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I come to know your pleasure.

Duke. Angelo,

There is a kind of character in thy life,
That to th' obferver doth thy history
Fully unfold: thy felf and thy belongings
Are not thine own fo proper, as to waste
Thy felf upon thy virtues; they on thee.
Heav'n doth with us, as we with torches do,
Not light them for themfelves: for if our virtues
Did not go forth of us, 'twere all alike

As if we had them not. Spirits are not finely touch'd,
But to fine iffues: nor Nature never lends

The fmalleft fcruple of her excellence,

But, like a thrifty Goddefs, fhe determines

Her felf the glory of a creditor,

Both thanks and ufe. But I do bend my fpeech

To one that can my part in him advertise;

Hold therefore, Angelo:

In our Remove, be thou at full our felf.
Mortality and Mercy in Vienna

Live in thy tongue and heart: old Efcalus,
Though firft in queftion, is thy Secondary.
Take thy Commiffion.

Ang. Now, good my lord,

Let there be fome more teft made of my metal,
Before fo noble and fo great a figure

Be ftampt upon it.

Duke. Come, no more evafion :

We have with a prepar'd and leaven'd choice
Proceeded to you; therefore take your honours,
Our hafte from hence is of fo quick condition,
That it prefers it felf, and leaves unqueftion'd
Matters of needful value. We shall write to you,
As time and our concernings fhall importune,
How it goes with us; and do look to know
What doth befal you here. So, fare you well.
To th' hopeful execution do leave you
Of your Commiffions.

Ang. Yet give me leave, my lord,

That we may bring you something on the way.

Duke

Duke. My hafte may not admit it;
Nor need you, on mine honour, have to do
With any fcruple; your fcope is as mine own,
So to inforce, or qualify the Laws,

As to your foul feems good. Give me your hand;
I'll privily away. I love the people;
But do not like to ftage me to their eyes:
Though it do well, I do not relish well
Their loud applaufe, and Ave's vehement :.
Nor do I think the man of fafe difcretion,
That does affect it. Once more, fare you
Ang. The heav'ns give fafety to your purposes!
Efcal. Lead forth, and bring you back in happiness
Duke. I thank you, fare you well.

well..

[Exit.
Efcal. I fhall defire you, Sir, to give me leave
To have free fpeech with you; and it concerns me
To look into the bottom of my Place:

A pow'r I have, but of what ftrength and nature:
I am not yet instructed.

Ang. 'Tis fo with me: let us withdraw together,
And we may foon our fatisfaction have

Touching that point.

Efcal. I'll wait upon your Honour..

Lucio.

I

SCENE, The Street.

Enter Lucio, and two gentlemen.

[Exeunt

F the Duke, with the other Dukes, come not to. compofition with the King of Hungary, why, then all the Dukes fall upon the King.

1 Gent. Heav'n grant us its peace, but not the King. of Hungary's!

2 Gent. Amen.

Lucio. Thou conclud'ft like the fanctimonious Pirate, that went to fea with the ten Commandments, but scrap'd one out of the Table.

2 Gent. Thou shalt not fteal.

Lucio. Ay, that he raz'd.

1 Gent. Why, 'twas a Commandment to command the captain and all the reft from their functions; they

put

put forth to fteal; there's not a foldier of us all, that, in the thanksgiving before meat, do relish the petition well that prays for Peace.

2 Gent. I never heard any foldier dislike it.

Lucio. I believe thee: for, I think, thou never waft where grace was faid.

2 Gent. No? a dozen times at least.

Gent. What? in meeter?

Lucio. In any proportion, or in any language. 1 Gent. I think, or in any religion.

Lucio. Ay, why not? grace is grace, defpight of all controverfie; as for example, thou thy felf art a wicked villain, defpight of all grace.

us.

1 Gent. Well; there went but a pair of fheers between

Lucio. I grant; as there may between the lifts and the velvet. Thou art the lift.

1 Gent. And thou the velvet; thou art good velvet ; thou'rt a three-pil'd piece, I warrant thee: I had as lief be a lift of an English kerfey, as be pil'd, as thou art pil'd, for a French velvet. Do I fpeak feelingly now?

Lucio. I think, thou doft; and, indeed, with most painful feeling of thy fpeech: I will, out of thine own confeffion, learn to begin thy health; but, whilst I live, forget to drink after thee.

i Gent. I think, I have done my self wrong, have I not? 2 Gent. Yes, that thou haft; whether thou art tainted, or free.

Lucio. Behold, behold, where Madam Mitigation comes. 1 Gent. I have purchas'd as many diseases under her roof, as come to

2 Gent. To what I pray?

1 Gent. Judge:

2 Gent. To three thousand dollars a year..

1 Gent. Ay, and more.

Lucio. A French crown more. (2)

1 Gent.

(2) A French Crown more. Lucio means here not the piece. of mony fo call'd, but that Venereal Scab which among the

Surgeons

1 Gent. Thou art always figuring diseases in me; but thou art full of error; I am found.

Lucio. Nay, not as one would fay healthy; but fo found, as things that are hollow; thy bones are hollow; impiety hath made a feast of thee.

Enter Bawd.

1 Gent. How now, which of your hips has the most profound fciatica ?

Bard. Well, well; there's one yonder arrested, and carry'd to prifon, was worth five thousand of you all. 1 Gent. Who's that, I pr'ythee?

Bawd. Marry, Sir, that's Claudio; Signior Claudio. 1 Gent. Claudio to prifon ? 'tis not fo.

Bard. Nay, but I know, 'tis fo; I saw him arrested; faw him carry'd away; and, which is more, within these three days his head is to be chopt off.

Lucio. But, after all this fooling, I would not have it fo: art thou fure of this?

Bawd. I am too fure of it; and it is for getting madam Julietta with child.

Lucio. Believe me, this may be; he promised to meet me two hours fince, and he was ever precife in promisekeeping.

2 Gent. Befides, you know, it draws fomething near to the speech we had to fuch a purpose.

1 Gent. But molt of all agreeing with the Proclamation. Lucio. Away, let's go learn the truth of it.

Manet Bawd.

[Exe.

Barud. Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat, what with the gallows, and what with poverty, I am cuftom-fhrunk. How now? what's the news with you?

Surgeons is fil'd Corona Veneris. To this, I think, our Author likewife makes Quince allude in Midfummer Night's Dream.

Some of your French Crowns have no hair at all, and then you will play bare faced.

For where thefe Eruptions are, the Skull is carious, and the Party becomes bald.

Enter

Enter Clown.

Clown. Yonder man is carry'd to prifon.
Bawd. Well; what has he done?

Clown. A woman.

Bawd. But what's his offence?

Clown. Groping for trouts in a peculiar river. Bawd. What? is there a maid with child by him? Clown. No; but there's a woman with maid by him. You have not heard of the Proclamation, have you? Bawd. What Proclamation, man?

Clown. All houses in the fuburbs of Vienna muft be pluck'd down.

Bawd. And what fhall become of thofe in the city? Clown. They fhall ftand for feed; they had gone

too, but that a wife burger put in for them.

down

Bawd., But fhall all our houses of refort in the fuburbs be pull'd down?

Clown. To the ground, mistress.

Bawd. Why, here's a change, indeed, in the common wealth; what fhall become of me?

Clown. Come, fear not you; good counsellors lack no clients; though you change your place, you need not change your trade: I'll be your tapfter ftill. Courage, there will be pity taken on you; you that have worn your eyes almoft out in the fervice, you will be confi-" dered.

Bard. What's to do here, Thomas Tapfer? let's with draw.

Clown. Here comes Signior Claudio, led by the Provoft to prison; and there's Madam Juliet.

[Ex. Bawd and Clown. Enter Provost, Claudio, Juliet, and Officers. Lucio and two Gentlemen.

Claud. Fellow, why doft thou fhow me thus to th world?

Bear me to prifon, where I am committed.
Prov. I do it not in evil disposition,
But from lord Angelo by special charge.

Claud

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