What figure of us think you he will bear? Lent him our terror, dress'd him with our love, Duke. Look where he comes. Enter ANGELO. Ang. Always obedient to your grace's will, I come to know your pleasure. Duke. Angelo, There is a kind of character in thy life, Not light them for themselves; for if our virtues As if we had them not. Spirits are not finely touch'd The smallest scruple of her excellence But, like a thrifty goddess, she determines Herself the glory of a creditor, Both thanks and use. But I do bend my speech To one that can my part in him advertise; Hold therefore, Angelo : In our remove be thou at full ourself; Mortality and mercy in Vienna Live in thy tongue and heart: old Escalus, Though first in question, is thy secondary. Ang. Now, good my lord, Let there be some more test made of my metal, Be stamp'd upon it. Duke. No more evasion: We have with a leaven'd and prepared choice How it goes with us, and do look to know What doth befall you here. So, fare you well: Of your commissions. Ang. Yet give leave, my lord, That we may bring you something on the way. Nor need you, on mine honour, have to do As to your soul seems good. Give me your hand : I'll privily away. I love the people, But do not like to stage me to their eyes: That does affect it. Once more, fare you well. Escal. I shall desire you, sir, to give me leave To have free speech with you; and it concerns me To look into the bottom of my place : A power I have, but of what strength and nature I am not yet instructed. Ang. "Tis so with me. Let us withdraw together, And we may soon our satisfaction have Touching that point. Escal. I'll wait upon your honour. SCENE II. A street. Enter LUCIO and two Gentlemen. [Exit. 80 [Exeunt. Lucio. If the duke with the other dukes come not to composition with the King of Hungary, why then all the dukes fall upon the king. First Gent. Heaven grant us its peace, but not the King of Hungary's! Sec. Gent. Amen. Lucio. Thou concludest like the sanctimonious pirate, that went to sea with the Ten Commandments, but scraped one out of the table. Sec. Gent. "Thou shalt not steal"? 10 First Gent. Why, 'twas a commandment to command the captain and all the rest from their functions: they put forth to steal. There's not a soldier of us all, that, in the thanksgiving before meat, do relish the petition well that prays for peace. Sec. Gent. I never heard any soldier dislike it. Lucio. I believe thee; for I think thou never wast where grace was said. Sec. Gent. No? a dozen times at least. First Gent. What, in metre? Lucio. In any proportion or in any language. 20 Lucio. Ay, why not? Grace is grace, despite of all controversy as, for example, thou thyself art a wicked villain, despite of all grace. First Gent. Well, there went but a pair of shears between us. Lucio. I grant; as there may between the lists and the velvet. Thou art the list. 31 First Gent. And thou the velvet thou art good velvet ; thou'rt a three-piled piece, I warrant thee: I had as lief be a list of an English kersey as be piled, as thou art piled, for a French velvet. Do I speak feelingly now? Lucio. I think thou dost; and, indeed, with most painful feeling of thy speech: I will, out of thine own confession, learn to begin thy health; but, whilst I live, forget to drink after thee. 40 First Gent. I think I have done myself wrong, have I not? Sec. Gent. Yes, that thou hast, whether thou art tainted or free. Lucio. Behold, behold, where Madam Mitigation comes ! I have purchased as many diseases under her roof as come to Sec. Gent. To what, I pray? Lucio. Judge. Sec. Gent. To three thousand dolours a year. First Gent. Ay, and more. Lucio. A French crown more. 50 First Gent. Thou art always figuring diseases in me; but thou art full of error; I am sound. Lucio. Nay, not as one would say, healthy; but so sound as things that are hollow: thy bones are hollow; impiety has made a feast of thee. Enter MISTRESS OVERDONE. First Gent. How now! which of your hips has the most profound sciatica ? Mrs. Ov. Well, well; there's one yonder arrested and carried to prison was worth five thousand of you all. Sec. Gent. Who's that, I pray thee? Mrs. Ov. Marry, sir, that's Claudio, Signior Claudio. Mrs. Ov. Nay, but I know 'tis so I saw him arrested, saw him carried away; and, which is more, within these three days his head to be chopped off. 70 Lucio. But, after all this fooling, I would not have it so. Art thou sure of this? Mrs. Ov. I am too sure of it and it is for getting Madam Julietta with child. Lucio. Believe me, this may be: he promised to meet me two hours since, and he was ever precise in promisekeeping. Sec. Gent. Besides, you know, it draws something near to the speech we had to such a purpose. First Gent. But, most of all, agreeing with the proclamation. Lucio. Away! let's go learn the truth of it. 81 (Exeunt Lucio and Gentlemen. Mrs. Ov. Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat, what with the gallows and what with poverty, I am customshrunk. Enter POMPEY. How now! what's the news with you? Pom. Yonder man is carried to prison. Mrs. Ov. Well; what has he done? Pom. A woman. Mrs. Or. But what's his offence? 90 Pom. Groping for trouts in a peculiar river. Pom. No, but there's a woman with maid by him. You Mrs. Or. What, is there a maid with child by him? have not heard of the proclamation, have you? Mrs. Ov. What proclamation, man? Pom. All houses in the suburbs of Vienna must be plucked down. 100 Mrs. Ov. And what shall become of those in the city? Pom. They shall stand for seed: they had gone down too, but that a wise burgher put in for them. Mrs. Ov. But shall all our houses of resort in the suburbs be pulled down? Pom. To the ground, mistress. Mrs. Oo. Why, here's a change indeed in the commonwealth! What shall become of me? Pom. Come; fear not you good counsellors lack no clients though you change your place, you need not change your trade; I'll be your tapster still. Courage! there will be pity taken on you: you that have worn your eyes almost out in the service, you will be considered. Mrs. Or. What's to do here, Thomas tapster? let's withdraw. Pom. Here comes Signior Claudio, led by the provost to prison; and there's Madam Juliet. [Exeunt. Enter PROVOST, CLAUDIO, JULIET, and Officers. Claud. Fellow, why dost thou show me thus to the world? Bear me to prison, where I am committed. Prov. I do it not in evil disposition, But from Lord Angelo by special charge. Make us pay down for our offence by weight The words of heaven; on whom it will, it will; Re-enter LUCIO and two Gentlemen. 121 Lucio. Why, how now, Claudio! whence comes this restraint? Cland. From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty: As surfeit is the father of much fast, So every scope by the immoderate use Turns to restraint. Our natures do pursue, Like rats that ravin down their proper bane, A thirsty evil; and when we drink we die. 130 Lucio. If I could speak so wisely under an arrest, I would send for certain of my creditors: and yet, to say the truth, I had as lief have the foppery of freedom as the morality of imprisonment. What's thy offence, Claudio? Claud. What but to speak of would offend again. Lucio. What, is't murder? Claud. No. Lucio. Lechery? Claud. Call it so. Prov. Away, sir! you must go. 140 Claud. One word, good friend. Lucio, a word with you. Lucio. A hundred, if they'll do you any good. Is lechery so look'd after? Claud. Thus stands it with me: upon a true contract I got possession of Julietta's bed: You know the lady; she is fast my wife, Save that we do the denunciation lack Of outward order: this we came not to Only for propagation of a dower Remaining in the coffer of her friends, From whom we thought it meet to hide our love But it chances 150 |