Part 5

_Duke._ Nay, if the devil have given thee proofs for sin, Thou wilt prove his. Take him to prison, officer: Correction and instruction must both work Ere this rude beast will profit. 30

_Elb._ He must before the Deputy, sir; he has given him warning: the Deputy cannot abide a whoremaster: if he be a whoremonger, and comes before him, he were as good go a mile on his errand.

_Duke._ That we were all, as some would seem to be, 35 From our faults, as faults from seeming, free!

_Elb._ His neck will come to your waist,--a cord, sir.

_Pom._ I spy comfort; I cry bail. Here's a gentleman and a friend of mine.

_Enter LUCIO._

_Lucio._ How now, noble Pompey! What, at the wheels 40 of Caesar? art thou led in triumph? What, is there none of Pygmalion's images, newly made woman, to be had now, for putting the hand in the pocket and extracting it clutched? What reply, ha? What sayest thou to this tune, matter and method? Is't not drowned i' the last rain, ha? 45 What sayest 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 mistress? Procures 50 she still, ha?

_Pom._ 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 must be so: ever your fresh whore and your powdered bawd: an 55 unshunned consequence; it must be so. Art going to prison, Pompey?

_Pom._ Yes, faith, sir.

_Lucio._ Why, 'tis not amiss, Pompey. Farewell: go, say I sent thee thither. For debt, Pompey? or how? 60

_Elb._ For being a bawd, for being a bawd.

_Lucio._ Well, then, imprison him: if imprisonment be the due of a bawd, why, 'tis his right: bawd is he doubtless, and of antiquity too; bawd-born. Farewell, good Pompey. Commend me to the prison, Pompey: you will turn good 65 husband now, Pompey; you will keep the house.

_Pom._ I hope, sir, your good worship will be my bail.

_Lucio._ No, indeed, will I not, Pompey; it is not the wear. I will pray, Pompey, to increase your bondage: if you take it not patiently, why, your mettle is the more. 70 Adieu, trusty Pompey. 'Bless you, friar.

_Duke._ And you.

_Lucio._ Does Bridget paint still, Pompey, ha?

_Elb._ Come your ways, sir; come.

_Pom._ You will not bail me, then, sir? 75

_Lucio._ Then, Pompey, nor now. What news abroad, friar? what news?

_Elb._ Come your ways, sir; come.

_Lucio._ Go to kennel, Pompey; go. [_Exeunt Elbow, Pompey and Officers._] What news, friar, of the Duke? 80

_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. 85

_Lucio._ It was a mad fantastical trick of him to 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. 90

_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; 95 it is well allied: 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 this downright way of creation: is it true, think you?

_Duke._ How should he be made, then? 100

_Lucio._ Some report a sea-maid spawned him; some, that he was begot between two stock-fishes. But it is certain that, when he makes water, his urine is congealed ice; that I know to be true: and he is a motion generative; that's infallible. 105

_Duke._ You are pleasant, sir, and speak apace.

_Lucio._ Why, what a ruthless thing is this in him, for the rebellion of a codpiece to take away the life of a man! Would the Duke that is absent have done this? Ere he would have hanged a man for the getting a hundred bastards, 110 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 detected for women; he was not inclined that way. 115

_Lucio._ O, sir, you are deceived.

_Duke._ 'Tis not possible.

_Lucio._ Who, not the Duke? yes, your beggar 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 120 inform you.

_Duke._ You do him wrong, surely.

_Lucio._ Sir, I was an inward of his. A shy fellow was the Duke: and I believe I know the cause of his withdrawing. 125

_Duke._ What, I prithee, might be the cause?

_Lucio._ No, pardon; 'tis a secret must be locked within the teeth and the lips: but this I can let you understand, the greater file of the subject held the Duke to be wise.

_Duke._ Wise! why, no question but he was. 130

_Lucio._ A very superficial, ignorant, unweighing fellow.

_Duke._ Either this is envy in you, folly, or mistaking: the very stream of his life and the business he hath helmed must, upon a warranted need, give him a better proclamation. Let him be but testimonied in his own bringings-forth, 135 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 is much darkened in your malice.

_Lucio._ Sir, I know him, and I love him. 140

_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 145 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 150 duke.

_Duke._ He shall 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 155 you imagine me too unhurtful an opposite. But, indeed, I can do you little harm; you'll forswear this again.

_Lucio._ I'll be hanged first: thou art deceived in me, friar. But no more of this. Canst thou tell if Claudio die to-morrow or no? 160

_Duke._ Why should he die, sir?

_Lucio._ Why? For filling a bottle with a tun-dish. I would the Duke we talk of were returned again: this ungenitured agent will unpeople the province with continency; sparrows must not build in his house-eaves, because 165 they are lecherous. The Duke yet would have dark deeds darkly answered; he would never bring them to light: would he were returned! Marry, this Claudio is condemned for untrussing. Farewell, good friar: I prithee, pray for me. The Duke, I say to thee again, would eat mutton on 170 Fridays. He's not past it yet, and I say to thee, he would mouth with a beggar, though she smelt brown bread and garlic: say that I said so. Farewell. [_Exit._

_Duke._ No might nor greatness in mortality Can censure 'scape; back-wounding calumny 175 The whitest virtue strikes. What king so strong Can tie the gall up in the slanderous tongue? But who comes here?

_Enter ESCALUS, PROVOST, and _Officers_ with MISTRESS OVERDONE._

_Escal._ Go; away with her to prison!

_Mrs Ov._ Good my lord, be good to me; your honour 180 is accounted a merciful man; good my lord.

_Escal._ Double and treble admonition, and still forfeit in the same kind! This would make mercy swear and play the tyrant.

_Prov._ A bawd of eleven years' continuance, may it 185 please your honour.

_Mrs Ov._ My lord, this is one Lucio's information against me. Mistress Kate Keepdown was with child by him in the Duke's time; he promised her marriage: his child is a year and a quarter old, come Philip and Jacob: 190 I have kept it myself; and see how he goes about to abuse me!

_Escal._ That fellow is a fellow of much license: let him be called before us. Away with her to prison! Go to; no more words. [_Exeunt Officers with Mistress Ov._] 195 Provost, my brother Angelo will not be altered; Claudio must die to-morrow: let him be furnished 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 hath been with him, 200 and advised him for the entertainment of death.

_Escal._ Good even, good father.

_Duke._ Bliss and goodness on you!

_Escal._ Of whence are you?

_Duke._ Not of this country, though my chance is now 205 To use it for my time: I am a brother Of gracious order, late come from the See In special business from his Holiness.

_Escal._ What news abroad i' the world?

_Duke._ None, but that there is so great a fever on goodness, 210 that the dissolution of it must cure 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 accurst:-- 215 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?

_Escal._ One that, above all other strifes, contended especially to know himself. 220

_Duke._ What pleasure was he given to?

_Escal._ Rather rejoicing to see another merry, than merry at any thing which professed to make him rejoice: a gentleman of all temperance. But leave we him to his events, with a prayer they may prove prosperous; and let 225 me desire to know how you find Claudio prepared. I am made to understand that you have lent him visitation.

_Duke._ He professes to have received no sinister measure from his judge, but most willingly humbles himself to the determination of justice: yet had he framed to himself, 230 by the instruction of his frailty, many deceiving promises of life; which I, 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 235 for the poor gentleman to the extremest shore of my modesty: but my brother justice have I found so severe, that he hath forced 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 if he chance to 240 fail, he hath sentenced himself.

_Escal._ I am going to visit the prisoner. Fare you well.

_Duke._ Peace be with you! [_Exeunt Escalus and Provost._

He who the sword of heaven will bear Should be as holy as severe; 245 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 250 Kills for faults of his own liking! Twice treble shame on Angelo, To weed my vice and let his grow! O, what may man within him hide, Though angel on the outward side! 255 How may likeness made in crimes, Making practice on the times, To draw with idle spiders' strings Most ponderous and substantial things! Craft against vice I must apply: 260 With Angelo to-night shall lie His old betrothed but despised; So disguise shall, by the disguised, Pay with falsehood false exacting, And perform an old contracting. [_Exit._ 265

NOTES: III, 2.

## SCENE II.] om. Ff. SCENE IV. Pope.

Enter ... Pompey] Enter Elbow, Clowne, Officers. Ff. 5: _usuries_] _usancies_ Collier MS. 7: Punctuated as in Hanmer. Ff place a semicolon after _law_. Pope a full stop. Warburton supposes a line or two to be lost. _furred gown_] _furred lambskin gown_ Capell. 8: _fox and lamb-skins_] _fox-skins_ Capell. _fox on lamb-skins_ Mason conj. 11: _father_] om. Johnson conj. 22: _eat, array myself_] Theobald (Bishop conj.). _eat away myself_ Ff. 24: _Go mend, go mend_] _Go mend, mend_ Pope. 25: _does_] _doth_ Pope. 36: _From our faults_] F1. _Free from our faults_ F2 F3. _Free from all faults_ F4. _as faults from seeming_] _as from faults seeming_ Hanmer. _or from false seeming_ Johnson conj. _or faults from seeming_ Id. conj. 36: SCENE V. [Enter LUCIO. Pope. 37: _waist_] Johnson, ed. 1778. _wast_ F1 F2 F3. _waste_ F4. 40: _wheels_] _heels_ Steevens. 43: _it_] Pope. om. Ff. 44, 45: _this tune ... Is't not_] _this? tune ... method,--is't not?_ Johnson conj. 45: _matter and method] the matter and the method_ Hanmer. _Is't not ... rain_] _It's not down in the last reign_ Warburton. 46: _Trot_] _to't_ Dyce (Grey conj.). _troth_ Jackson conj. 52: _her_] _the_ Pope. 69, 70: _bondage: ... patiently,_] Theobald. _bondage ... patiently:_ Ff. 80: SCENE VI. Pope. 93: _general_] _gentle_ Warburton. 95: _a great_] _great_ Rowe. 98: _this_] Ff. _the_ Pope. 104: _is a motion generative_] _is a motion ungenerative_ Theobald. _has no motion generative_ Hanmer. _is not a motion generative_ Capell. _is a motion ingenerative_ Collier MS. _is a notion generative_ Upton conj. _is a mule ungenerative_ Anon. conj. 114: _detected_] _detracted_ Capell. 123: _shy_] _sly_ Hanmer. 126: _I_] om. Rowe. 142: _dearer_] Hanmer. _deare_ F1 F2. _dear_ F3 F4. 157: _little_] _a little_ Hanmer. _again._] _again?_ Ff. 168: _this Claudio_] _this: Claudio_ Edd. conj. 171: _He's not past it yet, and I say to thee_] Hanmer. _He's now past it, yet (and I say to thee)_ Ff. _He's now past it: yea, and I say to thee_ Capell. 172: _smelt_] _smelt of_ Rowe. 173: _said_] _say_ Pope. 179: SCENE VII. Pope 183: _swear_] _swerve_ Hanmer. _severe_ Farmer conj. 202: _even_] F4. _'even_ F1 F2 F3. 207: _See_] Theobald. _Sea_ Ff. 212: _and it is as_] F3 F4. _and as it is as_ F1 F2. 213: _undertaking. There_] _undertaking, there_ Collier. 220: _especially_] _specially_ Pope. These two lines are printed as verse by Ff, ending _strifes, ... himself._ 232: _leisure_] _lecture_ Capell conj. 234: _your function_] _the due of your function_ Collier MS. 243: SCENE VIII. Pope. [Exeunt....] Capell. [Exit. F2. om. F1. 246, 247: _Pattern ... go_] _Patterning himself to know, In grace to stand, in virtue go_ Johnson conj. _Pattern in himself, to show Grace and virtue. Stand or go_ Becket conj. 247: _and virtue go_] _virtue to go_ Collier MS. 249: _self-offences_] _self offences_ Collier. 256-258: _may ... To draw_] _many ... Draw_ Harness. 256: _likeness made in crimes_] Ff. _that likeness made in crimes_ Theobald. _that likeness shading crimes_ Hanmer. _such likeness trade in crimes_ Heath conj. _likeness wade in crimes_ Malone conj. (withdrawn). _likeness mate in crimes_ Leo conj. 257: _Making practice_] _Mocking, practise_ Malone conj. _Make sin practise_ Jackson conj. _Masking practice_ Collier MS. 258: _To draw_] _Draw_ Theobald. _So draw_ Staunton conj.

## ACT IV.

## SCENE I. _The moated grange at ST LUKE'S._

_Enter MARIANA and a BOY._

_BOY sings._

Take, O, take those lips away, 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; 5 Seals of love, but sealed in vain, sealed in vain.

_Mari._ Break off thy song, and haste thee quick away: Here comes a man of comfort, whose advice Hath often still'd my brawling discontent. [_Exit Boy._

_Enter DUKE disguised as before._

I cry you mercy, sir; and well could wish 10 You had not found me here so musical: Let me excuse me, and believe me so, My mirth it much displeased, but pleased my woe.

_Duke._ 'Tis good; though music oft hath such a charm To make bad good, and good provoke to harm. 15

I pray you, tell me, hath any body inquired for me here to-day? much upon this time have I promised here to meet.

_Mari._ You have not been inquired after: I have sat here all day.

_Enter ISABELLA._

_Duke._ I do constantly believe you. The time is come 20 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. [_Exit._

_Duke._ Very well met, and well come. What is the news from this good Deputy? 25

_Isab._ He hath a garden circummured with brick, 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 30 Which from the vineyard to the garden leads; There have I made my promise Upon the heavy middle of the night To call upon him.

_Duke._ But shall you on your knowledge find this way? 35

_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 show me The way twice o'er.

_Duke._ Are there no other tokens Between you 'greed concerning her observance? 40

_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 45 I come about my brother.

_Duke._ 'Tis well borne up. I have not yet made known to Mariana A word of this. What, ho! within! come forth!

_Re-enter MARIANA._

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

_Isab._ I do desire the like. 50

_Duke._ Do you persuade yourself that I respect you?

_Mari._ Good friar, I know you do, and have found it.

_Duke._ Take, then, this your companion by the hand, Who hath a story ready for your ear. I shall attend your leisure: but make haste; 55 The vaporous night approaches.

_Mari._ Will't please you walk aside?

[_Exeunt Mariana and Isabella._

_Duke._ O place and greatness, millions of false eyes Are stuck upon thee! volumes of report Run with these false and most contrarious quests 60 Upon thy doings! thousand escapes of wit Make thee the father of their idle dreams, And rack thee in their fancies!

_Re-enter MARIANA and ISABELLA._

Welcome, how agreed?

_Isab._ She'll take the enterprise upon her, father, If you advise it.

_Duke._ It is not my consent, 65 But my entreaty too.

_Isab._ Little have you to say When you depart from him, but, soft and low, 'Remember now my brother.'

_Mari._ Fear me not.

_Duke._ Nor, gentle daughter, fear you not at all. He is your husband on a pre-contract: 70 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. [_Exeunt._

NOTES: IV, 1.

## SCENE I. Enter M.] Ff. M. discovered sitting. Steevens.

5, 6: F4 omits the refrain in l. 6. Rowe omits it in both lines. 6: _but_] _though_ Fletcher's version. 13: _it_] _is_ Warburton. 17: _meet_] _meet one_ Hanmer. 19: Enter I.] Transferred by Singer to line 23. 24: SCENE II. Pope. _well come_] Ff. _welcome_ Warburton. 32, 33, 34: _There have I made my promise Upon the heavy middle of the night To call upon him._] S. Walker conj. _There have I made my promise, upon the Heavy middle of the night to call upon him._ Ff. _There on the heavy middle of the night Have I my promise made to call upon him._ Pope. _There have I made my promise to call on him Upon the heavy middle of the night._ Capell. _There have I made my promise in the heavy Middle...._ Singer. _There have I made my promise on the heavy Middle...._ Dyce. Delius and Staunton read with Ff. but print as prose. 38: _action all of precept_] _precept of all action_ Johnson conj. 49: SCENE III. Pope. 52: _have_] _I have_ Pope. 58-63: _O place ... fancies_] These lines to precede III. 2. 178. Warburton conj. 60: _these_] _their_ Hanmer. _base_ Collier MS. _quests_] _quest_ F1. 61: _escapes_] _'scapes_ Pope. 62: _their idle dreams_] Pope. _their idle dreame_ Ff. _an idle dream_ Rowe. 63: _Welcome, how agreed?_] _Well! agreed?_ Hanmer.

## SCENE IV. Pope.

65: _It is_] _'Tis_ Pope. 74: _tithe's_] _Tithes_ F1 F2 F3. _Tythes_ F4. _tilth's_ Hanmer (Warburton). _Our ... sow_] _Our tythe's to reap, for yet our corn's to sow_ Capell conj. MS.

## SCENE II. _A room in the prison._

_Enter PROVOST and POMPEY._

_Prov._ Come hither, sirrah. Can you cut off a man's head?

_Pom._ If the man be a bachelor, sir, I can; but if he be a married man, he's his wife's head, and I can never cut off a woman's head.

_Prov._ Come, sir, leave me your snatches, and yield me 5 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 shall have your full time of imprisonment, and 10 your deliverance with an unpitied whipping, for you have been a notorious bawd.

_Pom._ Sir, I have been an unlawful bawd time out of mind; but yet I will be content to be a lawful hangman. I would be glad to receive some instruction from my fellow 15 partner.

_Prov._ What, ho! Abhorson! Where's Abhorson, there?

_Enter ABHORSON._

_Abhor._ Do you call, sir?

_Prov._ Sirrah, here's a fellow will help you to-morrow in your execution. If you think it meet, compound with 20 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 mystery. 25

_Prov._ Go to, sir; you weigh equally; a feather will turn the scale. [_Exit._

_Pom._ 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 mystery? 30

_Abhor._ Ay, sir; a mystery.

_Pom._ Painting, sir, I have heard say, is a mystery; and your whores, sir, being members of my occupation, using painting, do prove my occupation a mystery: but what mystery there should be in hanging, if I should be 35 hanged, I cannot imagine.

_Abhor._ Sir, it is a mystery.

_Pom._ Proof?

_Abhor._ Every true man's apparel fits your thief: if it be too little for your thief, your true man thinks it big 40 enough; if it be too big for your thief, your thief thinks it little enough: so every true man's apparel fits your thief.

_Re-enter PROVOST._

_Prov._ Are you agreed?

_Pom._ Sir, I will serve him; for I do find your hangman is a more penitent trade than your bawd; he doth 45 oftener ask forgiveness.