Prov. Here in the prison, father, A man of Claudio's years; his beard, and head, Duke. O, 'tis an accident that heaven provides! Prov. This shall be done, good father, presently. To save me from the danger that might come, Duke. Let this be done.-Put them in secret holds, Both Barnardine and Claudio: Ere twice the sun hath made his journal greeting To yonder generation, you shall find Your safety manifested. Prov. I am your free dependant. Duke. Quick, despatch, and send the head to [Exit Provost. Angelo. Now will I write letters to Angelo, A league below the city; and from thence, Show your wisdom, daughter, in your close patience. Isab. O, I will to him, and pluck out his eyes! Duke. You shall not be admitted to his sight. Isab. Unhappy Claudio! Wretched Isabel! Injurious world! Most damned Angelo! Duke. This nor hurts him, nor profits you a jot: Forbear it therefore; give your cause to heaven. Mark what I say, which you shall find By every syllable a faithful verity. The duke comes home to-morrow;-nay, dry your I am directed by you. Duke. This letter, then, to friar Peter give; At Mariana's house to-night. Her cause, and yours And shall be absent. Wend you with this letter. Lucio. O, pretty Isabella, I am pale at mine heart, to see thine eyes so red: thou must be patient. I am fain to dine and sup with water and bran; I dare not for my head fill my belly: one fruitful meal would set me to't. But, they say, the duke will be here to-morrow. By my troth, Isabel, I loved thy brother: if the old fantastical duke of dark corners had been at home, he had lived. [Exit ISABELLA. Duke. Sir, the duke is marvellous little beholding to your reports; but the best is, he lives not in them. Lucio. Friar, thou knowest not the duke so well as I do: he's a better woodman than thou takest him for. Duke. Well, you'll answer this one day. Fare ye well. Lucio. Nay, tarry; I'll go along with thee. 1 can tell thee pretty tales of the duke. Duke. You have told me too many of him already, sir, if they be true; if not true, none were enough. Lucio. I was once before him for getting a wench with child. Duke. Did you such a thing? Lucio. Yes, marry, did I; but I was fain to forswear it: they would else have married me to the rotten medlar. Duke. Sir, your company is fairer than honest. Rest you well. Lucio. By my troth, I'll go with thee to the lane's end. If bawdy talk offend you, we'll have very little of it. Nay, friar, I am a kind of burr; I shall stick. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-A Room in ANGELO's House. Enter ANGELO, and ESCALUS. Escal. Every letter he hath writ hath disvouch'd other. Ang. In most uneven and distracted manner. His actions show much like to madness: pray heahis wisdom be not tainted! And why meet him at the gates, and re-deliver our authorities there? Escal. I guess not. ven, Ang. And why should we proclaim it in an hour before his ent'ring, that if any crave redress of injustice, they should exhibit their petitions in the street? Escal. He shows his reason for that: to have a despatch of complaints, and to deliver us from devices hereafter, which shall then have no power to stand against us. Ang. Well, I beseech you, let it be proclaim'd: Betimes i' the morn, I'll call you at your house. Give notice to such men of sort and suit, As are to meet him. Escal. I shall, sir: fare you well. Ang. Good night.— [Erit. This deed unshapes me quite, makes me unpregnant, For my authority bears of a credent bulk Save that his riotous youth, with dangerous sense. With ransom of such shame. Would yet he had liv'd! Alack! when once our grace we have forgot, Nothing goes right: we would, and we would not. [Exit. SCENE VI.-Street near the City Gale. Enter ISABELLA, and MARIANA. Isab. To speak so indirectly, I am loath: Mari. I should not think it strange; for 'tis a physic, Mari. I would, friar Peter- O, peace! the friar is come. F. Peter. Come; I have found you out a stand most fit, [Exeunt. [Exeunt. SCENE I. A public Place near the City Gate. MARIANA, (veil'd,) ISABELLA, and PETER, at a distance. Enter at several doors, DUKE, VARRIUS, Lords: ANGELO, ESCALUS, LUCIO, Provost, Officers, and Citizens. Duke. My very worthy cousin, fairly met:Our old and faithful friend, we are glad to see you. Ang. and Escal. Happy return be to your royal grace! Duke. Many and hearty thankings to you both. Ang. To lock it in the wards of covert bosom, Friar PETER, and ISABELLA come forward. F. Peter. Now is your time. Speak loud, and kneel before him. Isab. Justice, O royal duke! Vail your regard Here is lord Angelo shall give you justice: Or wring redress from you. Hear me, O, hear me, here! Ang. My lord, her wits, I fear me, are not firm: Isab. strange. Isab. Most strange, but yet most truly, will I speak. That Angelo's forsworn, is it not strange? Nay, it is ten times strange. Duke. Away with her.-Poor soul! That which but seems unlike. 'Tis not impossible, In all his dressings, characts, titles, forms, No, my good lord; Duke. You were not bid to speak. Nor wish'd to hold my peace. Lucio. I warrant your honour. Duke. The warrant's for yourself: take heed to it. Isab. This gentleman told somewhat of my tale. Lucio. Right. Duke. It may be right; but you are in the wrong To speak before your time.-Proceed. Isab. I went To this pernicious, caitiff deputy. The phrase is to the matter. Pardon it: Duke. Mended again: the matter?-Proceed. Isab. In brief,-to set the needless process by, How I persuaded, how I pray'd, and kneel'd, How he refell'd me, and how I repli'd, (For this was of much length,) the vile conclusion And I did yield to him. But the next morn betimes, His purpose surfeiting, he sends a warrant Duke. Or else thou art suborn'd against his honour, on: Confess the truth, and say by whose advice Thou cam'st here to complain. Isab. On him so near us? This needs must be a practice. Who knew of your intent, and coming hither? Isab. One that I would were here, friar Lodowick. Duke. A ghostly father, belike.—Who knows that Lodowick ? Lucio. My lord, I know him: 'tis a meddling friar; I do not like the man: had he been lay, my lord, And to set on this wretched woman here I saw them at the prison. A saucy friar, F. Peter. Blessed be your royal grace! I have stood by, my lord, and I have heard And, on my trust, a man that never yet Lucio. My lord, most villainously: believe it. But at this instant he is sick, my lord, Of a strange fever. Upon his mere request, So vulgarly and personally accus'd, Her shall you hear disproved to her eyes, Good friar, let's hear it. Do you not smile at this, lord Angelo ?— Duke. Mari. No, my lord. What, are you married? Duke. Are you a maid? Duke. A widow then? Mari. No, my lord Neither, my lord. Duke. Why, you Then, O! you blessed ministers above, In countenance!-Heaven shield your grace from woe, As I, thus wrong'd, hence unbelieved go! Duke. I know, you'd fain be gone.-An officer ! To prison with her.-Shall we thus permit A blasting and a scandalous breath to fall Are nothing then neither maid, widow, nor wife! cause To prattle for himself. |