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Duke. My very worthy cousin, fairly met :-
Our old and faithful friend, we are glad to see you.
Ang, and Escal. Happy return be to your royal
grace!

Duke. Many and hearty thankings to you both.
We have made inquiry of you; and we hear
Such goodness of your justice, that our soul
Cannot but yield you forth to public thanks,
Forerunning more requital.

Ang.
You make my bonds still greater.
Duke. O, your desert speaks loud; and I should
wrong it,

To lock it in the wards of covert bosom,
When it deserves of characters of brass
A forted residence, 'gainst the tooth of time,
And razure of oblivion: Give me your hand,
And let the subject see, to make them know
That outward courtesies would fain proclaim
Favours that keep within.-Come, Escalus;
You must walk by us on our other hand;-
And good supporters are you.

PETER and ISABELLA come forward.

F. Peter. Now is your time; speak loud, and
kneel before him.

Isab. Justice, O royal duke! Vail your regard,
Upon a wrong'd, I'd fain have said, a maid!
O worthy prince, dishonour not your eye
By throwing it on any other object,

Till you have heard me in my true complaint,
And given me, justice, justice, justice, justice!
Duke. Relate your wrongs: In what? by whom?
Be brief:

Here is Lord Angelo shall give you justice!
Reveal yourself to him.

Isab.
O, worthy duke,
You bid me seek redemption of the devil:
Hear me yourself; for that which I must speak
Must either punish me, not being believ'd,

Or wring redress from you; hear me, O, hear me,

here.

In all his dressings, characts, titles, forms,
As Angelo; even so may Angelo,
Be an arch villain: believe it, royal prince,
If he be less, he's nothing; but he's more,
Had I more name for badness.

Ang. My lord, her wits, I fear me, are not firm:
She hath been a suitor to me for her brother,
Cut off by course of justice.
Isab.
By course of justice!
Ang. And she will speak most bitterly and
strange.
Isab. Most strange, but yet most truly, will I
[speak :
That Angelo's forsworn, is it not strange?
That Angelo's a murderer; is't not strange?
That Angelo is an adulterous thief,
An hypocrite, a virgin-violator;
Is it not strange, and strange?"
Duke.

Duke.

By mine honesty,

If she be mad (as I believe no other,)
Her madness hath the oddest frame of sense,
Such a dependency of thing on thing,
As e'er I heard in madness.
Isab.

O, gracious duke,
Harp not on that; nor do not banish reason
For inequality: but let your reason serve
To make the truth appear, where it seems hid;
And hide the false, seems true."

Duke.
Many that are not mad,
Have, sure, more lack of reason.-What would

you say

Isab. I am the sister of one Claudio,
Condemn'd
upon the act of fornication
To lose his head; condemn'd by Angelo:
I, in probation of a sisterhood,
Was sent to by my brother: One Lucio
As then the messenger;-

Lucio.

That's I, an't like your grace:
To try her gracious fortune with Lord Angelo.
I came to her from Claudio, and desir'd her
For her
poor brother's pardon.
Isab.
Duke. You were not bid to speak.
Lucio.

Nor wish'd to hold my peace.
Duke.

That's he, indeed.

No, my good lord;

I wish you now then;

Pray you, take note of it: and when you have
A business for yourself, pray heaven you then
Be perfect.

Lucio. I warrant your honour.

Duke. The warrant's for yourself; take heed to it.
Isab. This gentleman told somewhat of my tale.
Lucio. Right.

Duke. It may be right; but you are in the wrong
To speak before your time.-Proceed.
Isab.

I went

To this pernicious caitiff deputy.
Duke. That's somewhat madly spoken.
Isab.

The phrase is to the matter.

Pardon it:

Duke. Mended again: the matter;-Proceed.
Isab. In brief,-to set the needless process by,
How I persuaded, how I pray'd, and kneel'd,
How he refell'd' me, and how I reply'd;
(For this was of much length,) the vile conclusion
I now begin with grief and shame to utter;
He would not, but by gift of my chaste body

Nay, ten times strange. To his concupiscible intemperate lust,

Isab. It is not truer he is Angelo,
Than this is all as true as it is strange:
Nay, it is ten times true; for truth is truth
To the end of reckoning.
Duke.
Away with her :-Poor soul.
She speaks this in the infirmity of sense.
Isab. O prince, I conjure thee, as thou believ'st
There is another comfort than this world,
That thou neglect me not, with that opinion
That I am touch'd with madness: make not im-
possible

That which but seems unlike: 'tis not impossible
But one the wicked'st catiff on the ground,
May seem as shy, as grave, as just, as absolute,

To rail is to lower, to let fall, to cast down. 2 i. e. habiliments of office.

3 Characts are distinctive marks or characters. A statute of Edward VI. directs the seals of office of every bishop to have certain characts under the king's arms for the knowledge of the diocess.'

4 The meaning appears to be 'do not suppose me mad because I speak inconsistently or unequally.

I must say with Mr. Steevens that I do not profess to understand these words.' Mr. Phelps proposes to read And hid, the false seems true.' i. e. The truth being hid, not discovered or made known, what is false

seems true.'

Release my brother; and, after much debatement,
My sisterly remorse confutes mine honour,
And I did yield to him. But the next morn betimes,
His purpose surfeiting, he sends a warrant
For my poor brother's head.

Duke.
This is most likely!
Isab. O, that it were as like as it is true!9
Duke. By heaven, fond10 wretch, thou know'st
Or else thou art suborn'd against his honour,
not what thou speak'st;
In hateful practice: First, his integrity
Stands without blemish:-next, it imports no reason
That with such vehemency he should pursue
Faults proper to himself: if he had so offended,
He would have weigh'd thy brother by himself,
And not have cut him off: Some one hath set you on;

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Confess the truth, and say by whose advice
Thou cam'st here to complain.

Isab.

And is this all?

Then, oh, you blessed ministers above,
Keep me in patience; and, with ripen'd time,
Unfold the evil which is here wrapt up

In countenance!'-Heaven shield your grace from
woe,

As I, thus wrong'd, hence unbelieved go!

Duke. I know, you'd fain be gone:-An officer!
To prison with her:-Shall we thus permit
A blasting and a scandalous breath to fall
On him so near us? This needs must be a practice.
-Who knew of your intent, and coming hither?
Isab. One that I would were here, friar Lodowick.
Duke. A ghostly father, belike:-Who knows
that Lodowick?

Lucio. My lord, I know him; 'tis a meddling friar;
I do not like the man: had he been lay, my lord,
For certain words he spake against your grace
In your retirement, I had swing'd him soundly.

Duke. Words against me? This a good friar be-
like!

And to set on this wretched woman here
Against our substitute!-Let this friar be found.
Lucio. But yesternight, my lord, she and that friar
I saw them at the prison: a saucy friar,
A very scurvy fellow.

F. Peter.

Blessed be your royal grace!
I have stood by, my lord, and I have heard
Your royal ear abus'd: First, hath this woman,
Most wrongfully accus'd your substitute;
Who is as free from touch or soil with her,
As she from one ungot.

We did believe no less.

Duke.
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 meddler,2
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 mere3 request
(Being come to knowledge 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. First, for this woman
(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!-
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.

1 i. e. false appearance.

2 It is hard to know what is meant by a temporary meddler, perhaps it was intended to signify one who introduced himself as often as he could find opportunity into other men's concerns.'

3 Mere here means absolute.
4 Convented, cited, summoned,

5 i. c. publicly. 6 Impartial was used sometimes in the sense of par. tial; and that appears to be the sense here. In the language of the time, im was frequently used as an intensive or augmentative particle. Unpartial was sometimes used in the modern sense of impartial. Yet Shakspeare uses the word in its properseuse in Richard II. Act i. Sc. 2.

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7 Abuse stands in this place for deception or puzzle. So in Macbeth: -My strange and self abuse,' means this strange deception of myself.

8 Garden houses were formerly much in fashion, and often used as places of clandestine meeting and intrigue. They were chiefly such buildings as we should now call summer houses, standing in a walled or enclosed garden in the suburbs of London. See Stubb's Anatonie of Abuses, p. 57. 4to. 1597, or Reed's Old Plays, Vol. V. p. 84.

9 Her fortune which was promised proportionate to mine fell short of the composition, i. e. contract or bar gain.

As there is sense in truth, and truth in virtue,
I am affianc'd 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!

Ang.
I did but smile till now;
Now, good my lord, give me the scope of justice;
My patience here is touch'd: I do perceive,
These poor informal women are no more
But instruments of some more mightier member,
That sets them on: Let me have way, my lord,
To fin this practice out.

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?2-You, lord Escalus,
Sit with my cousin; lend him your kind pains
To find out this abuse, whence 'tis deriv'd.-
There is another friar that sets them on;
Let him be sent for.

Lucio. Mum.

Escal. Come, sir: Did you set these women on to slander lord Angelo? they have confess'd you did. Dule. 'Tis false.

Escal. How! know you where you are?

Duke. Respect to your great place! and let thé devil

Be sometimes honour'd for his burning throne :Where is the duke? 'tis he should hear me speak. Escal. The duke's in us; and he 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 retorts 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. Escal. 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 car,

To call him villain?

And then to glance from him to the duke himself; To tax him with injustice ?--Take him hence;

F. Peter. Would he were here, my lord; for he, To the rack with him:-We'll touze you joint by

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,"
Do with your injuries as seems you best,
In any chastisement: I for a while
Will leave you; but stir not you, till you have well
Determined upon these slanderers.

Escal. My lord, we'll do it thoroughly.-[Exit Dake.] Signior Lucio, did not you say, you knew that friar Lodowick to be a dishonest person?

Lucio. Cucullus non facit monachum: honest in nothing, but in his clothes; and one that hath spoke most villanous speeches of the duke.

Escal. We shall entreat you to abide here till he come, and enforce them against him: we shall find this friar a notable fellow.

Lacio. As any in Vienna, on my word. Escal. 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. Estal. Say you?

Lacio. 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.

Escal. I will go darkly to work with her. Lavio. That's the way; for women are light1 at mileight.

Escal. Come on, mistress: [To ISABELLA.] Lere's a gentlewoman denies all that you have said. Lacio. My lord, here comes the rascal I spoke of; here with the provost.

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

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: My business in this state
Made me a looker-on here in Vienna,
Where I have seen corruption boil and bubble,
Till it o'errun the stew: laws, for all faults;
But faults so countenanc'd, that the strong statutes
Stand like the forfeits in a barber's shop,
As much in mock as mark.”

Escal. 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 flesh-monger, 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?

Duke. I protest, I love the duke, as I love myself.

Ang. Hark! how the villain would close now, after his treasonable abuses.

Escal. Such a fellow is not to be talk'd withal:Away with him to prison :-Where is the provost?

6His subject am I not; nor here provincial. Provincial is pertaining to a province; most usually taken Informal signifies out of their senses. So in the for the circuit of an ecclesiastical jurisdiction. The Comedy of Errors, Act. v. Sc. 1.

To make of him a formal man again.' The speaker had just before said that she would keep Antipholis of Syracuse, who is behaving like a madGao, till she had brought him to his right wits again. 2 Stamped or seated, as tried and approved. 31 e. out, to the end.

4 This is one of the words on which Shakspeare delights to quibble. Thus Portia, in the Merchant of

Venice,

Let me give light, but let me not be light. 5 To retort is to refer back.

chief or head of any religious order in such a province was called the provincial, to whom alone the members of that order were accountable.

7 Barbers' shops were anciently places of great resort for passing away time in an idle manner. By way of enforcing some kind of regularity, and perhaps, at least as much to promote drinking, certain laws were usually hung up, the transgression of which was to be punished by specific forfeits; which were as much in mock as mark, because the barber had no authority of himself to enforce them, and also because they were of a ludicrous nature.

-Away with him to prison; lay bolts enough upon him:-Let him speak no more :-Away with those giglots' too, and with the other confederate companion. [The Provost lays hands on the Duke. Duke. Stay, sir; stay a while.

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 hang'd an hour!2 Wilt 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

you

Must have a word anon:-lay hold on him. Lucio. This may prove worse than hanging. Duke. What have spoke, I pardon; sit you down.[To ESCALUS. We'll borrow place of him:-Sir, by your leave: [To ANGELO. Hast thou or word, or wit, or impudence, That yet can do thee office ? If thou hast, Rely upon it till my tale be heard, And hold no longer out.

Ang.

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.

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

Do you the office, friar; which consummate, Return him here again :-Go with him, Provost. [Exeunt ANGELO, MARIANA, Peter, and Provost. Escal. My lord, I am more amaz'd at his dishonour,

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

Isab.

O, give me pardon, That I, your vassal, have employed and pain'd Your unknown sovereignty.

Duke.

You are pardon'd, Isabel: And now, dear maid, be you as free to us. Your brother's death, I know, sits at your heart; And you may marvel, why I obscur'd myself, Labouring to save his life; and would not rather Make rash remonstrance 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,

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That brain'd my purpose: But, peace be with

2 Dr. Johnson goes seriously to work to prove that he did not understand this piece of vulgar humour; and Healey thinks the collistrigium, or original pillory, was alluded to! What Piper ho! be hang'd awhile, is a line in an old madrigal. And in Ben Jonson's Bartholomew Fair, we have

him!

That life is better life, past fearing death,
Than that which lives to fear: make it your comfort,
So happy is your brother.

Leave the bottle behind you, and be curst awhile. In short, they are petty and familiar maledictions, rightly explained, a plague or a mischief on you.'

3 i. e. do thee service.

4 Passes, probably put for trespasses; or it may mean courses, from passes, Fr.

5 Advertising and holy, attentive and faithful.

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

Isab.
I do, my lord.
Duke. For this new-married man, approaching
Whose salt imagination yet hath wrong'd
here,
For Mariana's sake: but as he adjudg'd your brother
Your well-defended honour, you must pardon
(Being criminal, in double violation
Thereon dependent for your brother's life,)
Of sacred chastity, and of promise-breach,"
The very mercy of the law cries out.
Most audible, even from his proper1o tongue,
An Angelo for Claudio, death for death,
Haste still pays haste, and leisure answers leisure
Like doth quit like, and Measure still for Measure
Then, Angelo, thy fault's thus manifested;
Which though thou would'st deny, denies thee van-
tage: 12

We do condemn thee to the very block Where Claudio stoop'd to death, and with like haste;

Away with him.

Mari.

O, my most gracious lord,
I hope you will not mock me with a husband!
Duke. It is your husband mock'd you with a
husband:

Consenting to the safeguard of your honour,
I thought your marriage fit; else imputation,
For that he knew you, might reproach your life,
And choke your good to come: for his possessions,
Although by confiscation they are ours,
We do instate and widow you withal,
To buy you a better husband.
Mari.

O, my dear lord,
I crave no other, nor no better man.
Duke. Never crave him; we are definitive.
Mari. Gentle, my liege,-
Duke.

[Kneeling, You do but lose your labour; Away with him to death.-Now, sir, [To Lucio.]

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7 Rash remonstrance; that is, a premature display of it, perhaps we should read demonstrance, our the word may be formed from remonstrer, French-le show again.

s That brain'd my purpose. We still use in conversation a like phrase that knocked my design on the head.' 9 Promise-breach. It should be promise, breach 18 superfluous.

10 i. e. Angelo's own tongue.

11 Measure still for measure. This appears to have been a current expression for retributive justice. Equi valent to like for like. So, in the 3d part of Henry VI 'Measure for measure must be answered.' 12 i. e. to deny which will avail thee nothing.' 13 i. e. against reason and affection

As if my brother liv'd: I partly think,
A due sincerity govern'd his deeds,
Till he did look on me: since it is so,

Let him not die: My brother had but justice,
In that he did the thing for which he died:
For Angelo,

His act did not o'ertake his bad intent;
And must be buried but as an intent

That perish'd by the way:' thoughts are no subjects;
Intents but merely thoughts.
Mari.

Merely, my lord.
Duke. Your suit's unprofitable; stand up, I say.
I have bethought me of another fault :-
Provost, how came it Claudio was beheaded
At an unusual hour?

Prou.

It was commanded so.

One all of luxury, an ass, a madman;
Wherein have I so deserved of you,

That you extol me thus?

Lucio. 'Faith, my lord, I spoke it but according to the trick: If you will hang me for it, you may. but I had rather it would please you, I might be whipp'd.

Duke. Whipp'd first, sir, and hang'd after.-
Proclaim it, provost, round about the city;
If any woman's wrong'd by this lewd fellow,
(As I have heard him swear himself, there's one
Whom he begot with child,) let her appear,
And he shall marry her: the nuptial finished,
Let him be whipp'd and hang'd.

Lucio. I beseech your highness, do not marry me to a whore! Your highness said even now, I made you a duke; good my lord, do not recompense me

Duke. Had you a special warrant for the deed?
Prov. No, my good lord; it was by private mes-in making me a cuckold.
sage.

Duke. For which I do discharge you of your
office :

Give up your keys.

Prov.

Pardon me, noble lord:

I thought it was a fault, but knew it not;
Yet did repent me, after more advice:2
For testimony whereof, one in the prison
That should by private order else have died,
I have reserv'd alive.

Duke.

What's he?

Prov. His name is Barnardine.

Duke. I would thou had'st done so by Claudio.
Go, fetch him hither; let me look upon him.

Exit Provost.
Escal. I am sorry, one so learned and so wise
As
you, lord Angelo, have still appear'd,
Should slip so grossly, both in the heat of blood,
And lack of temper'd judgment afterward.

Ang. I am sorry, that such sorrow I procure:
And so deep sticks it in my penitent heart,
That I crave death more willingly than mercy;
'Tis my deserving, and I do entreat it.
Re-enter Provost, BARNARDINE, CLAUDIO, and
JULIET.

Duke. Which is that Barnardine?
Prov.
This, my lord.
Duke. There was a friar told me of this man:-
Sirrah, thou art said to have a stubborn soul,
That apprehends no further than this world,"
And squar'st thy life according.

demn'd;

Thou'rt con

But, for those earthly faults, I quit them all;
And pray thee, take this mercy to provide
For better times to come :-Friar, advise him;
I leave him to your hand. What muffled fellow's that?
Prov. This is another prisoner, that I sav'd,
That should have died when Claudio lost his head;
As like almost to Claudio, as himself.

[Unmufles CLAUDIO. Duke. If he be like your brother, [TO ISABELLA.]

for his sake

Is he pardon'd; And, for your lovely sake,
Give me your hand, and say you will be mine,
He is my brother too: But fitter time for that.
By this, lord Angelo perceives he's safe;
Methinks, I see a quick'ning in his eye:-
Well, Angelo, your evil quits you well:
Look that you love your wife; her worth, worth
yours."-

I find an apt remission in myself:

And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon ;You, sirrah, [To Lucio.] that knew me for a fool, a coward,

Duke. Upon mine honour thou shalt marry her.
Thy slanders I forgive: and therewithal
Remit thy other forfeits :-Take him to prison :
And see our pleasure herein executed.

Lucio. Marrying a punk, my lord, is pressing to death, whipping, and hanging.

Duke. Sland'ring a prince deserves it.-
She, Claudio, that you wrong'd, look you restore.
Joy to you, Mariana !-love her, Angelo;

I have confess'd her, and I know her virtue.-
Thanks, good friend Escalus, for thy much good-

ness:

:

There's more behind, that is more gratulate."
Thanks, Provost, for thy care and secrecy;
We shall employ thee in a worthier place :-
Forgive him, Angelo, that brought you home
The head of Ragozine for Claudio's;
The offence pardons itself.-Dear Isabel,
I have a motion much imports your good;
Whereto if you'll a willing ear incline,
What's mine is yours, and what is yours is mine:
So, bring us to our palace; where we'll show
What's yet behind, that's meet you all should know.
[Exeunt.

[The novel of Giraldi Cinthio, from which Shakspeare is supposed to have borrowed this fable, may be read in Shakspeare Illustrated, elegantly translated, with remarks, which will assist the inquirer to discover how much absurdity Shakspeare has admitted or avoided.

I cannot but suspect that some other had new-modelled the novel of Cinthio, or written a story which in some particulars resembled it, and that Cinthio was not the author whom Shakspeare immediately followed. The Emperor in Cinthio is named Maximine: the Duke, in Shakspeare's enumeration of the persons of the drama, is called Vincentio. This appears a very slight remark; but since the Duke has no name in the play, nor is ever mentioned but by his title, why should he be called Vincentio among the persons, but because the name was copied from the story, and placed superfluously at the head of the list by the mere habit of transcription? It is therefore likely that there was then a story of Vincentio, Duke of Vienna, different from that of Maximine, Emperor of the Romans.

Of this play, the light or comick part is very natural and pleasing, but the grave scenes, if a few passages be excepted, have more labour than elegance. The plot is rather intricate than artful. The time of the action is indefinite; some time, we know not how much, must have elapsed between the recess of the Duke and the imprisonment of Claudio; for he must have learned the story of Mariana in his disguise, or he delegated his power to a man already known to be corrupted. The unities of action and place are sufficiently preserved.]

Johnson

8 Remit thy other forfeits.' Dr. Johnson says, for feits mean punishments, but is it not more likely to li. e. like the traveller, who dies on his journey, is signify misdoings, transgressions, from the French obscurely interred, and thought of no more:

'Illum expirantem

Obliti ignoto camporum in pulvere linquunt.' 21.e. better consideration. K. Henry V. Act ii. Sc. 2. 3 i. e. so far as they are punishable on earth. 4 Requites.

5 Her worth worth yours; that is, her value is equal to yours, the match is not unworthy of you.' 6 Incontinence 7 Thoughtless practice.

forfait? Steevens's Note affords instances of the word in this sense.

9 i. e. more to be rejoiced in. As Steevens rightly ex plained it.

The Duke probably had learnt the story of Mariana in some of his former retirements, having ever loved the life removed.' And he had a suspicion that Angelo was but a seemer, and therefore stays to watch him.

Blackstone

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