would the duke we talk of were returned again: this ungenitured agent will unpeople the province with continency; sparrows must not build in his house-eaves, because they are lecherous. The duke yet would have dark deeds darkly answered; he would never bring them to light would he were returned! Marry, this Claudio is condemned for untrussing. Farewell, good friar; I prithee, pray for me. The duke, I say to thee again, would eat mutton on Fridays. He's now past it; yet, and I say to thee, he would mouth with a beggar, though she smelt brown bread and garlic: say, that I said so. Farewell.

Duke. No might nor greatness in mortality Can censure 'scape; back-wounding calumny The whitest virtue strikes: What king so strong, Can tie the gall up in the slanderous tongue! But who comes here?

Enter ESCALUS, Provost, Bawd, and Officers. Escal. Go, away with her to prison.

[Exit.

Baud. Good my lord, be good to me; your honour is accounted a merciful man: good my lord.

Escal. Double and treble admonition, and still forfeita in the same kind? This would make mercy swear, and play the tyrant.

Prov. A bawd of eleven years' continuance, may it please your honour.

Bawd. My lord, this is one Lucio's information against me: mistress Kate Keepdown was with child by him in the duke's time; he promised her marriage; his child is a year and a quarter old, come Philip and Jacob: I have kept it myself; and see how he goes about to abuse me.

Escal. That fellow is a fellow of much licence :let him be called before us.-Away with her to prison: Go to; no more words. [Exeunt Bawd and Officers.] Provost, my brother Angelo will not be altered, Claudio Forfeit-transgress.

must die to-morrow: let him be furnished with divines,
and have all charitable preparation: if my brother
wrought by my pity, it should not be so with him.
Prov. So please you, this friar hath been with him,
and advised him for the entertainment of death.
Escal. Good even, good father.

Duke. Bliss and goodness on you!
Escal. Of whence are you?

Duke. Not of this country, though my chance is now To use it for my time: I am a brother

Of gracious order, late come from the see,
In special business from his holiness.

Escal. What news abroad i' the world?

Duke. None, but that there is so great a fever on goodness, that the dissolution of it must cure it: novelty is only in request; and it is as dangerous to be aged in any kind of course, as it is virtuous to be constant in any undertaking. There is scarce truth enough alive to make societies secure; but security" enough to make fellowships accursed: much upon this riddle runs the wisdom of the world. This news is old enough, yet it is every day's news. I pray you, sir, of what disposition was the duke?

Escal. One, that, above all other strifes, contended especially to know himself.

Duke. What pleasure was he given to?

Escal. Rather rejoicing to see another merry, than merry at anything which professed to make him rejoice: a gentleman of all temperance. But leave we him to his events, with a prayer they may prove prosperous; and let me desire to know how you find Claudio prepared. I am made to understand that you have lent him visitation.

Duke. He professes to have received no sinister measure from his judge, but most willingly humbles himself to the determination of justice: yet had he framed to himself, by the instruction of his frailty, many deceiving a Security-legal security, surety.

promises of life; which I, by my good leisure, have discredited to him, and now is he resolved to die.

Escal. You have paid the Heavens your function, and the prisoner the very debt of your calling. I have laboured for the poor gentleman, to the extremest shore of my modesty; but my brother justice have I found so severe, that he hath forced me to tell him, he is indeedjustice.

Duke. If his own life answer the straitness of his proceeding, it shall become him well; wherein if he chance to fail he hath sentenced himself.

Escal. I am going to visit the prisoner: Fare you well.
Duke. Peace be with you! [Ex. ESCAL. and Prov.

He who the sword of Heaven will bear
Should be as holy as severe;
Pattern in himself, to know,
Grace to stand, and virtue go;a
More nor less to others paying,
Than by self-offences weighing.
Shame to him, whose cruel striking
Kills for faults of his own liking!
Twice treble shame on Angelo,
To weed my vice, and let his grow!
O, what may man within him hide,
Though angel on the outward side!
How may likeness, made in crimes,
Making practice on the times,
To draw with idle spiders' strings
Most ponderous and substantial things:
Craft against vice I must apply:
With Angelo to-night shall lie
His old betrothed, but despised;
So disguise shall, by the disguised,
Pay with falsehood false exacting,
And perform an old contracting.

[Exit.

a Go. The to which precedes stand must be understood here. b Likeness-comeliness.

Mari. Break off thy song, and haste thee quick away; Here comes a man of comfort, whose advice

Hath often still'd my brawling discontent.-[Exit Boy.
Enter DUKE.

I cry you mercy, sir; and well could wish
You had not found me here so musical :

Let me excuse me, and believe me so,

My mirth it much displeas'd, but pleas'd my woe. Duke. T is good: though music oft hath such a charm,

To make bad good, and good provoke to harm.

I pray you, tell me, hath anybody inquired for me here to-day? much upon this time have I promised here to meet.

Mari. You have not been inquired after: I have sat here all day.

Enter ISABELLA.

Duke. I do constantly believe you :-The time is come, even now. I shall crave your forbearance a

little; may be, I will call upon you anon, for some advantage to yourself.

Mari. I am always bound to you. Duke. Very well met, and welcome. What is the news from this good deputy?

[Exit.

Isab. He hath a garden circummur'da with brick, Whose western side is with a vineyard back'd; And to that vineyard is a planched b gate, That makes his opening with this bigger key: This other doth command a little door, Which from the vineyard to the garden leads; There have I made my promise upon the Heavy middle of the night to call

upon him. Duke. But shall you on your knowledge find this way?

Isab. I have ta'en a due and wary note upon 't; With whispering and most guilty diligence,

In action all of precept, he did show me

The way twice o'er.

Duke.
Are there no other tokens
Between you 'greed, concerning her observance?
Isab. No, none, but only a repair i' the dark;
And that I have possess'd him, my most stay
Can be but brief: for I have made him know,
I have a servant comes with me along,
That stays upon me; whose persuasion is,
I come about my brother.

Duke.

"T is well borne up. I have not yet made known to Mariana

A word of this:-What, ho! within! come forth!

Re-enter MARIANA.

I pray you be acquainted with this maid;

She comes to do you good.

a Circummur'd-walled round.

b Planched-planked, made of boards.
• Possess d-informed.