ESCAL. Come Sir, did you fet these women on to flander lord Angelo? they have confefs'd you did. DUKE. 'Tis falfe. ESCAL. How? know you where you are? DUKE. Refpect to your great place!-and let the devil Where is the Duke? 'tis he should hear me speak. Look, you speak justly. DUKE. Boldly, at least. But oh, poor fouls, Come you to feek the lamb here of the fox? Good night to your redress: is the Duke gone? And put your trial in the villain's mouth, Which here you come to accufe. LUCIO. This is the rafcal; this is he I spoke of. To call him villain; And then to glance from him to th' Duke himself, His fubject am I not, Nor here provincial; my business in this state Where I have feen corruption boil and bubble, "Till it o'er-run the ftew: laws, for all faults; As much in mock as mark. ESCAL. Slander to th' ftate! away with him to prison. Lucio. 'Tis he, my lord. Come hither, goodman bald-pate ; DUKE. I remember you, Sir, by the found of your voice: I met you at the prison in the absence of the duke. LUCIO. Oh, did you fo? and do you remember what you faid of the duke? DUKE. Moft notedly, Sir. LUCIO. Do you so, Sir? and was the duke a flesh-monger, a fool, and a coward, as you then reported him to be? DUKE. You muft, Sir, change perfons with me, ere you make that my report: you spoke fo of him, and much more, much worse. LUCIO. Oh thou damnable fellow! did not I pluck thee by the nofe, for thy speeches! DUKE. I proteft, 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 talk'd withal; away with him to prifon:-where is the Provost?-away with him to prifon; lay bolts enough upon him; let him speak no more;-away with those giglets too, and with the other confederate companion. [The Provoft lays hands on the Duke. DUKE. Stay, Sir, stay a-while. ANG. What! refifts 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; fhow your knave's vifage, with a pox to you; fhow your Theep-biting face, and be hang'd an hour: will't not off? [To Lucio. [Pulls off the friar's hood, and difcovers the Duke. DUKE. Thou art the first knave, that e'er mad'ft a duke.— First, Provost, let me bail these gentle three. 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. What you have spoke, I pardon; fit you down.[To Efcalus. We'll borrow place of him.-Sir, by your leave:-[To Ang. Haft thou a word, or wit, or impudence, That yet can do thee office; if thou haft, ANG. O my dread lord, I should be guiltier than my guiltiness, To think I can be undifcernable; When I perceive your grace, like pow'r divine, But let my trial be mine own confeffion : DUKE. Come hither, Mariana: Say; waft thou e'er contracted to this woman? ANG. I was, my lord. DUKE. Go take her hence, and marry her instantly. Do you the office, Friar; which confummate, Return him here again. Go with him, Provost. [Exeunt Angelo, Mariana, Peter, and Provost. SCENE VI. ESCAL. My lord, I am more amaz'd at his dishonour, Than at the ftrangeness of it. DUKE. Come hither, Isabel; Your Friar is now your prince: as I was then Advertising, and holy to your business, Not changing heart with habit, I am still Attornied at your service. ISAB. Oh, give me pardon, That I, your vassal, have employ'd and pain'd Your unknown fovereignty. DUKE. You are pardon'd, Ifabel: And now, dear maid, be you as free to us. Than that which lives to fear; make it your comfort; Enter Angelo, Mariana, Peter, and Provost. ISA B. I do, my lord. DUKE. For this new-marry'd man, approaching here, Your well defended honour, you must pardon him For Mariana's fake: but as he adjudg'd your brother, Of facred chastity, and in promise-breach, Most audible, ev'n from his proper tongue, Which tho' thou would'ft deny, deny thee vantage. Where Claudio ftoop'd to death; and with like hafte.- MARI. Oh, my most gracious lord, I hope, you will not mock me with a husband? I thought your marriage fit; elfe imputation, We do enstate and widow you withal, MARI. Oh, my dear lord, I crave no other, nor no better man. DUKE. Never crave him; we are definitive. MARI. Gentle, my liege. DUKE. You do but lose your labour. Away with him to death MARI. Oh, my good lord! [Kneeling. -Now, Sir, to you. [To Lucio, Lend me your knees, and all my life to come |