Isab. Adoptedly; as school-maids change their names

By vain though apt affection.
Lucio.

Isab. O, let him marry her.
Lucio.

She it is.

This is the point.

60

The Duke is very strangely gone from hence; 50
Bore many gentlemen, myself being one,
In hand, in hope of action; but we do learn
By those that know the very nerves of state,
His givings-out were of an infinite distance
From his true-meant design. Upon his place, 55
And with full line of his authority,
Governs Lord Angelo, a man whose blood
Is very snow-broth, one who never feels
The wanton stings and motions of the sense,
But doth rebate and blunt his natural edge
With profits of the mind, study, and fast.
He-to give fear to use and liberty,
Which have for long run by the hideous law,
As mice by lions-hath pick'd out an act,
Under whose heavy sense your brother's life 65
Falls into forfeit; he arrests him on it;
And follows close the rigour of the statute,
To make him an example. All hope is gone,
Unless you have the grace by your fair prayer
To soften Angelo. And that's my pith
Of business 'twixt you and your poor brother.
Isab. Doth he so seek his life?
Lucio.
Has censur'd him
Already; and, as I hear, the Provost hath
A warrant for his execution.

Isab. Alas! what poor ability 's in me
To do him good?
Lucio.
Assay the power you have.
Isab. My power? Alas, I doubt-
Lucio.
Our doubts are traitors,
And makes us lose the good we oft might win
By fearing to attempt. Go to Lord Angelo,
And let him learn to know, when maidens sue so
Men give like gods; but when they weep and
kneel,

All their petitions are as freely theirs
As they themselves would owe them.
Isab. I'll see what I can do.
Lucio.

But speedily.

Isab. I will about it straight, No longer staying but to give the Mother Notice of my affair. I humbly thank you. Commend me to my brother. Soon at night I'll send him certain word of my success. Lucio. I take my leave of you. Isab.

ACT II

85

Good sir, adieu. 20 [Exeunt.

SCENE I. [A hall in Angelo's house.] Enter ANGELO, ESCALUS, a JUSTICE, and Servants.

Ang. We must not make a scarecrow of the law,

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. 61 Ang. What are you, sir?

Elb. He, sir! A tapster, sir; parcel-bawd; one that serves a bad woman, whose house, sir, was, as they say, pluck'd down in the suburbs; and now she professes a hot-house, which, think, is a very ill house too.

Escal. How know you that?

67

Elb. My wife, sir, whom I detest before Heaven and your honour,

Escal. How? Thy wife?

70

Elb. Ay, sir; whom, I thank Heaven, is an honest woman,

Escal. Dost thou detest her therefore?

74

Escal. Go to, go to; no matter for the dish, sir.

Pom. No, indeed, sir, not of a pin; you are therein in the right. But to the point. As I say, this Mistress Elbow, being, as I say, with child, and being great-bellied, and longing, as I said, for prunes; and having but two in [102 the dish, as I said, Master Froth here, this very man, having eaten the rest, as I said, and, as say, paying for them very honestly; for, as you know, Master Froth, I could not give you three-pence again.

Froth. No, indeed.

107

Pom. Very well; you being then, if you be rememb'red, cracking the stones of the foresaid prunes,

111

Froth. Ay, so I did indeed.

Pom. Why, very well. I telling you then, if you be rememb'red, that such a one and such a one were past cure of the thing you wot of, unless they kept very good diet, as I told

Pom. Why, very well; I hope here be truths. He, sir, sitting, as I say, in a lower chair, sir; 't was in the Bunch of Grapes, where indeed you have a delight to sit, have you not?

134

Froth. I have so; because it is an open room and good for winter.

Pom. Why, very well, then; I hope here be truths.

Ang. This will last out a night in Russia, When nights are longest there. I'll take my leave,

140

And leave you to the hearing of the cause, Hoping you'll find good cause to whip them

all.

Escal. I think no less. Good morrow to your lordship. [Exit Angelo. What was done to Elbow's

Now, sir, come on. wife, once more? Pom. Once, sir? her once.

145

There was nothing done to

Elb. I beseech you, sir, ask him what this man did to my wife.

150

Pom. I beseech your honour, ask me. Escal. Well, sir; what did this gentleman to her?

Pom. I beseech you, sir, look in this gentleman's face. Good Master Froth, look upon his honour; 't is for a good purpose. Doth your honour mark his face?

Escal. Ay, sir, very well.

Pom. Nay, I beseech you, mark it well.
Escal. Well, I do so.

156

Pom. Doth your honour see any harm in his face?

Escal. Why, no.

161

Pom. I'll be suppos'd upon a book, his face is the worst thing about him. Good, then; if his face be the worst thing about him, how could Master Froth do the constable's wife any harm? I would know that of your honour. 167 Escal. He's in the right. Constable, what say you to it?

Elb. First, an it like you, the house is a respected house; next, this is a respected fellow; and his mistress is a respected woman,

122

Escal. No, Pompey.

244

Pom. Truly, sir, in my poor opinion, they will to 't then. If your worship will take order for the drabs and the knaves, you need not to fear the bawds.

Escal. There is pretty orders beginning, I can tell you. It is but heading and hanging. 250 Pom. If you head and hang all that offend that way but for ten year together, you'll be glad to give out a commission for more heads. If this law hold in Vienna ten year, I'll rent the fairest house in it after three-pence a day. If you live to see this come to pass, say Pompey told you so.

257

Escal. Thank you, good Pompey; and, in requital of your prophecy, hark you: I advise you, let me not find you before me again upon any complaint whatsoever; no, not for [260 dwelling where you do. If I do, Pompey, I shall beat you to your tent, and prove a shrewd Cæsar to you; in plain dealing, Pompey, I shall have you whipt. So, for this time, Pompey, fare you well.

265

Pom. I thank your worship for your good counsel; [aside] but I shall follow it as the flesh and fortune shall better determine. Whip me? No, no; let carman whip his jade; The valiant heart's not whipt out of his trade. [Exit. 270

Escal. Come hither to me, Master Elbow ; come hither, Master constable. How long have you been in this place of constable ?

274

Elb. Seven year and a half, sir. Escal. I thought, by the readiness in the office, you had continued in it some time. You say, seven years together?

Elb. And a half, sir.

278