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●wn confeffion, learn to begin thy health; but, whilst I live, forget to drink after thee.

1 Gent. I think, I have done myself wrong; have

I not?

Clown. Groping for trouts in a peculiar river. Bawd. What, is there a maid with child by him ? Clown. No; but there's a woman with maid by him: You have not heard of the proclamation, have

Gent. Yes, that thou haft; whether thou art you? tainted, or free.

Lucio. Behold, behold, where madam Mitigation comes! I have purchas'd as many difeafes under her roof, as come to→→

2 Gent. To what, I pray?

1 Gent. Judge.

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Bawd. What proclamation, man?

Clown. All houses in the suburbs of Vienna muft be pluck'd down.

[city? Batud. And what fhall become of thofe in the Clown. They shall ftand for feed: they had gone down too, but that a wife burgher put in for them. Bawd. But fhall all our houfes of refort in the fuburbs be pull'd down?

Clown. To the ground, mistress.

Bard. Why, here's a change, indeed, in the commonwealth! What shall become of me?

Clown. Come; fear not you: good counsellors lack no clients: though you change your place, you need not change your trade; I'll be your tapiter ftill. Courage; there will be pity taken on you:

1 Gext. How now? Which of your hips has the you that have worn your eyes almost out in the fermott profound sciatica?

Barud. Well, well; there's one yonder arrested, and carried to prifon, was worth five thousand of you all.

1 Gent. Who's that, I pr'ythee?

Bawd. Marry, fir, that's Claudio, fignior Claudio. 1 Gent. Claudio to prifon! 'tis not fo.

Bawd. Nay, but I know 'tis fo: I faw him ar

vice, you will be confidered.

Bawd. What's to do here, Thomas Tapfter? Let's withdraw.

Clown. Here comes fignior Claudio, led by the provoit to prifon : and there's madam Juliet. [Exeunt Bawa and Clown. SCENE III.

retted; faw him carry'd away; and, which is Enter Provof, Claudio, Juliet, and Offisers; Lucio

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and two Gentlemen.

Claud. Fellow, why doit thou fhow me thus to
the world?

Bear me to prifon, where I am committed.
Prov. I do it not in evil difpofition,
Bat from lord Angelo by fpecial charge.

Claud. Thus can the demi-god, authority,

Make us pay down for our offence by weight.-
The words of heaven :-on whom it will, it will;

On whom it will not, fo; yet still 'tis juít.
Lucio. Why, how now, Claudio? whence comes

1 Gent. But most of all agreeing with the pro-this reftraint ? ⚫lamation.

Lucio. Away; let's go learn the truth of it.

[Exeunt. Manet Bawd. Bawd. Thus, what with the war, what with the fweat 3, what with the gallows, and what with poverty, I am cuftom-shrunk.-How now? what's the news with you?

Enter Clown.

Crown. Yonder man is carry'd to prifon.
Bawi. Well; what has he done 4 ?
Liwn. A woman.

Bawd. But what's his offence?

Claud. From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty:
As furfeit is the father of much faft,
So every fcope by the immoderate ufe
Turns to restraint: Our natures do pursue,
(Like rats that ravin down their proper bane)
A thirsty evil; and, when we drink, we die.
Lucio. If I could fpeak fo wifely under an arrest,
I would fend for certain of my creditors: And yet,
to fay the truth, I had as lief have the foppery of
freedom, as the morality of imprisonment.--What's
thy offence, Claudio?

Claud. What, but to fpeak of, would offend again.
Lucio. What is it? murder?

1 A quibble intended between dollars and dolours. 2 Lucio means here not the piece of money fo called, but that venereal icab, which among the furgeons is ftyled corona Veneris. 3 Alluding probably to the method of cure then used for the diseases contracted in brothels. 4 The verb to do, is here used in a fenfe now obfolete, but which the reader will cafily guefs at from the modern application of the phrafe of "undoing a woman," or " a woman's being undone." Hence the name of Cer-done, which Shakspeare has in this play appropriated to the baud Meaning all bawdy-houses. • Re is an obfolete word for prey.

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Claud. No.

Lucio. Lechery?

Claud. Call it fo.

Prov. Away, fir; you must go.

Claud. One word, good friend :-Lucio, a word

with you.

Is lechery fo look'd after?

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Lucio. A hundred, if they'll do you any good. Believe not that the dribbling dart of love
Can pierce a compleat bofom: why I defire thee
To give me fecret harbour, hath a purpose
More grave and wrinkled than the aims and ends
Of burning youth.

[tract,
Claud. Thus ftands it with me.-Upon a true con-
I got poffeffion of Julietta's bed;
You know the lady; fhe is faft my wife,
Save that we do the denunciation lack
Of outward order: this we came not to,
Only for propagation of a dower
Remaining in the coffer of her friends;

From whom we thought it meet to hide our love,
Till time had made them for us. But it chances,
The stealth of our moft mutual entertainment,
With character too grofs, is writ on Juliet.
Lucio. With child, perhaps?
Claud. Unhappily, even fo.

And the new deputy now for the duke,-
Whether it be the fault and glimpse of newness;
Or whether that the body public be

A horfe whereon the governor doth ride,
Who, newly in the feat, that it may know
He can command, let's it straight feel the fpur :
Whether the tyranny be in his place,
Or in his eminence that fills it up,
I ftagger in-But this new governor
Awakes me all the enrolled penalties,
Which have, like unscour'd armour, hung by the
So long, that nineteen zodiacks have gone round,
And none of them been worn; and, for a name,
Now puts the drowsy and neglected act
Freshly on me :-'tis, furely, for a name.

[wall,

Lucio. I warrant, it is: and thy head stands fo tickle on thy fhoulders, that a milk-maid, if she be in love, may figh it off. Send after the duke,

and appeal to him.

Claud. I have done fo, but he's not to be found.
I pr'ythee, Lucio, do me this kind service:
This day my fifter should the cloister enter,
And there receive her approbation :
Acquaint her with the danger of my state;
Implore her, in my voice, that the make friends
To the ftrict deputy; bid herself assay him;
I have great hope in that: for in her youth
There is a prone 3 and speechlefs dialect,
Such as moves men; befide, she hath profperous art
When the will play with reafon and discourse,
And weil the can perfuade.

Lucio. I pray, the may as well for the encouragement of the like, which elfe would stand under grievous impofition; as for the enjoying of thy | life, who I would be sorry should be thus foolishly loft at a game of tick-tack. I'll to her.

Claud. I thank you, good friend Lucio.
Lucio. Within two hours,-

Claud. Come, officer, away.

Fri. May your grace speak of it?

Duke. My holy fir, none better knows than you
How I have ever lov'd the life remov'd4;

And held in idle price to haunt affemblies,
Where youth, and coft, and witlefs bravery keeps
I have deliver'd to lord Angelo

(A man of stricture 5, and firm abstinence)
My abfolute power and place here in Vienna,
And he fuppofes me travell'd to Poland;
For fo I have ftrew'd it in the common ear,
And fo it is receiv'd: Now, pious fir,
You will demand of me, why I do this?
Fri. Gladly, my lord.

[laws,

Duke. We have ftrict ftatutes, and most biting
(The needful bits and curbs for head-strong steeds)
Which for these nineteen years we have let fleep;
Even like an o'er-grown lion in a cave,

That goes not out to prey: Now, as fond fathers
Having bound up the threat'ning twigs of birch,
Only to stick it in their children's fight,
For terror, not to use; in time the rod
Becomes more mock'd, than fear'd: fo our decrees,
Dead to infliction, to themfeives are dead;
And liberty plucks juftice by the nose;
The baby beats the nurfe, and quite athwart
Goes all decorum.

Fri. It refted in your grace

To unloofe this ty'd-up justice, when you pleas'd:
And it in you more dreadful would have seem'd,
Than in lord Angelo.

Duke. I do fear, too dreadful:

Sith 'twas my fault to give the people scope,
'Twould be my tyranny to strike, and gall them,
For what I bid them do: For we bid this be done,
When evil deeds have their permiffive pafs, [father,
And not the punishment. Therefore, indeed, my
I have on Angelo impos'd the office;
Who may, in the ambush of my name, strike home,
And yet, my nature never in the fight
To do it flander: And to behold his fway,
I will, as 'twere a brother of your order,
Vifit both prince and people : therefore, I pr'ythee,
Supply me with the habit, and instruct me
How I may formally in perfon bear me
Like a true friar. More reafons for this action,
At our more leifure thall I render you;

Only, this one :-Lord Angelo is precife; Stands at a guard with envy; fcarce confeffes [Exeunt. That his blood flows, or that his appetite

That is, whether it be the feeming enormity of the action, or the glare of new authority. That is, ticklish. 3 Prone here feems to mean humble. 4 Meaning a life of retirement. s Stricture is probably here uled for ftrictness. • That is, ftands on terms of defiance.

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Enter Ifabella and Francifca.

Ijab. And have you nuns no farther privileges?
Nun. Are not thefe large enough?

Ifab. Yes, truly: I fpeak not as defiring more;
But rather wishing a more strict restraint
Upon the fifter-hood, the votarifts of faint Clare.
Lucio. [Within.] Ho! Peace be in this place!
Ifab. Who's that which calls?

Nun. It is a man's voice: Gentle Ifabella,

Expreffeth his full tilth and husbandry. [Juliet?
Ifab. Some one with child by him?-My coufin
Lucio. Is the your coufin?
[names,

Ijab. Adoptedly; as fchool-maids change their
By vain though apt affection.

Lucio. She it is.

Ifab. O, let him marry her!
Lucio. This is the point.

The duke is very strangely gone from hence,
Bore many gentlemen, myself being one,
In hand, and hope of action 4: but we do learn
By thofe that know the very nerves of state,
His givings-out were of an infinite distance
From his true-meant defign. Upon his place,

Turn you the key, and know his business of him ; And with full line 5 of his authority,
You may, I may not; you are yet unfworn:
When you have vow'd, you must not speak with
But in the prefence of the prioress: [men,
Then, if you speak, you must not fhew your face;
Or, if you shew your face, you must not speak.
He calls again; I pray you, answer him.

[Exit Franc. Ifab. Peace and profperity! Who is 't that calls? Enter Lucio.

Lucio. Hail, virgin, if you be; as those cheek

rofes

Proclaim you are no less! Can you so stead me,
As bring me to the fight of Isabella,
A novice of this place, and the fair fifter
To her unhappy brother Claudio?

Ifab. Why her unhappy brother? let me afk;
The rather, for I now must make you know
I am that Ifabella, and his fifter.

[greets you:
Lucio. Gentle and fair, your brother kindly
Not to be weary with you, he's in prison.
Ifab. Woe me! For what?

[judge,

Lucio. For that, which, if myself might be his He should receive his punishment in thanks:

He hath got his friend with child.

Ifab. Sir, make me not your story.

Governs lord Angelo: A man whose blood
Is very fnow-broth; one who never feels
The wanton ftings and motions of the fenfe;
But doth rebate and blunt his natural edge
With profits of the mind, study and fast.
He (to give fear to use and liberty 6,
Which have, for long, run by the hideous law,
As mice by lions) hath pick'd out an act,
Under whose heavy sense your brother's life
Falls into forfeit: he arrefts him on it;
And follows close the rigour of the statute,
To make him an example: all hope is gone,
Unless you have the grace 7 by your fair prayer
To foften Angelo: and that's my pith 8
Of bufinefs 'twixt you and your poor brother.
Ifab. Doth he fo feek his life?

Lucio. Has cenfur'd 9 him

Already; and, as I hear, the provoft hatla
A warrant for his execution.

Ifab. Alas! what poor ability's in me
To do him good?

Lucio. Allay the power you have.
Ifab. My power! Alas! I doubt,—
Lucio. Our doubts are traitors,

And make us lose the good we oft might win,

Lucio. 'Tis true:-I would not (though 'tis my By fearing to attempt: Go to lord Angelo,

familiar fin

With maids to feem the lapwing, and to jeft,
Tongue far from heart) play with all virgins so:
I hold you as a thing ensky'd, and fainted;
By your renouncement, an immortal spirit;
And to be talked with in fincerity,
As with a faint.

Ifab. You do blafpheme the good, in mocking me.
Lucio. Do not believe it. Fewness and truth, 'tis
Your brother and his lover have embrac'd: [thus:
As those that feed grow full; as bloffoming time
*That from the feedness the bare fallow brings
To teeming foyfon 3; so her plenteous womb

And let him learn to know, when maidens fue,
Men give like gods; but when they weep and kneel,
All their petitions are as truly theirs
As they themselves would owe 10 them.
Ifab. I'll fee what I can do.
Lucio. But, fpeedily.

Ifab. I will about it strait;
No longer staying but to give the mother 11
Notice of my affair. I humbly thank you:
Commend me to my brother: foon at night
I'll fend him certain word of my success.
Lucio. I take my leave of you.
Ifab. Good fir, adieu.

That is, in few words. 2 For that, we fhould probably read doth; and inftead of brings bring. 3 That is, plenty, abundance. 4 The meaning is, he kept many gentlemen in expectation and dependance. 5 That is, full extent. 6 That is, to intimidate practices long countenanced by cuftom. 7 That is, the power of gaining favour. 8 The principal part of my meffage. 9 That is, has fensenced him. 10 To owe, here fignifies, to poffefs, to have. II The abbefs.

ACT

ACT

SCENE I.

Angelo's boufe.

Enter Angelo, Efealus, a Jaflice, Provost1, and

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E muft not make a scare-crow of the
law;

Setting it up to fear the birds of prey,
And let it keep one fhape, till custom make it
Their perch, and not their terror.

Efcal. Ay, but yet

Let us be keen, and rather cut a little,
Than fall, and bruife to death: Alas! this gentleman,
Whom I would fave, had a most noble father.
Let but your honour know, (whom I believe
To be most ftrait in virtue)

That, in the working of your own affections,
Had time coher'd with place, or place with wifhing,
Or that the refolute acting of your blood
Could have attain'd the effect of your own purpose,
Whether you had not fometime in your life
Err'd in this point which now you cenfure him 3,
And pull'd the law upon you.

Ang. 'Tis one thing to be tempted, Efcalus,
Another thing to fall. I not deny,
The jury, paffing on the prifoner's life,
May, in the fworn twelve, have a thief or two
Guiltier than him they try: What's open made to
That justice feizes. What know the laws, juftice,
That thieves do pafs on thieves? 'Tis very pregnant
The jewel that we find, we floop and take it,
Because we fee it; but what we do not fee,
We tread upon, and never think of it.
You may not fo extenuate his offence,

5 For I have had fuch faults; but rather tell me,
When I that cenfure him do fo offend,
Let mine own judgment pattern out my death,
And nothing come in partial. Sir, he muft die.
Efcal. Be it as your wifdom will.
Ang. Where is the provost?

Prov. Here, if it like your honour.
Ang. See that Claudio

Be executed by nine to-morrow morning:
Bring him his confeffor, let him be prepar'd;
For that's the utmost of his pilgrimage.

[Exit Provoft.
Efeal. Well, heaven forgive him! and forgive us all!
Some rife by fin, and fome by virtue fall:
Some run from brakes of vice, and answer none;
And fome condemned for a fault aione.

Enter Elbow, Froth, Clown, Officers, &c. Elb. Come, bring them away; if these be good

II.

[people in a common-weal, that do nothing but ufd their abufes in common houfes, I know no law bring them away.

Ang. How now, fir! What's your name? and what's the matter?

Elb. If it pleafe your honour, I am the poor duke's conftable, and my name is Elbow; I do lean upon juftice, fir, and do bring in here before your good honour two notorious benefactors.

Ang. Benefactors? Well; what benefactors are they are they not malefactors?

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

Efcal. This comes off well 7; here's a wife officer. Ang. Go to: What quality are they of? Elbow is your name? Why doft thou not speak, Elbow?

Clown. He cannot, fir; he's out at elbow 8.

Ang. He, fir a tapfter, fir; a parcel-bawd 9; one that ferves a bad woman; whofe houfe, fit, was, as they fay, pluck'd down in the suburbs; and now the profeffes a hot-houfe 10, which, I think, is a very ill house too.

Efcal. How know you that?

Elb. My wife, fir, whom I deteft before heaven and your honour,

Efl. How thy wife?

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

Efeal. Doft thou deteft her, therefore?

Elb. I fay, fir, I will deteft myself alfo, as well as the, that this houfe, if it be not a bawd's house, it is pity of her life, for it is a naughty houfe.

Ffal. How do thou know that, conftable?

Elb. Marry, fir, by my wife; who, if the had been a woman cardinally given, might have been accufed in fornication, adultery, and all uncleanness there.

Efcal. By the woman's means?

Elb. Ay, fir, by miftrefs Over-done's means: but as fhe fpit in his face, fo the defy'd him. Clown. Sir, if it please your honour, this is not fo. Elb. Prove it before thefe varlets here, thou honourable man, prove it.

Efcal. Do you hear how he mifplaces?

[To Angela.

Clown. Sir, the came in great with child; and longing (faving your honour's reverence) for ftew'd prunes 11; fir, we had but two in the house, which at that very diftant time stood as it were, in a fruit-dish, a dith of fome three-pence; your

To affright, to terrify

3 That is, for

The provost is ufually the executioner of an army. which you now blame him. 4 Pregnant here means plain. 5 That is, becaufe. That is, from the thorny paths of vice. ↑ Comes off well, when serioully applied to speech, imports a story or tale to be well told or delivered. Efcalu;, however, here ufes the phrafe ironically. 8 The Clown quibbles on the word elboru; meaning, he is out at the word elbow, and out at the elbow of his coat. meaning is, he is half tapiter, half bawd. 10 That is, fhe keeps a bagnio. A difh of fewed prunes in the window, was the ancient mark or characteristic, as well as the conftant appendage of a

brothel.

9 The

honour

honours have feen fuch difhes; they are not China honour; 'tis for a good purpose: Doth your họdishes, but very good dishes. nour mark his face?

Efcal. Go to, go to; no matter for the difh, fir. Chun. No, indeed, fir, not of a pin; you are therein in the right: but to the point: As I fay, this mistress Elbow, being, as I fay, with child, and being great belly'd, and longing, as I faid, for prunes; and having but two in the difh, as I faid, mafter Froth here, this very man, having eaten the reft, as I faid, and, as I fay, paying for them very honeftly;-for, as you know, mafter Froth, I could not give you three pence again.

Froth. No, indeed.

Clown. Very well: you being then, if you be remember'd, cracking the ftones of the forefaid prunes.

Froth. Ay, fo I did, indeed.

Clown. Why, very well: I telling you then, if you be remember'd, that fuch a one, and fuch a one, were paft cure of the thing you wot of, unless they kept very good diet, as I told you.

Froth. All this is true.

Clean. Why, very well then.

Eical. Come, you are a tedious fool to the purpofe. What was done to Elbow's wife, that he hath caufe to complain of? come me to what was done to her.

Clown. Sir, your honour cannot come to that yet.
Fical. No, fir, nor I mean it not.

Clown. Sir, but you fhall come to it, by your honour's leave: And, I befeech you, look into mafter Froth here, fir; a man of fourfcore pound a year; whofe father dy'd at Hallowmas :-Was 't not at Hallowmas, mafter Froth?

Fretb. All-hollond eve.

Clown. Why, very well; I hope here be truths: He, fir, fitting, as I fay, in a lower chair, fir ;— 'twas in the Bunch of Grapes, where, indeed, you have a delight to fit, Have you not?

Froth. I have fo; because it is an open room, and good for winter.

Clown. Why, very well then ;-I hope here be truths.

Ang. This will last out a night in Ruffia, When nights are longeft there: I'll take my leave, And leave you to the hearing of the caufe ; Hoping, you'll find good caufe to whip them all. Ffcal. I think no leis: Good-morrow to your lordship. [Exit Angelo. Now, fir, come on: What was done to Elbow's wife, once more?

Clown. Once, fir? there was nothing done to her once.

Elb. I befeech you, fir, afk him what this man did to my wife.

Clown. I beseech your honour, ask me.

Efcal. Well, fir; What did this gentleman to

her?

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Clown. I'll be fuppos'd upon a book, his face is the worst thing about him: Good then; if his face be the worst thing about him, how could mafter Froth do the conftable's wife any harm? I would know that of your honour.

Ffal. He's in the right: conftable, what fay you to it?

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

Clown. By this hand, fir, his wife is a more respected perfon than any of us all.

Elb. Varlet, thou lieft; thou lieft, wicked varlet: the time is yet to come, that he was ever refpected with man, woman, or child.

Clown. Sir, fhe was refpected with him before he marry'd with her.

Efcal. Which is the wifer here? Juftice or Iniquity Is this true?

Elb. O thou caitiff! O thou varlet! O thou wicked Hannibal 2! I refpected with her, before I was marry'd to her? If ever I was respected with her, or the with me, let not your worthip think me the poor duke's officer:Prove this, thou wicked Hannibal, or I'll have mine action of battery on thee.

Ejcal. If he took you a box o' the ear, you might have your action of flander too.

Elb. Marry, I thank your good worship for it : What is 't your worthip's pleasure I fhall do with

this wicked caitiff?

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Clown. A tapfter; a poor widow's tapfter.
Efcal. Your miftrefs's name?
Clown. Miftrefs Over-done.

Efcal. Hath the had any more than one husband?
Clown. Nine, fir; Over-done by the laft.
Efcal. Nine!Come hither to me, mafter

Clorum. I beseech you, fir, look in this gentleman's face :-Good mafter Froth, look upon his Froth. Mafter Froth, I would not have you ace

1 This probably alludes to two perfonages well known to the audience by their frequent introducon in the old Moralities. 2 A millake for Cannibal.

quainted

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