To call him villain ?
And then to glance from him to the duke himself;
To tax him with injustice?- Take him hence;
To the rack with him :-We'll touze you joint by

joint,
But we will know this purpose :- What! unjust?

Duke, Be not so hot; the duke Dare no more stretch this finger of mine, than he 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 o'er-run the stew : laws, for all faults; But faults so countenanc'd, that the strong statutes Stand like the forfeits in a barber's 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 ?
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 prisou, 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 himn; 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.

# Accountable,

Ang. Hark! how the villain would close now, after his treasonable abuses.

Escal. Such a fellow is not to be talk'd withal: Away with him to prison :- Where is the provost? Away with him to prison ; lay bolts enqugh upon him; let him speak no more. Away with those giglots* too, and with the other confederate companiou.

[The Provost lays hands on the Duke. Duke. Stay, sir; stay a while. Ang. What! resists he? Help him, Lucio.

Lucio. Come, sir; conte, 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 hang'd an hour! Will't not off?

[Pulls off the friar's hood, and discovers

the Duke. Duke. Thou art the first knave, that e'er made a

duke. First, provost, let me bail these gentle three:Sneak not away, sir; [To Lucio.] for the friar and

you
Must have a word anon :-lay hold on him.

Lucio, This may prove worse than hanging.
Duke. What you have spoke, I pardon; sit you
down.

[To Escalus. We'll borrow place of him :-Sir, by your leave :

[To Angelo.
Hast thou or word, or wit, or impudence,
That yet can do thee officet? 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 looked upon my passes I: Then, good prince,

* Wantons.

+ Service.

Devices.

No longer session hold upon my shame,
But let my trial be mine own confession ;
Immediate septence then, and sequent* death,
Is all the grace I beg.
Duke.

Come hither, Mariana :Say, wast thou e'er contracted to this woman?

Ang. I was, my lord.
Duke. Go, take her bence, and marry her in.

stantly-
Do you the office, friar; which consummate,
Return him here again :-Go with him, Provost.

[Ereunt Angelo, Marikina, Peter, and Provost. Escal. My lord, I am more amaz'd at his disho.

nour, Than at the strangeness of it. Duke.

Come hither, Isabel:
Your friar is now your prince: As I was then
Advértisingt, and holy to your business,
Not changing heart with habit, I am still
Attorney'd at your service.
Isab.

O, give me pardon,
That I, your vassal, have employ'd and pain'd
Your unknown sovereignty.
Duke.

Yon are pardou'd, Isabel;
And now, dear maid, be you as free to us.
Your brother's death, I know, sits at your heart;
And you may marvel, why I obscur'd myself,
Labouring to save his life; and would not rather
Make rash remonstrance of my hidden power,
Than let him so be lost: 0, most kind maid,
It was the swift celerity of his death,
Which I did think with slower foot came on,
That brain'd my purpose: But, peace be with him!
That life is better life, past fearing deatlı,
Than that which lives to fear: make it your comfort,
So happy is your brother.

Re-enter Angelo, Mariana, Peter, and Provost. Isab.

I do, my lord. Duke. For this new-married man, approaching

here, Whose salt imagination yet hath wrong'd Your well-defended honour, you must pardon For Mariana's sake: but as he adjudg'd your brother (Being criminal, in double violation Of sacred chastity, and of promise-breach, Thereon dependent, for your brother's life), The very mercy of the law cries out 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 fault's thus manifested : Which though thou would'st deny, denies thee van.

tage: We do condenin thee to the very block Where Claudio stoop'd to death, and with like

haste;

Away with him.
Mari.

0, my most gracious lord,
I hope you will not mock me with a husband!
Duke. It is

your

husband mock'd you with a hus. band: Consenting to the safeguard of your honour, I thought your marriage fit; else imputation, For that he knew you, might reproach your life, 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, I crave no other, nor no better man.

Duke. Never crave him ; we are definitive.

* Angelo's owo tongue.

Mari. Gentle my liege,

(Kneeling. Duke.

You do but lose your labour: Away with him to death.-Now, sir, (To Lacio.) to

you. Mari. O, my good lord !_Sweet Isabel, take my

part; Lend me your knees, and all my life to come I'll lend you, all my life to do you service.

Duke. Against all senseyou do importune her:
Should she kneel down, in mercy of this fact,
Her brother's ghost bis paved bed would break,
And take her hence in horro..
Mari.

Isabel,
Sweet Isabel, do get but kneel by me;
Hold up your hands, say nothing, I'll speak all.
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.
0, Isabel ! will you vot lend a knee?

Duke. He dies for Claudio's death!
Isab.

Most bounteous sir,

(Kneeling. Look, if it please you, on this man condemn'd, As if my brother liv'd: I partly think, A due sincerity govern'd his deeds, Till he did look on me; since it is so, 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 o'ertake his bad intent, And must be buried but as an intent That perish'd by the way: thoughts are no subjects; Intents but merely thoughts. Mari.

Merely, my lord. Duke. Your suit's unprofitable; stand up, I say. I have bethought me of another fault:Provost, bow came it, Claudio was beheaded At an unusual hour?

# Reason and affection,