There is another comfort than this world, That which but seems unlike; 'tis not impossible, In all his dressings,' characts, titles, forms, Duke. Isab. O, that it were as like, as it is true! Or else thou art suborn'd against his honor, on: Confess the truth, and say by whose advice By mine honesty, Thou cam'st here to complain. Isab. If she be mad, (as I believe no other,) Isab. O, gracious duke, Harp not on that, nor do not banish reason For inequality: but let your reason serve To make the truth appear, where it seems hid; And hide the false, seems true. Duke. Many that are not mad, Have sure more lack of reason. What would you say? Isab. I am the sister of one Claudio, Was sent to by my brother: one Lucio Lucio. That's I, an't like your grace; I came to her from Claudio, and desir'd her To try her gracious fortune with lord Angelo, For her poor brother's pardon. Isab. That's he, indeed. Nor wish'd to hold my peace. Lucio. I warrant your honor. Duke. The warrant's for yourself; take heed to it. Isab. 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. Isab. I went To this pernicious caitiff deputy- The phrase is to the matter. Pardon it; Duke. Mended again: the matter?-Proceed. Isab. 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 reply'd; (For this was of much length;) the vile conclusion I now begin with grief and shame to utter; He would not but by gift of my chaste body To his concupiscible intemperate lust, Release my brother; and after much debatement My sisterly remorse' confutes mine honor, 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. Habits and characters of office. This is most likely. Pity. 4 Befuted. And is this all? In countenance!-Heaven shield your grace from woe, As I, thus wrong'd, hence unbelieved go. 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? Isab. 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. F. Peter. Blessed be your royal grace! I have stood by, my lord, and I have heard Your royal ear abus'd: First, hath this woman Most wrongfully accus'd your substitute: Who is as free from touch or guilt with her As she from one ungot. Duke. We did believe no less. Know you that friar Lodowick, that she speaks of! F. Peter. I know him for a man divine and holy: Not scurvy, 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 your grace. Lucio. My lord, most villanously! believe it. But at this instant he is sick, my lord, Good friar, let's hear it. [ISABELLA is carried off, guarded; and MARIANA comes forward. Do you not smile at this, lord Angelo ?— Of your own cause.-Is this the witness, friar? Duke. Mari. No, my lord. What, are you married? Are you a maid? Duke. Mari. Duke. A widow then? Neither, my lord. Mari. As there comes light from heaven, and words from breath, As there is sense in truth, and truth in virtue, Ang. I did but smile till now: 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 To prattle for himself. [some cause Lucio. Well, my lord. 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. Though they would swear down each particular saint, Were testimonies against his worth and credit, That's seal'd in approbation ?--You, lord Escalus, Lucio. He was drunk, then, my lord; it can be Sit with my cousin ; lend him your kind pains no better. To find out this abuse, whence 'tis derived. Duke. For the benefit of silence, 'would thou There is another friar that set them on; wert so too! Lucio. Well, my lord. Duke. This is no witness for lord Angelo. She that accuses him of fornication, Ang. Charges she more than me? Mari. Not that I know. This is that face, thou cruel Angelo, Duke. Know you this woman? Lucio. Carnally, she says. Duke. Lucio. Enough, my lord. 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, And you, my noble, and well-warranted cousin, Do with your injuries as seems you best, Escal. My lord, we'll do it thoroughly.-[Exit Duke.] 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 villanous speeches of the duke. Escal. 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. Escal. Call that same Isabel here once again; [To an attendant.] 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. Escal. Say you? Lucio. Marry, sir, I think, if you handled her privately, she would sooner confess; perchance publicly she'll be ashamed. Re-enter Officers, with ISABELLA; the Duke, in the Friar's habit, and Provost. Escal. I will go darkly to work with her. Look, you speak justly. Duke. Boldly, at least ;-But, O, poor souls, Lucio. This is the rascal; this is he I spoke of. Is't not enough, that thou hast suborn'd these women, To accuse this worthy man; but in foul mouth, And then to glance from him to the duke himself: But we will know this purpose!-What! unjust? Dare no more stretch this finger of mine, than he Escal. Slander to the state! Away with him to prison. Ang. What can you vouch against him, signior Is this the man that you did tell us of? 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 giglots 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 Friar's 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:- you Must have a word anon:-Lay hold on him. Lucio. This may prove worse than hanging. Hast thou or word, or wit, or impudence, Ang. 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 in- Do you the office, friar; which consummate, and Provost. Lucio. "Tis he, my lord. Come hither, good-Than at the strangeness of it. 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 flesh-monger, 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. Duke. Isab. Duke. You are pardon'd, Isabel Which I did think with slower foot came on, Re-enter ANGELO, MARIANA, PETER, and PROvost. Isab. Duke. For this new-married man, approaching here, Whose salt imagination yet hath wrong'd Of sacred chastity, and of promise-breach, Then, Angelo, thy fault's thus manifested; Which though thou wouldst deny, denies thee That should by private order else have died, 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, Mari. to you. Mari. O, my good lord!—Sweet Isabel, take my part; I have reserv'd alive. What's he? Duke. 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. I am sorry, that such sorrow I procure: And so deep sticks it in my penitent heart, 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? Prov. This, my lord. Sirrah, thou art said to have a stubborn soul, But, for those earthly faults I quit them all; 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 You, sirrah, [To LUCIO.] that knew me for a fool, | Remit thy other forfeits:-Tuke him to prison:, a coward, One all of luxury, an ass, a madman: Lucio. 'Faith, my lord, I spoke it but according 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 nuptial 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 therewithal Thoughtless practice. And see our pleasure herein executed. Lucio. Marrying a punk, my lord, is pressing to death, whipping, and hanging. 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 good. There's more behind, that is more gratulate. [ness. Thanks provost, for thy care and secrecy; We shall employ thee in a worthier place:Forgive him, Angelo, that brought you home The head of Ragozine for Claudio's; The offence pardons itself.-Dear Isabel, I have a motion which imports your good; Whereto if you'll a willing ear incline, 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 |