Duke.
This is most likely.
Isab. O, that it were as like, as it is true!
Duke. By heaven, fond 6 wretch, thou know'st not
what thou speak'st;

Or else thou art suborn'd against his honour,
In hateful practice: First, his integrity
Stands without blemish: -next, it imports no reason,
That with such vehemency he should pursue
Faults proper to himself: if he had so offended,
He would have weigh'd thy brother by himself,
And not have cut him off: Some one hath set you on:
Confess the truth, and say by whose advice
Thou cam'st here to complain.

Isab.

And is this all?

Then, oh, you blessed ministers above,

Keep me in patience; and, with ripen'd time,

Unfold the evil which is here wrapt up

Why, you

Mari.

Duke.

Lucio. My lord, I know him; 'tis a meddling friar; I do not like the man: had he been lay, my lord, For certain words he spake against your grace In your retirement, I had swing'd him soundly. Duke. Words against me? This' a good friar, belike! And to set on this wretched woman here Against our substitute ! - Let this friar be found. Lucio. But yesternight, my lord, she and that friar I saw them at the prison: a saucy friar, A very scurvy fellow.

F. Peter. Blessed be your royal grace! I have stood by, my lord, and I have heard Your royal ear abus'd: First, hath this woman Most wrongfully accus'd your substitute: Who is as free from touch or guilt with her As she from one unborn.

Duke.

We did believe no less. Know you that friar Lodowick, that she speaks of? F. Peter. I know him for a man divine and holy: Not scurvy, nor a temporary medler, As he's reported by this gentleman; And, on my trust, a man that never yet, Did, as he vouches, misreport your grace.

Lucio. My lord, most villainously! believe it.
F. Peter. Well, he in time may come to clear him-
self;

But at this instant he is sick, my lord,
Of a strange fever: Upon his mere request,
(Being come to knowledge that there was complaint
Intended 'gainst lord Angelo,) came I hither,
To speak, as from his mouth, what he doth know
Is true, and false; and what he with his oath,
And all probation, will make up full clear,
Whensoever he's convented. 7 First, for this woman;
(To justify this worthy nobleman,

8

So vulgarly and personally accus'd,)
Her shall you hear disproved to her eyes,
Till she herself confess it.
Duke.

Good friar, let's hear it. [ISABELLA is carried off, guarded; and MARIANA Comes forward.

I have known my husband; yet my husband knows not, That ever he knew me.

Lucio. He was drunk, then, my lord; it can be no better.

Duke. For the benefit of silence, 'would thou wert

so too!

Lucio. Well, my lord.

Duke. This is no witness for lord Angelo. Mari. Now I come to't, my lord :

She that accuses him of fornication,
In self-same manner doth accuse my husband
And charges him, my lord, with such a time,
When I'll depose I had him in mine arms.
Ang.
Mari. Not that I know.
Duke.
No? you say your husband?
Mari. Why, just, my lord, and that is Angelo.
Ang. This is a strange abuse?: - Let's see thy face.
Mari. My husband bids me; now I will unmask.
[Unveiling.

Charges she more than me?

This is that face, thou cruel Angelo,
Which once thou swor'st was worth the looking on:
This is the hand, which, with a vow'd contract,
Was fast belock'd in thine: and this is she
That took away the match from Isabel,
And did supply thee at thy garden-house,
In her imagin'd person.

Duke.
Know you this woman?
Ang. My lord, I must confess, I know this woman;
And, five years since, there was some speech of mar-
riage

Betwixt myself and her; which was broke off,
Partly, for that her promised proportions
Came short of composition; but in chief,
For that her reputation was disvalued
In levity since which time, of five years,
I never spake with her, saw her, nor heard from her,
Upon my faith and honour.

Mari.

Noble prince,

As there comes light from heaven, and words from breath,

As there is sense in truth, and truth in virtue,
I am affianc'd this man's wife, as strongly
As words could make up vows; and, my good lord,
But Tuesday night last gone, in his garden-house,
He knew me as a wife: As this is true
Let me in safety raise me from my knees,
Or else for ever be confixed here,
A marble monument!

9 Deception

Ang. I did but smile till now: Now, good my lord, give me the scope of justice; My patience here is touch'd: I do perceive, These poor informal 1 women are no more But instruments of some more mightier member, That sets them on: Let me have way, my lord, To find this practice 2 out. Duke. Ay, with my heart; And punish them unto your height of pleasure. Thou foolish friar; and thou pernicious woman, Compact with her that's gone! think'st thou thy oaths, Though they would swear down each particular saint, Were testimonies against his worth and credit, That's seal'd in approbation? You, lord Escalus, Sit with my cousin; lend him your kind pains To find out this abuse, whence 'tis derived. There is another friar that set them on;

Let him be sent for.

indeed,

Hath set the women on to this complaint:

Your provost knows the place where he abides,

And he may fetch him.

Duke. Go do it instantly.

[Exit Provost.

And you, my noble, and well-warranted cousin,
Whom it concerns to hear this matter forth,

Do with your injuries as seems you best,
In any chastisement: I for a while

Will leave you; but stir not you, till you have well
Determined upon these slanderers.

Escal. My lord, we'll do it thoroughly.-[Exit. Duke.] Signior Lucio, did not you say, you knew that friar Lodowick to be a dishonest person?

Lucio. Cucullus non facit monachum: honest in nothing but in his clothes; and one that hath spoke most villainous speeches of the duke.

Escal. We shall entreat you to abide here till he come, and enforce them against him: we shall find this friar a notable fellow.

Lucio. As any in Vienna, on my word.

Escal. Call that same Isabel here once again; [To an Attendant.] I would speak with her: Pray you, my lord, give me leave to question; you shall see how I'll handle her. Re-enter Officers, with ISABELLA; the Duke, in the Friar's habit, and Provost.

Escal. Come on, mistress: [To ISABELLA.] here's a gentlewoman denies all that you have said. Lucio. My lord, here comes the rascal I spoke of; here with the provost.

Escal. In very good time: speak not you to him, till we call upon you.

Lucio. Mum.

As much in mock as mark.

Escal. Slander to the state! Away with him to prison.

Ang. What can you vouch against him, signior Lucio?

Is this the man that you did tell us of?

Lucio. 'Tis he, my lord. Come hither, goodman bald-pate: Do you know me?

Duke. I remember you, sir, by the sound of your voice: I met you at the prison in the absence of the duke.

Lucio. O, did you so? And do you remember what you said of the duke?

Duke. Most notedly, sir.

Lucio. Do you so, sir? And was the duke a fleshmonger, a fool, and a coward, as you then reported him to be?

Duke. You must, sir, change persons with me, ere you make that my report: you, indeed, spoke so of him; and much more, much worse.

Lucio. O thou abominable fellow! Did not I pluck thee by the nose, for thy speeches? Duke. I protest I love the duke as I love myself. Ang. Hark! how the villain would close now, after his treasonable abuses.

Escal. Such a fellow is not to be talked withal: Away with him to prison. Where is the provost ? Away with him to prison; lay bolts enough upon him: let him speak no more. Away with those giglots 3 too, and with the other confederate companion.

[The Provost lays hands on the Duke. Duke. Stay, sir; stay awhile. Ang. What! resists he? Help him, Lucio. Lucio. Come, sir; come, sir; come sir; foh, sir: Why, you bald-pated, lying rascal! you must be hooded, must you? Show your knave's visage! Show your sheep-biting face, and be hang'd an hour! Will't not off? [Pulls off the Friar's hood, and discovers the Duke.

Duke. Thou art the first knave that e'er made a

Duke.

You are pardon'd, Isabel :
And now, dear maid, be you as free to us.
Your brother's death, I know, sits at your heart;
And you may marvel why I obscur'd myself,
Labouring to save his life; and would not rather
Make rash remonstrance of my hidden power,
Than let him be so lost: O, most kind maid,
It was the swift celerity of his death,
Which I did think with slower foot came on,
That brain'd my purpose: But peace be with him!
That life is better life, past fearing death,
Than that which lives to fear: make it your comfort,
So happy is your brother.

Re-enter ANGELO, MARIANA, PETER, and Provost.
Isab.
I do, my lord.
Duke. For this new-married man, approaching
here,

Whose foul imagination yet hath wrong'd
Your well-defended honour, you must pardon
For Mariana's sake: but as he adjudged your brother,
(Being criminal, in double violation

Of sacred chastity, and of promise-breach,
Thereon dependent for your brother's life,)
The very mercy of the law cries out
Most audible, even from his proper tongue,
"An Angelo for Claudio, death for death."
Haste still pays haste, and leisure answers leisure;
Like doth quit like, and "Measure still for Mea-
sure!"

Then, Angelo, thy fault's thus manifested;
Which though thou would'st deny, denies thee van-
tage:

We do condemn thee to the very block
Where Claudio stoop'd to death, and with like haste:
Away with him.

Look, if it please you, on this man condemn'd,
As if my brother liv'd: I partly think,
A due sincerity govern'd his deeds,
Till he did look on me; since it is so,
Let him not die: My brother had but justice,
In that he did the thing for which he died:
For Angelo,

His act did not o'ertake his bad intent,
And must be buried but as an intent
That perish'd by the way: thoughts are no subjects;
Intents but merely thoughts.

Mari.
Merely, my lord.
Duke. Your suit's unprofitable; stand up, I say.—
I have bethought me of another fault :-
Provost, how came it, Claudio was beheaded
At an unusual hour?

Prov.
It was commanded so.
Duke. Had you a special warrant for the deed?
Prov. No, my good lord; it was by private mes-