And fent according to command; while I Prov. This fhall be done, good father, presently. But Barnardine muft die this afternoon : And how fhall we continue Claudio, To fave me from the danger that might come, Duke. Let this be done ;-Put them In fecret holds, both Barnardine and Claudio: Prov. I am your free dependent. Duke. Quick, dispatch, and fend the head to An gelo. Now will I write letters to Angelo, [Exit Provoft. (The provoft, he shall bear them) whose contents Enter Provoft. Prov. Here is the head; I'll carry it myself. Duke. Convenient is it. Make a fwift return; For I would commune with you of fuch things, That want no ears but yours. Prov. I'll make all speed. Ifab. [Within] Peace, ho, be here! [Exit. To the under generation,] So fir Thomas Hanmer, with true judgment. It was in all the former editions, To yonder. Je under and yonder were confounded. JOHNSON. Duke. If Duke. The tongue of Ifabel.-She's come to know,. yet her brother's pardon be come hither: But I will keep her ignorant of her good, To make her heavenly comforts of despair, When least it is expected. ' Duke. Good morning to you, fair and gracious daughter. Ifab. The better, given me by fo holy a man. Hath yet the deputy fent my brother's pardon? Duke. He hath releas'd him, Ifabel, from the world; His head is off, and fent to Angelo. Ifab. Nay, but it is not fo. Duke. It is no other : Shew your wisdom, daughter, in your clofeft patience. Duke. This nor hurts him, nor profits you a jot By every fyllable a faithful verity. The duke comes home to-morrow; nay, dry your eyes; One of out convent, and his confeffor, Gave me this inftance: already he hath carry'd Who do prepare to meet him at the gates, There to give up their power. If you can, pace your wifdom In that good path, that I would wifh it go; When it is leaft expected.] A better reafon might have been given. It was neceffary to keep Ifabella in ignorance, that fhe might with more keennefs accufe the deputy. JOHNSON. And 2. And Ifab. I am directed by you. Duke. This letter then to friar Peter give; 'Tis that he fent me of the duke's return: Say, by this token, I defire his company At Mariana's houfe to-night. Her caufe, and yours And shall be abfent. Wend you with this letter: Lucio. Good even; Enter Lucio. Friar, where is the provost? Duke. Not within, fir. Lucio. Oh, pretty Ifabella, I am pale at mine heart, to fee thine eyes fo red: thou must be patient; I am fain to dine and fup with water and bran; I dare not for my head fill my belly: one fruitful meal would fet me to't. But they fay the duke will be here tomorrow. By my troth, Ifabel, I lov'd thy brother: if the old fantastical duke of dark corners had been at home, he had liv'd. [Exit Ifabella. 2 your bofom -] Your with; your heart's defire. JOHNSON. 3 I am combined by a facred vow. w.] I once thought this should be confined, but Shakespeare uses combine for to bind by a pact or agreement, so he calls Angelo the combinate husband of Mariana. JOHNSON. + If the old, &c.] Sir Thomas Hanmer reads, the odd fantastical duke, but old is a common word of aggravation in ludicrous language, as, there was old revelling. JOHNSON. I VOL. II. Dike. Duke. Sir, the duke is marvellous little beholden to your reports; but the beft is, he lives not in them. Lucio. Friar, thou knoweft not the duke fo well as I do he's a better woodman, than thou tak'ft him for. Duke. Well, you'll answer this one day. Fare ye well. Lucio. Nay, tarry; I'll go along with thee: I can tell thee pretty tales of the duke. Duke. You have told me too many of him already, fir, if they be true; if not true, none were enough. Lucio. I was once before him for getting a wench with child. Duke. Did you fuch a thing? Lucio. Yes, marry, did I: but I was fain to forfwear it; they would elfe have marry'd me to the rotten medlar. Duke. Sir, your company is fairer than honeft: reft you well. Lucio. By my troth, I'll go with thee to the lane's end. If bawdy talk offend you, we'll have very little of it: Nay, friar I am a kind of bur, I shall stick. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. Enter Angelo and Efcalus. Efcal. Every letter he hath writ, hath disvouch'd other. Ang. In most uneven and distracted manner. His actions fhew much like to madness; pray heaven, his wisdom be not tainted. And why meet him at the gates, and re-deliver our authorities there? 5 woodman,] That is, buntsman, here taken for a bunter of girls. I JOHNSON. Efcal. I guess not. Ang. And why fhould we proclaim it in an hour be fore his entring, that if any crave redrefs of injuftice, they fhould exhibit their petitions in the ftreet? Efcal. He fhews his reafon for that: to have a difpatch of complaints; and to deliver us from devices hereafter, which fhall then have no power to stand against us. Ang. Well; I befeech you, let it be proclaim'd: Betimes i' the morn, I'll call you at your house: Give notice to fuch men of fort and fuit," As are to meet him. Escal. I fhall, fir: fare you well. Ang. Good night. [Exit. This deed unfhapes me quite, makes me unpregnant, The law against it !-But that her tender shame How might the tongue me? Yet reafon dares her -fort and fuit,] Figure and rank. JOHNSON. For 7 Yet reafon dares her :] The old folio impreffions read, -Yet reafon dares her No. And this is right. The meaning is, the circumftances of our cafe are fuch, that she will never venture to contradict me: dares her to reply No to me, whatever I say. WARBURTON. Mr. Theobald reads, -Yet reafon dares her note. Sir Thomas Hanmer, -Yet reafon dares her: No. Mr. Upton, -Yet reafon dares her-No, which he explains thus: Yet, fays Angelo, reafon will give her courage-No, that is, it will not. I am afraid dare has no fuch fignification. I have nothing to offer worth infertion. 12 JOHNSON. ΤΟ |