i Gent. Ay, and more.
Lucio. A French crown more *.
i Gent. Thou art always figuring diseases in me;

but thou art full of error ;

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

i Gent. How now, which of your hips has the most profound sciatica ?

[To the Bawd. Bawd. Well, well; there's one yonder arrested, and Carry'd to prison, was worth five thousand of you all.

i Gent. Who's that, I pr’ythee?
Bawd. Marty, Sir, that's Claudio, Signior Claudio.
i Gent, Claudio to prison? 'tis not fo.

Bawd. Nay, but I know 'tis fo; 1 saw him arrested ; saw 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 so; art thou sure of this ?

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

Lúcio, Believe me, this may be; he promised to meet me two hours fiace, and he was ever precise in promise-keeping.

2 Gent. Besides, you know it draws something near to the speech we had to such a purpose.

i Gent. But most of all agreeing with the proclamation. Lucio. Away, let's go learn the truth of it. [Exeunr.

Bawd. Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat, what with the gallows, and what with poverty, I am cu. stom-shrunk. How now? what's the news with you ?

SCENE V. Enter Clown. Clown. Yonder man is carry'd to prison. Bawd. Well; what has he done? Clown, A woman. Bawd. But what's his offence ? Clorun. 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 ? • Alluding to the venereal fcab upon the head called Corona Veneris.

Bawd.

a

Bawd. What proclamation, man?

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

Bawd. And what shall become of those in the city ?

Clown. They shall stand for seed; they had gone down too, but that a wise burger put in for them.

Bawd. But shall our houses of resort in the suburbs be pull'd down?

Clown. To the ground, mistress.

Bawd. Why, here's a change indeed in the common. wealth ; what shall 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 tapster fill. Courage, there will be pity taken on you ; you that have worn your eyes almost out in the service, you will be considered.

Bawd. What's to do here, Thomas Tapster ? let's withdraw.

Clown. Here comes Signior Claudio, led by the Provost to prison; and there's Madam Juliet. [Exe. Bawd and Clown. SCENE VI. Enter Provost, Claudio, Juliet, and

Officers. Lucio and two Gentlemen. Claud. Fellow, why dost thou show me thus to th' world? Bear me to prison, where I am committed,

Prov. I do it not in evil disposition, But from lord Angelo by special charge.

Claud. Thus can the Demi-god Authority Make us pay down, for our offence, by weight; I'th' words of heav'n, on whom it will, it will ; On whom it will not, fo ; yet still 'tis just.. Lucio. Why, how now, Claudio? whence comes this re.

straint ? Claud. From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty ; As surfeit is the father of much fast, So every scope by the immod’rate use Turns to restraint: our-natures do pursue (Like rats that ravin down their proper bane,) A thirsty eyil, and when we drink, we die.

Lucio, If I could speak so sely under an arre I 'would send for certain of my creditors ; and yet, to say the truth, I had as lief have the foppery of freedom, as the

morality

morality of imprisonment: what's thy offence, Claudio ?

Claud. What but to speak of would offend again,
Lucio, What is't, murder ?

I
Caud. No.
Lucio. Letchery?
Claud. Call it so.
Prov. Away, Sir, you must go.
Claud. One word, good friend : Lucio, a word with you.

Lucio, A hundred ; if they'll do you any good :
Is letchery fo look'd after ?

Claud. Thus ftands it with me ; upon a true contract
I got possession of Julietta's bed,
You know the lady, she is fast my wife,
Save that we do the denunciation lack
Of outward order. This we came not to,
Only for propagation of a dowre
Remaining in the coffer of her friends,
From whom we thought it meet to hide our love
"Till time had made them for us. But it chances,
The stealth of our mutual entertainment,
With character too gross, is writ in Juliet.

Lucio. With child, perhaps?

Claud. Unhappily, even fo.
And the new Deputy now for the Duke,
(Whether it be the fault and glimpse of newness ;
Or whether that the body publick be.
A horse whereon the governor doth ride,
Who newly in the seat, that it may know
He can command, lets it strait feel the spur ;
Whether the tyranny be in his place,
Or in his eminence that fills it up,
Atagger in : but) this new governor
Awakes me all th' enrolled penalties
Which have like unscour'd armour hung by th' wall
So long, that nineteen zodiacks have gone round,
And none of them been worn; and for a name,
Now puts the drowse and neglected act
Freshly on me; 'tis surely for a name.

Lucio. I warrant, so it is ; and thy head stands
So tickle on thy shoulders, that a milk-maid,

If she be but in love, may high it off.
Send after the Duke, and appeal to him.

Claud. I have done so, but he's not to be found.
I pr’ythee, Lucio, do me this kind service:
This day my sister should the cloister enter,
And there receive her approbation.
Acquaint her with the danger of my state,
Implore her in my voice, that she make friends
To the strict Deputy ; bid her self assay him,
I have great hope in that ; for in her youth
There is a prone and speechless dialect,
Such as moves men : beside, she hath prosp'rous art
When she will play with reason and discourse,
And well she can persuade.
Lucio. I

pray
the

may ;
As well for the encouragement of the like,
Which else would stand on grievous impofition;
As for thy life, which I'd be forry should be
Thus foolishly lost at a game of tick-tack.
I'll to her ftrait.

Claud. I thank you, good friend Lucio.
Lucio. Within two hours.
Claud. Come, officer, away.

(Exeunt. SCENE VII. A Monastery.

Enter Duke and Friar Thomas.
Duke. No; holy father, throw away that thought,
Believe not that the dribbling dart of love
Can pierce a compleat breaft: why I defire thee
To give me secret harbour, hath a purpose
More grave and wrinkled than the aims and ends
Of burning youth.

Fri. May your Grace speak of it?

Duke. My holy Sir, none better knows than you
How I have ever lov’d the life remov'd ;
And held in idle price to haunt assemblies,
Where youth, and cost, and witless bravery keep.
I have deliver'd to lord Angelo
(A man of stricture and firm abstinence)
My absolute pow'r and place here in Vienna,
And he supposes me travell'd to Poland;

For

For so I've strew'd it in the common ear,
And so it is receiv'd: now, pious Sir,
You will demand of me, why I do this?

Friar. Gladly, my lord.

Duke. We have strict statutes and most biting laws,
(The needful bits and curbs for head-strong steeds)
Which for this nineteen years we have let sleep ;
Even like an o'er-grown lion in a cave,
That goes not out to prey : now, as fond fathers
Having bound up the threat'ning twigs of birch,
Only to stick it in their childrens sight,
For terror, not to use ; in time the rod
Becomes more mock'd than fear’d: so our decrees,
Dead to infliction, to themselves are dead,
And liberty plucks justice by the nose ;
The baby beats the nurse, and quite athwart
Goes all decorum.

Fri, It rested in your Grace
T' unloose this ty’d-up justice, when you pleas’d:
And it in you more dreadful would have seem'd.
Than in lord Angelo.

Duke. I fear, too dreadful.
Sith 'twas my faulç to give the people scope,
"Twould be my tyranny to strike and gall them
For what I bid them do. For we bid this
When evil deeds have their permissive pass,
And not the punishment. Therefore, my father,
I have on Angelo impos’d the office :
Who may in th' ambush of my name strike home,
And yet, my nature never in the fight
To do it lander : To behold his sway,
I will, as 't were a brother of your order,
Vift both Prince and people ; therefore pr'ythec
Supply me with the habit, and instruct me
How I may formally my person bear
Like a true Friar. More reasons for this action
At your more leisure shall I render you';
Only this one: lord Argelo is precise,
Stands at a guard with envy, scarce confesses
VOL. II.

B

That

a