Escal. Ay, but yet Escal. How know you that? Elb. My wife, sir, whom I detest12 before hea Let us be keen, and rather cut a little, Let but your honour know1 (Whom I believe to be most strait in virtue,) Ang. 'Tis one thing to be tempted, Escalus, The jury, passing on the prisoner's life, Escal. How! thy wife? Elb. Ay, sir; whom, I thank heaven, is an honest woman,— it Escal. Dost thou detest her therefore? Elb. I say, sir, I will detest myself also, as well as she, that this house, if it be not a bawd's house, is pity of her life, for it is a naughty house. Escal. How dost thou know that, constable? Elb. Marry, sir, by my wife; who, if she had been a woman cardinally given, might have been accused in fornication, adultery, and all uncleanliness there. Escal. By the woman's means? Elb. Ay, sir, by mistress Over-done's means: Guiltier than him they try: what's open made to but as she spit in his face, so she defied him. justice, That justice seizes. What know the laws, nant,4 Clo. Sir, if it please your honour, this is not so. preg-honourable man, prove it. The jewel that we find, we stoop and take it, Where is the provost? See that Claudio Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall: Enter Elbow, Froth, Clown, Officers, &c. Ang. How now, sir! what's your name? and what's the matter?" Elb. If it please your honour, I am the poor duke's constable, and my name is Elbow; I do lean upon justice, sir, and do bring in here before your good honour two notorious benefactors. Ang. Benefactors? Well; what benefactors are they are they not malefactors? Elb. If it please your honour, I know not well what they are: but precise villains they are, that I am sure of; and void of all profanation in the world, that good Christians ought to have. Escal. This comes off well; here's a wise officer. ? Elb. He, sir? a tapster, sir; parcel10-bawd; one that serves a bad woman whose house, sir, was, as they say, pluck'd down in the suburbs; and now she professes' a hot-house, which, I think, is a very ill house too. (1) Examine. (2) Suited. (3) Pass judgment. [To Angelo. Clo. Sir, she came in great with child; and longing (saving your honour's reverence) for stew'd prunes: sir, we had but two in the house, which at that very distant time stood, as it were, in a fruitdish, a dish of some three-pence: your honours have seen such dishes; they are not China dishes, but very good dishes. Escal. Go to, go to: no matter for the dish, sir. Clo. No, indeed, sir, not of a pin; you are therefore in the right: but, to the point: as I say, this mistress Elbow, being, as I say, with child, and being great belly'd, and longing, as I said, for prunes; and having but two in the dish, as I said, master Froth here, this very man, having eaten the rest, as I said, and, as I say, paying for them very honestly; -for, as you know, master Froth, I could not give you three-pence again. Froth. No, indeed. Clo. Very well: you being then, if you be remember'd, cracking the stones of the foresaid prunes. Froth. Ay, so I did, indeed. Clo. Why, very well: I telling you then, if you be remember'd, that such a one, and such a one, were past cure of the thing you wot of, unless they kept very good diet, as I told you. Froth. All this is true. Clo. Why, very well then. Escal. Come, you are a tedious fool: to the pur pose.-What was done to Elbow's wife, that he hath cause to complain of? Come me to what was done to her. Clo. Sir, your honour cannot come to that yet. Clo. Sir, but you shall come to it, by your honour's leave: and I beseech you, look into master Froth here, sir; a man of fourscore pound a year; whose father died at Hallowmas :-Was't not at Hallowmas, master Froth? Froth. All-hollond 13 eve. Clo. Why, very well; I hope here be truths he, sir, sitting, as I say, in a lower14 chair, sir; have a delight to sit : have you not? 'twas in the Bunch of Grapes, where, indeed, you Froth. I have so; because it is an open room, and good for winter. (9) Well told. (10) Partly. (11) Keeps a bagnia, Scene I. Clo. Why, very well then;-I hope here bej truths. Ang. This will last out a night in Russia, When nights are longest there: I'll take my leave, And leave you to the hearing of the cause; Hoping, you'll find good cause to whip them all. Escal. I think no less: good morrow to your [Exit Angelo. lordship. Now, sir, come on: what was done to Elbow's wife, once more? Clo. Mistress Over-done. 99 Escal. Hath she had any more than one husband? Escal. Nine!-Come hither to me, master Froth. Froth. I thank your worship: for mine own part, I never come into any room in a taphouse, Clo. Once, sir? there was nothing done to her but I am drawn in. once. Escal. Well; no more of it, master Froth: fare Elb. I beseech you, sir, ask him what this man well. [Exit Froth.]-Come you hither to me, did to my wife? Clo. I beseech your honour, ask me. Escal. Well, sir: what did this gentleman to her?| Clo. I beseech you, sir, look in this gentleman's face:-Good master Froth, look upon his honour 'tis for a good purpose: doth your honour mark his face? Escal. Ay, sir, very well Clo. Nay, I beseech you, mark it well. Clo. Doth your honour see any harm in his face? Clo. I'll be suppos'd' upon a book, his face is the worst thing about him: good then; if his face be the worst thing about him, how could master Froth do the constable's wife any harm? I would know that of your honour. master tapster; what's your name, master tapster Escal. What else? Escal. Troth, and your bum is the greatest thing about you; so that, in the beastliest sense, you are Pompey the great. Pompey, you are partly a bawd, Pompey, howsoever you colour it in being a tapster. Are you not? come, tell me true; it shall be the better for you. Clo. Truly, sir, I am a poor fellow, that would live. Escal. How would you live, Pompey? by being a bawd? What do you think of the trade, Pompey? is it a lawful trade? Clo. If the law would allow it, sir. Escal. But the law will not allow it, Pompey; Escal. He's in the right: constable, what say nor it shall not be allowed in Vienna. you to it? Clo. Does your worship mean to geld and spay Escal. No, Pompey. Elb. First, an it like you, the house is a re- all the youth in the city? spected house; next, this is a respected fellow; and his mistress is a respected woman. Cio. By this hand, sir, his wife is a more respected person than any of us all. Elb. Varlet, thou liest; thou liest, wicked varlet: the time is yet to come, that she was ever respected with man, woman, or child. Clo. Sir, she was respected with him before he married with her. Clo. Truly, sir, in my poor opinion, they will to't then if your worship will take order for the drabs and the knaves, you need not to fear the bawds. Escal. There are pretty orders beginning, I can tell you: it is but heading and hanging. : Clo. If you head and hang all that offend that way but for ten year together, you'll be glad to Escal. Which is the wiser here? justice, or ini-give out a commission for more heads. If this law hold in Vienna ten year, I'll rent the fairest house quity? Is this true? Elb. O thou caitiff! O thou varlet! O thou wick-in it, after three-pence a bay: if you live to see ed Hannibal! I respected with her, before I was this come to pass, say Pompey told you so. Es al. Thank you, good Pompey and, in remarried to her? If ever I was respected with her, or she with me, let not your worship think me the quital of your prophecy, hark you,-I advise you, poor duke's officer:-Prove this, thou wicked Han- let me not find you before me again upon any comnibal, or I'll have mine action of battery on thee. plaint whatsoever, no, not for dwelling where you Ercal. If he took you a box o' the ear, you do if I do, Pompey, I shall beat you to your tent, and prove a shrewd Cæsar to you; in plain dealmight have your action of slander too. Elb. Mary, I thank your good worship for it:ing, Pompey, I shall have you whipt: so for this what is't your worship's pleasure I should do with time Pompey, fare you well. Clo. I thank your worship for your good counthis wicked caitiff? Escal. Truly, officer, because he hath some of-sel; but I shall follow it, as the flesh and fortune fences in him, that thou wouldst discover if thou shall better determine. eouldst, let him continue in his courses, till thou Whip me! No, no; let carman whip his jade; The valiant heart's not whipt out of his trade. [Ex. know'st what they are. Escal. Come hither to me, master Elbow; come Elb. Marry, I thank your worship for it :-thou seest, thou wicked varlet, now, what's come upon hither, master Constable. How long have you thee; thou art to continue now, thou varlet; thou art to continue. Escal. Where were you born, friend? [To Froth. Escal. Are you of fourscore pounds a year? (1) Deposed, sworn. (2) Constable or Clown. 1 as they are chosen, they are glad to choose me for For which I must not plead, but that I am Escal. Look you, bring me in the names of Escal. I pray you home to dinner with me, [Exit Escal. It grieves me for the death of Claudio; Just. Lord Angelo is severe. It is but needful:| Mercy is not itself, that oft looks so : SCENE II. Another room in the same. I Ang, Well; the matter? Prov. Heaven give thee moving graces! I Kneel down before him, hang upon his gown; Serv. He's hearing of a cause; he will come straight. I'll tell him of you, Prov. Pray you, do. [Exit Servant.] I'll know All sects, all ages, smack of this vice; and he Enter Angelo, Ang. Now, what's the matter, provost ? Why dost thou ask again? Isab. Must he needs die? wrong, If so your heart were touch'd with that remorse1 Ang. He's sentenc'd; 'tis too late. [To Isabella. Lest I might be too rash: Not the king's crown, nor the deputed sword, Go to; let that be mine; Serv. Here is the sister of the man condemn'd, Hath he a sister? Prov. Ay, my good lord; a very virtuous maid, Ang, Well, let her be admitted, [Ex. Serv. Let her have needful, but not lavish, means; Enter Lucio and Isabella, Prov, Save your honour! Offering to retire. (1) Pity. (2) Be assured, Why, all the souls that were, were forfeit once: Ang. There's many have committed it. Lucio. Ay, well said. Ang. The law hath not been dead, though it hath slept: Those many had not dar'd to do that evil, Yet show some pity. Ang. I show it most of all, when I show justice; For then I pity those I do not know, Which a dismiss'd offence would after gall; Your brother dies to-morrow: be content. Lucio. Go to; it is well; away. [Aside to Isab. Am that way going to temptation, Amen: for I [Aside. At what hour to-morrow At any time 'fore noon. Shall I attend your lordship? Isab. So you must be the first, that gives this What's this? what's this? Is this her fault, or mine? sentence: Thou rather, with thy sharp and sulphurous bolt, Pray heaven, she win him! Isab. We cannot weigh our brother with ourself: Great men may jest with saints: 'tis wit in them; But, in less, foul profanation. Lucio. Thou art in the right, girl; more o' that. Isab. That in the captain's but a choleric word, Which in the soldier is flat blasphemy. Lucio. Art advis'd o' that? more on't. Ang. Why do you put these sayings upon me? Isab. Because authority, though it err like others, Hath vet a kind of medicine in itself, ; That skims the vice o' the top: Go to your bosom Let it not sound a thought upon your tongue Ang. Isab. Gentle my lord, turn back. Ang. I will bethink me:-Come again to-morrow. Isab. Hark, how I'll bribe you: Good my lord, turn back. The tempter, or the tempted, who sins most? Ha! Shall we desire to raze the sanctuary, And feast upon her eyes? What is't I dream on? SCENE III.—A room in a prison. Enter Duke, habited like a Friar, and Provost. Duke. Hail to you, provost; so, I think you are. Prov. I am the provost: What's your will, good friar? Duke. Bound by my charity, and my bless'd order, I come to visit the afflicted spirits Prov, I would do more than that, if more were needful. Enter Juliet, Look, here comes one; a gentlewoman of mine, Who falling in the flames of her own youth, Hath blister'd her report: She is with child; And he that got it, sentenc'd: a young man Isab. Ay, with such gifts, that heaven shall share More fit to do another such offence, Ang. How! bribe me? with you. (1) Paltry. (2) Knotted. (3) Attested, stamped. (4) Preserved from the corruption of the world. Than die for this. Duke. Then was your sin of heavier kind than his. Isab. When, I beseech you? that in his reprieve, Longer, or shorter, he may be so fitted, As that the sin hath brought you to this shame,-That his soul sicken not. heaven; Showing, we'd not spare1 heaven, as we love it, Juliet. I do repent me, as it is an evil; Duke. There rest. Juliet. Must die to-morrow! O, injurious 'Tis pity of him. SCENE IV.-A room in Angelo's house. Angelo. Ang. Ha! Fie, these filthy vices! It were as good Their saucy sweetness, that do coin heaven's image, Isab. 'Tis set down so in heaven, but not in earth. Ang. When I would pray and think, I think and pray To several subjects: heaven hath my empty words; Isab. Isab. Please you to do't. Ang. Pleas'd you to do't, at peril of your soul, Isab. That I do beg his life, if it be sin, Isab. Let me be ignorant, and in nothing good, Ang. Thus wisdom wishes to appear most bright, |