Intended 'gainst Lord Angelo, came I hither, To speak, as from his mouth, what he doth know And all probation will make up full clear, Whensoever he's convented. First, for this woman, So vulgarly and personally accused, Her shall you hear disproved to her eyes, Duke. 160 Good friar, let's hear it. [Isabella is carried off guarded; and Mariana comes forward. Do you not smile at this, Lord Angelo? Of your own cause. Is this the witness, friar? Mari. Pardon, my lord; I will not show my face Duke. What, are you married? Mari. No, my lord. Duke. Are you a maid? Mari. No, my lord. Duke. A widow, then? Mari. Neither, my lord. 170 Duke. Why, you are nothing then: neither maid, widow, nor wife? 180 Lucio. My lord, she may be a punk; for many of them are neither maid, widow, nor wife. Duke. Silence that fellow To prattle for himself. Lucio. Well, my lord. I would he had some cause Mari. Well, my lord, I do confess I ne'er was married; 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. This is no witness for Lord Angelo. She that accuses him of fornication, In self-same manner doth accuse my husband, Ang. Charges she more than me? Duke. No? you say your husband. Not that I know. 200 Mari. Why, just, my lord, and that is Angelo, Ang. This is a strange abuse. Let's see thy face. This is that face, thou cruel Angelo, [Unveiling. Which once thou sworest was worth the looking on; And did supply thee at thy garden-house Duke. Know you this woman? Lucio. Carnally, she says. Lucio. Enough, my lord. Sirrah, no more! 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, Partly for that her promised proportions Came short of composition, but in chief In levity: since which time of five years I never spake with her, saw her, nor heard from her, Mari. Noble prince, 210 220 As there comes light from heaven and words from breath, As there is sense in truth and truth in virtue, I am affianced this man's wife as strongly 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, A marble monument! Ang. I did but smile till now: Now, good my lord, give me the scope of justice; These poor informal women are no more But instruments of some more mightier member Duke. Ay, with my heart; 230 And punish them to your height of pleasure. That's seal'd in approbation? You, Lord Escalus, Sit with my cousin; lend him your kind pains Let him be sent for. 240 Friar P. Would he were here, my lord! for he indeed Hath set the women on to this complaint: Your provost knows the place where he abides Go do it instantly. 251 [Exit Provost. Duke. Do with your injuries as seems you best, In any chastisement: I for a while will leave you; Upon these slanderers. Escal. My lord, we'll do it throughly. [Exit Duke. 260 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. 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 I'll 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, she'll be ashamed. Escal. I will go darkly to work with her. 280 Lucio. That's the way; for women are light at midnight. Re-enter OFFICERS with ISABELLA; and PROVOST with the DUKE in his friar's habit. Escal. Come on, mistress: here's a gentlewoman denies all that you have said. Lucio. My lord, here comes the rascal I spoke of; here with the provost. Escal. In very good time. speak not you to him till we call upon you. Lucio Mum. Escal. Come, sir: did you set these women on to slander Lord Angelo? they have confessed you did. Duke. 'Tis false. Escal. How know you where you are? Duke. Respect to your great place! and let the devil Escal. The duke's in us; and we will hear you speak : Look you speak justly. Duke. Boldly, at least. But, O, poor souls, Thus to retort your manifest appeal, And put your trial in the villain's mouth Which here you come to accuse. Lucio. This is the rascal; this is he I spoke of. To call him villain? and then to glance from him To the duke himself, to tax him with injustice? 291 300 310 Take him hence; to the rack with him! We'll 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 Nor here provincial. My business in this state Where I have seen corruption boil and bubble 320 Till it o'er-run the stew; laws for all faults, But faults so countenanced, that the strong statutes 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? 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. Lucio. Do you so, sir? And was the duke a fleshmonger, 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. 341 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! Escal. Such a fellow is not to be talked withal. Away with him to prison! Where is the provost? Away with him to prison! lay bolts enough upon him: let him speak no more. Away with those giglots too, and with the other confederate companion! Duke. [To Provost] Stay, sir; stay awhile. Ang. What, resists he? Help him, Lucio. Lucio. Come, sir; come, sir; come, sir; foh, sir! Why, you bald-pated, lying rascal, you must be hooded, must you? Show your knave's visage, with a pox to you! show your sheep-biting face, and be hanged an hour! Will't not off? 360 [Pulls off the friar's hood, and discovers the Duke. Duke. Thou art the first knave that e'er madest 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. Lucio. This may prove worse than hanging. Duke [To Escalus] What you have spoke I pardon : sit you down: We'll 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, 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, When I perceive your grace, like power divine, Hath look'd upon my passes. Then, good prince, No longer session hold upon my shame, 370 |