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.-

First, provost, let me bail these gentle three:

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!"

tage:

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

Sneak not away, sir; [To Lucio.] for the friar and To buy you a better husband.

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,)

Mari.

O, my dear lord,

I crave no other nor no better man.
Duke. Never crave him; we are definitive.
Mari. Gentle my liege,-
[Kneeling.
Duke.
You do but lose your labor;
Away with him to death.-Now, sir, [To LUCIO.j
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 impòrtune 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.

Mari.

Isabel,

Sweet Isabel, do yet but kneel by me;
Hold up your hands; say nothing; I'll speak all.
They say, best men are moulded out of faults;
And, for the most, become much more the better
For being a little bad: so may my husband.
O, Isabel! will you not lend a knee?
Duke. He dies for Claudio s death.
Isab.
Look, if it please you, on this man condemn'd,
As if my brother liv'd: I partly think,
A due sincerity govern'd his deeds,
Till he did look on me; since it is so,
Let him not die: My brother had but justice,
In that he did the thing for which he died:
For Angelo,

Most bounteous sir, [Kneeling.

His act did not o'ertake his bad intent,
And must be buried but as an intent

That perished by the way: thoughts are no subjects;
Intents but merely thoughts.

Mari.

Merely, my lord. Duke. Your suit's unprofitable; stand up, I

sage.

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?
Frov.
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
mto your hand. What muffled fellow's

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,
Whereto if you'll a willing ear incline,
I have a motion much imports your good;
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.