Complete Works of William Shakespeare

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 I come to t, my lord:

She that accuses him of fornication,

In self-same manner doth accuse my husband: And charges him, my lord, with such a time, When I'll depose I had him in mine arms. With all the effect of love.

Ang.

Charges she more than me?

Mari. Not that I know. 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 unmask, [Uuveiling.

This is that face, thou cruel Angelo,
Which once thou swor'st was worth the looking on:
This is the hand, which, in a vow'd contract,
Was fast belock'd in thine: this is the body
That took away the match from Isabel,
And did supply thee at thy garden-house,
In her imagin'd person.

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 woman:
And, five years since, there was some speech of
marriage

Betwixt myself and her; which was broke off,
Partly, for that her promised proportions
Come short of composition; but in chief,
For that her reputation was disvalued

In levity: since which time, of five years,

Lucio. Cucullus non facit monachum: honest in nothing but in his clothes; and one that hath spoke most villanous speeches of the dube.

Escal. We shall entreat 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.

Escal. Call that same Isabel here once again; [To an Attendant.] I would speak with her: Pray you, my lord, give me leave to question; you shall see how I'll handle her.

Lucio. Not better than he, by her own report.
Escal. Say you?

Lucio. Marry, sir, I think, if you handled her privately, she would sooner confess; perchance publicly she'll be ashamed.

Re-enter Officers, with ISABELLA; the Duke, in the Friar's habit, and Provost.

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

Escal. Come on, mistress: [To ISABELLA.] here's a gentlewoman denies all that you have said. Lucio. My lord, here comes the rascal I spoke of; here with the provost.

Escal. In very good time:-speak not you to him, till we call upon you.

Lucio. Mum.

Escal. Come, sir; Did you set these women on to slander lord Angelo! they have confess'd you did.

Duke. 'Tis false.

Escal. How! know you where you are? Duke. Respect to your great place! and let the devil

Be some time honored for his burning throne:Where is the duke? 'tis he should hear me speak. Escal. The duke's in us; and we will hear you speak:

I never spake with her, saw her, nor heard from her, Look, you speak justly. Upon my faith and honor.

Mari.

Noble prince,

As there comes light from heaven, and words from breath,

As there is sense in truth, and truth in virtue,
I am affianced this man's wife, as strongly
As words could make up vows; and, my good lord,
But Tuesday night last gone, in his garden-house,
He knew me as a wife: As this is true

Let me in safety raise me from my knees,
Or else forever be confixed here,

A marble monument!
Ang.
I did but smile till now:
Now, good my lord, give me the scope of justice;
My patience here is touch'd: I do perceive,
These poor informals women are no more
But instruments of some more mightier member,
That sets 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'st thou thy
oaths,

Though they would swear down each particular saint,

Were testimonies against his worth and credit,
That's seal'd in approbation?--You, lord Escalus,
Sit with any cousin; lend him your kind pains
To find out this abuse, whence 'tis derived.-
There is another friar that set them on;
Let him be sent for.

F. Peter. Would he were here, my lord; for he, in deed,

Hath set the woman on to this complaint:
Your provost knows the place where he abides,
And he may fetch him.

Duke. Go do it instantly.

[Exit Provost.

And you, my noble, and well-warranted cousin,
Whom it concerns to hear this matter forth,
Do with your injuries as seems you best,
In any chastisement: I, for a while,
Will leave you; but stir not you, till you have well
Determined upon these slanderers.

Escal. My lord, we'll do it thoroughly.- [Exit Duke.] Signior Lucio, did not you say, you knew that friar Lodowick to be a dishonest person? ⚫ Deception. • Crazy, 1 Conspiracy.

joint,

But we will know this purpose:-What! unjust?
Duke. Be not so hot; the duke

Dare no more stretch this finger of mine, than he
Dare rack his own: his subject am I not,
Nor here provincial: My business in this state
Made me a looker-on here in Vienna,
Where I have seen corruption boil and bubble,
Till it o'er-run the stew: laws for all faults;
But faults so countenanced, that the strong statutes
Stand like the forfeits in a barber's shop,
As much in mock as mark.

Escal. Slander to the state! Away with nim to prison.

Ang. What can you vouch against him, signior Lucio?

Is this the man that you did tell us of?

Lucio. "Tis he, my lord. Come hither, goodman bald pate: Do you know me!

Duke. I remember you, sir, by the sound of your voice. I met you at the prison in the absence of the duke.

Lucio. O, did you so? And do you remember what you said of the duke?

Duke. Most notedly, sir.

Lucio. Do you so, sir? And was the duke a flesh-monger, a fool, and a coward, as you then reported him to be?

Duke. You must, sir, change persons with me, ere you make that my report: you, indeed, spoke so of him; and much more, much worse.

Lucio. O thou damnable fellow! Did not I pluck thee by the nose for thy speeches?

Duke. I protest I love the duke as I love myself. Ang. Hark! how the villain would close now, after his treasonable abuses.

Escal. Such a fellow is not to be talked withal:-
Away with him to prison. Where is the provost ? -
Away with him to prison; lay bolts enough upon
him: let him speak no more. Away with those gig-
lots too, and with the other confederate companion.
The Provost lays hands on the Duke.
Duke. Stay, sir; stay awhile.
Ang. What resists he? Help him Lucio.
Lucio. Come, sir; come, sir; come, sir; foh, sir:
Why, you bald-pated, lying rascal! you must be
hooded, must you! Show your knave's visage!
with a pox to you! show your sheep-biting face,
and be hang'd an hour! Will 't not off?

Pulls off the Friars hood, and
discovers the Duke.

Duke. Thou art the first knave that e'er made a
duke-

The very mercy of the law cries out
Most audible, even from his proper tongue,
"An Angelo for Claudio, death for death."
Haste still plays haste, and leisure answers leisure;
Like doth quit like, and "Measure still for Mea-
sure!"

Then, Angelo, thy fault's thus manifested;
Which though thou would'st deny, denies thee van-

tage:

We do condemn thee to the very block
Where Claudio stoop'd to death, and with like
haste:-
Away with him.
Mari.

O my most gracious lord,

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

Consenting to the safeguard of your honor,
I thought your marriage fit; else imputation,
For that he knew you, might reproach your life,
And choke your good to come: for his possessions,
Although by confiscation they are ours,
We do instate and widow you withal,

First, provost, let me bail these gentle three :-
Sneak not away, sir; [To Lucio.] for the friar and To buy you a better husband.

O my dread lord,
I should be guiltier than my guiltiness,
To think I can be undiscernible,
When I perceive your grace, like power divine,
Hath look'd upon my passes: Then, good prince,
No longer session hold upon my shame,

But let my trial be mine own confession;
Immediate sentence then, and sequent1 death,
Is all the grace I beg.

Duke.

Come hither, Mariana:-
Say, wast thou e'er contracted to this woman!
Ang. I was, my lord.
Duke. Go, take her hence, and marry her in-
stantly.-

Do you the office, friar; which consummate,
Return him here again:- Go with him, provost.
[Exeunt ANGELO, MARIAÑA, PETER,
and Provost.

Escal. My lord, I am more amazed at his dis-
honor,

Than at the strangeness of it.

Duke.
Come hither, Isabel:
Your friar is now your prince: As I was then
Advertising, and holy to your business,

Not changing heart with habit, I am still
Attorney'd at your service.

Isab.

O give me pardon, That I, your vassal, have employ'd and pain'd Your unknown sovereignty."

Duke.

You are pardon'd Isabel:
And now, dear maid, be you as free to us.
Your brother's death, I know, sits at your heart;
And you may marvel why I
obscur'd myself,
Laboring to save his life; and would not rather
Make rash remonstrance of my hidden power,
Than let him be so lost: 0, most kind maid,
It was the swift celerity of his death,
Which I did think with slower foot came on,
That brain'd my purpose: But peace be with him!
That life is better life, past fearing death,

Than that which lives to fear: make it your comfort,
So happy is your brother.

Re-enter ANGELO, MARIANA, PETER, and Provost.
Isab.
I do, my lord.
Duke. For this new-married man, approaching
here,

Whose salt imagination yet hath wrong'd
Your well-defended honor, you must pardon
For Mariana's sake: but as he adjudged your brother,
(Being criminal, in double violation
Of sacred chastity, and of promise-breach,
Thereon dependant for your brother's life,)

• Wantons.

1 Following.

• Devices
2 Attentive.

Mari.

O, my dear lord,

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

[Kneeling. You do but lose your labor; Away with him to death.-Now, sir, To Lucio.] to you.

Mari. O, my good lord!-Sweet Isabel, take 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 sense you do importune her.
Should she kneel down in mercy of this fact,
Her brother's ghost his paved bed would break,
And take her hence in horror.

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;
Yet did repent me after more advice:
For testimony whereof, one in the prison,
That should by private order else have died,
I have reserv'd alive.

Duke.
What's he?
Prov.
His name is Barnardine.
Duke. I would thou hadst done so by Claudio.-
Go, fetch him hither; let me look upon him.
[Exit Provost.
Escal. I am sorry, one so learned and so wise
As you, lord Angelo, have still appear'd,
Should slip so grossly, both in the heat of blood,
And lack of temper'd judgment afterward.

Ang, am sorry, that such sorrow I procure:
And so deep sticks it in my penitent heart,
a Consideration.

That I crave death more willingly than mercy;
'Tis my deserving, and I do entreat it.

Re-enter Provost, BARNARDINE, CLAUDIO, and
JULIET.

Duke. Which is that Barnardine?
Prov.
This, my lord.
Duke. There was a friar told me of this man.
Sirrah, thou art said to have a stubborn soul,
That apprehends no further than this world,
And squar'st thy life according. Thou'rt condemn'd;
But, for those earthly faults I quit them all;
And 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?

Prov. This is another prisoner, that I sav'd, That should have died when Claudio lost his head; As like almost to Claudio as himself.

[Unmuffles CLAUDIO. Duke. If he be like your brother, [To ISABELLA.] for his sake

Is he pardon'd; and for your lovely sake,
Give me your hand, and say you will be mine,
He is my brother too: But fitter time for that
By this lord Angelo perceives he's safe;
Methinks I see a quick'ning in his eye:
Well, Angelo, your evil quits you well;

to the trick: If you will hang me for it, you may
but I had rather it would please you, I might be
whipp'd.

Duke. Whipp'd first, sir, and hang'd after.-
Proclaim it, provost, round about the city;
If any woman's wrong'd by this lewd fellow,
(As I have heard him swear himself, there's one
Whom he begot with child,) let her appear,
And he shall marry her: the nuptual finish'd,
Let him be whipp'd and hang'd.

Lucio. I beseech your highness, do not marry me to a whore. Your highness said even now, I made you a duke; good my lord, do not recompense me, in making me a cuckold.

Duke. Upon mine honor, thou shalt marry her.
Thy slanders I forgive; and wherewithal
And see our pleasure herein executed.
Remit thy other forfeits:-Take him to prison:

death, whipping, and hanging.
Lucio. Marrying a punk, my lord, is pressing to

Duke Sland'ring a prince deserves it.-
She, Claudio, that you wrong'd look you restore.
Joy to you, Mariana!- love her, Angelo;

I have confess'd her, and I know her virtue.-
Thanks, good friend Escalus, for thy much goodness:
There's more behind, that is more gratulate.
Thanks, provost, for thy care and secrecy;
We shall employ thee in a worthier place:-

Look that you love your wife; her worth, worth Forgive him, Angelo, that brought you home

Yours.

I find an apt remission in myself:

And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon:
You, sirrah, [To Lucio. that knew me for a fool,

a coward,

One all of luxury, an ass, a madman:
Wherein have I so deserved of you,
That you extol me thus?

Lucio. 'Faith, my lord, I spoke it but according
• Requite

The head of Ragozine for Claudio's;
The offence pardons itself.- Dear Isabel,
I have a motion much imports your good;
Whereto if you'll a willing ear incline,
What's mine is yours, and what is yours is mine;
So bring us to our palace; where we'll show
What's yet behind, that's meet you all should know.
[Exeunt.

Thoughtless practice.

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