mult you? fhow your knave's vifage, with a pox to you; fhow your fheep-biting face, and be hang'd an hour will't not off? [Pulls off the Friar's Hood, and difcovers the Duke. Duke.Thou art the first knave, that e'er mad'ft a duke. First, Provost, let me bail thefe gentle three. Sneak not away, Sir; for the Friar and you Must have a word anon: lay hold on him. Lucio. This may prove worse than hanging. Duke. What you have spoke, I pardon; fit you down: [To Escalus. We'll borrow place of him. Sir, by your leave: 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 fhould be guiltier than my guiltinefs, When I perceive your Grace, like pow'r divine, Duke. Come hither, Mariana: Say; waft thou e'er contracted to this woman? Duke. Go take her hence, and marry her inftantly, Do you the office, Friar; which confummate, Return him here again: go with him, Provoft. [Exeunt Angelo, Mariana, Peter, and Provost. SCE NE V. Efcal. My lord, I am more amaz'd at his dishonour, Than at the ftrangeness of it. Duke. Come hither, Ifabel; Your Friar is now your prince: as I was then Advertising, and holy to your business, VOL I. Gg 2 Not Not changing heart with habit, I am ftill Ifab. Oh, give me pardon, That I, your vaffal, have employ'd and pain'd Duke. You are pardon'd, Ifabel. And now, dear maid, be you as free to us. Your brother's death, I know, fits at your heart: And you may marvel, why I obfcur'd myself, Labouring to fave his life; and would not rather Make rath remonftrance of my hidden power, Than let him be fo loft: Oh, moft kind maid, It was the swift celerity of his death, Which, I did think, with flower foot came on, That bain'd my purpose: but peace be with him! That life is better life, paft fearing death, Than that which lives to fear; make it your comfort; So, happy is your brother. S C E N E VI. Enter Angelo, Mariana, Peter, and Provoft. Ifab. I do, my lord. Duke. For this new-marry'd man, approaching her, Of facred chastity, and of promife-breach, Most audible, even from his proper tongue, Hafte ftill pays hafte, and leisure answers leifure: Which tho' thou would'ft deny, deny thee vantage. We do condemn thee to the very black, * That BRAIN'D my purpose:] We should read BAIN'D. i.e. deftroy'd. *-deny thee vantage.] Vantage, for means, opportunity. Where Where Claudio ftoop'd to death; and with like hafte; Away with him. Mari. Oh, my moft gracious lord, I hope, you will not mock me with a husband? We do enftate and widow you withal, Mari. Oh, my dear lord, I crave no other, nor no better man. Duke. Never crave him; we are definitive. Duke. You do but lofe your labour: 7 Duke. Against all fenfe you do importune her; Mari. Ifabel, Sweet Ifabel, do yet but kneel by me; Hold up your hands, fay nothing; I'll speak all. Duke. He dies for Claudio's death. [Kneeling. Look, if it please you, on this man condemn'd, 7 Against all fenfe you do impartune her.] The meaning required is, against all reafon and natural affection; Shakespear, therefore, judicioufly ufes a fingle word that implies both; Senfe fignifying both reafon and affection. As As if my brother liv'd: I partly think, Let him not die. My brother had but justice, That perifh'd by the way: thoughts are no fubjects: Mari. Meerly, my lord. Duke. Your fuit's unprofitable; ftand up, I say: I have bethought me of another fault. Provoft, how came it, Claudio was beheaded Prov. It was commanded fo. Duke. Had you a fpecial warrant for the deed? Prov. No, my good lord; it was by private meffage. Duke. For which I do discharge you of your office: Give up your keys. 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 had'ft done fo by Claudio: Go, fetch him hither; let me look upon him. Efcal. I'm forry, one fo learned and fo wife As you, lord Angelo, have still appear'd, Should flip fo grofsly both in heat of blood, And lack of temper'd judgment afterward. Ang. I'm forry, that fuch forrow I procure; And fo deep sticks it in my penitent heart, That I crave death more willingly than mercy: Tis my deferving, and I do intreat it. SCENE SCENE VII. Enter Provoft, Barnardine, Claudio, and Julietta. Duke. Which is that Barnardine ? Prov. This, my lord. Duke. There was a Friar told me of this man: Sirrah, thou'rt said to have a stubborn foul, That apprehends no further than this world; And fquar'ft thy life accordingly: thou'rt condemn'd; But for those earthly faults, I quit them all: I pray thee, take this mercy to provide For better times to come: Friar, advise him; I leave him to your hand. What muffled fellow's that? Duke. If he be like your brother, for his fake [To Ifab. [yours. Look, that you love your wife; (a) her worth works I find an apt remiffion in myself, And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon. You, firrah, that knew me for a fool, a coward, [To Luc. One of all luxury, an afs, a mad-man; Wherein have I deferved fo 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 whipt. Duke. Whipt firft, Sir, and hang'd after. Proclaim it, Provost, round about the city; 8 according to the trick;] i. e. the fashion. So to trick up, fignifies to drefs in the mode. [(a) her worth works yours, Oxf. Edit. Vulg. her worth worth yours.] |