feit in the fame kind? this would make mercy fwerve,

and play the tyrant.

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

Bawd. My Lord, this is one Lucio's information a gainst me. Miftrefs 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 myfelf: and fee how he goes about to abuse me.

Efcal. This 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 mu die to-morrow: let him be furaifh'd with divines, and have all charitable preparation. If my brother wrought by my pity, it fhould not be fo with him. Prov. So please you, this Friar has been with him, and advis'd him for the entertainment of death.

Efcal. Good even, good father.

Duke. Blifs 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 fpecial bufinefs from his holinefs.

Efcal. What news abroad i' th' world?

No

Duke. None, but that there is fo great a fever on goodness, that the diffolution of it muft cure it. velty is only in requeft; and it is as dangerous to be áged in any kind of courfe, as it is virtuous to be con ftant in any undertaking. There is fcarce truth enough alive, to make focieties fecure; but fecurity enough to make fellowships accurs'd. Much upon this riddle runs the wifdom of the world; this news is old enough, yet it is every day's news. I pray you? Sir, of what difpo fition was the Duke?

Efcal. One that, above all other ftrifes, Contended fpecially to know himself. Duke. What pleasure was he giv'n to?

Efcal. Rather rejoicing to fee another merry, than merry at any thing which profefs'd to make him re

joice. A gentleman of all temperance.

But leave we

him to his events, with a prayer they may prove profperous; and let me desire to know, how you find Claudio prepar'd? I am made to understand, that you have lent him vifitation.

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

Efcal. You have paid the heav'ns your function, and the prifoner the very debt of your calling. I have labour'd for the poor gentleman, to the extremeft fhore of my modefty; but my brother Juftice have I found fo fevere, that he hath forc'd me to tell him, he is indeed Juftice.

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

Efcal. I am going to vifit the prifoner; fare you well.

[Exit.

SCENE VIII.

Duke. Peace be with you!

He who the fword of heav'n will bear,

Should be as holy as fevere:

Pattern in himfelf to know,

Grace to ftand, and virtue go;
More nor less to others paying,
Than by felf-offences weighing.
Shame to him, whofe cruel ftriking
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 that likenefs, made in crimes,
Making practice on the times,
Draw with idle fpiders' ftrings

Moft pond'rous and fubftantial things!

VOL. I.

Сс

Craft

Craft againft vice I must apply.
With Angelo to-night shall lie
His old betrothed, but defpis'd;
So difguife fhall by th' disguis'd
Pay with falfehood false exacting,
And perform an old contracting.

ACT IV. SCENE I.
A grange.

Enter Mariana, and boy finging,

[Exit.

Mari. Break off thy fong, and hafte thee quick away: Here comes a man of comfort, whofe advice

Hath often still'd my brawling discontent.
I cry you mercy, Sir, and well could with
You had not found me here so musical:
Let me excufe me, and believe me so,

My mirth is much difpleas'd, but pleas'd my woe.
Duke. 'Tis good; tho' mufic oft hath fuch a charm
To make bad, good; and good provoke to harm.
I pray you, tell me, hath any body inquir'd for me here
to-day? much upon this time have I promis'd here to

meet.

Mari. You have not been inquir'd after. I have fat here all day.

even now.

Enter Ifabel,

Duke. I do conftantly believe you; the time is come, I fhall crave your forbearance a little; may be I will call upon you anon for fome advantage to your felf.

Mari. I am always bound to you.

[Exit. SCENE

SCENE II.

Duke. Very well met, and welcome :
What is the news from this good Deputy?
Ifab. He hath a garden circummur'd with brick,
Whose western fide is with a vineyard back’d;
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 promife made to call upon him.

Duke. But fhall you on your knowledge find this way?
Ifab. I've ta'en a due and wary note upon't;

With whisp'ring and moft guilty diligence,

In action all of precept, he did shew me

The way twice o'er.

Duke. Are there no other tokens

Between you 'greed, concerning her obfervance?
Ifab. No; none, but only a repair i' th' dark:
And that I have poffefs'd him, my most stay
Can be but brief; for I have made him know,
I have a fervant comes with me along,
That ftays upon me; whofe perfuafion is,
I come about my brother.

Duke. 'Tis well borne up.

I have not yet made known to Mariana

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

SCENE III. Enter Mariana.

I pray you, be acquainted with this maid;

She comes to do you good.

Ifab. I do defire the like.

:

Duke. Do you perfuade yourself that I refpe&t you? Mari. Good Friar, I know you do; and I have found it.

Duke. Take then this your companion by the hand, Who hath a story ready for your ear:

I shall attend your leifure; but make hafte;

The vaporous night approaches.

Cc 2

Mari.

Mari. Wilt please you walk afide?

[Exeunt Mar. and Ifab. Duke. O place and greatnefs! millions of falfe eyes

Are fuck upon thee: volumes of report

Run with thefe falfe and moft contrarious quefts
Upon thy doings: thousand 'fcapes of wit
Make thee the father of their idle dreams,
And rack thee in their fancies! Welcome; how agreed?"

SCENE IV. Re-enter Mariana, and Ifabel.

Ifab. She'll take the enterprise upon her, father, If you advise it.

Duke. 'Tis not my confent,

But my intreaty too.

Ifab. Little have you to say,

When you depart from him, but soft and low, "Remember now my brother."

Mari. Fear me not.

Duke. Nor, gentle daughter, fear you not at all: He is your hufband on a pre-contract;

To bring you thus together, 'tis no fin;

Sith that the juftice of your title to him

Doth flourish the deceit. Come, let us go;

Our corn's to reap; for yet our tilth's to fow. [Exeunt.

SCENE V. Changes to the prifon.

Enter Provoft and Clown.

Prov. Come hither, firrah: can you cut off a man's head!

Clown. If the man be a bachelor, Sir, I can; but if he be a marri'd man, he is his wife's head; and I can never cut off a woman's head.

Prov. Come, Sir, leave me your fnatches, and yield me a direct answer. To-morrow morning are to die Claudio and Barnardine; here is in our prifon a comif mon executioner, who, in his office, lacks a helper ; you will take it on you to affift him, it fhall redeem you from your gyves: if not, you fhall have your full time of imprisonment, and your deliverance with an unpitied whipping; for you have been a notorious bawd.