Froth. All-holland eve.

Clown. Why very well; I hope here be truths. He, Sir, fitting, as I fay, in a lower chair, Sir; 'twas in the bunch of grapes, where indeed you have a delight 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 last out a night in Russia,

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. [Exit.

SCENE III.

Efcal. I think no lefs. Good-morrow to your lordThip. Now Sir, come on: what was done to Elbow's wife, once more?

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

once.

Elb. I befeech 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 purpofe; doth your honour mark his face? Efcal. Ay Sir, very well.

Clown. Nay I befeech 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, and it like you, the houfe is a respected

house;

houfé; next, this is a refpected fellow; and his mifrefs 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 he was ever refpected with man, woman, or child.

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

Efcal. Which is the wifer here? Juftice, 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.

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 it: 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 difcover if thou couldft, let him continue in his courfes, 'till thou know'ft what they are.

Elb. Marry, I thank your worship for it; 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? [To Froth. Froth. Here in Vienna, Sir.

Efcal. Are you of fourfcore pounds a year?

Froth. Yes, and't please you, Sir.

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

[To the Clown.

Clown. A tapfter, a poor widow's tapster.

Efcal. Your miftrefs's name?

Clown. Miftrefs Over-don.

Efcal. Hath fhe had any more than one husband?

R 3

Clown.

Clown. Nine, Sir: Over-don by the last.

Efcal. Nine Come hither to me, mafter Froth: mafter 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 IV.

[Exit Froth.

Come you hither to me, mafter tapster, what's your name, mafter tapfter?

Clown. Pompey.
Efcal. What else?
Clown. Bum, Sir.

Efcal. Troth, and your bum is the greatest thing a bout you, fo that in the beastlieft fenfe, you are Pompey the great. Pompey, you are partly a bawd, Pom pey; howfoever you coulour 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 bawd? what do you think of the trade, Pompey ? is it a lawful trade?

Clown. If the law will allow it, Sir.

Ffcal. But the law will not allow it, Pompey, and 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 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.

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 fairest house in it after three pence a day if you live to fee this come to pafs, lay 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 Cafar to you: in plain dealing Pompey, I fhall have you whipt: fo for this time, Pompey, fare you well.

Clown. I thank your worship for your good counfel; but I fhall follow it, as the flefh 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.

Efcal. Come hither to me, master Elbow; come hither, mafter conftable; how long have you been in this place of constable?

Elb. Seven year and a half, Sir.

Efcal. I thought, by your readiness in the office, you had continued in it fome time: you say seven years together?

Elb. And a half, Sir.

Efcal. 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 ferve 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 houfe, Sir?

R 4

Efcal.

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

Juft. Eleven, Sir.

[Exit Elbow.

Efcal. I pray you go 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 it felf, that oft looks fo;
Pardon is ftill the nurfe of fecond woe :
But yet poor Claudio! there's no remedy.
Come, Sir.

SCENE VI.

Enter Provost and a Servant.

[Exeunt.

Serv. He's hearing of a caufe, he will come straight: I'll tell him of you.

Prov. Pray you do, I'll know

His pleafure; may be he'll relent; alas!

He hath but as offended in a dream:

All fects, all ages fmack of this vice; and he

To die for it!

Enter Angelo,

Ang. Now, what's the matter, Provoft?

Prov. It is your will Claudio fhould die to-morrow? Ang. Did not I tell thee yea? hadft thou not order? Why doft thou ask again?

Prov. Left I might be too rafh.

Under your good correction, I have seen
When after execution judgment hath

Repented o'er his doom.

Ang. Go to; let that be mine;

Do you your office, or give up your place,

And you fhall well be fpar'd.

Prov. I crave your pardon.

What