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A public Place near the City Gate. | |
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MARIANA, veiled, ISABELLA, and FRIAR PETER, at their stand. Enter DUKE, VARRIUS, Lords, ANGELO, ESCALUS, LUCIO, PROVOST, Officers, and Citizens at several doors. | |
| Duke. My very worthy cousin, fairly met! | |
| Our old and faithful friend, we are glad to see you. | |
| Ang., Escal. Happy return be to your royal Grace! | 5 |
| 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. | 10 |
| 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, with characters of brass, | |
| A forted residence gainst the tooth of time | 15 |
| 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; | 20 |
| And good supporters are you. | |
| |
FRIAR 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 wrongd, Id fain have said, a maid! | 25 |
| 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; | 30 |
| 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 | 35 |
| Must either punish me, not being believd, | |
| Or wring redress from you. Hear me, O, hear me, here! | |
| 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, | 40 |
| 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 Angelos forsworn, is it not strange? | |
| That Angelos a murderer, is t not strange? | 45 |
| That Angelo is an adulterous thief, | |
| A hypocrite, a virgin-violator; | |
| Is it not strange, and strange? | |
| Duke. Nay, it is ten times strange. | |
| Isab. It is not truer he is Angelo | 50 |
| 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. | 55 |
| Isab. O prince, I conjure thee, as thou believst | |
| There is another comfort than this world, | |
| That thou neglect me not, with that opinion | |
| That I am touchd with madness. Make not impossible | |
| That which but seems unlike. Tis not impossible | 60 |
| But one, the wickedst caitiff on the ground, | |
| May seem as shy, as grave, as just, as absolute | |
| As Angelo; even so may Angelo, | |
| In all his dressings, characts, titles, forms, | |
| Be an arch-villain. Believe it, royal prince: | 65 |
| If he be less, hes nothing; but hes more, | |
| Had I more name for badness. | |
| Duke. By mine honesty, | |
| If she be mad,as I believe no other, | |
| Her madness hath the oddest frame of sense, | 70 |
| Such a dependency of thing on thing, | |
| As eer I heard in madness. | |
| Isab. O gracious duke! | |
| Harp not on that; nor do not banish reason | |
| For inequality; but let your reason serve | 75 |
| 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, | 80 |
| Condemnd upon the act of fornication | |
| To lose his head; condemnd by Angelo. | |
| I, in probation of a sisterhood, | |
| Was sent to by my brother; one Lucio | |
| As then the messenger, | 85 |
| Lucio. Thats I, an t like your Grace: | |
| I came to her from Claudio, and desird her | |
| To try her gracious fortune with Lord Angelo | |
| For her poor brothers pardon. | |
| Isab. Thats he indeed. | 90 |
| Duke. You were not bid to speak. | |
| Lucio. No, my good lord; | |
| Nor wishd to hold my peace. | |
| Duke. I wish you now, then; | |
| Pray you, take note of it; and when you have | 95 |
| A business for yourself, pray heaven you then | |
| Be perfect. | |
| Lucio. I warrant your honour. | |
| Duke. The warrants for yourself: take heed to it. | |
| Isab. This gentleman told somewhat of my tale, | 100 |
| 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. | 105 |
| Duke. Thats somewhat madly spoken. | |
| Isab. Pardon it; | |
| The phrase is to the matter. | |
| Duke. Mended again: the matter; proceed. | |
| Isab. In brief, to set the needless process by, | 110 |
| How I persuaded, how I prayd, and kneeld, | |
| How he refelld me, and how I replied, | |
| 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 | 115 |
| To his concupiscible intemperate lust, | |
| 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 | 120 |
| For my poor brothers head. | |
| Duke. This is most likely! | |
| Isab. O, that it were as like as it is true! | |
| Duke. By heaven, fond wretch! thou knowst not what thou speakst, | |
| Or else thou art subornd against his honour | 125 |
| 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 weighd thy brother by himself, | 130 |
| And not have cut him off. Some one hath set you on: | |
| Confess the truth, and say by whose advice | |
| Thou camst here to complain. | |
| Isab. And is this all? | |
| Then, O you blessed ministers above, | 135 |
| Keep me in patience; and, with ripend time | |
| Unfold the evil which is here wrapt up | |
| In countenance! Heaven shield your Grace from woe, | |
| As I, thus wrongd, hence unbelieved go! | |
| Duke. I know youd fain be gone. An officer! | 140 |
| 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. | 145 |
| 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 swingd him soundly. | 150 |
| Duke. Words against me! This a good friar, belike! | |
| 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, | 155 |
| A very scurvy fellow. | |
| F. Peter. Blessd be your royal Grace! | |
| I have stood by, my lord, and I have heard | |
| Your royal ear abusd. First, hath this woman | |
| Most wrongfully accusd your substitute, | 160 |
| Who is as free from touch or soil with her, | |
| As she from one ungot. | |
| Duke. We did believe no less. | |
| Know you that Friar Lodowick that she speaks of? | |
| F. Peter. I know him for a man divine and holy; | 165 |
| Not scurvy, nor a temporary meddler, | |
| As hes 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. | 170 |
| 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 mere request, | |
| Being come to knowledge that there was complaint | |
| Intended gainst Lord Angelo, came I hither, | 175 |
| 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 hes convented. First, for this woman, | |
| To justify this worthy nobleman, | 180 |
| So vulgarly and personally accusd, | |
| Her shall you hear disproved to her eyes, | |
| Till she herself confess it. | |
| Duke. Good friar, lets hear it. [ISABELLA is carried off guarded; and MARIANA comes forward. | |
| Do you not smile at this, Lord Angelo? | 185 |
| O heaven, the vanity of wretched fools! | |
| Give us some seats. Come, cousin Angelo; | |
| In this Ill be impartial; be you judge | |
| Of your own cause. Is this the witness, friar? | |
| First, let her show her face, and after speak. | 190 |
| Mari. Pardon, my lord; I will not show my face | |
| Until my husband bid me. | |
| Duke. What, are you married? | |
| Mari. No, my lord. | |
| Duke. Are you a maid? | 195 |
| Mari. No, my lord. | |
| Duke. A widow, then? | |
| Mari. Neither, my lord. | |
| Duke. Why, you | |
| Are nothing, then: neither maid, widow, nor wife? | 200 |
| Lucio. My lord, she may be a punk; for many of them are neither maid, widow, nor wife. | |
| Duke. Silence that fellow: I would he had some cause | |
| To prattle for himself. | |
| Lucio. Well, my lord. | |
| Mari. My lord, I do confess I neer was married; | 205 |
| And I confess besides I am no maid: | |
| I have known my husband yet my husband knows not | |
| That ever he knew me. | |
| Lucio. He was drunk then my lord: it can be no better. | |
| Duke. For the benefit of silence, would thou wert so too! | 210 |
| Lucio. Well, my lord. | |
| Duke. This is no witness for Lord Angelo. | |
| Mari. Now I come to t, my lord: | |
| She that accuses him of fornication, | |
| In self-same manner doth accuse my husband; | 215 |
| And charges him, my lord, with such a time, | |
| When, Ill depose, I had him in mine arms, | |
| With all th effect of love. | |
| Ang. Charges she moe than me? | |
| Mari. Not that I know. | 220 |
| Duke. No? you say your husband. | |
| Mari. Why, just, my lord, and that is Angelo, | |
| Who thinks he knows that he neer knew my body | |
| But knows he thinks that he knows Isabels. | |
| Ang. This is a strange abuse. Lets see thy face. | 225 |
| Mari. My husband bids me; now I will unmask. [Unveiling. | |
| This is that face, thou cruel Angelo, | |
| Which once thou sworst was worth the looking on: | |
| This is the hand which, with a vowd contract, | |
| Was fast belockd in thine: this is the body | 230 |
| That took away the match from Isabel, | |
| And did supply thee at thy garden-house | |
| In her imagind person. | |
| Duke. Know you this woman? | |
| Lucio. Carnally, she says. | 235 |
| Duke. Sirrah, no more! | |
| Lucio. Enough, my lord. | |
| Ang. My lord, I must confess I know this woman; | |
| And five years since there was some speech of marriage | |
| Betwixt myself and her, which was broke off, | 240 |
| Partly for that her promised proportions | |
| Came short of composition; but, in chief | |
| For that her reputation was disvalud | |
| In levity: since which time of five years | |
| I never spake with her, saw her, nor heard from her, | 245 |
| Upon my faith and honour. | |
| Mari. Noble prince, | |
| As there comes light from heaven and words from breath, | |
| As there is sense in truth and truth in virtue, | |
| I am affiancd this mans wife as strongly | 250 |
| As words could make up vows: and, my good lord, | |
| But Tuesday night last gone in s 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, | 255 |
| A marble monument. | |
| Ang. I did but smile till now: | |
| Now, good my lord, give me the scope of justice; | |
| My patience here is touchd. I do perceive | |
| These poor informal women are no more | 260 |
| But instruments of some more mightier member | |
| That sets them on. Let me have way, my lord, | |
| To find this practice out. | |
| Duke. Ay, with my heart; | |
| And punish them unto your height of pleasure. | 265 |
| Thou foolish friar, and thou pernicious woman, | |
| Compact with her thats gone, thinkst thou thy oaths, | |
| Though they would swear down each particular saint, | |
| Were testimonies against his worth and credit | |
| Thats seald in approbation? You, Lord Escalus, | 270 |
| Sit with my cousin; lend him your kind pains | |
| To find out this abuse, whence tis derivd. | |
| There is another friar that set them on; | |
| Let him be sent for. | |
| F. Peter. Would he were here, my lord; for he indeed | 275 |
| 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, | 280 |
| Whom it concerns to hear this matter forth, | |
| Do with your injuries as seems you best, | |
| In any chastisement: I for awhile will leave you; | |
| But stir not you, till you have well determind | |
| Upon these slanderers. | 285 |
| Escal. My lord, well do it throughly. [Exit DUKE. | |
| 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. | 290 |
| Lucio. As any in Vienna, on my word. | |
| Escal. Call that same Isabel here once again: I would speak with her. [Exit an Attendant.] Pray you, my lord, give me leave to question; you shall see how Ill handle her. | |
| Lucio. Not better than he, by her own report. | |
| Escal. Say you? | |
| Lucio. Marry, sir, I think, if you handled her privately, she would sooner confess: perchance, publicly, shell be ashamed. | 295 |
| Escal. I will go darkly to work with her. | |
| Lucio. Thats the way: for women are light at midnight. | |
| |
Re-enter Officers with ISABELLA. | |
| Escal. [To ISAB.] Come on, mistress: heres a gentlewoman denies all that you have said. | |
| Lucio. My lord, here comes the rascal I spoke of; here with the provost. | 300 |
| Escal. In very good time: speak not you to him, till we call upon you. | |
| |
Enter DUKE, disguised as a friar, and PROVOST. | |
| Lucio. Mum. | |
| Escal. Come, sir. Did you set these women on to slander Lord Angelo? they have confessed you did. | |
| Duke. Tis false. | 305 |
| Escal. How! know you where you are? | |
| Duke. Respect to your great place! and let the devil | |
| Be sometime honourd for his burning throne. | |
| Where is the duke? tis he should hear me speak. | |
| Escal. The dukes in us, and we will hear you speak: | 310 |
| 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 dukes unjust, | 315 |
| Thus to retort your manifest appeal, | |
| And put your trial in the villains mouth | |
| Which here you come to accuse. | |
| Lucio. This is the rascal: this is he I spoke of. | |
| Escal. Why, thou unreverend and unhallowd friar! | 320 |
| Is t not enough thou hast subornd these women | |
| To accuse this worthy man, but, in foul mouth, | |
| And in the witness of his proper ear, | |
| To call him villain? | |
| And then to glance from him to the duke himself. | 325 |
| To tax him with injustice? take him hence; | |
| To the rack with him! Well touse you joint by joint, | |
| But we will know his purpose. What! unjust? | |
| Duke. Be not so hot; the duke | |
| Dare no more stretch this finger of mine than he | 330 |
| 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 oer-run the stew: laws for all faults, | 335 |
| But faults so countenancd, that the strong statutes | |
| Stand like the forfeits in a barbers 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? | 340 |
| 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. | 345 |
| 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! | 350 |
| Escal. Such a fellow is not to be talkd withal. | |
| Away with him to prison! Where is the provost? | |
| Away with him to prison! Lay bolts enough on 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 awhile. | |
| Ang. What! resists he? Help him, Lucio. | 355 |
| Lucio. Come, sir; come, sir; come, sir; foh! sir. Why, you bald-pated, lying rascal, you must be hooded, must you? show your knaves visage, with a pox to you! show your sheepbiting face, and be hanged an hour! Will t not off? [Pulls off the friars hood, and discovers the DUKE.] | |
| Duke. Thou art the first knave that eer made a duke. | |
| First, provost, let me bail these gentle three. | |
| [To LUCIO.] Sneak not away, sir; for the friar and you | |
| Must have a word anon. Lay hold on him. | 360 |
| Lucio. This may prove worse than hanging. | |
| Duke. [To ESCALUS.] What you have spoke I pardon; sit you down: | |
| Well borrow place of him. [To ANGELO.] Sir, by your leave. | |
| Hast thou or word, or wit, or impudence, | |
| That yet can do thee office? If thou hast, | 365 |
| Rely upon it till my tale be heard, | |
| And hold no longer out. | |
| Ang. O my dread lord! | |
| I should be guiltier than my guiltiness, | |
| To think I can be undiscernible | 370 |
| When I perceive your Grace, like power divine, | |
| Hath lookd 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 | 375 |
| Is all the grace I beg. | |
| Duke. Come hither, Mariana, | |
| Say, wast thou eer contracted to this woman? | |
| Ang. I was, my lord. | |
| Duke. Go take her hence, and marry her instantly. | 380 |
| Do you the office, friar; which consummate, | |
| Return him here again. Go with him, provost. [Exeunt ANGELO, MARIANA, FRIAR PETER, and PROVOST. | |
| Escal. My lord, I am more amazd at his dishonour | |
| Than at the strangeness of it. | |
| Duke. Come hither, Isabel. | 385 |
| Your friar is now your prince: as I was then | |
| Advertising and holy to your business, | |
| Not changing heart with habit, I am still | |
| Attorneyd at your service. | |
| Isab. O, give me pardon, | 390 |
| That I, your vassal, have employd and paind | |
| Your unknown sovereignty! | |
| Duke. You are pardond, Isabel: | |
| And now, dear maid, be you as free to us. | |
| Your brothers death, I know, sits at your heart; | 395 |
| And you may marvel why I obscurd 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, | 400 |
| Which I did think with slower foot came on, | |
| That braind my purpose: but, peace be with him! | |
| That life is better life, past fearing death, | |
| Than that which lives to fear: make it your comfort, | |
| So happy is your brother. | 405 |
| Isab. I do, my lord. | |
| |
Re-enter ANGELO, MARIANA, FRIAR PETER, and PROVOST. | |
| Duke. For this new-married man approaching here, | |
| Whose salt imagination yet hath wrongd | |
| Your well-defended honour, you must pardon | 410 |
| For Marianas sake. But as he adjudgd your brother, | |
| Being criminal, in double violation | |
| Of sacred chastity, and of promise-breach, | |
| Thereon dependent, for your brothers life, | |
| The very mercy of the law cries out | 415 |
| Most audible, even from his proper 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 faults thus manifested, | 420 |
| Which, though thou wouldst deny, denies thee vantage. | |
| We do condemn thee to the very block | |
| Where Claudio stoopd to death, and with like haste. | |
| Away with him! | |
| Mari. O, my most gracious lord! | 425 |
| I hope you will not mock me with a husband. | |
| Duke. It is your husband mockd 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 | 430 |
| 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! | 435 |
| I crave no other, nor no better man. | |
| Duke. Never crave him; we are definitive. | |
| Mari. [Kneeling.] Gentle my liege, | |
| Duke. You do but lose your labour. | |
| Away with him to death! [To LUCIO.] Now, sir, to you. | 440 |
| Mari. O my good lord! Sweet Isabel, take my part: | |
| Lend me your knees, and, all my life to come, | |
| Ill lend you all my life to do you service. | |
| Duke. Against all sense you do importune her: | |
| Should she kneel down in mercy of this fact, | 445 |
| Her brothers ghost his paved bed would break, | |
| And take her hence in horror. | |
| Mari. Isabel, | |
| Sweet Isabel, do yet but kneel by me: | |
| Hold up your hands, say nothing, Ill speak all. | 450 |
| They say best men are moulded out of faults, | |
| And, for the most, become much more the better | |
| For being a little bad: so may my husband. | |
| O, Isabel! will you not lend a knee? | |
| Duke. He dies for Claudios death. | 455 |
| Isab. [Kneeling.] Most bounteous sir, | |
| Look, if it please you, on this man condemnd, | |
| As if my brother livd. I partly think | |
| A due sincerity governd his deeds, | |
| Till he did look on me: since it is so, | 460 |
| 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 oertake his bad intent; | |
| And must be buried but as an intent | 465 |
| That perishd by the way. Thoughts are no subjects; | |
| Intents but merely thoughts. | |
| Mari. Merely, my lord. | |
| Duke. Your suits unprofitable: stand up, I say. | |
| I have bethought me of another fault. | 470 |
| Provost, how came it Claudio was beheaded | |
| At an unusual hour? | |
| Prov. It was commanded so. | |
| Duke. Had you a special warrant for the deed? | |
| Prov. No, my good lord; it was by private message. | 475 |
| 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; | 480 |
| For testimony whereof, one in the prison, | |
| That should by private order else have died | |
| I have reservd alive. | |
| Duke. Whats he? | |
| Prov. His name is Barnardine. | 485 |
| Duke. I would thou hadst 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 appeard, | |
| Should slip so grossly, both in the heat of blood, | 490 |
| And lack of temperd 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. | 495 |
| |
Re-enter PROVOST, with BARNARDINE, CLAUDIO muffled, 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, | 500 |
| That apprehends no further than this world, | |
| And squarst thy life according. Thourt condemnd: | |
| 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: | 505 |
| I leave him to your hand.What muffled fellows that? | |
| Prov. This is another prisoner that I savd, | |
| That should have died when Claudio lost his head, | |
| As like almost to Claudio as himself. [Unmuffles CLAUDIO. | |
| Duke. [To ISABELLA.] If he be like your brother, for his sake | 510 |
| Is he pardond; 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 hes safe: | |
| Methinks I see a quickening in his eye. | 515 |
| 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 heres one in place I cannot pardon. | |
| [To LUCIO.] You, sirrah, that knew me for a fool, a coward, | 520 |
| One all of luxury, an ass, a madman: | |
| Wherein have I so deservd 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 whipped. | |
| Duke. Whippd first, sir, and hangd after. | 525 |
| Proclaim it, provost, round about the city, | |
| If any womans wrongd by this lewd fellow, | |
| As I have heard him swear himself theres one | |
| Whom he begot with child, let her appear, | |
| And he shall marry her: the nuptial finishd, | 530 |
| Let him be whippd and hangd. | |
| 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 in making me a cuckold. | |
| Duke. Upon mine honour, thou shalt marry her. | |
| Thy slanders I forgive; and therewithal | |
| Remit thy other forfeits. Take him to prison, | 535 |
| And see our pleasure herein executed. | |
| Lucio. Marrying a punk, my lord, is pressing to death, whipping, and hanging. | |
| Duke. Slandering a prince deserves it. | |
| She, Claudio, that you wrongd, look you restore. | |
| Joy to you, Mariana! love her, Angelo: | 540 |
| I have confessd her and I know her virtue. | |
| Thanks, good friend Escalus, for thy much goodness: | |
| Theres more behind that is more gratulate. | |
| Thanks, provost, for thy care and secrecy; | |
| We shall employ thee in a worthier place. | 545 |
| Forgive him, Angelo, that brought you home | |
| The head of Ragozine for Claudios: | |
| The offence pardons itself. Dear Isabel, | |
| I have a motion much imports your good; | |
| Whereto if youll a willing ear incline, | 550 |
| Whats mine is yours, and what is yours is mine. | |
| So, bring us to our palace; where well show | |
| Whats yet behind, thats meet you all should know. [Exeunt. | |
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