Escal. In very good time. Speak not you to him, till we call upon you. Lucio. Mum. Re-enter Duke, in the Friar's habit, and Provost. Escal. Come, sir: did you set these women on to slander Lord Angelo? They have confessed you did. Duke. 'Tis false. Escal. How! know you where you are? Duke. Respect to your great place! Be sometime honour'd! Where is the duke? 'tis he should hear me speak. Escal. The duke's in us; and we will hear you speak : Look, you speak justly. Duke. Boldly, at least.-But, O, poor souls, Come you to seek the lamb here of the fox? Good night to your redress! Is the duke gone? 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. 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 touse you Duke. Be not so hot; the duke dare Where I have seen corruption boil and bubble, Till it o'errun the stew: laws for all faults, But faults so countenanc'd, that the strong statutes As much in mock as mark. Escal. Slander to the state! Away with him to prison ! Is this the man that you did tell us of? Lucio. 'Tis he, my lord. Come hither, goodman 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? of the duke? Duke. Most notedly, sir. Lucio. Do you so, sir? And do you remember what you said 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 'reprobate' 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 gloze now, after his treasonable abuses! Escal. Such a fellow is not to be talk'd 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 companion! [The Provost lays hands on the Duke. Duke. Stay, sir; stay a while. 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? Shew your knave's visage, shew your sheep-biting face, and be hanged an hour! Will 't not off? [Pulls off the Friar's hood, and discovers the Duke. Duke. Thou art the first knave that e'er made a duke.- We'll borrow place of him.-Sir, by your leave: Hast thou or word, or wit, or impudence, And hold no longer out. Ang. O my dread lord, I should be guiltier than my guiltiness, To think I can be undiscernible, [TO ESCALUS. [TO ANGELO. When I perceive your grace, like power divine, But let my trial be mine own confession : Duke. Come hither, Mariana.— 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 ANGELO, MARIANA, FRIAR PETER, and Provost. Escal. My lord, I am more amaz'd at his dishonour Than at the strangeness of it. Come hither, Isabel : Duke. Isab. O, give me pardon, That I, your vassal, have employ'd and pain'd Duke. You are pardon'd, Isabel: And now, dear maid, be you as free to us. Which I did think with slower foot came on, Than that which lives to fear: make it your comfort, Isab. I do, my lord. Re-enter ANGELO, MARIANA, FRIAR PETER, and Provost. Duke. For this new-married man, approaching here, Whose salt imagination yet hath wrong'd Your well-defended honour, you must pardon For Mariana's sake: but as he adjudg'd your brother Of sacred chastity, and of promise-breach, Haste still pays haste, and leisure answers leisure; Which though thou wouldst deny, denies thee vantage: Where Claudio stoop'd to death, and with like haste.—— 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: We do instate and widow you withal, To buy you a better husband. Mari. O, my dear lord, I crave no other, nor no better man. Duke. Never crave him; we are definitive. Duke. [Kneeling. You do but lose your labour; Away with him to death.-Now, sir [To LUCIO], to you. I'll lend you all my life to do you service. Duke. Against all sense you do importune 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. Sweet Isabel, do yet but kneel by me ; Duke. He dies for Claudio's death. Most bounteous sir, Look, if it please you, on this man condemn'd, [Kneeling. |