In that good path that I would wish it go; And you shall have your bosom on this wretch, Grace of the Duke, revenges to your heart, And general honour. Isab. I am directed by you. Duke. This letter, then, to Friar Peter give; "Tis that he sent me of the Duke's return: Say, by this token, I desire his company At Mariana's house to-night. Her cause and yours I'll perfect him withal; and he shall bring you And shall be absent. Wend you with this letter: Enter LUCIO. Lucio. Good even! Friar, where is the Provost? Duke. Not within, sir. Lucio. O, pretty Isabella, I am pale at mine heart to see thine eyes so red: thou must be patient. I am fain to dine and sup with water and bran; I dare not for my head fill my belly; one fruitful meal would set me to 't: but they say the Duke will be here to-morrow. By my troth, Isabel, I loved thy brother: if the old fantastical Duke of dark corners had been at home, he had lived. [Exit ISABELLA. Duke. Sir, the Duke is marvellous little beholden to your reports; but the best is, he lives not in them. Lucio. Friar, thou knowest not the Duke so well as I do he's a better woodman than thou takest him for. Duke. Well, you'll answer this one day. Fare ye well, Lucio. Nay, tarry; I'll go along with thee; I can tell thee pretty tales of the Duke. Duke. You have told me too many of him already, sir, if they be true: if not true, none were enough, Lucio. I was once before him for getting a wench with child. Duke. Did you such a thing? Lucio. Yes, marry, did I: but was fain to forswear it; they would else have married me to the rotten medlar. Duke. Sir, your company is fairer than honest: Rest you well. Lucio. By my troth, I'll go with thee to the lane's end: if bawdy talk offend you, we'll have very little of it. Nay, friar, I am a kind of bur, I shall stick. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-A Room in ANGELO'S House. Enter ANGELO and ESCALUS. Escal. Every letter he hath writ hath disvouched other. Ang. In most uneven and distracted manner. His actions shew much like to madness: pray heaven his wisdom be not tainted! And why meet him at the gates, and re-deliver our authorities there? Escal. I guess not. Ang. And why should we proclaim it in an hour before his entering, that if any crave redress of injustice, they should exhibit their petitions in the street? Escal. He shews his reason for that: to have a despatch of complaints; and to deliver us from devices hereafter, which shall then have no power to stand against us. Ang. Well, I beseech you, let it be proclaimed: Betimes i' the morn, I'll call you at your house. Give notice to such men of sort and suit As are to meet him. Escal. I shall, sir: fare you well. [Exit. Ang. Good night.— This deed unshapes me quite, makes me unpreg nant And dull to all proceedings. A deflowered maid! Enter DUKE in his own habit, and Friar PETER. As cause doth minister. Go, call at Flavius' house, And tell him where I stay: give the like notice Isab. Besides, he tells me that, if peradventure He speak against me on the adverse side, I should not think it strange; for 't is a physic Mari. I would Friar Peter- O, peace; the friar is come. Enter Friar Peter. F. Peter. Come, I have found you out a stand most fit, Where you may have such vantage on the Duke He shall not pass you. Twice have the trumpets sounded; The generous and gravest citizens Have hent the gates, and very near upon [Exeunt. SCENE I.-A public Place near the City Gate. MARIANA (veiled), ISABELLA, and PETER, at a distance. Enter at opposite doors, DUKE, VARRIUS, Lords; ANGELO, ESCALUS, LUCIO, Provost, Officers, and Citizens. Duke. My very worthy cousin, fairly met:Our old and faithful friend, we are glad to see you. Ang. 1 Escal. } Happy return be to your royal grace ! Duke. Many and hearty thankings to you both. We have made enquiry of you; and we hear Such goodness of your justice, that our soul Cannot but yield you forth to public thanks, Forerunning more requital. Ang. You make my bonds still greater. To lock it in the wards of covert bosom, PETER and ISABELLA come forward. F. Peter. Now is your time; speak loud, and kneel before him. Isab. Justice, O royal Duke! Vail your regard Upon a wronged-I'd fain have said, a maid! That Angelo's forsworn; is it not strange? Nay, it is ten times true; for truth is truth Duke. Away with her.-Poor soul, She speaks this in the infirmity of sense. Isab. O prince, I cónjure thee, as thou believest There is another comfort than this world, That thou neglect me not, with that opinion That I am touched with madness: make not impossible That which but seems unlike. "Tis not impossible In all his dressings, characts, titles, forms, Isab. In brief-to set the needless process by, How I persuaded, how I prayed and kneeled, How he refelled me, and how I replied (For this was of much length)—the vile conclusion I now begin with grief and shame to utter: He would not, but by gift of my chaste body To his concupiscible intemperate lust, Release my brother; and, after much debatement, My sisterly remorse confutes mine honour, And I did yield to him: but the next morn betimes, His purpose surfeiting, he sends a warrant For my poor brother's head. Duke. This is most likely! Your royal ear abused. First, hath this woman Duke. We did believe no less. Know you that Friar Lodowick that she speaks of? Lucio. My lord, most villanously; believe it. F. Peter. Well, he in time may come to clear himself; But at this instant he is sick, my lord, Intended 'gainst Lord Angelo) came I hither, Do Duke. Good friar, let's hear it. [ISABELLA is carried off, guarded; and MARIANA comes forward. you not smile at this, Lord Angelo? Duke. What, are you married? Duke. Are you a maid? Mari. No, my lord. Duke. A widow, then? Mari. Neither, my lord. Duke. Why you are nothing then: Neither maid, widow, nor wife? Lucio. My lord, she may be a punk; for many of them are neither maid, widow, nor wife. Duke. Silence that fellow: I would he had some cause To prattle for himself. Lucio. Well, my lord. Mari. My lord, I do confess I ne'er was married; And I confess besides, I am no maid: I have known my husband; yet my husband knows not That ever he knew me. Lucio. He was drunk then, my lord; it can be no better. Duke. For the benefit of silence, 'would thou wert so too. Lucio. Well, my lord. Duke. This is no witness for Lord Angelo. Mari. Now come I to 't, my lord: She that accuses him of fornication, In self-same manner doth accuse my husband; Ang. Charges she more than me? Duke. No? you say, your husband. Mari. Why just, my lord, and that is Angelo, Who thinks he knows that he ne'er knew my body, But knows, he thinks, that he knows Isabel's. Ang. This is a strange abuse:-Let's see thy face. Mari. My husband bids me; now I will un- This is that face, thou cruel Angelo, Duke. Know you this woman? Lucio. Carnally, she says. Duke. Sirrah, no more. Lucio. Enough, my lord. Ang. My lord, I must confess I know this |