SCENE I.-An Apartment in the DUKE'S Palace. Enter ANGELO. Ang. Always obedient to your Grace's will, I come to know your pleasure. Duke. Angelo, Enter DUKE, ESCALUS, Lords, and Attendants. There is a kind of character in thy life, Duke. Escalus. Escal. My lord? Duke. Of government the properties to unfold, Would seem in me to affect speech and discourse, Since I am put to know that your own science 5 Exceeds, in that, the lists of all advice My strength can give you: then no more remains, For common justice, you're as pregnant in, 12 That we remember. There is our commission, [Giving it. From which we would not have you warp. Call hither, I say, bid come before us Angelo. [Exit an Attendant. What figure of us think you he will bear? 16 For you must know, we have with special soul Elected him our absence to supply, 20 Lent him our terror, drest him with our love, Look where he comes. That, to th' observer doth thy history 28 We have with a leaven'd and prepared choice 24 Proceeded to you; therefore take your honours. Our haste from hence is of so quick condition 53 Ang. Yet, give leave, my lord, 60 That we may bring you something on the way. Duke. My haste may not admit it; Nor need you, on mine honour, have to do With any scruple: your scope is as mine own, 64 So to enforce or qualify the laws 68 As to your soul seems good. Give me your hand; That does affect it. Once more, fare you well. 72 Duke. I thank you. Fare you well. [Exit. Escal. I shall desire you, sir, to give me leave To have free speech with you; and it concerns me To look into the bottom of my place: A power I have, but of what strength and nature I am not yet instructed. 80 Ang. 'Tis so with me. Let us withdraw together, And we may soon our satisfaction have First Gent. I think I have done myself wrong, have I not? Second Gent. Yes, that thou hast, whether thou art tainted or free. Lucio. Behold, behold, where Madam Mitigation comes! I have purchased as many diseases under her roof as come to Second Gent. To what, I pray? 49 Second Gent. To three thousand dolours a year. First Gent. Ay, and more. Lucio. A French crown more. 53 First Gent. Thou art always figuring diseases in me; but thou art full of error: I am sound. 57 Lucio. Nay, not as one would say, healthy; but so sound as things that are hollow: thy bones are hollow; impiety has made a feast of thee. Enter MISTRESS OVERDONE. 61 First Gent. How now! which of your hips has the most profound sciatica? Mrs. Ov. Well, well; there's one yonder arrested and carried to prison was worth five thousand of you all. 66 Second Gent. Who's that, I pray thee? Claudio. First Gent. Claudio to prison! 'tis not so. 70 Mrs. Ov. Nay, but I know 'tis so: I saw him arrested; saw him carried away; and, which is more, within these three days his head to be chopped off. Lucio. But, after all this fooling, I would not have it so. Art thou sure of this? 76 Mrs. Ov. I am too sure of it; and it is for getting Madam Julietta with child. Lucio. Believe me, this may be: he promised to meet me two hours since, and he was ever precise in promise-keeping. 81 Second Gent. Besides, you know, it draws something near to the speech we had to such a purpose. 84 First Gent. But most of all, agreeing with the proclamation. Lucio. Away! let's go learn the truth of it. [Exeunt LUCIO and Gentlemen. Mrs. Ov. Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat, what with the gallows and what with poverty, I am custom-shrunk. Enter POMPEY. How now! what's the news with you? Enter PROVOST, CLAUDIO, JULIET, and Officers. Bear me to prison, where I am committed. 128 Claud. Thus can the demi-god Authority Make us pay down for our offence' by weight. The words of heaven; on whom it will, it will; On whom it will not, so: yet still 'tis just. 132 Re-enter LUCIO and two Gentlemen. Lucio. Why, how now, Claudio! whence comes this restraint? Claud. From too much liberty, my Lucio, As surfeit is the father of much fast, Lucio. If I could speak so wisely under an Mrs. Ov. But what's his offence? Pom. No; but there's a woman with maid by him. You have not heard of the proclamation, have you? ΙΟΙ Mrs. Ov. What proclamation, man? of Vienna must be plucked down. 104 again. Lucio. What, is't murder? Claud. No. Lucio. Lechery? Claud. Call it so. Prov. Away, sir! you must go. 144 148 Claud. One word, good friend. Lucio, a word with you. [Takes him aside. Lucio. A hundred, if they'll do you any good. Mrs. Ov. And what shall become of those in Is lechery so looked after? the city? Pom. They shall stand for seed: they had gone down too, but that a wise burgher put in for them. 109 Mrs. Ov. But shall all our houses of resort in the suburbs be pulled down? Pom. To the ground, mistress. 112 Mrs. Ov. Why, here's a change indeed in the commonwealth! What shall become of me? Pom. Come; fear not you: good counsellors lack no clients: though you change your place, you need not change your trade; I'll be your tapster still. Courage! there will be pity taken on you; you that have worn your eyes almost out in the service, you will be considered. 120 Mrs. Ov. What's to do here, Thomas tapster? Let's withdraw. Pom. Here comes Signior Claudio, led by the provost to prison; and there's Madam Juliet. [Exeunt. Supply me with the habit, and instruct me Duke. No, holy father; throw away that How I may formally in person bear me Believe not that the dribbling dart of love Fri. T. 4 May your Grace speak of it? Duke. My holy sir, none better knows than 44 49 Like a true friar. Moe reasons for this action SCENE IV.-A Nunnery. 52 Enter ISABELLA and FRANCISCA. |