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.

180

Duke. Sir, your company is fairer than honest. 185 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. 190

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 Heaven his wisdom be not tainted! And why meet him at the gates, and redeliver our authorities there?

Escal. I guess not.

5

Ang. And why should we proclaim it in an hour before his entering, that if any crave redress of 10

injustice, they should exhibit their petitions in
the street?

Escal. He shows his reason for that: to have a dis

patch of complaints, and to deliver us from de-
vices hereafter, which shall then have no power
to stand against us.

Ang. Well, I beseech you, let it be proclaim'd be-
times 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.

15

20

Exit Escalus.

This deed unshapes me quite, makes me unpreg

nant

And dull to all proceedings. A deflow'red maid!
And by an eminent body that enforc'd

25

The law against it! But that her tender shame
Will not proclaim against her maiden loss,
How might she tongue me! Yet reason dares her no;
For my authority bears a credent bulk,

That no particular scandal once can touch

30

But it confounds the breather. He should have
liv'd,

Save that his riotous youth, with dangerous sense,
Might in the times to come have ta'en revenge,
By so receiving a dishonour'd life

With ransom of such shame. Would yet he had
lived!

35

Alack, when once our grace we have forgot,
Nothing goes right; we would, and we would not.

Exit.

SCENE V

[Fields without the town.]

Enter Duke [in his own habit,] and Friar Peter.

Duke. These letters at fit time deliver me.

[Giving letters.]
The Provost knows our purpose and our plot.
The matter being afoot, keep your instruction,
And hold you ever to our special drift,

Though sometimes you do blench from this to
that,

As cause doth minister.

And tell him where I stay.

5

Go call at Flavius' house,

Give the like notice

To Valentinus, Rowland, and to Crassus,

And bid them bring the trumpets to the gate.
But send me Flavius first.

Fri. P.

It shall be speeded well. 10

[Exit.]

Enter Varrius.

Duke. I thank thee, Varrius; thou hast made good

haste:

Come, we will walk. There's other of our friends
Will greet us here anon, my gentle Varrius. Exeunt.

SCENE VI

[Street near the city gate.]

Enter Isabella and Mariana.

Isab. To speak so indirectly I am loath.

Mari.

I would say the truth; but to accuse him so,
That is your part. Yet I am advis'd to do it;
He says, to veil full purpose.

Be rul'd by him.

Isab. Besides, he tells me that, if peradventure
He speak against me on the adverse side,

I should not think it strange; for 'tis a physic
That's bitter to sweet end.

Enter Friar Peter.

Mari. I would Friar Peter

Isab.
Fri. P.

O, peace! the friar is come.

Come, I have found you out a stand most fit,

10

Where you may have such vantage on the Duke,
He shall not pass you. Twice have the trum-

pets sounded,

The generous and gravest citizens

Have hent the gates, and very near upon

The Duke is entering; therefore, hence, away!

14

Exeunt.

ACT FIFTH

SCENE I

[The city gate.]

Enter Duke, Varrius, Lords, Angelo, Escalus, Lucio, [Provost, Officers, and] Citizens, at several doors.

Duke. My very worthy cousin, fairly met!

Our old and faithful friend, we are glad to see

you.

Ang.
Escal.
Duke. Many and hearty thankings to you both.
We have made inquiry of you, and we hear
Such goodness of your justice, that our soul
Cannot but yield you forth to public thanks,
Forerunning more requital.

Happy return be to your royal Grace!

Ang.

5

You make my bonds still greater. Duke. O, your desert speaks loud; and I should

wrong it,

10

To lock it in the wards of covert bosom,
When it deserves, with characters of brass,
A forted residence 'gainst the tooth of time
And razure of oblivion. Give me your hand,
And let the subject see, to make them know
That outward courtesies would fain proclaim 15