Ang. Now, good my lord,
Let there be fome more test made of my metal,
Before so noble and so great a figure
Be stampt upon it.

Duke. Come, no more evasion:
We have with a prepar'd and leaven'd choice
Proceeded to you; therefore take your honours.
Our hafte from hence is of fo quick condition,
That it prefers it felf, and leaves unquestion'd
Matters of needful value. We shall write to you,
As time and our concernings shall importune,
How it goes with us, and do look to know
What doth befal you here. So fare you well.
To th' hopeful execution do I leave you
Of our commiffion.

Ang. Yet give leave, my lord,

That we may bring you fomething on the way.
Duke. My hafte may not admit it,
Nor need you, on mine honcur, have to do
With any fcruple; your scope is as mine own,
So to inforce, or qualifie the law,

As to your foul seems good. Give me your hand;
I'll privily away. I love the people,
But do not like to stage me to their eyes:
Though it do well, I do not relism well
Their loud applause, and Ave's vehement:
Nor do I think the man of fafe difcretion
That does affect it. Once more fare you well.
Ang. The heav'ns give fafety to your purposes!
Escal. Lead forth and bring you back in happiness!
Duke. I thank you, fare you well.
[Exit.
Efcal. I shall defire you, Sir, to give me leave
To have free speech with you; and it concerns me
To look into the bottom of my place:

A pow'r I have, but of what strength and nature

I am not yet instructed.

Ang. 'Tis so with me: let us withdraw together,

And we may foon our fatisfaction have

Touching that point.

Efcal, I'll wait upon your honour.

[Exeunt. SCENE

Lucio.

Enter Lucio, and two gentlemen.

IF why then all the Dukes fall upon the King.

F the Duke, with the other Dukes, come not to composition with the King of Hungary,

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

2 Gent. Amen.

Lucio. Thou conclud'st like the teftimonious pyrat, that went to sea with the ten commandments, but scrap'd one out of the table.

2 Gent. Thou shalt not steal?

Lucio. Ay, that he raz'd.

1 Gent. Why, 'twas a commandment to command the captain and all the rest from their functions; they put forth to steal: there's not a foldier of us all, that in the thanksgiving before meat, do relish the petition well that prays for Peace.

2 Gent. I never heard any foldier dislike 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 meeter?

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

Lucio. Ay, why not? grace, is grace, despight of all controverfie; as for example, thou thy felf art a wicked villain, despight of all grace.

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

tween us.

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

Gent. And thou the velvet; thou art good velvet; thou'r

thou'rt a three-pil'd piece I warrant thee: I had as lief be a list of an English kersey, as be pil'd, as thou art pil'd, for a French velvet. Do I speak feelingly now?

Lucio. I think thou dost; and indeed with most painful feeling of thy speech: I will, out of thine own confeffion, learn to begin thy health; but, whilft I live, forget to drink after thee.

1 Gent. I think I have done my self wrong, have

I not?

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

SCENE IV.

Enter Bawd.

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, pray?

1 Gent. Judge.

2 Gent. To three thousand dollars a year.

I 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 say, healthy; but fo found, as things that are hollow; thy bones are hollow; impiety hath made a feast of thee.

1 Gent. How now, which of your hips has the moft profound sciatica ?

Bawd. Well, well; there's one yonder arrested, and carry'd to prison, was worth five thousand of you all.

1 Gent. Who's that, I pr'ythee?

Bawd. Marry Sir, that's Claudio, Signior Claudio 1 Gent. Claudio to prifon? 'tis not fo.

Bawd. Nay, but I know 'tis fo; I saw him arrested

rested; faw him carry'd away; and which is more, within these three days his head is to be chopt off.

Lucio. But, after all this fooling, I would not have it fo: art thou sure of this?

Bawd. I am too fure 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 Gent. Besides, you know it draws fomething near to the speech we had to fuch a purpose.

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

Lucio. Away, let's go learn the truth of it. (Exe. Bawd. Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat, 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 prifon
Bawd. Well; what has he done?
Clown. A woman.

Bawd. But what's his offence?

kaen Clown. Groping for trouts in a peculiar river.

Bawd. 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 houses in the fuburbs of Vienna muft be pluck'd down.

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

Clown. To the ground, mistress,

Bawd

Bawd. Why here's a change indeed in the common wealth; what shall become of me?

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

Bawd. What's to do here, Thomas Tapster? let's withdraw. Clown. Here comes Signior Claudio, led by the provost to prifon; and there's Madam Juliet.

[Ex. Bawd and Clown.

SCENE VI.

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

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

Bear me to prison, where I am committed.
Prov. I do it not in evil disposition,
But from lord Angelo by special charge.

Claud. Thus can the Demi-god, Authority,
Make us pay down, for our offence, by weight
The words of heaven; on whom it will, it will;
On whom it will not, so; yet still 'tis just.

Lucio. Why how now Claudio? whence comes this

reftraint?

Claud. From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty3

As furfeit is the father of much faft,
So every scope by the immod'rate use
Turns to restraint: our natures do purfue,
Like rats that ravin down their proper bane,
A thirsty evil, and when we drink, we die.

Lucio. If I could speak so wisely 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,