Obrázky stránek
PDF
ePub

And fent according to command; while I
Perfuade this rude wretch willingly to die.

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,
If he were known alive?

Duke. Let this be done ;-Put them

In fecret holds, both Barnardine and Claudio:
Ere twice the fun hath made his journal greeting
To the under generation," you fhall find
Your fafety manifefted.

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
Shall witness to him, I am near at home;
And that, by great injunctions, I am bound
To enter publickly: him I'll defire
To meet me at the confecrated fount,
A league below the city; and from thence,
By cold gradation and weal-balanced form,
We fhall proceed with Angelo.

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. '

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

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.

[ocr errors]

Ifab. Nay, but it is not fo.

Duke. It is no other :

Shew your wisdom, daughter, in your clofeft patience.
Ifab. Oh, I will to him, and pluck out his eyes.
Duke. You fhall not be admitted to his fight.
Ifab. Unhappy Claudio! Wretched Ifabel!
Injurious world! Moft damned Angelo!

Duke. This nor hurts him, nor profits you a jot
Forbear it therefore; give your cause to heaven.
Mark, what I fay; which you fhall find

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
Notice to Efcalus and Angelo,

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
you fhall have your bofom 2 on this wretch,
Grace of the duke, revenges to your heart,
And general honour.

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
I'll perfect him withal; and he fhall bring you
Before the duke; and to the head of Angelo
Accuse him home, and home. For my poor felf,
I am combined' by a facred vow,

And shall be abfent. Wend you with this letter:
Command these fretting waters from your eyes
With a light heart; truft not my holy order,
If I pervert your courfe. Who's here?

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.
Changes to the Palace.

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.

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,
And dull to all proceedings. A deflower'd maid!
And by an eminent body, that enforc'd

The law against it !-But that her tender shame
Will not proclaim against her maiden lofs,

How might the tongue me? Yet reafon dares her
No; 7

-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

« PředchozíPokračovat »