Lucio. Some report, a Sea-maid spawn'd him. Some, that he was begot between two Stock-fishes. But it is certain, that when he makes Water, his Urine is congeal'd Ice; that I know to be true; and he is a Motion generative; that's infallible.

Duke. You are pleasant, Sir, and speak apace.

Lucio. Why, what a ruthless thing is this in him, for the Rebellion of a Cod-piece, to take away the Life of a Man? Would the Duke that is abfent have done this? E'er he would have hang'd a Man for the getting a hundred Baftards, he would have paid for the nurfing a thousand. He had fome feeling of the Sport, he knew the Service, and that inftructed him to Mercy.

Duke. I never heard the abfent Duke much detected for Women; he was not inclin'd that way.

Lucio. Oh, Sir, you are deceiv'd.

Duke. 'Tis not poffible.

Lucio. Who, not the Duke? Yes, your Beggar of fifty; and his ufe was, to put a Ducket in her Clack-dish; the Duke had Crotchets in him. He would be drunk too, that let me

inform you.

Duke. You do him wrong furely.

Lucio. Sir, I was an Inward of his; a fhy Fellow was the Duke; and I believe I know the Caufe of his withdrawing. Duke. What, prithee, might be the Cause?

Lucio. No; Pardon: 'Tis a Secret must be lockt within the Teeth and the Lips; but this I can let you underftand, the greater File of the Subje& held the Duke to be

wife.

Duke. Wife? Why no queftion but he was.

Lucio. A very fuperficial, ignorant, unweighing Fellow. Duke. Either this is Envy in you, Folly, or Miftaking: The very ftream of his Life, and the Bufinefs he hath helmed, muft upon a warranted need give him a better Proclamation. Let him be but teftimonied in his own bringings forth, and he shall appear to the envious, a Scholar, a Statef man, and a Soldier; therefore you fpeak unskilfully; or if your Knowledge be more, it is much darken'd in your Malice.

Lucio. Sir, I know him, and I love him.

Duke. Love talks with better Knowledge, and Knowledge with dear Love.

Lucio,

Lucio. Come, Sir, I know I what I know.

Duke. I can hardly believe that, fince you know not what you speak. But if ever the Duke return, as our Prayers are he may, let me defire you to make your Answer before him: If it be honeft you have fpoke, you have Courage to maintain it; I am bound to call upon you, and I pray you your Name?

Lucio. Sir, my Name is Lucio, well known to the Duke. Duke. He fhall know you better, Sir, if I may live to report you.

Lucio. I fear you not.

Duke. O, you hope the Duke will return no more; or you imagine me too unhurtful an Oppofite; but indeed I can do you little harm: You'll forfwear this again?

Lucio. I'll be hang'd firft: Thou art deceiv'd in me, Friar. But no more of this. Canft thou tell if Claudio die to Morrow, or no?

Duke. Why fhould he die, Sir?

Lucio. Why? For filling a Bottle with a Tun-dish: I would the Duke we talk of were return'd again; this ungenitur'd Agent will unpeople the Province with Continency. Sparrows muft not build in his Houfe-eves, because they are leacherous. The Duke yet would have dark Deeds darkly anfwered; he would never bring them to light; would he were return'd. Marry, this Claudio is condemned for untruffing. Farewel, good Friar, I prithee pray for me: The Duke, I fay to thee again, would eat Mutton on Fridays. He's now paft it; yet, and I fay to thee, he would Mouth with a Beggar, tho' fhe fmelt of brown Bread and Garlick: Say, that I faid fo: Farewel. [Exit. Duke. No Might nor Greatness in Mortality Can Cenfure scape: Back-wounding Calumny The whiteft Virtue ftrikes. What King fo ftrong Can tie the Gall up in the flanderous Tongue? But who comes here?

Enter Efcalus, Provoft and Bawd.

Efcal. Go, away with her to Prison.

Bawd. Good my Lord, be good to me; your Honour is accounted a merciful Man: Good my Lord.

Efcal. Double and trebble Admonition, and ftill forfeit in the fame kind? This would make Mercy fwear, and play the Tyrant.

t

Prov.

Prov. A Bawd of eleven Years continuance, may it please your Honour.

Bawd. My Lord, this is one Lucio's Information against me: Mistress 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 my felf; and fee how he goes about to abuse me.

Efcal. That Fellow is a Fellow of much Licence; let him be call'd before us. Away with her to Prison: Go to; no more Words. [Exeunt with the Bawd. Provost, my Brother Angelo will not be alter'd; Claudio muft die to Morrow: Let him be furnish'd with Divines, and have all charitable Preparation. If my Brother wrought by my pity, it should not be fo with him.

Pro. So pleafe you, this Friar hath 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 Sea,
In fpecial Bufinefs from his Holiness.

Efcal. What News abroad ith' World?

Duke. None, but that there is fo great a Fever on Goodnefs, that the Diffolution of it must cure it. Novelty is only in Requeft; and it is as dangerous to be aged in any kind of Course, as it is virtuous to be conftant in any Undertaking. There is scarce Truth enough alive to make Societies fecure; but Security enough to make Fellowships accurft. Much upon this Riddle runs the Wisdom of the World; this News is old enough, yet it is every Day's News. I pray you, Sir, of what Difpofition was the Duke? Efcal. One, that above all other Strifes,

Contended especially to know himself.

Duke. What Pleasure was he given to?

Efcal. Rather rejoicing to fee another merry, than merry at any thing which profeft to make him rejoice. A Gentleman of all Temperance. But leave him to his Events, with a Prayer they may prove profperous; and let me de

fire 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 moft willingly humbles himself to the determination of Juftice: yet had he fram'd to himself, by the inftruction of his Frailty, many deceiving Promises of Life, which I, by my good leifure, have difcredited to him, and now is he refolv'd to die.

Efcal. You have paid the Heav'ns your Function, and the Prisoner the very Debt of your Calling. I have labour'd for the poor Gentleman, to the extremeft shore of my Modefty, but my Brother-Juftice have I found fo fevere, that he hath fore'd me to tell him, he is indeed Juftice.

Duke. If his own Life

Anfwer the ftraitnefs of his Proceeding,

It fhall become him well; wherein if he chance to fail, he hath fentenc'd himself.

Efcal. I am going to vifit the Prisoner: Fare you well. [Ex.
Duke. Peace be with you.

He who the Sword of Heav'n will bear,

Should be as Holy as Severe :
Pattern in himself to know,
Grace to ftand, and Virtue go:
More nor less to others paying,
Than by Self-offences weighing.
Shame to him whofe cruel ftriking,
Kills for Faults of his own liking:
Twice trebble 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 Likeness made in Crimes,
Making practife on the times,
To draw with idle Spider's Strings
Moft ponderous and fubftantial things?
Craft against Vice I muft apply.
With Angelo to Night shall lye
His old betroathed, but defpis'd;
So Difguife fhall by th' disguis'd
Pay with Falihood falle exacting,
And perform an old contracting.

[Exit.

ACT IV.

SCENE I.

Enter Mariana, and Boy finging.

Song. That So Sweetly were for sworn,
AKE, Oh take thofe Lips away,

And thofe Eyes, the break of Day,
Lights that do miss-lead the Morn;
But my Kiffes bring again,

Seals of Love, but feal'd in vain.

Enter Duke.

Mari. Break off thy Song, 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 wish
You had not found me here fo mufical:
Let me excufe me, and believe me so,

My Mirth it much difpleas'd, but pleas'd my Woe.
Duke. 'Tis good; tho' Mufick oft hath fuch a Charm

To make bad, good, and good provoke to harm.

I

pray you tell me, hath any Body enquir'd for me here to Day? Much upon this time have I promis'd here to

meet.

Mari. You have not been enquir'd after: I have fate here all Day.

Enter Ifabel.

Duke. I do conftantly believe you: The time is come, even now. I fall crave your forbearance a little; may be I will call upon you anon, for fome Advantage to your self. Mari. I am always bound to you. [Exit.

Duke. Very well met, and well come:
What is the News from this good Deputy?

Ifab. He hath a Garden circummur'd with Brick,
Whose Western fide is with a Vineyard backt;
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 have I made my Promife, upon the
Heavy middle of the Night, to call upon him.
VOL. I.

R

Duke