Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

SCENE II.
The Street.

Re-enter Duke as a Friar, Elbow, Clown, and
Officers.

Elb. Nay, if there be no remedy for it, but that you will needs buy and sell men and women like beasts, we shall have all the world drink brown and white bastard'.

5

Duke. Oh, heavens! what stuff is here? Clown. "Twas never merry world, since, of two 10 usuries, the merriest was put down, and the worser allow'd, by order of law, a furr'd gown to keep him warm; and furr'd with fox and lambskins too, to signify, that craft being richer than innocency, stands for the facing.

Elb. Come your way, sir :-Bless you, good father friar.

Duke. And you, good brother father: What offence hath this man made you, sir?

there none of Pigmalion's images, newly made woman, to be had now, for putting the hand in the pocket and extracting it clutch'd? What reply? ha? what say'st thou to this tune, matter, and method? Is 't not drown'd i' the last rain? ha? What say'st thou, trot'? is the world as it was, man? Which is the way? is it sad, and few words? or how? the trick of it?

Duke. Still thus, and thus! still worse! Lucio. How doth my dear morsel, thy mis tress? procures she still? ha?

Clown. Troth, sir, she hath eaten up all her beef, and she is herself in the tub'.

Lucio. Why, 'tis good; it is the right of it; it 15must be so: ever your fresh whore, and your powder'd bawd: an unshunn'd consequence; it must be so: Art going to prison, Pompey? Clown. Yes, faith, sir.

Lucio. Why, 'tis not amiss, Pompey: fare

Elb. Marry, sir, he hath offended the law;20well: go; say, I sent thee thither. For debt,

and, sir, we take him to be a thief too, sir; for
we have found upon him, sir, a strange pick-
lock, which we have sent to the deputy.

Duke. Fie, sirrah; a bawd, a wicked bawd!
The evil that thou causest to be done,
That is thy means to live: Do thou but think
What 'tis to crain a maw, or cloath a back,
From such a filthy vice: say to thyself,-
From their abominable and beastly touches
I drink, I eat, array myself, and live.
Canst thou believe thy living is a life,
So stinkingly depending? Go, mend, go, mend.
Clown. Indeed, it does stink in some sort, sir:
but yet, sir, I would prove-
[for sin,

Pompey or how?

Elb. For being a bawd, for being a bawd.

Lucio. Well, then imprison him; if imprisons ment be the due of a bawd, why, 'tis his right : 25 Bawd is he, doubtless, and of antiquity too; bawdborn. Farewell, good Pompey: Commend me to the prison, Pompey: You will turn good hus band now, Pompey; you will keep the house. Clown. I hope, sir, your good worship will be 30my bail.

Duke. Nay, if the devil hath given thee proofs 35
Thou wilt prove his. Take him to prison, officer;
Correction and instruction must both work,
Ere this rude beast will profit.

Elb. He must before the deputy, sir; he has given him warning: the deputy cannot abide a 40 whore-master: it he be a whore-monger, and comes before him, he were as good go a mile on bis errand.

Duke. That we were all as some would seem to be, Free from all faults, as faults from seeming free! Enter Lucio.

Elb. His neck will come to your waist, a cord, sir.

Clown. I spy comfort; I ery bail: here's a gentleman, and a friend of mine.

Lucio. How now, noble Pompey? what, at the heels of Casar? art thou led in triumph? What, is]

Lucio. No, indeed, will I not, Pompey; it is not the wear. I will pray, Pompey, to encrease your bondage: if you take it not patiently, why, your mettle is the more: Adieu, trusty Pompey. -Bless you, friar.

Duke. And you.

Lucio. Does Bridget paint still, Pompey? ha?
Ell. Come your ways, sir; come,
Clown. You will not bail me then, sir?
Lucio. Then, Pompey? nor now.
news abroad, friar? what news?

Elb. Come your ways, sir, come.
Lucio. Go, to kennel, Pompey,-go.

-What

[Exeunt Elbow, Clown, and Officers. 45What news, friar, of the duke?

1501

Duke. I know none; Can you tell me of any? Lucio. Some say, he is with the emperor of Russia: other some, he is in Rome: But where is he, think you?

Duke. I know not where: but wheresoever, I wish him well.

Lucio. It was a mad fantastical trick of him, to

A kind of sweet wine, then much in vogue. 2 Meaning, his neck will be tied, like your waist, with a rope.-Q. Does not this rather mean the method of conveying criminals to justice, or execu tion, with a cord tied round the neck of the criminal and the middle of the officer? 3 Trot is a familiar address to a man, among the provincial vulgar. Dr. Warburton says, the author here alludes to the lues venerea, and its effects. At that time the cure of it was performed either by guiacum, or mercurial unctions: and in both cases the patient was kept up very warm and close; that in the first application the sweat might be promoted; and lest, in the other, he should take cold, which was fatal. "The regimen for the course of guiacum (says Dr. Freind in his History of Physick, vol. II. p. 380.) was at first strangely circumstantial; and so rigorous, that the patient was put into a dungeon in order to make him sweat; and in that manner, as Fallopins expresses it, the bones, and the very man himself was macerated," Wiseman says, in England they use a tub for this purpose, as abroad, a cave, or oven, or dungeon, A person under cure for a ves nereal complaint, is now grossly said to be in the pickling or powdering tub, That is, it is not

the fashion.

steal

Act 3. Scene 2.]

MEASURE FOR MEASURE.

steal from the state, and usurp the beggary he
was never born to. Lord Angelo dukes it well in
his absence; he puts transgression to 't.
Duke. He does well in 't.

Lucio. A little more lenity to lechery would do no harm in him: something too crabbed that way, friar.

Duke. It is too general a vice, and severity must cure it.

Lucio. Yes, in good sooth, the vice is of a great kindred; it is well ally'd: but it is impossible to extirp it quite, friar, till eating and drinking be put down. They say, this Angelo was not made by man and woman, after the downright way of creation: Is it true, think you?

5

10

Lucio. Sir, I know him, and I love him.
Duke. Love talks with better knowledge, and
knowledge with dearer love.

Lucio. Come, sir, I know what I know.
Duke. I can hardly believe that, since you
know not what you speak. But, if ever the duke
return, (as our prayers are he may) let me desire
you to make your answer before him: If it be
honest you have spoke, 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 shall know you better, sir, if I may 15 live to report you.

Duke. How should he be made then? Lucio.Some report, a sea-maid spawn'd him :some, that he was got between two stock-fishes: -But it is certain, that when he makes water, his urine is congeal dice; that I know to be true:-20 and he is a motion ungenerative'; 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 25
absent, have done this? Ere he would have
hang'da man for the getting a hundred bastards,
he would have paid for the nursing a thousand:
he had some feeling of the sport; he knew the
service, and that instructed him to mercy.

Duke. I never heard the absent duke much de-
tected for women; he was not inclin'd that way.
Lucio. Oh, sir, you are deceiv'd.
Duke. 'Tis not possible.

Lucio. I fear you not.

Duke. Oh, you hope the duke will return no more; or you imagine me too unhurtful an opposite. But, indeed, I can do you little harm: you'll forswear this again.

Lucio. I'll be hang'd first: thou art deceiv'd in me, friar. But no more of this: Canst thou tell, if Claudio die to-morrow, or no?

Duke. Why should 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 inust not build in his house-eaves, because they are lecherous. 30 The duke yet would have dark deeds darkly answered; he would never bring them to light;-Would he were return'd! Marry, this Claudio is condemned for untrussing. Farewell, good friar; I pr'ythee, pray for me. The duke, I say to thee again, would eat mutton on Fridays. He's now past it; yet, and I say to thee, he would mouth with a beggar, though she smelt brown bread and [Exit. garlick: say, that I said so. Farewell.

Lucio. Who? not the duke? yes, your beggar 35 of fifty; and his use was, to put a ducat 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, surely.

Lucio. Sir, I was an inward' of his: A shy 40 fellow was the duke; and, I believe, I know the cause of his withdrawing.

Duke. What, I pr'ythee, might be the cause? -'tis a secret must be Lucio. No-pardon ;lock'd within the teeth and the lips: but this 145 can let you understand,-The greater file of the subject held the duke to be wise.

Duke. Wise? why, no question but he was. Lucio. A very superficial, ignorant, unweighing fellow.

Duke. No might nor greatness in mortality
Can censure 'scape; back-wounding calumny
The whitest virtue strikes: What king so strong,
Can tie the gall up in the slanderous tongue?
But who comes here?

Enter Escalus, Provost, Bawd, and Officers.
Escal. Go, away with her to prison.

Bawd. Good my lord, be good to me; your honour is accounted a merciful man: good my lord.

Escal. Double and treble admonition, and still forfeit in the same kind? this would make mercy 50 swear, and play the tyrant.

Duke. Either this is envy in you, folly, or mistaking; the very stream of his life, and the business he had helmed, must, upon a warranted need, give him a better proclamation. Let him be but testimonied in his own bringings forth, 55 and he shall appear, to the envious, a scholar, a statesman, and a soldier: Therefore, you speak unskilfully; or, if your knowledge be more, it malice. iş much darkened in your

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 myself; and see, how he goes about to abuse me. Escal. That fellow is a fellow of much licence:

The meaning of this passage is, that though Angelo have the organs of generation, yet that he makes no more use of them, than if he were an inanimate puppet. A wooden dish with which beggars, in those times, used to make known their poverty, by clacking its moveable cover to shew That is, steered through. that it was empty. This is at present a custom also with the mummers and plough-bullocks in the The greater number. inland counties. 3 Inward means intimate. Meaning, would have a wench, which was called a laced mutton. See note 2, p. 24.

-let

-let him be called 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 must 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 so with him.

Prov. So please you, this friar has been with him, and advis'd him for the entertainment of death.

Escal. Good even, good father.
Duke. Bliss and goodness on you!
Escal. Of whence are you?

[is now

Duke. Not of this country, though my chance

To use it for my time: I am a brother
Of gracious order, lately come from the see,
In special business from his holiness.

measure from his judge, but most willingly humbles himself to the determination of justice: yet had he fram'd to himself, by the instruction of his frailty, many deceiving promises of life; which 5, by my good leisure, have discredited to him, and now is he resolved to die.

Escal. You have paid the heavens your function, and the prisoner the very debt of your calling. I have laboured for the poor gentleman, to the ex10tremest shore of my modesty; but my brother justice have I found so severe, that he hath forc'd me to tell him, he is indeed-justice.

Duke. If his own life answer the straitness of his proceeding, it shall become him well; wherein 15f he chance to fail, he hath sentenc'd himself. Escal. I am going to visit the prisoner: Fare you well. [Exit.

Escal. What news abroad i' the world? Duke. None, but that there is so great a fever on goodness, that the dissolution of it must cure 20 it: novelty is only in request; and it is as dangerous to be aged in any kind of course, as it is virtuous to be constant in any undertaking. There is scarce truth enough alive, to make societies secure; but security enough to make fellowships accurs'd: 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 disposition was the duke?

25

Escal. One, that, above all other strifes, con-30 tended especially to know himself.

Duke. What pleasure was he given to?

Escal. Rather rejoicing to see another merry, than

merry at any thing which profess'd to make him rejoice: a gentleman of all temperance. But 35 leave we him to his events, with a prayer they may prove prosperous; and let me desire to know, how you find Claudio prepar'd? I am made to understand, that you have lent him visitation. Duke. He professes to have received no sinister 40

Duke. Peace be with you!
He, who the sword of heaven will bear,
Should be as holy as severe;
Pattern in himself to know,
Grace to stand, and virtue
go;
More nor less to others paying,
Than by self-offences weighing.
Shame to him, whose cruel striking
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,
Though angel on the outward side!
How may that likeness, made in crimes,
Making practice on the times,
Draw with idle spiders' strings
Most pond'rous and substantial things!
Craft against vice I must apply:
With Angelo to-night shall lye
His old betrothed, but despis'd;
So disguise shall, by the disguis'd,
Pay with falsehood false exacting,
And perform an old contracting.

[Exit.

SCENE I.
A Grange.

ACT IV.

Enter Mariana and Boy singing.
SONG.

NAKE, oh, take, those lips away,

TAKE

That so sweetly were forsworn; And those eyes, the break of day,

Lights that do mislead the morn: But my kisses bring again,

bring again,

Seals of love, but seal'd in vain,

[blocks in formation]

Here comes a man of comfort, whose advice 50 Hath often still'd my brawling discontent.Enter Duke.

I cry you mercy, sir; and well could wish,
You had not found me here so musical:
55 Let me excuse me, and believe me so,-

My mirth it much displeas'd, but pleas'd my woe. Duke.'Tis good: tho' musick oft hath sucha charm, To make bad, good, and good provoke to harm. I pray you, tell me, hath any body enquired for 60 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 sat here all day.

Enter

Enter Isabel.

[Exit.

Duke. I do constantly' believe you:
The time is come, even now. I shall crave your
forbearance a little; may be, I will call upon you
anon for some advantage to yourself.
Mari. I am always bound to you.
Duke. Very well met, and welcome.
What is the news from this good deputy? [brick,
Isab. He hath a garden circummur'd with
Whose western side 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 have I made my promise to call on him,
Upon the heavy middle of the night. [this way

Duke. But shall you on your knowledge find
Isab. I have ta'en a due and wary note upon't :
With whispering and most 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 observance?

Isab. No, none; but only a repair i' the dark
And that I have possess'd him', my most stay
Can be but brief: for I have made him know,
I have a servant comes with me along,
That stays upon me; whose persuasion is,
I come about my brother.

Duke. 'Tis well borne up.

;

I have not yet made known to Mariana [forth!
A word of this:-What, ho! within! come
Re-enter Mariana.

I pray you, be acquainted with this maid;
She comes to do you good.

Isab. I do desire the like.

[you

Duke. Do you persuade yourself that I respect Mari. Good friar, I know you do; and have [hand,

found it.

[blocks in formation]

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

5 To bring you thus together, 'tis no sin;
Sith that the justice of your title to him
Doth flourish the deceit. Come, let us go;
Our corn's to reap, for yet our tithe's to sow.❜a
[Exeunt.

10

II.

SCENE
Changes to the prison.

Enter Provost and Clown.

Prov. Come hither, sirrah: Can you cut off a 15 man's head?

Clown. If the man be a bachelor, sir, I can: but if he be a marry'd man, he is his wite's head, and I can never cut off a woman's head.

Prov. Come, sir, leave me your snatches, and 20 yield me a direct answer. To-morrow morning are to die Claudio and Barnardine: Here is in our prison a common executioner, who in his office lacks a helper: if you will take it on you to assist him, it shall redeem you from your gyves; if not, you 25 shall have your full time of imprisonment, and your deliverance with an unpity'd whipping, for you have been a notorious bawd.

Clown. Sir, I have been an unlawful bawd, time out of mind; but yet I will be content to be 30a lawful hangman. I would be glad to receive some instruction from my fellow-partner. Prov. What ho, Abhorson! where's Abhorson there?

1351

Duke. Take then this your companion by the 40 Who hath a story ready for your ear;

Enter Abhorson.

Abhor. Do you call, sir?

Prov. Sirrah, here's a fellow will help you tomorrow in your execution: if you think it meet, compound with him by the year, and let him abide here with you; if not, use him for the present, and dismiss him: he cannot plead his estimation with you, he hath been a bawd.

Abhor. A bawd, sir? fie upon him, he will discredit our mistery?.

Prov. Go to, sir; you weigh equally; a fea45]ther will turn the scale.

I shall attend your leisure; but make haste;
The vaporous night approaches.
Mari. Will't please you walk aside?
[Exeunt Mariana and Isabel.
Duke. O place and greatness, millions of fal
Are stuck upon thee! volumes of report
Run with these false and most contrarious quest'
Upon thy doings! thousand 'scapes of wit
Make thee the father of their idle dream, [agreed: 50
And rack thee in their fancies!-Welcome: How
Re-enter Mariana and Isabel.

[eyes

[Exit.

Clown. Pray, sir, by your good favour (for, surely, sir, a good favour you have, but that you have a hanging look) do you call, sir, your occupation a mistery?

Abhor. Ay, sir; a mistery.

Clown. Painting, sir, I have heard say,isamistery; and your whores, sir, being members of my occu

Isab. She'll take the enterprize upon her, father, pation, using painting, do prove my occupation

If you advise it.

Duke. It is not my consent,

But my intreaty too.

Isab. Little have you to say,

When you depart from him, but soft and slow,

[ocr errors][merged small]
[blocks in formation]

3 That is, a gate made of boards or planks, 4 That is, in direction given not by words, but by mute signs. Meaning, I have informed or acquainted. hiin. Traiterous. 7 Diferent reports. That is, ornament. a The various editors seem to be mistaken in this passage; which rather alludes to the accomplishment of the purpose drawing near, altho' the tilth was not yet sown as Shakspeare elsewhere uses the word:

[blocks in formation]

Dr. Warburton here observes, that the word mystery, when used to signify a trade or manual profession, should be spelt with an i, and not a y. Favour siguifies countenance.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

Clown. Sir, I will serve him; for I do find, your hangman is a more penitent trade than your bawd; he doth oftner ask forgiveness.

5

Prov. You, sirrah, provide your block and 10 your axe, to-morrow, four o'clock.

Abhor. Come on, bawd; I will instruct thee in my trade; follow.

Clown. I do desire to learn, sir; and, I hope,
if you have occasion to use me for your own 15
turn, you shall find me yare': for truly, sir, for
your kindness, I owe you a good turn. [Exil.
Prov. Call hither Barnardine and Claudio:
One has my pity; not a jot the other,
Being a murtherer, though he were my brother. 20
Enter Claudio.

Look, here's the warrant, Claudio, for thy death:
Tis now dead midnight, and by eight to-morrow
Thou must be made immortal. Where's Barnar-
dine?

[labour 25

Claud. As fast lock'd up in sleep, as guiltless
When it lies starkly' in the traveller's bones:
He will not wake.

Prov. Who can do good on him?
Well, go, prepare yourself. [Exit Claud.] But, 30
hark, what noise? [Knock within.
Heaven give your spirits comfort!-By and by;-
I hope it is some pardon or reprieve,
For the most gentle Claudio.-Welcome, father.
Enter Duke.

Duke. Thebestand wholsomest spirits of the night
Envelop you,good provost! Who call'd here of late?
Prov. None since the curfew rung.
Duke. Not Isabel?

Prov. No.

Duke. They will then, ere 't be long.

Prov. What comfort is for Claudio?

Duke. There's some in hope.

Duke. Not so, not so: his life is parallel'd

35

40

Duke. As near the dawning, provost, as it is,
You shall hear more ere morning.
Prov. Happily,

You something know; yet, I believe there comes
No countermand; no such example have we:
Besides, upon the very siege' of justice,
Lord Angelo hath to the public ear
Profess'd the contrary.

Enter a Messenger.
Duke. This is his lordship's man.
Prov. And here comes Claudio's pardon.
Mess. My lord hath sent you this note; and
by me this further charge, that you swerve not
from the smallest article of it, neither in time,
matter, or other circumstance. Good-morrow;
for, as I take it, it is almost day.
Prov. I shall obey him. [Exit Messenger.
Duke. This is his pardon; purchas'd by such sin,
[Aside.

For which the pardoner himself is in:
Hence hath offence his quick celerity,
When it is borne in high authority:
When vice makes mercy, mercy's so extended,
That, for the fault's love, is the offender
Now, sir, what news?
[friended.
Prov. I told you;-Lord 'Angelo, be-like,
thinking me remiss in my office, awakens me
with this unwonted putting on: methinks,
strangely for he hath not us'd it before.
Duke. Pray you, let's hear.

Provost reads the letter.
Whatsoever you may hear to the contrary, let
Claudio be executed by four of the clock; and, in
the afternoon, Barnardine: for my better satisfac-
tion, let me have Claudio's head sent me by five. Let
this be duly perform'd; with a thought, that more
depends on it than we must yet deliver. Thus fail not
to do your office,as you willanswer it at your peril.
What say you to this, sir?

Duke. What is that Barnardine, who is to be executed in the afternoon?

Prov. A Bohemian born; but here nurs'd up and bred: one that is a prisoner nine years old. Duke. How came it, that the absent duke had 45 not either deliver'd him to his liberty, or exeEven with the stroke and line of his great justice;ted him? I have heard, it was ever his man

Prov. It is a bitter deputy.

He doth with holy abstinence subdue

[nous:

That in himself, which he spurs on his power
To qualify' in others: were he mealed
With that, which he corrects, then were he tyran-50
But this being so, he's just.-Now are they come.
[Knock. Provost goes out.

This is a gentle provost; seldom, when
The steeled gaoler is the friend of men.-
How now? what noise! that spirit's possess'd with
haste,
[strokes.
That wounds the unresisting postern with these
Provost returns, speaking to one at the door.
Prov. There must he stay, until the officer
Arise to let him in; he is called up.

55

er to do so.

Prov. His friends still wrought reprieves for him: And, indeed, his fact, till now in the government of lord Angelo, came not to an undoubtful proof.

Duke. Is it now apparent?

Prov. Most manifest, and not deny'd by himself.

Duke. Hath he borne himself penitently in prison? how seems he to be touch'd?

Prov. A man that apprehends death no more dreadfully, but as a drunken sleep; careless, reekless, and fearless of what's past, present, or [yet, 60 to come; insensible of mortality, and desperate

Duke. Have you no countermand for Claudioly mortal. But he must die to-morrow?

Prov. None, sir, none.

1 Handy. 2 Stiffly.

Duke. He wants advice.

Prov. He will hear none: he hath evermore

1 That is, to temper, to moderate. • Like to die in a desperate state without repentance.

[blocks in formation]
« ZurückWeiter »