seen such dishes; they are not China dishes, but very good dishes. Escal. Go to, go to: no matter for the dish, sir. Clo. No, indeed, sir, not of a pin ; you are therefore in the right; but, to the point: as I say, this mistress Elbow, being, as I say, with child, and being great belly'd, and longing, as I said, for prunes; and having but two in the dish, as I said, master Froth here, this very man, having eaten the rest, as I said, and, as I say, paying for them very honestly;-for, as you know, master Froth, I could not give you three-pence again. Froth. No, indeed. Clo. Very well: you being then, if you be remember'd, cracking the stones of the 'foresaid prunes. Froth. Ay, so I did, indeed. Clo. Why, very well: I telling you then, if you he remember'd, that such a one, and such a one, were past cure of the thing you wot of, unless they kept very good diet, as I told you. Froth. All this is true. Clo. Why, very well then. Escal. Come, you are a tedious fool: to the purpose. What was done to Elbow's wife, that he hath cause to complain of? Come me to what was done to her. Clo. Sir, your honor cannot come to that yet. Escal. No, sir, nor I mean it not. Clo. Sir, but you shall come to it, by your honor's leave and I beseech you, look into master Froth here, sir; a man of fourscore pound a year; whose father died at Hallowmas :-Was't not at Hailowmas, master Froth? Froth. All-hollond' eve. Clo. Why, very well: I hope here be truths: he, sir, sitting, as I say, in a lower chair, sir;'twas in the Bunch of Grapes, where, indeed, you have a delight to sit: have you not! Froth. I have so; because it is an open room, and good for winter. Clo. Why, very well then;-I hope here be truths. Ang. This will last out a night in Russia, When nights are longest there: I'll take my leave, And leave you to the hearing of the cause; Hoping, you'll find good cause to whip them all. Escal. I think no less: good morrow to your lordship. [Exit ANGELO. Now, sir, come on: what was done to Elbow's wife, once more? Clo. Once, sir? there was nothing done to her once. Elb. I beseech you, sir, ask him what this man did to my wife? Clo. I beseech your honor, ask me. Escal. Well, sir: what did this gentleman to her? Clo. I beseech you, sir, look in this gentleman's face:-Good master Froth, look upon his honor; 'tis for a good purpose: doth your honor mark his face? Escal. Ay, sir, very well. Clo. Nay, I beseech you, mark it well. Clo. Doth your honor see any harm in his face? Escal. Why, no. Clo. I'll be supposed upon a book, his face is the worst thing about him: good then; if his face be the worst thing about him, how could master Froth do the constable's wife any harm? I would know that of your honor. Escal. He's in the right: constable, what say you to it? Elb. First, an it like you, the house is a respected house; next, this is a respected fellow; and his mistress is a respected woman. Clo. By this hand, sir, his wife is a more respected person than any of us all. Elb. Varlet, thou liest; thou liest, wicked var let: the time is yet to come, that she was ever re spected with man, woman, or child. Clo. Sir, she was respected with him before he married with her. Escal. Which is the wiser here? justice or iniquity? Is this true? Elb. O thou caitiff! O thou varlet! O thou wicked Hannibal! I respected with her, before I was married to her? If ever I was respected with her, or she with me, let not your worship think me the poor duke's officer:-Prove this, thou wicked Hannibal, or I'll have mine action of battery on thee. Escal. If he took you a box o' the ear, you might have your action of slander too. Elb. Marry, I thank your good worship for it: what is't your worship's pleasure I should do with this wicked caitiff? Escal. Truly, officer, because he hath some offences in him, that thou wouldst discover if thou couldst, let him continue in his courses, till thou know'st what they are. Elb. Marry, I thank your worship for it :-thou seest, thou wicked varlet now, what's come upon thee; thou art to continue now, thou varlet; thou art to continue. Escal. Where were you born, friend. [TO FROTH. Froth. Here, in Vienna, sir. Clo. Mistress Over-done. Escal. Hath she had any more than one husband? Clo. Nine, sir; Over-done by the last. Escal. Nine!-Come hither to me, master Froth. Master Froth, I would not have you acquainted with tapsters; they will draw you, master Froth. and you will hang them: get you gone, and let me hear no more of you. Froth. I thank your worship: for mine own part, I never come into any room in a taphouse, but I am drawn in. Escal. Well; no more of it, master Froth: farewell. [Exit FROTH.]-Come, you hither to me, master tapster; what is your name, master tapster? Clo. Pompey. Escal. What else? Clo. Bum, sir. Escal. "Troth, and your bum is the greatest thing about you; so that, in the beastliest sense, you are Pompey the great. Pompey, you are partly a bawd, Pompey, howsoever you color it in being a tapster. Are you not? come, tell me true; it shall be the better for you. Clo. Truly, sir, I am a poor fellow, that would live. Escal. How would you live, Pompey? by being a bawd? What do you think of the trade, Pompey? is it a lawful trade? Clo. If the law would allow it, sir. Escal. But the law will not allow it, Pompey; nor it shall not be allowed in Vienna. Clo. Does your worship mean to geld and spay all the youth in the city? Escal. No, Pompey.. Clo. Truly, sir, in my poor opinion, they will to't then if your worship will take order for the drabs and the knaves, you need not to fear the bawds. Escal. There are pretty orders beginning, I can tell you it is but heading and hanging. Clo. If you head and hang all that offend that way but for ten years together, you'll be glad to give out a commission for more heads. If this law hold in Vienna ten year, I'll rent the fairest house in it, after three pence a day: if you live to see this come to pass, say Pompey told you so. Escal. Thank you, good Pompey and, in requital of your prophecy, hark you,-I advise you, let me not find you before me again upon any complaint whatsoever, no, not for dwelling where you do if I do, Pompey, I shall beat you to your tent, and prove a shrewd Cæsar to you; in plain dealing, Pompey, I shall have you whipt: so for this time, Pompey, fare you well. Clo. I thank your worship for your good counsel; but I shall follow it, as the flesh and fortune shall better determine. Whip me! No, no; let carman whip his jade; The valiant heart's not whipt out of his trade. [Exit. Escal. Come hither to me, master Elbow; come hither, master Constable. How long have you been in this place of constable? Elb. Seven years and a half, sir. Escal. I thought, by your readiness in the office, you had continued in it some time: You say, seven years together? Elb. And a half, sir. Serv. Here is the sister of the man condemn'd Desires access to you. Ang. Hath he a sister? Prov. Ay, my good lord; a very virtuous maid, And to be shortly of a sisterhood, If not already. Ang. Well, let her be admitted [Exit Servant See you, the fornicatress be remov'd; Let her have needful, but not lavish, means, There shall be order for it. Enter LUCIO and ISABELLA. Prov. Save your honorí [Offering to retire Ang. Stay a little while.-[To ISAB.] You are welcome: What's your will? Isab. I am a woeful suitor to your honor: Please but your honor hear me. Ang. Well; what's your suit? Isab. There is a vice that most I do abhor, And most desire should meet the blow of justice For which I would not plead, but that I must; For which I must not plead, but that I am At war, 'twixt will, and will not. Lucio. [To ISAB.] Give't not o'er so: to him again, intreat him; Kneel down before him, hang upon his gown; Isab. Must he needs die? If so, your heart were touch'd with that remorse As mine is to him. Ang. He's sentenced: 'tis too late. Lucio. You are too cold. [To ISABELLA. Isab. Too late? why, no; I, that do speak a word, May call it back again: Well believe this, No ceremony that to great ones 'longs, Not the king's crown, nor the deputed sword, The marshal's truncheon, nor the judge's robe, Become them with one half so good a grace, As mercy does. If he had been as you, And you as he, you would have slipt like him; But he, like you, would not have been so stern. Ang. Pray you, begone. Isah. I would to heaven I had your potency, And you were Isabel! should it then be thus? No; I would tell what 'twere to be a judge, And what a prisoner. Lucio. Ay, touch him: there's the vein. [Aside. Ang. Your brother is a forfeit of the law, And you but waste your words. Isab. Alas! alas! Why, all the souls that were, were forfeit once; Ang. He's not prepar'd for death! Ever for our kitchens Ang. The law hath not been dead, though it hath slept: There's many had not dar'd to do that evil, Yet show some pity. Ang. I show it most of all, when I show justice, For then I pity those I do not know, Which a dismiss'd offence would after gall; And do him right, that answering one foul wrong, Lives not to act another. Be satisfied; Your brother dies to-morrow: be content. Isab. So you must be the first that gives this sen. And he, that suffers: O, it is excellent [tence: To have a giant's strength; but it is tyrannous To use it like a giant. Lucio. That's well said. Most ignorant of what he's most assur'd, Luc. O, to him, to him, wench: he will relent;" He's coming, I perceive't. Prov. Pray heaven, she win him! Isab. We cannot weigh our brother with ourself: Great men may jest with saints; 'tis wit in them; But, in the less, foul profanation. Lucio. Thou'rt in the right, girl; more o' that. Isab. That in the captain's but a choleric word, Which in the soldier is flat blasphemy. Lucio. Art advis'd o' that? more on't. That skins the vice o' the top: Go to your bosom ; Ang. She speaks, and 'tis Such sense, that my sense breeds with it.-Fare you well. Isab. Gentle my lord, turn back. Ang. I will bethink me:-Come again to Ay, well said. Isab. At what hour to-morrow Shall I attend your lordship? Ang. Isab. Save your honor! At any time 'fore-noon. [enough, [Exeunt Lucio, ISABELLA, and Provost. Ang. From thee; even from thy virtue !— What's this? what's this? Is this her fault or mine? The tempter, or the tempted, who sins most? ha! Not she; nor doth she tempt: but it is I, That lying by the violet, in the sun, Do, as the carrion does, not as the flower, Corrupt with virtuous season. Can it be, That modesty may more betray our sense Than woman's lightness? Having waste ground Shall we desire to raze the sanctuary, And pitch our evils there? O, fye, fye, fye! What dost thou? or what art thou, Angelo? Dost thou desire her foully, for those things That make her good? O, let her brother live: Thieves for their robbery have authority, When judges steal themselves. What? do I love her, That I desire to hear her speak again, And feast upon her eyes? What is't I dream on? O cunning enemy, that to catch a saint, With saints dost bait thy hook! Most dangerous Is that temptation, that doth goad us on To sin in loving virtue; never could the strumpet Once stir my temper; but this virtuous maid Subdues me quite ;-ever, till now, When men were fond, I smil'd, and wonder'd how. [Exit. SCENE III.-A Room in a Prison. Enter DUKE, habited like a Friar, and Provost. Duke. Hail to you, provost! so I think you are. Prov. I am the provost : What's your will, good friar? Duke. Bound by my charity, and my bless'd order, I come to visit the afflicted spirits Here in the prison: do me the common right To let me see them; and to make me know The nature of their crimes, that I may minister To them accordingly. Prov. I would do more than that, if more were needful. Enter JULIET. Look, here comes one; a gentlewoman of mine, Duke. Your partner, as I hear, must die to-morrow, Ang. When I would pray and think, I think and pray To several subjects: heaven hath my empty words; Enter Servant. Serv. Desires access to you. Ang. O heavens! One Isabel, a sister, Teach her the way. [Exit Serv. Why does my blood thus muster to my heart; Making both it unable for itself, And dispossessing all the other parts Of necessary fitness? So play the foolish throngs with one that swoons When must he die? The general,' subject to a well-wish'd king, Prov. As I do think, to-morrow. Quit their own part, and in obsequious fondness I have provided for you; stay awhile, [To JULIET. Crowd to his presence, where their untaught love And you shall be conducted. Must needs appear offence. ⚫Preserved from the corruption of the world. 1 Profit. The people. Enter ISABELLA. How now, fair maid? Isab. I am come to know your pleasure. Ang. That you might know it, would much better please me, Than to demand what 'tis. Your brother cannot live. Isab. When, I beseech you? that in his reprieve, Ang. Ha! fye, these filthy vices! It were as good Their saucy sweetness, that do coin heaven's image, Isab. "Tis set down so in heaven, but not in earth. Ang. Say you so? then I shall pose you quickly. Which had you rather, that the most just law Now took your brother's life; or, to redeem him, Give up your person to such sweet uncleanness, As she that he hath stained? Isab. Sir, believe this, I had rather give my body than my soul. Ang. I talk not of your soul; our compell'd sins Stand more for number than accompt. Isab. How say you? Ang. Nay, I'll not warrant that; for I can speak Against the thing I say. Answer to this;I, now the voice of the recorded law, Pronounce a sentence on your brother's life: Might there not be a charity in sin, To save this brother's life? Isab. Please you to do't, I'll take it as a peril to my soul, It is no sin at all, but charity. Whose credit with the judge, or own great place, Isab. As much for my poor brother as myself; Ang. Then must your brother die. Isab. And 'twere the cheaper way: Better it were, a brother died at once, Than that a sister, by redeeming him, Should die for ever. Ang. Were not you then as cruel as the sentence That you have slander'd so? Isab. Ignominy in ransom, and free pardon, Ang. You seem'd of late to make the law a tyrant; Isab. O, pardon me, my lord; it oft falls out, To have what we'd have, we speak not what we I sometimes do excuse the thing I hate, [mean : For his advantage that I dearly love. Ang. We are all frail. Isab. Else let my brother die, If not a feodary, but only he, Owe, and succeed by weakness. Ang. Nay, women are frail too. Isab. Ay, as the glasses where they view themselves; Which are as easy broke as they make forms. Ang. Pleas'd you to do 't, at peril of your soul, And from this testimony of your own sex, Were equal poise of sin and charity. Isab. That I do beg his life, if it be sin, Heaven, let me bear it! you granting of my suit, If that be sin, I'll make it my morn prayer To have it added to the faults of mine, And nothing of your answer. Ang. Nay, but hear me: Your sense pursues not mine: either you are ignoOr seem so, craftily; and that's not good. [rant, Isab. Let me be ignorant, and in nothing good, But graciously to know I am no better. Ang. Thus wisdom wishes to appear most bright, When it doth tax itself: as these black masks Proclaim an enshield' beauty ten times louder Than beauty could displayed.-But mark me; To be received plain, I'll speak more gross: Your brother is to die. Isab. So. (Since, I suppose, we are made to be no stronger Isab. I have no tongue but one: gentle my lord, Let me entreat you, speak the former language. Ang. Plainly conceive, I love you. Isab. My brother did love Juliet; and you tell me That he shall die for it. Ang. He shall not, Isabel, if you give me love. Isab. I know your virtue hath a licence in't, Which seems a little fouler than it is, To pluck on others. |