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in the bunch of grapes, where indeed, you have a des light to fit, have you not?

Froth. I have fo, because it is an open room, and good for winter.

Clown. Why, very well then.-I hope, here be truths,
Ang. This will laft out a night in Ruffia,

When nights are longeft there. I'll take my leave,
And leave you to the hearing of the cause;
Hoping, you'll find good cause to whip them all.

ship.

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Efcal. I think no lefs. Good morrow to your lord[Exit Angelo, Now, Sir, come on: what was done to Elbow's wife, unce more?

Clown. Once, Sir? there was nothing done to her

once.

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

Clown. I beseech your Honour, ask me.

Efcal. Well, Sir, what did this gentleman to her? Clown. I befeech you, Sir, look in this gentleman's face. Good mafter Froth, look upon his Honour; 'tis for a good purpose.-Doth your Honour mark his face? Efcal. Ay, Sir, very well.

Clown. Nay, I beseech you, mark it well.
Efcal. Well, I do fo.

Clown. Doth your Honour fee any harm in his face?
Efcal. Why, no.

Clown. I'll be fuppos'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 mafter Froth do the conftable's wife any harm? I would know that of your Honour.

Efcal. He's in the right; conftable, what fay you to it?

Elb. First, an' it like you, the house is a refpected

house;

houfe; next, this is a refpected fellow; and his miftrefs is a refpected woman.

Clown. By this hand, Sir, his wife is a more refpected perfon than any of us all.

Elb. Varlet, thou lieft, thou lieft, wicked varlet; the time is yet to come, that fhe was ever refpected with man, woman, or child.

Clown. Sir, he was refpected with him before he marry'd with her.

Efcal. Which is the wifer here? Justice, or Iniquity? Is this true?

Elb. O thou caitiff! O thou varlet! O thou wicked Hannibal! I refpected with her, before I was marry'd to her? If ever I was refpected with her, or fhe with me, let not your worship think me the poor duke's officer; prove this, thou wicked Hannibal, or I'll have mine action of battery on thee.

2

Efcal. If he took you a box o' th' ear, you might have your action of flander too.

Elb. Marry, I thank your good worship for't. What is't your worship's pleasure I fhall do with this wicked caitiff?

Efcal. Truly, officer, because he hath fome offences in him, that thou wouldst discover if thou couldst, let him continue in his courfes, till thou know'ft what they are.

Elb. Marry, I thank your worship for't; thou feeft, thou wicked varlet now, what's come upon thee. Thou art to continue now, thou varlet; thou art to continue. Efcal. Where were you born, friend? Froth. Here in Vienna, Sir.

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[To Froth.

Efcal. Are you of fourfcore pounds a year?
Froth. Yes, and't please you, Sir.

Juftice or Iniquity.] Thefe were, fuppofe, two perfonages, well known to the aud erce by their frequent appearance in the old moralities. The words thereVOL. I.

fore at that time produced a combination of ideas, which they have now loft.

2 Hannibal.] Mistaken by the conflable tor Cannibal. U Efcal.

Efcal. So. What trade are you of, Sir?

[To the Clown.

Clown. A tapfter, a poor widow's tapfter.
Efcal. Your Miftrefs's name?

Clown. Miftrefs Over-done.

Efcal. Hath fhe had any more than one husband?
Clown. Nine, Sir: Over-done by the last.

Efcal. Nine? Come hither to me, mafter Frotb. Mafler Froth, I would not have you acquainted with tapfters; they will draw you,' mafter Froth, and you will hang them. Get you gone, and let me hear no more of you.

Froth. I thank your worship. For mine own part, I never come into any room in a taphouse, but I am drawn in.

Efcal. Well, no more of it, mafter Froth; fare

wel.

SCENE

[Exit Froth.

IV.

Come you hither to me, mafter tapfter; what's your

name, mafter tapfter?

Clown. Pompey.

Efcal. What elfe?

Clown. Bum, Sir.

Efcal. Troth, and your bum is the greatest thing about you, fo that, in the beaft lieft fenfe, you are Pompey the Great. Pompey, you are partly a bawd, Pompey; howsoever you colour it in being a tapfter; are you not? come, tell me true; it fhall be the better for you.

Clown. Truly, Sir, I am a poor fellow that would live.

Efcal. How would you live, Pompey? by being a

3

they will draw you] Draw has here a clutter of fenfes. As it refers to the tapfler, it fignifies to drain, to empty as it is

related to hang, it means to em-
bowel or extenterate. In Froth's
anfwer it is the fame as to bring
along by fome motive or power.

bawd?

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bawd? what do you think of the trade, Pompey? is it a lawful trade?

Clown. If the law will allow it, Sir."

Efcal. But the law will not allow it, Pompey: nor it fhall not be allowed in Vienna.

Clown. Does your worship mean to geld and fplay all the youth in the city?

Efcal. No, Pompey.

Clown. 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.

Efcal. There are pretty orders beginning, I can tell you; it is but heading and hanging.

Clown. If you head and hang all that offend that way but for ten years together, you'll be glad to give out a commiffion for more heads. If this law hold in Vienna ten years, I'll rent the faireft houfe in it, after three pence a bay; if you live to fee this come to pafs, fay, Pompey told you fo.

Efcal. 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 whatfoever; no, not for dwelling where you do, if I do, Pompey, I fhall beat you to your tent, and prove a fhrewd Cæfar to you: in plain dealing, Pompey, I

4 I'll rent the fairest house in it, for three pence a bay :] Mr. Theobald found that this was the reacing of the old books, and he follows it out of pure reverence for antiquity; for he knows nothing of the meaning of it. He fuppofes Bay to be that projection called Bay-window; as if the way of rating houfe, was by the number of their Bay-windows. But it is quite another thing, and fignifies the squared frame of a

timber-houfe: each of which divifions or fquares is called a Bay Hence a building of fo many bays. WARBURTON.

A Bay of building is in many parts of England a common term, of which the best conception that I could ever attain, is, that it is the space between the main beams of the roof; fo that a barn croffed twice with beams is a barn of three bays.

U 2

fhall

fhall have you whipt. So for this time, Pompey, fare you well.

Clown. I thank your worship for your good counfel.. [afide. But I fhall follow it, as the flesh and fortune

fhall better determine.

Whip me? no, no; let carman whip his jade:
The valiant heart's not whipt out of his trade. [Exit.

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Efcal. Come hither to me, Mr. Elbow; come hither, master constable.

this place of conftable?

How long have you been in

Elb. Seven years and a half, Sir.

Efcal. I thought by your readiness in the office, you had continued in it fome time; you fay, feven years together?

Elb. And a half, Sir.

Eftal. Alas! It hath been great pains to you; they do you wrong to put you fo oft upon't: are there not men in your ward fufficient to serve it?

Elb. Faith, Sir, few of any wit in fuch matters; as they are chofen, they are glad to chufe me for them. I do it for fome piece of money, and go through with all.

Efcal. Look you, bring me in the names of fome fix or feven, the moft fufficient of your parish. Elb. To your worship's house, Sir?

Efcal. To my houfe; fare you well. [Exit Elbow. What's a clock, think you?

Just. Eleven, Sir.

Efcal. I pray you, home to dinner with me.
Just. I humbly thank you.

Efcal. It grieves me for the death of Claudio:

But there's no remedy.

Juft. Lord Angelo is fevere.

Efcal. It is but needful:

Mercy is not itfelf, that oft looks fo;

Pardon is ftill the nurfe of fecond woe:

But

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