SCE NE VI.
Enter Ifabella and Mariana.
Ifab. To fpeak fo indirectly, I am loth;
I would fay the truth; but to accuse him fo,
That is your part; yet am advis'd to do it;
He fays, to vail full purpose 6.

Mari. Be rul'd by him.

Ifab. Befides, he tells me, that, if peradventure
He fpeak againit me on the adverse fide,

I fhould not think it ftrange; for 'tis a phyfick,
That's bitter to fweet end.

Mari. I would, friar Peter-—
Ifab. Oh, peace; the friar is come.
Enter Friar Peter.

Peter. Come, I have found you out aftand most fit,
Where you may have fuch 'vantage on the duke,
He fhall not pafs you: Twice have the trumpets
The generous 7 and graveft citizens
Have hent the gates, and very near upon
[founded;
The duke is entering; therefore hence, away.
[Exeunt.

ACT

Duke. Many and hearty thankings to you both. We have made enquiry of you; and we hear Such goodness of your justice, that our foul

Duke. MY cohful friend, we are Camot out yield you forth to publick thanks,

Fore-running more requital

1 Meaning, of figure and rank. 2 That is, unprepared. 3 That is, creditable. 4 That is, private. 5 That is, fly off. • Meaning, to conceal the full extent of our design. 7 That is, noble. That is, feized.

Ang. You make my bonds still greater.
Duke. Oh, your defert fpeaks loud; and I should
wrong it,

To lock it in the wards of covert bofom,
When it deferves with characters of brafs
A forted refidence, 'gainst the tooth of time
And razure of oblivion: Give me your hand,
And let the fubjects fee, to make them know
That outward courtefies would fain proclaim
Favours that keep within.-Come, Escalus;
You must walk by us on our other hand;—
And good fupporters are you. [ As the Duke is going out,
Enter Peter and Ifabella.

Peter. Now is your time; speak loud, and kneel
before him.

I

Ifab. Juftice, O royal duke! Vail your regard
Upon a wrong'd, I would fain have faid, a maid!
Oh worthy prince, difhonour not your eye
By throwing it on any other object,

Till you have heard me in, my true complaint,
And given me justice, justice, justice, juftice!

Duke. Relate your wrongs: In what? by whom?
Here is lord Angelo fhall give you justice; [be brief:
Reveal yourself to him.

Ifab. Oh, worthy duke,

[here.

You bid me feek redemption of the devil:
Hear me yourself; for that which I must speak
Muft either punith me, not being believ'd,
Or wring redress from you: hear me, oh, hear me,
Ang. My lord, her wits, I fear me, are not firm:
She hath been a fuitor to me for her brother,
Cut off by course of justice.

Ifab. By courfe of justice!

Ang. And he will speak most bitterly and strange.
Ifab. Moft ftrange, but yet most truly, will I speak:
That Angelo's forfworn; is it not strange ?
That Angelo's a murtherer; is 't not strange?
That Angelo is an adulterous thief,

An hypocrite, a virgin violator;

Is it not ftrange, and strange?

Duke. Nay, it is ten times ftrange.
Ifab. It is not truer he is Angelo,
Than this is all as true as it is ftrange:
Nay, it is ten times true; for truth is truth
To the end of reckoning.

Duke. Away with her :-Poor foul,
She fpeaks this in the infirmity of fenfe.

Ijab. O prince, I conjure thee, as thou believ'ft
There is another comfort than this world,
That thou neglect me not, with that opinion [fible
That I am touch'd with madness: make not impof-
That which but feems unlike: 'tis not impollible
But one,
the wicked'ft caitiff on the ground,
May feem as fhy, as grave, as juft, as abfolute 2,
As Angelo; even fo may Angelo,

In all his dreifings 3, characts 4, titles, forms,
Be an arch villain: believe it, royal prince,
If he be lefs, he's nothing; but he's more,
Had I more name for badnefs.

Duke. By mine honefty,

If the be mad, (as I believe no other)
Her madnets hath the oddest frame of fenfe,
Such a dependency of thing on thing,

1 To vail means to let full, or to lower.

As e'er I heard in madness.

Ifab. Gracious duke,

Harp not on that; nor do not banish reason
For inequality: but let your reafon serve
To make the truth appear, where it feems hid;
Not hide the falfe, feems true.

[fay!

Duke. Many that are not mad
Have, fure, more lack of reafon.-What would you
Ifab. I am the fifter of one Claudio,
Condemn'd upon the act of fornication
To lofe his head; condemn'd by Angelo:
I, in probation of a futerhood,
Was fent to by my brother; one Lucio
Was then the meffenger;-

Lucio. That's I, an 't like your grace:
I came to her from Claudio, and defir'd her
To try her gracious fortune with lord Angelo,
For her poor brother's pardon.

Ifab. That's he, indeed.

Duke. You were not bid to fpeak.
Lucio. No, my good lord;

Nor wish'd to hold my peace.

Duke. I with you now, then;

Pray you, take note of it: and when you have
A bufinefs for yourfelf, pray heaven, you then
Be perfect.

Lucio. I warrant your honour.

Duke. The warrant's for yourfelf; take heed to it
Ifab. This gentleman told fomewhat of my tale.
Lucio. Right.

Duke. It may be right; but you are in the wrong
To fpeak before your time.-Proceed.
Ifab. I went

To this pernicious caitiff deputy.

Duke. That's fomewhat madly spoken.
Ifab. Pardon it;

The phrafe is to the matter.

Duke. Mended again: the matter;-Proceed.
Ifab. In brief,-to fet the needless process by
How I perfuaded, how I pray'd, and kneel'd,
How he refell'd 5 me, and how I reply'd;
(For this was of much length) the vile conclufion
I now begin with grief and fhame to utter:
He would not, but by gift of my chafte body
To his concupifcible intemperate luft,
Releate my brother; and, after much debatement,
My filterly remorfe confutes my honour,
And I did yield to him: But the next morn betimes,
His purpofe furfeiting, he fends a warrant
For my poor brother's head.

Dake. This is most likely!

Ijab. Oh, that it were as like 7, as it is true!
Duke. By heaven, fond wretch, thou know'
not what thou fpeak'ft;

Or elfe thou art fuborn'd against his honour
In hateful practice 9: Firtt, his integrity
Stands without blemish:-next, it imports no reason,
That with fuch vehemency he should purfue
Faults proper to himself: if he had to offended,
He would have weigh'd thy brother by himself, [on;
And not have cut him oft: Some one hath fet you
Confefs the truth, and fay by whofe advice
Thou cam'it here to complain.

2 i. e. As perfect, as exact in the performance of his duty.

3 His appearance of virtue. 4 Characters. 5 Refuted, Pity. 7 Probable. $ Foolish, 9 Stratagem.

ab. And is this all?

Then, oh, you blessed minifters above,

Keep me in patience; and, with ripen'd time,
Unfold the evil which is here wrapt up

[woe,

In countenance !!-Heaven fhield your grace from
As I, thus wrong'd, hence unbelieved go!

Mari. No, my lord.

Duke. Are you a maid ?
Mari. No, my lord.

Duke. A widow then?

Mari. Neither, my lord.

Duke. Why you are nothing then :

Dake. I know, you'd fain be gone:-an officer-Neither maid, widow, nor wife?

To prifon with her :-Shall we thus permit
A blasting and a scandalous breath to fall
On him fo near us? This needs must be a practice 2.
Who knew of your intent and coming hither?

Ifab. One that I would were here, friar Lodowick.
Duke. A ghoftly father, belike: Who knows that
Lodowick?

Lucio. My lord, I know him; 'tis a meddling friar;
I do not like the man: had he been lay, my lord,
For certain words he fpake against your grace
In your retirement, I had swing'd him foundly.
Duke. Words against me? this' a good friar belike!
And to fet on this wretched woman here
Against our fubftitute!-Let this friar be found.
Lucio. But yefternight, my lord, the and that friar
I faw them at the prifon : a faucy friar,
A very icurvy fellow.

Peter. Bleffed be your royal grace!

I have stood by, my lord, and I have heard
Your royal ear abus'd: Firft, hath this woman
Moft wrongfully accus'd your fubstitute;
Who is as free from touch or foil with her,

As the from one ungot.

Duke. We did believe no less.

[them

Lucio. My lord, the may be a punk; for many of Are neither maid, widow, nor wife.

Duke. Silence that fellow: I would he had fome cause To prattle for himself.

Lucio. Well, my lord.

Mari. My lord, I do confefs, I ne'er was marry'd;
And, I confefs, befides, I am no maid: [not,

I have known my husband; yet my husband knows
That ever he knew me.
[better.
Lucio. He was drunk then, my lord; it can be no
Duke. For the benefit of filence, 'would thou wert
Lucio. Well, my lord.
[fo too.
Duke. This is no witness for lord Angelo.
Mari. Now I come to 't, my lord:

She, that accufes him of fornication,

In felf-fame manner doth accufe my husband;
And charges him, my lord, with fuch a time,
When I'll depofe I had him in mine arms,
With all the effect of love.

Ang. Charges the more than me?

Mari. Not that I know.

Duke. No? You say, your husband. [To Mariana. Mari. Why, just, my lord, and that is Angelo, Who thinks, he knows, that he ne'er knew my body,

Know you that friar Lodowick, which she speaks of? | But knows, he thinks, that he knows Ifabel's.

Peter. I know him for a man divine and holy;
Not fcurvy, nor a temporary 3 meddler,
As he's reported by this gentleman;
And, on my truft, a man that never yet
Did, as he vouches, mifreport your grace.

Lacio. My lord, most villainously; believe it.
Peter. Well, he in time may come to clear himself;
But at this inftant he is fick, my lord,
Of a strange fever: Upon his mere request,
(Being come to knowledge that there was complaint
Intended 'gainst lord Angelo) came I hither,

To fpeak, as from his mouth, what he doth know
Is true, and falfe; and what he with his oath,
And all probation, will make up full clear,
Whenever he's convented. First, for this woman,
(To juftify this worthy nobleman,
So vulgarly and perfonally accus'd)

Her fhall you hear difproved to her eyes,
Till the herself confefs it.

Duke. Good friar, let's hear it.
Do you not fmile at this, lord Angelo ?—
O heaven! the vanity of wretched fools !—
Give us fome feats.-Come, coufin Angelo;
In this I will be impartial; be you judge
Of your own caufe.-Is this the witnefs, friar?
[Ifabella is carried off, guarded.
Enter Mariana, veil`d.
First, let her fhew her face; and, after, speak.
Mari. Pardon, my lord; I will not fhew my face,
Until my hufband bid me.

Duke. What, are you marry'd?

Ang. This is a strange abuse 4. Let's fee thy face.
Mari. My husband bids me; now I will unmask.
This is that face, thou cruel Angelo, [Unveiling.
Which, once thou fwor'ft, was worth the looking on:
This is the hand, which, with a vow'd contract,
Was faft belock'd in thine: this is the body,
That took away the match from Ifabel,
And did fupply thee at thy garden-house,
In her imagin'd perfon.

Duke. Know you this woman?
Lucio. Carnally, the fays.
Duke. Sirrah, no more.

Lucio. Enough, my lord.

1 i. e. In partial favour. 2 An artifice. 3 Perpetual. 4 Abufe here fignifies deception. 5 That is, her promis'd fortune fell short of the agreement.

Or else for ever be confixed here,
A marble monument!

Ang. I did but fmile 'till now;
Now, good my lord, give me the scope of juftice;
My patience here is touch'd: I do perceive,
Thefe poor informal women are no more
But inftruments of fome more mightier member,
That fets them on: Let me have way, my lord,
To find this practice out.

Duke. Ay, with my heart;

And punish them unto your height of pleasure.--
Thou foolish friar, and thou pernicious woman,
Compact with her that's gone! think't thou thy
oaths,
[faint,
Though they would fwear down each particular
Were teftimonies against his worth and credit,
That's feal'd in approbation ?-You, lord Escalus,
Sit with my coufin; lend him your kind pains
To find out this abufe, whence 'tis deriv'd.-
There is another friar, that fet them on;
Let him be fent for.

[indeed,

Peter. Would he were here, my lord; for he,
Hath fet the women on to this complaint:
Your provoft knows the place where he abides,
And he may fetch him.

Duke. Go, do it inftantly.

And you, my noble and well-warranted coufin,
Whom it concerns to hear this matter forth 2,
Do with your injuries as feems you best,
In any chaftifement; I for a while
Will leave you; fir not you till you have well
Determined upon these fianderers.

[Fxit. Efcal. My lord, we'll do it thoroughly.-Signior Lucio, did not you fay, you knew that friar Lodowick to be a dishonest person?

Lucio. Cucullus non facit monachum: honeft in nothing, but in his cloaths; and one that hath spoke moft villainous fpeeches of the duke.

Efcal. We fhall intreat you to abide here till he come, and enforce them against him: We shall find this friar a notable fellow.

Lucio. As any in Vienna, on my word.
Ffcal. Call that fame Habel here once again; I
would speak with her: Pray you, my lord, give
me leave to question; you shall see how I'll handle
hier.

Lucia. Not better than he, by her own report.
Ffcal. Say you?

Lucio. Marry, fir, I think, if you handled her privately, the should sooner confefs; perchance, publickly fhe'll be afham'd.

Enter Duke in the Friar's habit, and Provoft. bella is brought in.

Efcal. How! know you where you are? [devil
Duke. Refpect to your great place! and let the
Be fometime honour'd for his burning throne :-
Where is the duke? 'tis he fhould hear me speak.
Efcal. The duke's in us; and we will hear you
Look, you fpeak justly.
[fpeak:

Duke. Boldly, at leaft :-But, oh, poor fouls,
Come you to feek the lamb here of the fox?
Good night to your redrefs: Is the duke gone?
Then is your cause gone too. The duke's unjust,
Thus to retort your manifest appeal 3,
And put your trial in the villain's mouth,
Which here you come to accufe.

Lucio. This is the rafcal; this is he I fpoke of.
Efcal. Why, thou unreverend and unhallow'd
friar !

Is 't not enough, thou haft fuborn'd thefe women
To accufe this worthy man; but, in foul mouth,
And in the witnefs of his proper ear,

To call him villain?

And then to glance from him to the duke himself
To tax him with iniuftice?--Take him hence;
To the rack with him: We'll touze you joint by
joint,

But we will know this purpofe: What unjust
Duke. Be not fo hot; the duke

Dare no more ftretch this finger of mine, than he
Dare rack his own; his fubject I am not,
Nor here provincial 4: My bufinefs in this state
Made me a looker-on here in Vienna,
Where I have feen corruption boil and bubble,
'Till it o'er-run the ftew: laws, for all faults;
But faults fo countenanc'd that the strong statutes
Stand like the forfeits in a barber's shop 5,
As much in mock as mark.

[prifon. Efcal. Slander to the ftate! Away with him to Ang. What can you vouch against him, fignior Is this the man, that you did tell us of? [Lucio? Lucio. 'Tis he, my lord. Come hither, goodman bald-pate: Do you know me ?

Duke. I remember you, fir, by the found of Ifa-yonr voice: I met you at the prifon, in the abfence of the duke.

Ffeal. I will go darkly to work with her. Lucio. That's the way; for women are light at midnight.

Ffcal. Come on, miftrefs; here's a gentlewo

Dr. Johnson. in his Dictionary, quotes this paffage, and afligns the meaning of not competent to informal. 2 That is, from beginning to end. 3 Meaning, to refer your appeal againit Angelo to Angelo himself. 4 That is, not belonging to his province. Dr. Warburton gives the following expla nation of this pallage: Formerly the better fort of people went to the barber's fhop (who then practifed the under parts of furgery) to be trimmed, fo that he had occasion for numerous inftruments, which lay there ready for ufe; and the idle people, with whom his fhop was generally crowded, would be perpetually handling and mifufing theih. To remedy this, he fuppofcs, there was placed up against the wall a table of forfeitures, adapted to every offence of this kind; which, it is not likely, would long preferve its authority.

feh-monger, a fool, and a coward, as you then | Attorney'd at your service.

reported him to be?

Ifab. Oh, give me pardon,

That I, your vaffal, have employ'd and pain'd
Your unknown fovereignty.

Duke. You are pardon'd, Ifabel:

Duke. You muit, fir, change perfons with me, ere you make that my report: you, indeed, fpoke fo of him; and much more, much worse. Lucio. O thou damnable fellow! Did not I And now, dear maid, be you as free 4 to us. pluck thee by the nofe, for thy fpeeches ? Dake. I proteft I love the duke, as I love

felf.

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

Your brother's death, I know, fits at your heart: my-And you may marvel, why I obfcur'd myself, Labouring to fave his life; and would not rather Make rafh remonftrance of my hidden power, Than let him be fo loft. Oh, most kind maid, Efcal. Such a fellow is not to be talk'd withal: It was the fwift celerity of his death, Away with him to prifon :-Where is the provoft? Which I did think with flower foot came on, -Away with him to prison ; lay bolts enough upon That brain'd 5 my purpofe. But peace be with him! him: let him fpeak no more:-away with thofe That life is better life, past fearing death, [fort giglots too, and with the other confederate compa-Than that which lives to fear: make it your com[The Provoft lays bands on the Duke. So, happy is your brother.

nion.

Duke. Stay, fir; ftay a while. Ang. What! refifts he? Help him, Lucio. Lucis. Come, fir; come, fir; come, fir; foh,| fir: Why, you bald-pated, lying rafcal! you muft be hooded, muft you? Shew your knave's vifage, Your well-defended honour, you must pardon him with a pox to you! fhew your fheep-biting face, and be hang'd an hour! Will't not off [Palls off the Friar's bood, and difcovers the Duke. Duke. Thou art the first knave, that e'er mad'it a duke.

Re-enter Angelo, Mariana, Peter, and Provost.
Ifab. I do, my lord.

[here, Duke. For this new-marry'd man, approaching · Whofe falt imagination yet hath wrong'd

First, provoft, let me bail these gentle three :-
Sneak not away, fir; [to Lucio.] for the friar and
Must have a word anon:-lay hold on him. [you]
Lucio. This may prove worfe than hanging.

For Mariana's fake: But as he adjudg'd your brother,
(Being criminal in double violation
Of facred chastity; and of promise-breach,
Thereon dependant, for your brother's life)
The very mercy of the law cries out
Moft audible, even from his proper tongue,
An Angelo for Claudio, death for death.
Hafte itill pays hatte, and leisure anfwers leifure;
Like doth quit like, and Meafare ftill for Measure.

Duke. What you have spoke, I pardon; fit you Then, Angelo, thy fault's thus manifefted; [tage 7; down.[To Efcalus. Which though thou would'st deny, denies thee van→ We'll borrow place of him :-Sir, by your leave: We do condemn thee to the very block

[To Angelo. Where Claudio ftoop'd to death, and with like hafte;

Haft thou or word, or wit, or impudence,
That yet can do thee office? If thou haft,
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 undifcernible,

When I perceive, your grace, like power divine,
Hath look'd upon my pattes 2: Then, good prince,
No longer feilion hold upon my shame,
But let my trial be mine own confeffion.
Immediate fentence then, and sequent death,
Is all the grace I beg.

Duke. Come hither, Mariana:—

Say, waft thou e'er contracted to this woman?
Ang. I was, my lord.

[ftantly.

Duke. Go take her hence, and marry her in

Away with him.

Mari. Oh, my moft gracious lord,

I hope, you will not mock me with a husband!
Duke. It is your husband mock'd you with a
husband:

Confenting to the fafeguard of your honour,
I thought your marriage fit; elfe imputation,
For that he knew you, might reproach your life,
And choak your good to come: for his poffeffions,
Although by confifcation they are ours,
We do enftate and widow you withal,
To buy you a better husband.

Mari. Oh, my dear lord,

I crave no other, nor no better man.
Duke. Never crave him; we are definitive.
Mari. Gentle, my liege-

Duke. You do but lofe your labour ;

[Kneeling.

Do you the office, friar; which confummate,
Return him here again :-Go with him, provoft.Away with him to death.-Now, fir, to you.
[Exeunt ingelo, Mariana, Peter, and Provost.
Efcal. My lord, I am more amaz'd at his dif-
Than at the ftrangeness of it.

[honour,

Duke. Come hither, Ifabel:
Your friar is now your prince: As I was then
Advertising and holy 3 to your business,
Not changing heart with habit, I am still

1 Giglot means a wanton girl.

[To Lucio. Mari. Oh, my good lord !-Sweet Itabel, tak● 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 fenfe you do importune her s
Should the kneel down, in mercy of this fact,

2 That is, my tranfactions. 3 Attentive and faithful. 4 That is, as generous, by pardoning us alfo. 5 Meaning, which defeated it. 6 Meaning, Angelo's own tongue. 7 That is, takes from thee all opportunity, all expedient of denial. Senfe here means reafon and fellion.