SCENE III. The Street.

Enter Lucio, and two Gentlemen.

Lucio. If the Duke, with the other Dukes, come not to compofition with the King of Hungary, why then all the Dukes fall upon the King.

1 Gent. Heav'n grant us its peace, but not the King of Hungary's!

2 Gent. Amen.

Lucio. Thou conclud'ft like the fanctimonious pirate, that went to fea with the ten commandments, but fcrap'd one out of the table.

2 Gent. Thou shalt not fteal. Lucio. Ay, that he raz'd.

1 Gent. Why, 'twas, a commandment to command the Captain and all the reft from their functions; they put forth to fteal; there's not a foldier of us aH, that, in the thanksgiving before meat, does relish the petition well that prays for peace.

2 Gent. I never heard any foldier diflike it.

Lucio.. I believe thee: for I think thou never waft where grace was faid.

2 Gent. No? a dozen times at least.

1 Gent. What, in metre?

Lucio. In any proportion, or in any language. 1 Gent. I think, or in any religion.

Lucio. Ay, why not? Grace is grace, defpight of all controverfy; as for example, thou thyfelf art a wicked villain, defpight of all grace.

1 Gent. Well; there went but a pair of sheers be-

tween us.

Lucio. I grant; as there may be between the lifts and the velvet. Thou art the lift.

Gent And thou the velvet; thou art good velvet; thou art a three-pil'd piece, I warrant thee: I had as lief be a list of an English kerf. y, as be pil'd, as thou art pil'd for a French velvet. Do I fpeak feelingly now?

Lucio. I think thou doft, and indeed with mot painful feeling of thy peech I will, out of thine own confeffion, learn to begin thy health; but, whilit 1 live, forget to drink after thee.

1 Gent.

1 Gent. I think I have done myfelf wrong, have I

not?

2 Gent. Yes, that thou haft; whether thou art tainted, or free.

Lucio. Behold, behold, where Madam Mitigation

comes.

1 Gent. I have purchas'd as many diseases under her roof, as come to

2 Gent. To what, I pray?

1 Gent. Judge.

2 Gent. To three thousand dollars a year. 1 Gent. Ay, and more.

Lucio. A French crown more †.

1 Gent. Thou art always figuring diseases in me ; but thou art full of error; I am found.

Lucio. Nay, not as one would fay healthy; but fo found, as things that are hollow; thy bones are hollow; impiety hath made a feast of thee.

SCENE IV. Enter Bawd.

1 Gent. How now? which of your hips has the most profound feiatica ?

Bawd. Well well; there's one yonder arrefted, and carry'd to prison, was worth five thousand of you all. 1 Gent. Who's that, I pr ythee?

Bawd. Warry, ir, that's Claudio; Signior. Claudio. 1 Gent: Claudio to prison? 'tis not fo.

Bawd Nay, but I know 'tis fo; I faw him arrestfaw him carry'd away; and, which is more within thele three days his head is to be chopt off.

ed;

Lucio But, after all this fooling, I would not have .it fo. Art thou fure of this

Bard. I am too sure of it; and it is for getting Madam Julietta with child.

Lucio Believe me this may be; he promised to meet me two hours fince, and he was ever precife in promife keeping

2 Gert. Befides, you know, it draws fomething near to the speech we had to such a purpose.

* A uble ended betw.en dollars an dolours.

† Aluuing to the venereal feab upon the head, called corono veneris,

1 Gent.

1 Gent. But most of all agreeing with the proclamation.

Lucio. Away, let's go learn the truth of it. [Exit. Manet Bawd.

Bawd. Thus, what with the war, what with the fweat, what with the gallows, and what with poverty, I am custom-fhrunk. How now? what's the news with you?

SCENE V. Enter Clown. Clown. Yonder man is carry'd to prison. Bawd. Well; what has he done?

Clown. A woman.

Bawd. But what's his offence?

Clown. Groping for trouts in a peculiar river. Bard. What is there a maid with child by him? Clown. No; but there's a woman with maid by him. You have not heard of the proclamation, have you? Bawd. What proclamation, man?

Clown. All houfes in the fuburbs of Vienna must be pluck'd down.

Bawd. And what fhall become of thofe in the city? Clown They fhall ftand for feed; they had gone down too, but that a wife burgher put in for them. Bawd. But fhall all our houses of refort in the fuburbs be pull'd down?

Clown. To the ground, Miftrefs.

Bawd. Why, here's a change, indeed, in the commonwealth; what fhall become of me?

Clown. Come, fear not you; good counfellors lack no clients; though you change your place, you need not change your trade: I'll be your tapfter ftill. Courage, there will be pity taken on you; you that have worn your eyes almost out in the fervice, you will be confidered.

Bawd. What's to do here, Thomas Tapfter? let's withdraw.

Clown. Here comes Signior Claudio, led by the Provost to prifon; and there's Madam Juliet.

[Exeunt Bawd and Clown.

SCENE

Enter Provost, Claudio, Juliet, and officers. Lucio, and two Gentlemen.

Claud. Fellow, why doft thou fhow me thus to th'
world?

Bear me to prifon, where I am committed.
Prov. I do it not in evil difpofition,
But from Lord Angelo by fpecial charge.
Claud. Thus can the demi-god, Authority,
Make us pay down, for our offence, by weight.
The words of Heav'n; on whom it will, it will;
On whom it will not, fo; yet ftill 'tis juft.

Lucio. Why, how now, Claudio? whence comes this refraint?

Claud. From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty: As furfeit is the father of much faft:

t;

So ev'ry scope, by the immod❜rate use,

Turns to restraint: our natures do pursue,
Like rats that ravin down their proper bane,
A thirty evil; and when we drink, we die.

Lucio. If I could speak fo wifely under an arrest, I would fend for certain of my creditors; and yet, to fay the truth, I had as lief have the foppery of freedom, as the morality of imprisonment. What's thy offence, Claudio ?

Claud. What, but to speak of, would offend again. Lucio. What is't, murder?

Claud No.

Lucio. Letchery?

Claud Call it fo.

Prov. Away, Sir, you must go.

Claud. One word, good friend.-Lucio, a word with you.

Lucio. A hundred, if they'll do you any good. Is letchery fo look'd after ?

Claud. Thus ftands it with me; upon a true contrac I got poffeffion of Julietta's bed,

(You know the lady), the is fait my wife; Save that we do the denunciation lack

Of outward order. 1 his we came not to,

Only

Only for propagation of a dower

Remaining in the coffer of her friends;

From whom we thought it meet to hide our love,
Till time had made them for us. But it chances,
The ftealth of our molt mutual entertainment,
With character too grofs, is writ on Juliet.
Lucio. With child, perhaps?

Claud. Unhappily, even fo.

And the new deputy now for the Duke,
(Whether it be the fault, and glimpse, of newness;
Or whether that the body-public be

A horfe whereon the governor doth ride,
Who, newly in the feat, that it may know
He can command, lets it ftraight feel the fpur;
Whether the tyranny be in his place,

Or in his eminence that fills it up,

I ftagger in) but this new governor
Awakes me all th' enrolled penalties,

1

Which have, like unfcour'd armour, hung by th' wall
So long, that nineteen zodiacs have gone round,
And none of them been worn; and, for a name,
Now puts the drowsy and neglected act

Frefhly in me; 'tis furely for a name.

Lucio. I warrant it is; and thy head ftands fo tickle on thy fhoulders, that a milk-maid, if she be in love, may figh it off. Send after the Duke, and appeal to

him.

Claud. I have done fo, but he's not to be found,
I pr'ythee, Lucio, do me this kind fervice:
This day my fifter should the cloister enter,
And there receive her approbation.

Acquaint her with the danger of my state,
Implore her, in my voice, that she make friends
To the frict deputy; bid herself assay him;
I have great hope in that; for in her youth.
There is a prone and fpeechlefs dialect,

Such as moves men! befide, fhe hath profp'rous art
When the will play with reafon and discourse,
*And well fhe can perfuade.

Lucio. I pray fhe may; as well for the encouragement of the like, which elfe would stand under grievous impofition; as for the enjoying of thy life, who I would

be