Mercy to thee would prove itfelf a bawd: 'Tis best that thou dy'ft quickly. Claud. Oh, hear me, Ifabella. Re-enter Duke: Duke. Vouchfafe a word, young fifter, but one word. Ifab. What is your will? Duke. Might you difpenfe with your leifure, I would by and by have fome fpeech with you: the fatisfaction I would require, is likewise your own benefit. Ifab. I have no fuperfluous leifure; my ftay muft be ftolen out of other affairs; but I will attend you a while. Duke. [To CLAUDIO afide.] Son, I have over-heard what hath paft between you and your fifter. Angelo had never the purpofe to corrupt her; only he hath made an affay of her virtue, to practise his judgment with the difpofition of natures: She, having the truth of honour in her, hath made him that gracious denial, which he is most glad to receive: I am confeffor to Angelo, and I know this to be true; therefore prepare yourself to death. Do not fatisfy your refolution with hopes that are fallible: to-morrow you must die; go to your knees, and make ready. Claud. Let me afk my fifter pardon. I am fo out of love with life, that I will fue to be rid of it. [Exit CLAUD. Re enter Provoft. Duke. Hold you there; Farewel. Provost, a word with you. Prov. What's your will, father? Duke. "That now you are come, you will be gone:" Leave me a while with the maid; my mind promifes with my habit, no lofs fhall touch her by my company. Prov. In good time. [Exit Prov. Duke. The hand, that hath made you fair, hath made you good the good nefs, that is cheap in beauty, makes beauty brief in goodness; but grace, being the foul of your complexion, fhould keep the body of it ever fair. The affault, that Angelo hath made to you, fortune hath convey'd to my understanding; and, but that frailty hath examples for his falling, I fhould wonder at Angelo: How would you do to content this fubftitute, and to fave your brother? Ifab. I am now going to refolve him: I had rather my brother die by the law, than my fon should be unlawfully born. But oh, how much is the good duke deceiv'd in Angelo! if ever he returns, and I can fpeak to him, I will open my lips in vain, or discover his government. Duke. That fhall not be much amifs: yet, as the matter now ftands, he will avoid your accufation; he made trial of you only.-Therefore faften your ear on my advifings; to the love I have in doing good, a remedy prefents itself. I do make myfelf believe, that you may most uprighteously do a poor wronged lady a merited benefit ; redeem your brother from the angry law; do no ftain to your own gracious perfon; and much pleafe the abfent duke, if peradventure, he shall ever return to have hearing of this bufinefs. Ifab. Let me hear you fpeak further: I have spirit to do any thing, that appears not foul in the truth of my fpirit. Duke. Virtue is bold, and goodness never fearful. Have you not heard fpeak of Mariana, the fister of Frederick, the great foldier, who miscarried at sea ? Ifab. I have heard of the lady, and good words went with her name. Duke. Her fhould this Angelo have marry'd; was affiane'd to her by oath, and the nuptial appointed: between which time of the contract, and limit of the folemnity, her brother Frederick was wreck'd at fea, having in that perish'd veffel the dowry of his fifter. But mark, how heavily this befel to the poor gentlewoman : there fhe loft a noble and renowned brother, in his love toward her ever most kind and natural; with him the portion and finew of her fortune, her marriage-dowry; with both, her "combinate" husband, this well seeming Angelo. Ifab. Can this be fo? Did Angelo fo leave her? Duke. Left her in her tears, and dry'd not one of them with his comfort; fwallow'd his vows whole, pretending, in her, discoveries of dishonour in few, beftow'd her on her own lamentation, which yet fhe wears for his fake; and he, he, a marble to her tears, is washed with them, but relents not. Ifab. What a merit were it in death, to take this poor maid from the world! What corruption in this life, that it will let this man live!-But how out of this can fhe avail ? Duke. It is a rupture that you may eafily heal: and the cure of it not only faves your brother, but keeps you from dishonour in doing it. Ifab. Shew me how, good father. Duke. This fore-named maid hath yet in her the continuance of her firft affection; his unjuft unkindness, that in all reason fhould have quenched her love, hath, like an impediment in the current, made it more violent and unruly. Go you to Angelo; anfwer his requiring with a plaufible obedience; agree with his demands "to the point;" only refer yourself to this advantage,-first, that your stay with him may not be long; that the time may have all shadow and filence in it; and the place answer to convenience: this being granted in courfe, now follows all. We shall advise this wronged maid to ftead up your appointment, go in your place; if the encounter acknowledge itself hereafter, it may compel him to her recom➡ pence and here, by this, is your brother faved, your honour untainted. The poor Mariana advantaged, and the corrupt deputy fcaled. The maid will I frame, and make fit for his attempt. If you think well to carry this as you may, the doublenefs of the benefit defends the deceit from reproof. What think you of it? Ifab. The image of it gives me content already; and, I truft, it will grow to a moft profperous perfection. Duke." It lies much in your holding up :" Hafte you speedily to Angelo; if for this night he intreat you to his bed, give him promife of fatisfaction. I will presently to St. Luke's; there, at the moated grange refides this dejected Mariana: "at that place call upon me; and dif "patch with Angelo, that it may be quickly." Ifab. I thank you for this comfort: Fare you well, good father. [Exeunt feverally. SCENE II. The Street, Re-enter Duke as a Friar, Elbow, Clown, and Officers. Elbow. Nay, if there be no remedy for it, but that you will needs buy and fell men and women like beasts, we shall have all the world drink brown and white baftard. - Duke. Oh, heavens! what stuff is here? "Clown. 'Twas never merry world, fince, of two ufu"ries, the merriest was put down, and the worfer allow'd by order of law a furr'd gown to keep him warm; and "furr'd with fox and lamb-fkins too, to fignify, that craft, being richer than innocency, ftands for the fac"ing." 66 Elb. Come your way, fir:-Blefs you, good father friar. Duke. And you, good brother father: What offence hath this man made you, fir? Elb. Marry, fir, he hath offended the law; " and, fir, "we take him to be a thief too, fir; for we have found ‹ upon him, fir, a ftrange pick-lock, which we have fent "to the deputy." “ ། Duke. Fie, firrah; a bawd, a wicked bawd! That is thy means to live: "Do thou but think So ftinkingly depending? Go, mend, go, mend. Clown. Indeed, it does ftink in fome fort, fir; but yet, fir, I would prove Duke. Nay, if the devil hath given thee proofs for fin, Thou wilt prove his. Take him to prifon, officer; Correction and instruction must both work, Ere this rude beast will profit. Elb. He must before the deputy, fir; he has given him warning: warning: the deputy cannot abide a whore master: if he be a whore-monger, and comes before him, he were as good go a mile on his errand. Duke. That we were all, as fome would feem to be, Free from all faults, as faults from feeming free!" Enter LUCIO. "Elb. His neck will come to your waist, a cord, fir." Clown. I fpy comfort; I cry bail; here's a gentleman, and a friend of mine. Lucio. How now, noble Pompey? what, at the heels of Cæfar art thou led in triumph? What, is there none of Pigmalion's images, newly made woman, to be had now," for putting the hand in the pocket and extracting "it clutched? what reply? ha? what fay'ft thou to this "tune, matter, and method? Is't not drown'd i' the laft "rain? ha? what fay'ft thou, trot? is the world as it was, "man? Which is the way? is it fad, and few words? or "how the trick of it? "Duke. Still thus, and thus! still worse! "Lucio." How doth my dear morfel, thy mistress? procures she still? ha? "Clown. Troth, fir, she hath eaten up all her beef, and "fhe is herself in the tub. "Lucio. Why, 'tis good; it is the right of it; it must "be fo: ever your fresh whore, and your powder'd bawd : "an unfhun'd confequence; it must be fo:" Art going to prison, Pompey? Clown. Yes, faith, fir. Lucio. Why, 'tis not amifs, Pompey: farewel: go; fay, I fent thee thither. For debt, Pompey? or how? Elb. For being a bawd, for being a bawd. Lucio. Well, then imprifon him: if imprifonment be the due of a bawd, why, 'tis his right: Bawd is he, doubtJefs, and of antiquity too; bawd-born. Farewel, good Pompey Commend me to the prifon, Pompey: You will turn good husband now, Pompey; you will keep the house. Clown. I hope, fir, your good worship will be my bail. Lucio. No indeed, will I not, Pompey; it is not the wear. I will pray, Pompey, to encrease your bondage: |