his child is a year and a quarter old, come Philip and Jacob: I have kept it myself; and fee, how he goes about to abufe me.

Efcal. This fellow is a fellow of much licence; let him be call'd before us. Away with her to prison : go to; no more words. [Exeunt with the Bawd.] Provost, my brother Angelo will not be alter'd; Claudio muft die to-morrow: let him be furnish'd with divines, and have all charitable preparation. If my brother wrought by my pity, it fhould not be fo with him.

Pro. So pleafe you, this Friar has been with him, and advis'd him for the entertainment of death. Efcal. Good even, good father.

Duke. Blifs and goodness on you!
Efcal. Of whence are you?

Duke. Not of this country, tho' my chance is now
To use it for my time: I am a brother

Of gracious order, late come from the See
In fpecial business from his holiness.

Efcal. What news abroad i'th' world?

Duke. None, but that there is fo great a fever on goodness, that the diffolution of it muft cure it. Novelty is only in requeft; and it is as dangerous to be aged in any kind of course, as it is virtuous to be conftant in any undertaking. There is scarce truth enough alive, to make focieties fecure; but fecurity enough, to make fellowships accurft. Much upon this riddle runs the wisdom of the world; this news is old enough, yet it is every day's news. pray you, Sir, of what difpofition was the duke?

I

Efcal. One, that, above all other ftrifes, Contended fpecially to know himself.

Duke. What pleasure was he giv'n to?

Efcal. Rather rejoicing to fee another merry, than merry at any thing which profeft to make him rejoice. A gentleman of all temperance. But leave we him to his events, with a prayer they may prove profperous;

and

nd let me defire to know, how you find Claudio prear'd? I am made to understand, that you have lent im vifitation.

Duke. He profeffes to have received no finifter heafure from his judge, but most willingly humbles imfelf to the determination of juftice; yet had he ram'd to himself, by the inftruction of his frailty, any deceiving promises of life; which I by my good ifure have difcredited to him, and now is he refolv'd > die.

Efcal. You have paid the heav'ns your function, nd the prifoner the very debt of your calling. I have bour'd for the poor gentleman, to the extremest nore of my modefty; but my brother Juftice have I ound fo fevere, that he hath forc'd me to tell him, e is indeed juftice.

Duke. If his own life answer the ftraitness of his proeeding, it shall become him well; wherein if he hance to fail, he hath fentenc'd himself.

Efcal. I am going to vifit the prisoner; fare you

vell.

S

CEN E VIII.

Duke. Peace be with you!

He, who the sword of heav'n will bear,

Should be as holy as fevere:

Pattern in himself to know,

Grace to ftand, and virtue go;
More nor lefs to others paying,
Than by felf-offences weighing.
Shame to him, whofe cruel ftriking
Kills for faults of his own liking!
Twice treble shame on Angelo,
To weed my vice, and let his grow!
Oh, what may man within him hide,
Tho' angel on the outward fide!

VOL. I.

Ee

[Exit.

• How

* How may that likeness, made in crimes,
Making practice on the times,
Draw with idle spiders' strings
Moft pond'rous and fubftantial things!
Craft against vice I must apply.
With Angelo to night shall lye
His old betrothed, but defpis'd;
So difguife fhall by th' difguis'd
Pay with falfhood false exacting;
And perform an old contracting.

2 How may likeness made in crimes,
Making practice on the times,

To draw with idle fpiders' frings

[Exit,

Moft pondrous and fubftantial things.] Thus all the Editions read corruptly: and fo have made an obfcure paffage in itself, quite unintelligible. Shakespear wrote it thus,

How may THAT likeness, made in crimes,
Making practice of the times,

Draw

The fenfe is this, How much wickedness may a man hide within, tho' he appear an angel without. How may that likeness made in crimes, i. e. by Hypocrify; [a pretty paradoxical expreffion, an angel made in crimes] by impofing upon the world [thus emphatically expreffed, making practice on the times] draw with its falfe and feeble pretences [finely called /piders firings] the most pondrous and fubftantial matters of the world, as Riches, Honour, Power, Reputation, &c.

ACT

IV. SCENE I.

ACT IV.

"T

A GRANGE.

Enter Mariana, and Boy finging.

SONG.

AKE, ob, take thofe lips away,
• That fo fweetly were forfworn;
And thofe eyes, the break of day,
Lights that do mif-lead the morn;

• But my kifles bring again,

• Seals of love, but feal'd in vain.

Enter Duke.

Mari. Break off thy fong, and hafte thee quick

away:

Here comes a man of comfort, whose advice
Hath often still'd my brawling difcontent.
I cry you mercy, Sir, and well could wish,
You had not found me here fo mufical:

Let me excufe me, and believe me so,

My mirth is much difpleas'd, but pleas'd my woe.
Duke. 'Tis good; tho' mufick oft hath fuch a charm
To make bad, good; and good provoke to harm.
I pray you, tell me, hath any body enquir'd for me

1 Take, oh, take, &c.] This is part of a little fonnet of Shakes Spear's own writing, confiling of two Stanzas, and fo extremely Tweet, that the reader won't be difpleased to have the other.

Hide, ob, hide thofe hills of snow,
Which thy frozen bofom bears,
On whofe tops, the pinks, that grow,
Are of thofe that April wears.
But my poor heart first fet free,
Bound in thofe icy chains by thee.

here to day? much upon this time, have I promis'd

here to meet.

Mari. You have not been enquir'd after I have fate here all day.

Enter Ifabel.

Duke. I do constantly believe you: the time is come, even now. I fhall crave your forbearance a little; may be, I will call upon you anon for fome advantage to your felf.

Mari. I am always bound to you.

SCENE II.

[Exit.

Duke. Very well met, and welcome: What is the news from this good deputy? Ifab. He hath a garden circummur'd with brick, Whose western fide is with a vineyard backt And to that vineyard is a planched gate, That makes his opening with this bigger key: This other doth command a little door, Which from the vineyard to the garden leads; There, on the heavy middle of the night, Have I my promife made to call upon him. Duke. But fhall you on your knowledge find this way?

Ifab. I've ta'en a due and wary note upon't; With whifp'ring and moft guilty diligence,

* In action all of precept, he did fhew me The way twice o'er.

Duke. Are there no other tokens

Between you 'greed, concerning her obfervance ?
Ifab. No: none, but only a repair i'th' dark;
And that I have poffeft him, my most stay

2 In action all of precept,

. . fhewing the feveral turnings of the way with his hand; which action contained fo many precepts, being given for my direction.

Can