Duke. I protest, I love the duke as I love myself. Ang. Hark! how the villain would close now, after his treasonable abuses.

Esc. 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 1 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 hanged 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 :
Sneak not away, sir; [to Lucio.] for the friar and

you

Must have a word anon :-lay hold on him.

Lucio. This may prove worse than hanging.
Duke. What you have spoke, I pardon; sit you

down.

[to Escalus. We'll borrow place of him.-Sir, by your leave :

Wanton wenches.

[to Angelo.

1

Hast thou or word, or wit, or impudence,

That yet can do thee office ?1 If thou hast,
Rely upon it till my tale be heard,

And hold no longer out.

Ang.

0 my dread lord,

I should be guiltier than my guiltiness,

To think I can be undiscernible,

When I perceive, your grace,
like power divine,
Hath look'd upon my passes. Then, good prince,
No longer session hold upon my shame,
But let my trial be mine own confession :
Immediate sentence then, and sequent death,
Is all the grace I beg.

Duke.

Come hither, Mariana.

Say, wast thou e'er contracted to this woman?
Ang. I was, my lord.

Do

Duke. Go, take her hence, and marry her instantly.

you the office, friar; which consummate, Return him here again.-Go with him, provost.

[Exeunt Angelo, Mariana, Peter, and Provost. Esc. My lord, I am more amazed at his dishonor,

Than at the strangeness of it.

Duke.

Come hither, Isabel :

Your friar is now your prince. As I was then
Advertising, and holy to your business,

3

Not changing heart with habit, I am still
Attorney'd at your service.

Isa.

O, give me pardon,

That I, your vassal, have employ'd and pain'd
Your unknown sovereignty.

Duke.

You are pardon'd, Isabel :

And now, dear maid, be you as free to us.1
Your brother's death, I know, sits at your heart;
And you may marvel, why I obscured myself,
Laboring to save his life; and would not rather
Make rash remonstrance 2 of my hidden power,
Than let him so be lost. O most kind maid!
It was the swift celerity of his death,

Which I did think with slower foot came on,

That brain'd my purpose. But, peace be with him!.

That life is better life, past fearing death,

Than that which lives to fear: make it your com

Re-enter ANGELO, MARIANA, PETER, and PROVOST.

Isa.

I do, my lord.

Duke. For this new-married man, approaching

here,

Whose salt imagination yet hath wrong'd

Pardon us as we have pardoned you.

2 Premature discovery.

3 Knocked my design on the head.