nothing, but in his clothes; and one that hath spoke most villanous speeches of the duke.

Esc. 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.

Esc. 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.
Esc. 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.

Esc. I will go darkly to work with her.

Lucio. That's the way; for women are light at midnight.

Esc. Come on, mistress: [to Isabella.] here's a gentlewoman denies all that you have said.

Lucio. My lord, here comes the rascal I spoke of, here with the provost.

Esc. In very good time :-speak not you to him, till we call upon you.

Lucio. Mum.

Esc. Come, sir. Did you set these women on to slander lord Angelo? they have confessed you did. Duke. "Tis false.

Esc. How! know you where you are?

Duke. Respect to your great place! and let the

devil

Be sometime honor'd for his burning throne.— Where is the duke? 'tis he should hear me speak. Esc. 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?

Then is your cause gone too. The duke's unjust,
Thus to retort 1 your manifest appeal,
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. Esc. Why, thou unreverend and unhallow'd friar! Is 't not enough, thou hast suborn'd these women To accuse this worthy man; but, in foul mouth, And in the witness of his proper ear,

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 touze you joint by
joint,

But we will know this purpose.-What! unjust?
Duke. Be not so hot: the duke

Dare no more stretch this finger of mine, than he

Dare rack his own: his subject am I not,

Nor here provincial.1 My business in this state
Made me a looker-on here in Vienna,

Where I have seen corruption boil and bubble,
Till it o'er-run the stew: laws for all faults;
But faults so countenanced, that the strong statutes
Stand like the forfeits in a barber's shop,

As much in mock as mark.

Esc. Slander to the state! Away with him to prison.

Ang. What can you vouch against him, signior Lucio?

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? And do you remember what you said of the duke.

Duke. Most notedly, sir.

Lucio. Do you so, sir? 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 damnable fellow! Did not I pluck thee by the nose for thy speeches ?

1 Nor of any province dependent on the duke.

Kark del.

MEASURE FOR MEASURE

Duke disgiased) Varrius, Isabella, Angelo, Escolus, &c. Act Scene 1

Starling sc.