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: stir not you till you have well
Determined upon these slanderers.

Esca. My lord, we'll do it thoroughly.

[Exit DUKE. ANGELO and ESCALUS sit. Signior Lucio, did not you say, you knew that friar Lodowick to be a dishonest person?

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

Esca. 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.

Esca. Know you that friar Lodowick that he speaks of?

Peter. I know him for a man divine and holy; Not saucy, nor a temporary meddler,

As he's reported by this gentleman :
And, on my trust, a man that never yet
Did, as he vouches, misreport his grace.

Lucio. My lord, most villainously: believe it. Peter. Well he in time may come to clear himself; But at this instant he his sick, my lord,

Of a strange fever: Upon his mere request,
(Being come to knowledge that there was complaint
Intended 'gainst lord Angelo,) came I hither,
To speak, as from his mouth, what he doth know
Is true and false: and what he with his oath,
And all probation, will make up full clear,
Whensoever he's convented.R

Esca. Call that same Isabel here once again.
[Exit a Gentleman.

8 Convened.

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.

Enter the Gentleman, ISABELLA, and two Apparitors.

Esca. Come on, mistress: here's a gentlewoman denies all that you have said.

Lucio. My lord, here comes the rascal I spoke of; here with the provost.

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

Lucio. Mum.

Enter the DUKE, as a Friar, and Provost.

Esca. Come, sir: Did you set these women on to slander lord Angelo? They have confess'd you did. Duke. 'Tis false.

Esca. How! know you where you are?

Duke. Respect to your great place! and let the

devil

Be sometimes honour'd for his burning throne:
Where is the duke? 'tis he should hear me speak.
Esca. The duke's in us; and we will hear you
speak :

Look, you speak justly.
Duke. Boldly, at least:

Come you
Good night to your redress.

to seek the lamb

But, O, poor souls, here of the fox ?

Is the duke gone?

The duke's unjust,

Then is your cause gone too.
Thus to retort your manifest appeal,
And put your trial in the villain's mouth,
Which here you come to accuse.

Lucio. This is the rascal; this is he I spoke of. Esca. Why, thou unreverend and unhallow'd friar, Is't not enough thou hast suborn'd these women

To accuse this worthy man: but, in foul mouth,
And in the witness of his proper ear,

To call him villain?

And then to glance from him to the duke himself; To tax him with injustice! Take him hence:

To the rack with him: We'll touze you joint by

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-ran 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.

Esca. Slander to the state! Away with him 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, good-man 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 fleshmonger, 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.

Esca. 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 giglots too, and with the other confederate compa[The Provost lays hands on the DUKE. Duke. Stay, sir; stay awhile.

nion.

9

Ang. What! resists he? Help him, Lucio. Lucio. Come, sir; come, sir:- - Why, you baldpated, lying rascal! you must be hooded, must you? Show your knave's visage, show your sheep-biting face, and be hang'd an hour! Will't not off?

[Pulls off the Friar's habit, and discovers the Duke. Duke. Thou art the first knave that ever made a duke.

First, provost, let me bail these gentle three:
Sneak not away, sir; for the friar and you
Must have a word anon:- Lay hold on him.

[The Apparitors seize Lucio. Lucio. This may prove worse than hanging. Duke. What you have spoke, I pardon; sit you

down:

[To ESCALUS.

We'll borrow place of him: — Sir, by your leave.

[To ANGELO.

Hast thou or word, or wit, or impudence,

That yet can do thee office?

If thou hast,

O, my dread lord,

Rely upon it till my tale be heard,
And hold no longer out.

Ang.

Ishould 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 sequent' death,

Is all the grace I beg.

Come hither, Mariana:

Duke.
Say, wast thou e'er contracted to this woman?
Ang. I was, my lord.

Duke. Go, take her hence, and marry her instantly.
Do you the office, friar; which consummate,
Return him here again :-Go with him, Provost.
[Exeunt MARIANA, ANGELO, Friar
PETER, and Provost.

Esca. My lord, I am more amazed at his dishonour Than at the strangeness of it.

Duke. Come hither, Isabel.

Isa. O, give me pardon,

That I, your vassal, have employ'd and pain'd

Your unknown sovereignty.

Duke. You are pardon'd, Isabel :

[She kneels.

[Raises her.

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 obscured myself,
Labouring to save his life; and would not rather
Make rash remonstrance of my hidden power,
Than let him so be lost: O, 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.

Enter MARIANA, ANGELO, Provost, and Friar PETER.

Isa. I do, my lord.

Duke. For this new-married man, approaching

here,

Whose foul imagination yet hath wrong'd

2 Following.