Lucio. Nay, tarry; I'll go along with thee; I can tell theé 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 I was fain to forswear it; they would else have marry'd me to her. 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:-Nay, friar, I am a kind of burr, I shall stick. [Exeunt the Duke, and Lucio. SCENE II. Angelo's House. Enter ESCALUS, and ANGELO, with letters. Escal. Every letter he hath writ hath disvouch'd other. Ang. In most uneven and distracted manner. His actions show much like to madness.-' Pray heaven, his wisdom be not tainted!-And why meet him at the gates, and 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 shows 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 proclaim'd:I'll call you at your house: Give notice to such men of sort and suit, Escal. I shall, sir: fare you well. [Exit ESCALUS. Ang. This deed unshapes me quite, makes me un pregnant, And dull to all proceedings. A deflower'd maid! The law against it!-But that her tender shame He should have liv'd, Save that his riotous youth, with dangerous sense, With ransom of such shame.-'Would yet he had liv'd! Alack, when once our grace we have forgot, Nothing goes right!-we would, and we would not. [Exit, END OF ACT IV. ACT V. SCENE. Before the Gates of Vienna. Flourish of Trumpets and Drums. Enter, from the City, Guards, ANGELO, ESCALUS, Lucio, two Appari ́s, and Gentlemen :—towards the City, Guards, the Duke, FREDERICK, LEOPOLD, Provost, and Gentlemen. [ANGELO and ESCALUS kneel, and deliver their com missions to the Duke.] Duke. My very worthy cousin, fairly met :— Duke. Many and hearty thankings to you both. Ang. You make my bonds still greater. Duke. O, your desert speaks loud: Give me your And let the subject see, to make them know Enter Friar PETER, and ISABELLA, from the city. Till you have heard me in my true complaint, Here is lord Angelo shall give you justice; Isab. O, worthy duke, You bid me seek redemption of the devil: Or wring redress from you: hear me, O, hear me ! Isab. By course of justice! Ang. And she will speak most bitterly, and strange, Isab. Most strange, but yet most truely, will Į speak: That Angelo's forsworn; is it not strange? That Angelo's a murderer; is 't not strange A hypocrite, a virgin violator; Duke. Nay, it is ten times strange. Duke. Away with her :-Poor soul ! Isab. O, I conjure thee, prince, as thou believ'st There is another comfort than this world, That thou neglect me not, with that opinion That I am touch'd with madness: make not impos 'sible That which but seems unlike: 't is not impossible, In all his dressings, characts, titles, forms, Duke. By mine honesty, If she be mad, (as I believe no other,) As ne'er I heard in madness. Isab. O, gracious duke, Harp not on that; nor do not banish reason For inequality: but let your reason serve To make the truth appear. Duke. Many that are not mad, Have, sure, more lack of reason.-What would you say? Isab. I am the sister of one Claudio, I, in probation of a sisterhood, Was sent to by my brother: One Lucio Was then the messenger; Lucio. That's I, an 't like your grace. Isab. That's he, indeed. Duke. You were not bid to speak. Lucio. No, my good lord; Nor wish'd to hold my peace. Duke. I wish you now then; Pray you, take note of it: and when you have A business for yourself, 'pray heaven, you then Be perfect. Lucio. I warrant your honour. Duke. The warrant 's for yourself; take heed to it. Isab. This gentleman told somewhat of my tale. Lucio. Right. Duke. It may be right; but you are in the wrong To speak before your time.-Proceed. Isab. I went To this pernicious caitiff deputy; Duke. That's somewhat madly spoken. Isab. Pardon it; The phrase is to the matter. Duke. Mended again: The matter?-Proceed. (For this was of much length;) the vile conclusion And I did yield to him: But the next morn betimes, For my poor brother's head. Duke. This is most likely! Isab. Oh, that it were as like, as it is true! Duke. By heaven, fond wretch, thou know'st not what thou speak'st; |