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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 medler,
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. F. Peter. Well, he in time may come to clear himself;

But at this instant he is sick, my lord,

Of a strange fever. Upon his mere request,
(Being come to knowlege 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.1 First, for this wo-

man;

(To justify this worthy nobleman,

So vulgarly and personally accused)

Her shall you hear disproved to her eyes,

Till she herself confess it.

Duke.

Good friar, let's hear it. [Isabella is carried off, guarded; and Mariana comes forward.

Do you not smile at this, lord Angelo ?

O heaven! the vanity of wretched fools!

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Give us some seats.-Come, cousin Angelo;
In this I'll be impartial; be you judge

Of your own cause.-Is this the witness, friar?
First let her show her face, and after speak.

Mar. Pardon, my lord; I will not show my face, Until my husband bid me.

'Duke.

What, are you married?

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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 some

cause

To prattle for himself.

Lucio. Well, my lord.

Mar. 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.

Lucio. He was drunk then, my lord; it can be no better.

Duke. For the benefit of silence, would thou wert so too!

Lucio. Well, my lord.

Duke. This is no witness for lord Angelo.

Mar. Now I come to 't, my lord :
She, that accuses him of fornication,

In self-same manner doth accuse my husband;
And charges him, my lord, with such a time,
When I'll depose I had him in mine arms,
With all the effect of love.

Ang.

Charges she more than me?

Mar. Not that I know.

Duke.

No? you say, your husband.

Mar. Why, just, my lord, and that is Angelo, Who thinks, he knows, that he ne'er knew my body; But knows, he thinks, that he knows Isabel's.

Ang. This is a strange abuse.1-Let's see thy face.

Mar. My husband bids me; now I will unmask. [unveiling.

This is that face, thou cruel Angelo,
Which, once thou sworest, was worth the looking

on :

This is the hand, which, with a vow'd contract,
Was fast belock'd in thine: this is the body
That took away the match from Isabel,
And did supply thee at thy garden-house,
In her imagined person.

Duke.

Know you this woman?

Sirrah, no more.

Lucio. Carnally, she says.

Duke.

Lucio. Enough, my lord.

1 Deception.

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,
Partly, for that her promised proportions
Came short of composition; 1 but, in chief,
For that her reputation was disvalued
In levity since which time, of five years,

:

I never spake with her, saw her, nor heard from ner, Upon my faith and honor.

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As there comes light from heaven, and words from

breath,

As there is sense in truth, and truth in virtue,
I am affianced 2 this man's wife, as strongly

As words could make up vows: and, my good lord,
But Tuesday night last gone, in his garden-house,
He knew me as a wife. As this is true,

Let me in safety raise me from my knees ;

Or else for ever be confixed here,

A marble monument !

I did but smile till now:

Ang.
Now, good my lord, give me the scope of justice.
My patience here is touch'd: I do perceive,

These poor informal 3 women are no more
But instruments of some more mightier member
That sets them on. Let me have way, my lord,
To find this practice 4 out.

1 Fell short of the contract.
3 Crazy.

2 Betrothed.

• Conspiracy.

Duke.

Ay, with my heart;

And punish them unto your height of pleasure.Thou foolish friar! and thou pernicious woman, Compact with her that's gone! think'st thou, thy oaths,

Though they would swear down each particular

saint,

Were testimonies against his worth and credit,
That's seal'd in approbation?-You, lord Escalus,
Sit with my cousin; lend him your kind pains
To find out this abuse, whence 'tis derived.—
There is another friar that set them on;

Let him be sent for.

F. Peter. Would he were here, my lord! for he, indeed,

Hath set the women on to this complaint:

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,1
Do with your injuries as seems you best,

In any chastisement. I for awhile
Will leave you; but stir not you, till you
Determined upon these slanderers.

have well

Esc. 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: 2 honest in

1 To the end.

2 A hood makes not a monk.

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