Duke. He shall know you better, Sir, if I may live to report you.

Lucio. I fear you not.

Duke O, you hope the Duke will return no more; or you imagine me too unhurtful an opposite; but indeed I can do you little harm: you'll forswear this again?

Lucio. I'll be hang'd first: thou art deceiv'd in me, Friar. But no more of this. Canst thou tell if Claudio die to-morrow, or no?

Duke. Why should he die, Sir?

Lucio. Why? for filling a bottle with a tun-dish : I would the Duke we talk of were return'd again; this ungenitur'd agent will unpeople the province with continency. Sparrows must not build in his house-eves, because they are leacherous. The Duke yet would have dark deeds darkly answered; he would never bring them to light; would he were return'd! Marry, this Claudio is condemned for untrussing. Farewel, good Friar, I pr'ythee pray for me: the Duke, I say to thee again, would eat mutton on Fridays. He's now past it; yet, and I say to thee, he would mouth with a beggar, tho' she smelt of brown bread and garlick: say that I fay so, farewel. [Exit.

Duke. No might nor greatness in mortality Can cenfure 'scape: back-wounding calumny The whiteft virtue strikes. What King so strong Can tie the gall up in the fland'rous tongue ? But who comes here?

SCENE VII.

Enter Efcalus, Provost, and Bawd..

Escalus. Go, away with her to prifon. Bawd. Good my lord, be good to me; your he nour is accounted a merciful man: good my lord. Efcal. Double and treble admonition, and still forfeit in the fame kind? this would make mercy swear, and play the tyranz

Prov. A bawd of eleven years continuance, may it please your honour.

Bawd. My lord, this is one Lucio's information against me: mistress Kate Keep-down was with child by him in the Duke's time; he promis'd her marriage; his child is a year and a quarter old, come Philip and Jacob: I have kept it my self; and fee how he goes about to abuse me.

Escal. That fellow is a fellow of much licence; let him be call'd before us. Away with her to prifon: go to; no more words. [Exeunt with the Bawd.] Provost, my brother Angelo will not be alter'd; Claudio must die to-morrow: let him be furnish'd with di vines, and have all charitable preparation. If my brother wrought by my pity, it should not be fo with him.

Pro. So please you this Friar hath been with him, and advis'd him for the entertainment of death. Efcal. Good even, good father. Duke. Bliss and goodness on you.. Efcal. Of whence are you?

Duke. Not of this country, tho' my chance is now

To use it for my time: I am a brother
Of gracious order, late come from the fea,
In special business from his Holiness,

Efcal. What news abroad i'th' world?

Duke. None, but that there is so great a fever on goodness, that the dissolution of it must cure it. Novelty is only in request; and it is as dangerous to be aged in any kind of course, as it is virtuous to be constant in any undertaking. There is scarce truth enough alive to make societies secure; but security enough to make fellowships accurft. Much upon this riddle runs the wisdom of the world; this news is old enough, yet it is every day's news. I pray you, Sir, of what difpofition was the Duke?

Efcal. One that above all other strifes Contended specially to know himself. Duke. What pleasure was he giv'n to? Efcal. Rather rejoicing to fee another merry, than merry at any thing which profest to make him rejoice. A gentleman of all temperance. But leave him to his events, with a prayer they may prove profperous; and let me defire to know how you find Claudio prepar'd? I am made to understand, that you have lent him visitation.

f

Duke. He professes to have received no sinister measure from his judge, but most willingly humbles himself to the determination of justice: yet had he fram'd to himself, by the instruction of his frailty, many deceiving promises of life, which I by my good leifure have difcredited to him, and now is he refolv'd to die.

Efcal. You have paid the heav'ns your function, and the prisoner the very debt of your calling. I have labour'd for the poor gentleman, to the extremest shore of my modesty, but my brother-justice have I found so severe, that he hath forc'd me to tell him, he is indeed Justice.

Duke. If his own life answer the straitness of his proceeding, it shall become him well; wherein if he chance to fail, he hath fentenc'd himself.

Efcal. I am going to visit the prifoner: fare you

well.

[Exit.

SCENE VIII.

Duke. Peace be with you.
He who the sword of heav'n will bear,

Should be as holy as fevere:
Pattern in himself to know,
Grace to stand, and virtue go:
More nor less to others paying,
Tha by felf-offences weighing.
Shame to him, whose cruel striking
Kills for faults of his own liking.
Twice treble shame on Angelo,
To weed my vice, and let his grow!
Oh, what may man within him hide,
Tho' angel on the outward fide?

How may likeness made in crimes,
Making practice on the times,
To draw with idle spiders strings
Most pond'rous and substantial things?
Craft against vice I must apply.
With Angelo to-night shall lye
His old betrothed, but despis'd;
So disguise shall by th' disguis'd
Pay with falfhood false exacting,
And perform an old contracting.

[Exit.

10

ACT IV. SCENE I.

T

Enter Mariana, and boy finging.

SONG.

AKE, oh take those lips away,

That so sweetly were forfworn; • And those eyes, the break of day, • Lights that do mif-lead the morn; • But my kisses bring again,

Seals of love, but seal'd in vain.

Enter Duke.

Mari. Break off thy fong, and haste thee quick away:
Here comes a man of comfort, whose advice
Hath often still'd my brawling difcontent.
I cry you mercy, Sir, and well could wish
You had not found me here so musical:
Let me excuse me, and believe me so,
My mirth it much difpleas'd, but pleas'd my woe.

Duke. 'Tis good; tho' musick oft hath such a charm
To make bad good, and good provoke to harm.
I pray you tell me, hath any body enquir'd for me
here to-day? much upon this time have I promis'd
here to meet,

Mari.

Mari. You have not been enquir'd after: I have fate here all day.

Enter Isabel.

Duke. I do constantly believe you: the time is come, even now. I shall crave your forbearance a little; may be I will call upon you anon for fome advantage to your self.

Mari. I am always bound to you.

[Exit.

Duke. Very well met, and well come : What is the news from this good deputy? Ifab. He hath a garden circummur'd with brick, Whose western fide is with a vineyard backt; And to that vineyard is a planched gate, That makes his opening with this bigger key: This other doth command a little door, Which from the vineyard to the garden leads There on the heavy middle of the night, Have I my promise made to call upon him.

Duke. But shall you on your knowledge find this

way?

Isab. I've ta'en a due and wary note upon't;

With whisp'ring and most guilty diligence,
In action all of precept, he did show me
The way twice o'er.

Duke. Are there no other tokens
Between you 'greed, concerning her observance
Ifab. No; none but only a repair i' th' dark;

And that I have poffeft him, my most stay
Can be but brief; for I have made him know
I have a fervant comes with me along,
That stays upon me, whose perfuafion is
I come about my brother.

Duke. 'Tis well born up.

I have not yet made known to Mariana

A word of this, What hoa! within! come forth!

SCENE