SCENE, A publick Place near the City. Enter Duke, Varrius, Lords, Angelo, Efcalus, Lucio, and Citizens at feveral Doors. M DUKE. Y very worthy coufin, fairly met; Our old and faithful friend, we're glad to fee you. Ang. and Efcal. Happy return be to your royal Grace! Duke. Many and hearty thanks be to you both We've made enquiry of you, and we heart... Such goodness of your juilice, that our foul Cannot but yield you forth to public thanks, Forerunning more requital. ding. You make my bonds fill greater, *10. Duke. Oh, your defert speaks loud; and Ivfhould wrong it, To lock it in the wards of covert bofom, J And good fupporters are you, [As the Duke is going out. Enter Peter and Ifabella. Peter. Now is your time: fpeak loud, and kneel before him. Hab. Juftice, O royal Duke! vail your regard Upon a wrong'd, I'd fain have faid, a maid: Oh, Oh, worthy Prince, difhonour not your eye 'Till you have heard me in my true complaint, Duke. Relate your wrongs ; in what, by whom? be brief: Here is lord Angelo fhall give you justice; Reveal yourself to him. Ifab. Oh, worthy Duke, You bid me feek redemption of the devil: Or wring redress from you: oh, hear me, hear me. Cut off by course of justice. Ifab. Courfe of justice! Ang. And the will speak most bitterly, and strange. (19) Ifab. Moft ftrange, but yet moft truly, will I speak ; That Angelo's forfworn, is it not strange? That Angelo's a murd'rer, is't not strange ? Duke. Nay, it is ten times ftrange. Duke. Away with her poor foul, She speaks this in th' infirmity of fenfe. (19) And he will speak moft bitterly.] Thus is the Verfe left imperfect by Mr. Rowe and Mr. Pope; though the old Copies all fill it up, as I have done. I have reftored an infinite Number of fuch Paffages tacitly from the first Impreffions: but I thought proper to take notice, once for all, here, that as Mr. Pope follows Mr. Rowe's Edition in his Errors and Omiffions, it gives great Sufpicion, notwithstanding the pretended Collation of Copies, that Mr. Pope for the Generality, took Mr. Rowe's Edition as his Guide. Ifab. O Prince, I conjure thee, as thou believ❜st That thou neglect me not, with that opinion In all his dreflings, caracts, titles, forms, Duke. By mine honesty, If the be mad, as I believe no other, Ifab. Gracious Duke, Harp not on that; nor do not banish reafon Duke. Many, that are not mad, Ifab. I am the fifter of one Claudio, Was fent to by my brother; one Lucio, 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, Ifab. That's he, indeed. Duke. You were not bid to fpeak. [To Lucio. Lucio. No, my good lord, nor wish'd to hold my peace. Duke. Duke. I wish you now then; Pray you, take note of it: and when you have Lucio. I warrant your Honour. Duke. The warrant's for yourself; take heed to't. 3 Duke. It may be right, but you are in the wrong To speak before your time. Proceed. Ifab. I went To this pernicious caitiff Deputy. Duke. That's fomewhat madly spoken. The phrafe is to the matter. Duke. Mended again: the matter;-proceed. Release my brother; and after much debatement, And I did yield to him: But the next morn betimes, For my poor brother's head. Duke. This is most likely! B Ifab. O, that it were as like, as it is true! t (. Duke. By heav'n, fond wretch, thou know'st not what thou speak 'ft, Or elfe thou art fuborn'd against his honour In hateful practice. First, his integrity Stands without blemish; next, it imports no reason, And not have cut him off. Some one hath fet you on i R 5 Confefs Confefs the truth, and say, by whofe advice Then, oh, you bleffed minifters above! In countenance: Heav'n fhield your Grace from woe, Duke. I know, you'd fain be gone. An officer; On him fo near us? this needs must be a practice. Ifab. One that I would were here, Friar Lodowick. Who knows that Lodowick? Lucio. My lord, I know him; 'tis a medling Friar ; I do not like the man; had he been Lay, my Lord, For certain words he spake against your Grace In your retirement, I had fwing'd him foundly. Duke. Words against me? this is a good Friar, belike; And to fet on this wretched woman here Against our Subftitute! let this Friar be found. Lucio. But yefternight, my lord, she and that Friar, I faw them at the prifon : a fawcy Friar, A very fcurvy fellow. Peter. Bleffed be your royal Grace! I have stood by, my lord, and I have heard Who is as free from touch or foil with her, Duke. We did believe no lefs. Know you that Friar Lodowick, which she speaks oft Peter. I know him for a man divine and holy; Not fcurvy, nor a temporary medler, As he's reported by this gentleman; And, on my Truft, a man that never yet |