图书图片
PDF
ePub

Lucio.

That's I, an't like your grace. I came to her from Claudio, and desired her To try her gracious fortune with lord Angelo, For her poor brother's pardon.

Isa.

That's he, indeed.

Duke. You were not bid to speak.
Lucio.

Nor wish'd to hold my peace.

Duke.

No, my good lord ;

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. Isa. 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. Isa.

[ocr errors]

To this pernicious caitiff deputy-
Duke. That's somewhat madly spoken.
Isa.

The phrase is to the matter.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

I went

Pardon it;

Proceed.

Duke. Mended again: the matter?
Isa. In brief, to set the needless process by,
How I persuaded, how I pray'd, and kneel'd,
How he refell'd' 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 my unchaste surrender,
Release my brother; and, after much debatement,
My sisterly remorse confutes mine honour,

2

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 !

Isa. O, that it were as like as it is true!

[blocks in formation]

Duke. By heaven, fond3 wretch, thou know'st not what thou speak'st;

Or else thou art suborn'd against his honour,
In hateful practice: First, his integrity

Stands without blemish; - next, it imports no

reason,

That with such vehemency he should pursue
Faults proper to himself: if he had so offended,
He would have weigh'd thy brother by himself,
And not have cut him off: Some one hath set you

on;

Confess the truth, and say by whose advice
Thou cam'st here to complain?

Isa.

And is this all? Then, O, you blessed ministers above,

Keep me in patience; and, with ripen'd time,
Unfold the evil which is here wrapp'd up

In countenance ! - Heaven shield your grace from

woe,

As I, thus wrong'd, hence unbelieved go!

[ocr errors]

Duke. I know you'd fain be gone:- - An officer! To prison with her :- Shall we thus permit A blasting and a scandalous breath to fall On him so near us. This needs must be a practice. Who knew of your intent and coming hither?

Isa. One that I would were here, friar Lodowick. Duke. A ghostly father, belike:- Who knows that Lodowick ?

Lucio. My lord, I know him; 'tis a meddling friar; I do not like the man: had he been lay, my lord, For certain words he spake against your grace In your retirement, I had swinged him soundly. Duke. Words against me! This' a good friar belike?

And to set on this wretched woman here

Against our substitute ! - Let this friar be found. Lucio. But yesternight, my lord, she and that friar I saw them at the prison; a saucy friar,

A

very scurvy fellow.

3 Foolish.

Peter.

Blessed be your royal grace!

I have stood by, my lord, and I have heard
Your royal ear abused: First, hath this woman
Most wrongfully accused your substitute:
To justify this worthy nobleman,

So vulgarly and personally accused,
Her shall you hear disproved to her eyes,
Till she herself confess it.

Duke.

Take her hence awhile.—

Good friar, let's hear it. [Exit Friar PETER.

[Gentlemen fetch two chairs.

[Exeunt ISABELLA and two Apparitors.

Give us some seats.

[ocr errors]

Do you not smile at this, lord Angelo ?

O Heaven! the vanity of wretched fools!
Come, cousin Angelo;

In this I'll be impartial; be you judge

Of your own cause. - [The DUKE and ANGELO sit.

Enter MARIANA, veiled, and Friar PETER.

Is this the witness, friar?

First, let her show her face; and after speak.
Mari. Pardon, my lord;

Until my husband bid me.

Duke.

Mari. No, my lord.

I will not show my face,

What, are you married?

Duke.

[blocks in formation]

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.

4 Publicly.

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 my lord Angelo.
Mari. Now I come to't, my lord:

She, that accuses him,

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.
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.
Ang. This is a strange abuse: Let's see thy face.
Mari. My husband bids me; now I will unmask.
[Unveiling.

This is that face, thou cruel Angelo,
Which once thou swor'st was worth the looking on:
This is the hand, which, with a vow'd contract,
Was fast belock'd in thine: 'twas I

That took away the match from Isabel,

And did supply thee at thy garden-house,
In her imagined person.

Duke.

Know this woman?

Lucio. Carnally, she says.
Duke.

Lucio. Enough, my lord.

you

Sirrah, no more.

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,

5 Deception.

Partly for that her promised proportions
Came short of composition; but, in chief,
For that her reputation was disvalued
In levity; since which time, of five years,

I never spake with her, saw her, nor heard from her, Upon my faith and honour.

Mari. Noble prince,

[Kneels.

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 :

As this is true,

Let me in safety raise me from my knees;
Or else for ever be confixed here,

A marble monument !

[Rises. Ang. I did but smile till now; [ANGELO starts up. Now, good my lord, give me the scope of justice; My patience here is touch'd: I do perceive, These poor informal" 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.
[The DUKE rises.

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 my 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.

Peter. Would he were here, my lord; for he indeed,

Hath set the women on to this complaint.

[blocks in formation]
« 上一页继续 »