Duke. Had you a special warrant for the deed? 460 Prov. No, my good lord; it was by private message. Duke. For which I do discharge you of your office: Give up your keys. Prov. 464 Duke. Prov. What's he? His name is Barnardine. 468 Duke. I would thou hadst done so by Claudio. Go, fetch him hither: let me look upon him. [Exit Provost.] Escal. I am sorry, one so learned and so wise Ang. I am sorry that such sorrow I procure; 472 476 Enter Barnardine and Provost, Claudio [muffled], Julietta. Duke. Which is that Barnardine? Prov. This, my lord. 480 Duke. There was a friar told me of this man. Sirrah, thou art said to have a stubborn soul, That apprehends no further than this world, And squar'st thy life according. Thou'rt condemn'd: But, for those earthly faults, I quit them all, 465 advice: consideration 484 484 quit: forgive And pray thee take this mercy to provide I leave him to your hand.-What muffled fellow's that? Prov. This is another prisoner that I sav'd, That should have died when Claudio lost his head, As like almost to Claudio as himself. 488 [Unmuffles Claudio.] Duke. [To Isabella.] If he be like your brother, for his sake Is he pardon'd, and, for your lovely sake Give me your hand and say you will be mine He is my brother too. But fitter time for that. By this Lord Angelo perceives he's safe: Methinks I see a quickening in his eye. Well, Angelo, your evil quits you well: 492 496 Look that you love your wife; her worth worth yours. I find an apt remission in myself, And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon. 500 [To Lucio.] You, sirrah, that knew me for a fool, a coward, One all of luxury, an ass, a madman: Wherein have I so deserv'd of you, That you extol me thus? Lucio. 'Faith, my lord, I spoke it but according to the trick. If you will hang me for it, you may; but I had rather it would please you I might be whipped. Duke. Whipp'd first, sir, and hang'd after. Proclaim it, provost, round about the city, If any woman's wrong'd by this lewd fellow 493 Give: if you give 500 in place: present 504 508 As I have heard him swear himself there's one 512 Lucio. I beseech your highness, do not marry 516 me to a whore. Your highness said even now, I made you a duke: good my lord, do not recompense me in making me a cuckold. Duke. Upon mine honour, thou shalt marry her. 520 Thy slanders I forgive; and therewithal Remit thy other forfeits. Take him to prison, Lucio. Marrying a punk, my lord, is pressing 524 to death, whipping, and hanging. Duke. Slandering a prince deserves it. She, Claudio, that you wrong'd, look you restore. I have confess'd her and I know her virtue. 528 532 Thanks, good friend Escalus, for thy much goodness: What's mine is yours, and what is yours is mine. What's yet behind, that's meet you all should know. 524, 525 pressing to death; cf. n. FINIS 536 540 [Exeunt.] 531 gratulate: gratifying NOTES Dramatis Personæ. Save for the additions in brackets, supplied by former editors, this list reproduces that which follows the text of the play in the First Folio. "The Scene Vienna" there precedes "The names of all the Actors," this play and The Tempest being the only ones for which such an indication is provided. Since the name Vincentio does not appear in the text, whereas the Justice and Varrius appear in the text but not in the list, some editors have suspected that this list 'relates to a form of the play different from that which has come down to us.' Act First. The Folio divides this play into acts and scenes throughout. Modern editions depart from its arrangement by not beginning a new scene at I. ii. 125 and by dividing Act Third into two scenes. I. i. 8, 9. But that, to your sufficiency, as your worth is able, And let them work. No wholly satisfactory explanation of this passage has as yet been offered. The difficulty is probably due to an omission from the printed text rather than to a corruption of it. "That' may possibly refer to the formal commission which the Duke at line 13 hands to Escalus. The meaning then might be that it is only necessary for Escalus to couple this power with his natural qualifications, as he is well able to do, and let them work together. I. i. 30, 31. as to waste Thyself upon thy virtues, they on thee. 'As to justify you in wasting your energy upon the mere cultivation of your virtues or in limiting the effect of your virtues to your own character.' I. i. 41. one that can my part in him advertise. ‘One who can teach me my own business, now vested in him' (Hart). I. i. 42. Hold. Either 'Hold fast to those excellences which seem to be yours' or a word accompanying the proffer of the formal commission. Possibly the text has been cut here. I. i. 44, 45. Mortality and mercy in Vienna Live in thy tongue and heart. Your tongue is to utter sentence of life or death, your heart to be the only source from which mercy can flow.' I. i. 53, 54. Our haste from hence is of so quick condition That it prefers itself. The cause for our departure is of a nature which demands such extreme haste that the most important business must be regarded as of less consequence.' I. i. 68-72. Commentators have found in this passage a reference to King James's dislike of crowds. This opinion is founded, however, only upon the fact that this speech, which arises directly from the dramatic situation, is one which might explain certain of King James's actions. I. ii. 5. King of Hungary's. A definite political reference may be implied. Mr. Dover Wilson calls attention to a disgraceful peace signed by the King of Hungary on November 11, 1606, and sees in this passage evidence that Shakespeare revised the play after that date. The context, however, renders it unnecessary to assume that Shakespeare had specific continental events in mind. Malone believed the reference to be to King James's desire for peace at all costs. I. ii. 16, 17. petition .. that prays for peace. A common Elizabethan form of grace before meat concluded, 'God save our Queen and Realm, and send us peace in Christ.' I. ii. 24. This speech would seem to come more properly from the Second Gentleman, but the dis |