Bore many gentlemen, myself being one, In hand, and hope of action: but we do learn : To soften Angelo and that's my pith of business Isab. Doth he so seek his life? Has censured him Already; and, as I hear, the provost hath 55 60 65 70 8o Seek for so? seek Clark and Has] H'as Theobald. Hath Knight. 71-75 As in Capell. In Ff the lines end so,...already...warrant...poore... good. 73 as] om. Hanmer. A warrant for his execution. Isab. Alas! what poor ability's in me To do him good? Lucio. Assay the power you have. 75 Our doubts are traitors, And make us lose the good we oft might win As they themselves would owe them. But speedily. Isab. I will about it straight; 80 85 Isab. ACT II. Good sir, adieu. 90 [Exeunt. SCENE I. A hall in ANGELO's house. Enter ANGELO, ESCALUS, and a Justice, Provost, Officers, and other Attendants, behind. Ang. We must not make a scarecrow of the law, Setting it up to fear the birds of prey, 74 A warrant for his] a warrant For's Ff. 76, 77 Assay...power?] One line in Knight. 76 Assay] Essay Collier MS. 78 make] Rowe (ed. 2). makes Ff. made Johnson (a misprint). 82 freely] F. truely FF3F4. A hall...] Capell. The Palace. Rowe. Enter...] Enter...and others, attending. Capell. Enter Angelo, Escalus, and seruants, Iustice. Ff. And let it keep one shape, till custom make it Escal. Ay, but yet Let us be keen, and rather cut a little, Than fall, and bruise to death. Alas, this gentleman, Whom I would save, had a most noble father! Let but your honour know, 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, May in the sworn twelve have a thief or two What's open made to justice, That justice seizes: what know the laws That thieves do pass on thieves? 'Tis very pregnant, 6 fall] fell Warburton conj. 8-10 Let... That, in the] Let...whom I believe To...whether in The Hanmer. Let...whom I believe To... virtue, and consider This, In the Capell. 9 strait] straight Knight. 12 your] Rowe (after Davenant). our Ff. 15 which now you censure him] you censure now in him Hanmer. which now you censure him for Capell. where now you censure him Grant White. 19 the] a Collier MS. 5 10 15 20 21, 22 What's...laws] Keightley ends line 21 at made. 22 justice seizes] justice ceizes Ff. justice seizes on Pope. it seizes on Hanmer. what know] what! know we Bulloch conj. know] Rowe (ed. 2). knowes F1F. knows F3F4. know the laws] knows the law Dyce (ed. 2). 23 very] om. Hanmer, ending lines 21, 22, 23 at made...know...pregnant. The jewel that we find, we stoop and take't, For I have had such faults; but rather tell me, 25 30 Where is the provost? Prov. Here, if it like your honour. See that Claudio Be executed by nine to-morrow morning: Bring him his confessor, let him be prepared; For that's the utmost of his pilgrimage. 35 [Exit Provost. Escal. [Aside] Well, heaven forgive him! and forgive us all! Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall: Some run from brakes of ice, and answer none; Enter ELBOW, and Officers with FROTH and POMPEY. 40 Elb. Come, bring them away: if these be good people 24 take't] take it Steevens. 31 Sir] om. Pope. After this line Ff have 'Enter 36 [Exit Provost.] Rowe. om. Ff. heaven] God Adee conj. 38 This line is printed in italics in Ff. 39 from brakes of ice, and] through brakes of vice, and Rowe. from brakes of vice, and Malone. from brakes of justice, Capell. from breaks of ice, and Collier. from wreaks o' vice Keightley. from brakes, off ice VOL. I. in a commonweal that do nothing but use their abuses in common houses, I know no law: bring them away. Ang. How now, sir! What's your name? and what's the matter? 45 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? 51 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. 55 Escal. This comes off well; here's a wise officer. Ang. Go to: what quality are they of? Elbow is your name? why dost thou not speak, Elbow? Pom. He cannot, sir; he's out at elbow. Ang. What are you, sir? 60 Elb. He, sir! a tapster, sir; parcel-bawd; one that serves a bad woman; whose house, sir, was, as they say, plucked down in the suburbs; and now she professes a hothouse, which, I think, is a very ill house too. Escal. How know you that? 65 Elb. My wife, sir, whom I detest before heaven and your honour, Escal. How? thy wife? Elb. Ay, sir;-whom, I thank heaven, is an honest woman, Escal. Dost thou detest her therefore? 70 Elb. I say, sir, I will detest myself also, as well as 63, 64 a hot-house] an alehouse Gould 66 sir,] Sir? Fr |