First, Provost, let me bail these gentle three: Sneak not away, Sir [to LUCIO]; for the friar and you Lucio. This may prove worse than hanging. Duke. What you have spoke, I pardon; sit you down.-[ To Esc. We'll borrow place of him :-Sir, by your leave: Hast thou or word, or wit, or impudence, That yet can do thee office ?* If thou hast, And hold no longer out. Ang. O my dread lord, I should be guiltier than my guiltiness, When I perceive your grace, like power divine, But let my trial be mine own confession; Duke. Come hither, Mariana : Say, wast thou e'er contracted to this woman? [To ÄNGELO. Duke. Go take her hence, and marry her instantly.— Do you the office, friar; which consummate, Return him here again:-Go with him, Provost. [Exeunt ANGELO, MARIANA, PETER, and PROVOST Escal. My lord, I am more amazed at his dishonour, Than at the strangeness of it. Duke. Come hither, Isabel: Your friar is now your prince: As I was then Advertising,§ and holy to your business, Not changing heart with habit, I am still Attorney'd at your service. Isab. O, give me pardon, That I, your vassal, have employ'd and pain'd Duke. You are pardon'd, Isabel: And now, dear maid, be you as free to us. Your brother's death, I know, sits at your heart; Which I did think with slower foot came on, Than that which lives to fear: make it your comfort, Re-enter ANGELO, MARIANA, PETER, and PROVOST. * Service. VOL. I. † Devices. + Following. S Attentive. Duke. For this new-married man, approaching here, Of sacred chastity, and of promise-breach, Haste still pays haste, and leisure answers leisure: Which though thou wouldst deny, denies thee vantage: Where Claudio stoop'd to death, and with like haste;- Mari. O, my most gracious Lord, I hope you will not mock me with a husband! Mari. O, my dear lord, I crave no other, nor no better man. Duke. You do but lose your labour; Away with him to death.-Now, Sir, to you. [Kneeling. [TO LUCIÓ. Mari. O, my good lord!-Sweet Isabel, take my part: Lend me your knees, and all my life to come I'll lend you, all my life to do you service. Duke. Against all senset you do importune her. Should she kneel down, in mercy of this fact, Her brother's ghost his paved bed would break, And take her hence in horror. Mari. Isabel, Sweet Isabel, do yet but kneel by me; Hold up your hands, say nothing, I'll speak all. Duke. He dies for Claudio's death. Look, if it please you, on this man condemn'd, *Angelo's own tongue. [Kneeling. † Reason and affection. 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, 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; 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? Prov. It was commanded so. Duke. Had you a special warrant for the deed? Prov. Pardon me, noble lord: I thought it was a fault, but knew it not; Duke. What's he? Prov. His name is Barnardine. Duke. I would thou hadst done so by Claudio. Ang. I am sorry, that such sorrow I procure: 'Tis my deserving, and I do entreat it. [Exit PROVOST. Re-enter PROVOSt, Barnardine, CLAUDIO, and JULIET. 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 I leave him to your hand.-What muffled fellow's that? That should have died when Claudio lost his head; * Consideration. [Unmuffles CLAUDIO. Duke. If he be like your brother, for his sake, 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: [To ISABELLA, Look that you love your wife; her worth, worth yours.→ And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon; You, sirrah [to LUCIO], that knew me for a fool, a coward, One all of luxury,† an ass, a madman; Wherein have I so deserved of you, That you extol me thus? 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.- Lucio. I beseech your highness, do not marry me to a whore! Thy slanders I forgive; and therewithal Remit thy other forfeits :§-Take him to prison; Lucio. Marrying a punk, my lord, is pressing to death, whip ping, and hanging. Duke. Sland'ring a prince deserves it. She, Claudio, that you wrong'd, look you restore.→ I have confess'd her, and I know her virtue.- * Requites. + Incontinence. § Punishments. [Exeunt. + Thoughtless practice. To reward. MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. PERSONS REPRESENTED. DON PEDRO, Prince of Arragon. BALTHAZAR, Servant to Don BORACHIO, CONRADE, } Followers of Don DOGBERRY, Two foolish Of A SEXTON. A FRIAR. HERO, Daughter to Leonato. } Scene.-MESSINA. ACT I. SCENE I-Before LEONATO's House. Enter LEONATO, HERO, BEATRICE, and others, with a Leon. I learn in this letter, that Don Pedro of Arragon comes this night to Messina. Mess. He is very near by this; he was not three leagues off when I left him. Leon. How many gentlemen have you lost in this action ? Leon. A victory is twice itself, when the achiever brings home full numbers. I find here, that Don Pedro has bestow'd 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 bettered expectation, than you must expect of me to tell you how. |