112 Gent. And why not? grace is grace, despight of all controversie.

Lucio. As for example, thou thy self art a wicked villain, despight of all grace.

212 Gent. Well;' there went but a pair of sheers be

tween us.

Lucio. I grant; as there may between the lists and the velvet. Thou art the lift.

312 Gent. And thou the velvet; thou art good velvet; thou’rt a three-pil'd piece, I warrant thee: I had as lief be a list of an English kersey, as be pil'd, as thou art pild, for a French velvet. Do I speak feelingly now?

Lucio. I think thou dost; and indeed with most painful feeling of thy speech: I will, out of thine own confession, learn to begin thy health ; but, whilft I live, forget to drink after thee.

+ 12 Gent.' I think I have done my self wrong, have I not?

s'i Gent.' Yes, that thou hast; whither thou art tainted, for free.

Bawd, coming at a distance. Lucio. Behold, behold, where Madam Mitigation comes.

I Gent. I have purchas'd as many diseases under her roof, as come to

2 Gent. To what, pray?
i Gent. Judge.
2 Gent. To three thousand dollars a á year.
i Gent. Ay, and more.
Lucio. A French crown more.b

1 Gent. (a) A quibble intended between dollars and dolours.

(b). Alluding to the venereal scab upon the bead calla Corona Veneris.

Theobald. 1 Lucio. Ay, why not? grace is grace, despight of all controverfic.

As for example, &c. 2 i Gent, Well; &c. 3 i Gent.

4 i Gent.

§ 2 Gent.

1 Gent. Thou art always figuring diseases in me; buc thou art full of error; I am found.

Lucio. Nay, not, as one would say, healthy; but so found, as things that are hollow; thy bones are hollow; impiety hath made a feast of thee.

i Gent. How now, which of your hips has the most profound sciatica?

[To the Bawd. Bavd. Well, well; there's one yonder arrested, and carry'd to prison, was worth five thousand of you all.

i Gent. Who's that, I pr’ythee?
Bawd. Marry, Sir, that's Claudio, Signior Claudio.
i Gent. Claudio to prison? 'tis not fo.

Bawd. Nay, but I know 'tis fo; I saw him arrested ; saw him carry'd away; and which is more, within these three days his head is to be chopt off.

Lucio. But, after all this fooling, I would not have it fo: art thou sure of this?

Bawd. I am too sure of it ; and it is for getting Madam Julietta with child.

Lucio. Believe me, this may be; he promised to meet me two hours since, and he was ever precise in promisekeeping

2. Gent. Besides, you know it draws something near to the speech we had to such a purpose.

i Gent. But most of all agreeing with the proclamation. Lucio. Away, let's go learn the truth of it. [Exeunt.

Bawd. Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat, what with the gallows, and what with poverty, I am custom-shrunk, How now? what's the news with you?

Enter Clown.
Clown. Yonder man is carry'd to prison.
Bawd. Well, what has he done?
Clown. A woman.
Bowd. But what's his offence?
Clown. Groping for trouts in a peculiar river.

Bawd. What? is there a maid with child by him?

Clown. No; but there's a woman with maid by him. You have not heard of the proclamation, have you?

Bawd. What proclamation, man?

Clown. All houses in the suburbs of Vienna must be pluck'd down.

Bawd. And what shall become of those in the city?
Elown. They shall stand for feed; they had gone

down too, but that a wise burger put in for them.

Bawd. But shall our houses of resort in the suburbs be pull'd down?

Clown. To the ground, mistress.

Bawd. Why, here's a change indeed in the commonwealth ; what shall become of me?

Clown. Come, fear not you; good counsellors lack no clients; though you change your place, you need not change your trade : I'll be your tapster still

. Courage, there will be pity taken on you; you that have worn your eyes almost out in the service, you will be considered.

Bawd. What's to do here, Thomas Tapster ? let's withdraw.

Clown. Here comes Signior Claudio, led by the Provost to prison; and there's Madam Juliet.

[Excunt Bawd and Clown.

S С Ě N Ë VI.
Enter Provost, Claudio, Juliet, and Officers. Lucio

and two Gentlemen.
Claud. Fellow, why dost thou show me thus to th' world?
Bear me to prison, where I am committed.

Prov. I do it not in evil disposition,
But from lord Angelo by special charge.

Claud. Thus can the Demi-god Authority
Make us pay down, for our offence, by weight;
6 ľ' th' words of heav'n, on whom it will, it will ;
On whom it will not, so; yet still ’tis just,
VOL. I.

х

Lucio, 6 The words ekat edir. Warb. emend.

Lucio. Why, how now, Claudio ? whence comes this restraint ?

Claud. From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty ;
As furfeit is the father of much fast,
So every scope by the immod’rate use
Turns to restraint : our natures do pursue
(Like rats that ravin down their proper bane,)
A thirsty evil, and when we drink, we die.

Lucio. If I could speak so wisely under an arrest, I would send for certain of my creditors; and yet, to say the truth, I had as lief have the foppery of freedom, as the morality of imprisonment: what's thy offence, Claudio?

Claudio. What but to speak of would offend again.
Lucio. What is't, murder?
Claud. No.
Lucio. Letchery?
Claud. Call it so.
Prov. Away, Sir, you must go.
Claud. One word, good friend: Lucio, a word with you.

Lucio. A hundred; if they'll do you any good:
Is letchery so look'd after ?

Claud. Thus stands it with me; upon a true contract
I got possession of Julietta's bed,
You know the lady, she is fast my wife,
Save that we do the denunciation lack
Of outward order. This we came not to,
Only for propagation of a dowre
Remaining in the coffer of her friends,
Fron whom we thought it meet to hide our love
'Till time had made them for us. But it chances,
The stealth of our 7 'mutual entertainment,
With character too gross, is writ in Juliet,

Lucio. With child, perhaps?

Claud. Unhappily, even so.
And the new Deputy now for the Duke,
(Whether it be the fault and glimpse of newness;
Or whether that the body publick be

A horse
7 most mutual

A horse whereon the governor doth ride,
Who newly in the seat, that it may know
He can command, lets it strait feel the spur;
Whether the tyranny be in his place,
Or in his eminence that fills it up,
I stagger in: but) this new governor
Awakes me all th' enrolled penalties
Which have like unscour'd armour hung by th' wall
So long, that nineteen zodiacks have gone round,
And none of them been worn ; and for a name,
Now
puts

the drowsie and neglected act Freshly on me; 'tis surely for a name.

Lucio. I warrant, s/so it is;' and thy head stands
So tickle on thy shoulders, that a milk-maid,
If she ? 'be but in love,' may sigh it off.
Send after the duke, and appeal to him.

Claud. I have done so, but he's not to be found.
I pr’ythee, Lucio, do me this kind fervice:
This day my sister should the cloister enter,
And there receive her approbation.
Acquaint her with the danger of my state,
Implore her in my voice, that she make friends
To the strict Deputy ; bid her felf asfay him,
I have great hope in that ; for in her youth
There is a prone and speechlefs dialect,
Such as moves men: beside, she hath prosp?rous art
When she will play with reason and discourse,
And well she can perfuade.
Lucio. I

pray

she

may; As well for the encouragement of the like, Which else would stand i longrievous imposition ; 2/As for thy life, which I'd be sorry should be Thus foolishly lost at a game of tick-tack. 3 I'll to her Itrait. Claud. I thank you, good friend Lucio, X 2

Lucios 8 it is; 9 be in love,

I under a As for the enjoying of thy life,. who I would 3 I'll to her.