke.
Sir your company is fairer then honest, rest you
2267: well.
2268:
Lucio.
By my troth Ile go with thee to the lanes end:
2269: if baudy talke offend you, wee'l haue very litle of it: nay
2270: Friar, I am a kind of Burre, I shal sticke. [ Exeunt]
Scene iv
2271: Scena Quarta.
2272: [ Enter Angelo & Escalus.]
2273:
Esc.
Euery Letter he hath writ, hath disuouch'd other.
2274:
An.
In most vneuen and distracted manner, his actions
2275: show much like to madnesse, pray heauen his wisedome
2276: bee not tainted: and why meet him at the gates and de-liuer
2277: our authorities there?
2278:
Esc.
I ghesse not.
2279:
Ang.
And why should wee proclaime it in an howre
2280: before his entring, that if any craue redresse of iniustice,
2281: they should exhibit their petitions in the street?
2282:
Esc.
He showes his reason for that: to haue a dispatch
2283: of Complaints, and to deliuer vs from deuices heere-after,
2284: which shall then haue no power to stand against
2285: vs.
2286:
Ang.
Well: I beseech you let it bee proclaim'd be-times
2287: i'th' morne, Ile call you at your house: giue notice
2288: to such men of sort and suite as are to meete him.
2289:
Esc
I shall sir: fareyouwell. [ Exit.]
2290:
Ang.
Good night.
2291: This deede vnshapes me quite, makes me vnpregnant
2292: And dull to all proceedings. A deflowred maid,
2293: And by an eminent body, that enforc'd
2294: The Law against it? But that her tender shame
2295: Will not proclaime against her maiden losse,
2296: How might she tongue me? yet reason dares her no,
2297: For my Authority beares of a credent bulke,
2298: That no particular scandall once can touch
2299: But it confounds the breather. He should haue liu'd,
2300: Saue that his riotous youth with dangerous sense
2301: Might in the times to come haue ta'ne reuenge
2302: By so receiuing a dishonor'd life
2303: With ransome of such shame: would yet he had liued.
2304: Alack, when once our grace we haue forgot,
2305: Nothing goes right, we would, and we would not. [ Exit.]
Scene v
2306: Scena Quinta.
2307: [ Enter Duke and Frier Peter.]
2308:
Duke.
These Letters at fit time deliuer me,
2309: The Prouost knowes our purpose and our plot,
2310: The matter being a foote, keepe your instruction
2311: And hold you euer to our speciall drift,
2312: Though sometimes you doe blench from this to that
2313: As cause doth minister: Goe call at Flauia's house,
2314: And tell him where I stay: giue the like notice
2315: To Valencius, Rowland, and to Crassus,
2316: And bid them bring the Trumpets to the gate:
2317: But send me Flauius first.
2318:
Peter.
It shall be speeded well.
2319: [ Enter Varrius.]
2320:
Duke.
I thank thee Varrius, thou hast made good hast,
2321: Come, we will walke: There's other of our friends
2322: Will greet vs heere anon: my gentle Varrius. [ Exeunt.]
Scene vi
2323: Scena Sexta.
2324: [ Enter Isabella and Mariana.]
2325:
Isab.
To speake so indirectly I am loath,
2326: I would say the truth, but to accuse him so
2327: That is your part, yet I am aduis'd to doe it,
2328: He saies, to vaile full purpose.
2329:
Mar.
Be rul'd by him.
2330:
Isab.
Besides he tells me, that if peraduenture
2331: He speake against me on the aduerse side,
2332: I should not thinke it strange, for 'tis a physicke
2333: That's bitter, to sweet end.
2334: [ Enter Peter.]
2335:
Mar.
I would Frier Peter
2336:
Isab.
Oh peace, the Frier is come.
2337:
Peter.
Come I haue found you out a stand most fit,
2338: Where you may haue such vantage on the Duke
2339: He shall not passe you:
2340: Twice haue the Trumpets sounded.
2341: The generous, and grauest Citizens
2342: Haue hent the gates, and very neere vpon
2343: The Duke is entring:
2344: Therefore hence away. [ Exeunt.]