1636Luc. Sir, I know him, and I loue him.

1637Duke. Loue talkes with better knowledge, & know-

1638ledge with deare loue.

1639Luc. Come Sir, I know what I know.

1640Duke. I can hardly beleeue that, since you know not

1641what you speake. But if euer the Duke returne (as our

1642praiers are he may) let mee desire you to make your an-

1643swer before him: if it bee honest you haue spoke, you

1644haue courage to maintaine it; I am bound to call vppon

1645you, and I pray you your name?

1646Luc. Sir my name is Lucio, wel known to the Duke.

1647Duke. He shall know you better Sir, if I may liue to

1648report you.

1649Luc. I feare you not.

1650Duke. O, you hope the Duke will returne no more:

1651or you imagine me to vnhurtfull an opposite: but indeed

1652I can doe you little harme: You'll for-sweare this a-

1653gaine?

1654Luc. Ile be hang'd first: Thou art deceiu'd in mee

1655Friar. But no more of this: Canst thou tell if Claudio

1656die to morrow, or no?

1657Duke. Why should he die Sir?

1658Luc. Why? For filling a bottle with a Tunne-dish:

1659I would the Duke we talke of were return'd againe: this

1660vngenitur'd Agent will vn-people the Prouince with

1661Continencie. Sparrowes must not build in his house-

1662eeues, because they are lecherous: The Duke yet would

1663haue darke deeds darkelie answered, hee would neuer

1664bring them to light: would hee were return'd. Marrie

1665this Claudio is condemned for vntrussing. Farwell good

1666Friar, I prethee pray for me: The Duke (I say to thee

1667againe) would eate Mutton on Fridaies. He's now past

1668it, yet (and I say to thee) hee would mouth with a beg-

1669gar, though she smelt browne-bread and Garlicke: say

1670that I said so: Farewell. Exit.

1671Duke. No might, nor greatnesse in mortality

1672Can censure scape: Back-wounding calumnie

1673The whitest vertue strikes. What King so strong,

1674Can tie the gall vp in the slanderous tong?

1675But who comes heere?

1677Esc. Go, away with her to prison.

1678Bawd. Good my Lord be good to mee, your Honor

1679is accounted a mercifull man: good my Lord.

1680Esc. Double, and trebble admonition, and still for-

1681feite in the same kinde? This would make mercy sweare

1682and play the Tirant.

1683Pro. A Bawd of eleuen yeares continuance, may it

1684please your Honor.

1685Bawd. My Lord, this is one Lucio's information a-

1686gainst me, Mistris Kate Keepe-downe was with childe by

1687him in the Dukes time, he promis'd her marriage: his

1688Childe is a yeere and a quarter olde come Philip and Ia-

1689cob: I haue kept it my selfe; and see how hee goes about

1690to abuse me.

1691Esc. That fellow is a fellow of much License: Let

1692him be call'd before vs, Away with her to prison: Goe

1693too, no more words. Prouost, my Brother Angelo will

1694not be alter'd, Claudio must die to morrow: Let him be

1695furnish'd with Diuines, and haue all charitable prepara-

1696tion. If my brother wrought by my pitie, it should not

1697be so with him.

1698Pro. So please you, this Friar hath beene with him,

1699and aduis'd him for th' entertainment of death.

1700Esc. Good' euen, good Father.

1701Duke. Blisse, and goodnesse on you.

1702Esc. Of whence are you?

1703Duke. Not of this Countrie, though my chance is now

1704To vse it for my time: I am a brother

1705Of gracious Order, late come from the Sea,

1706In speciall businesse from his Holinesse.

1707Esc. What newes abroad i'th World?

1708Duke. None, but that there is so great a Feauor on

1709goodnesse, that the dissolution of it must cure it. No-

1710ueltie is onely in request, and as it is as dangerous to be

1711aged in any kinde of course, as it is vertuous to be con-

1712stant in any vndertaking. There is scarse truth enough

1713aliue to make Societies secure, but Securitie enough to

1714make Fellowships accurst: Much vpon this riddle runs

1715the wisedome of the world: This newes is old enough,

1716yet it is euerie daies newes. I pray you Sir, of what dis-

1717position was the Duke?

1718Esc. One, that aboue all other strifes,

1719Contended especially to know himselfe.

1720Duke. What pleasure was he giuen to?

1721Esc. Rather reioycing to see another merry, then

1722merrie at anie thing which profest to make him reioice.

1723A Gentleman of all temperance. But leaue wee him to

1724his euents, with a praier they may proue prosperous, &

1725let me desire to know, how you finde Claudio prepar'd?

1726I am made to vnderstand, that you haue lent him visita-

1727tion.

1728Duke. He professes to haue receiued no sinister mea-

1729sure from his Iudge, but most willingly humbles him-

1730selfe to the determination of Iustice: yet had he framed

1731to himselfe (by the instruction of his frailty) manie de-

1732ceyuing promises of life, which I (by my good leisure)

1733haue discredited to him, and now is he resolu'd to die.

1734Esc. You haue paid the heauens your Function, and

1735the prisoner the verie debt of your Calling. I haue la-

1736bour'd for the poore Gentleman, to the extremest shore

1737of my modestie, but my brother-Iustice haue I found so

1738seuere, that he hath forc'd me to tell him, hee is indeede

1739Iustice.

1740Duke. If his owne life,

1741Answere the straitnesse of his proceeding,

1742It shall become him well: wherein if he chance to faile

1743he hath sentenc'd himselfe.

1744Esc I am going to visit the prisoner, Fare you well.

1745Duke. Peace be with you.

1746He who the sword of Heauen will beare,

1747Should be as holy, as seueare:

1748Patterne in himselfe to know,

1749Grace to stand, and Vertue go:

1750More, nor lesse to others paying,

1751Then by selfe-offences weighing.

1752Shame to him, whose cruell striking,

1753Kils for faults of his owne liking:

1754Twice trebble shame on Angelo,

1755To vveede my vice, and let his grow.

1756Oh, what may Man within him hide,

1757Though Angel on the outward side?

1758How may likenesse made in crimes,

1759Making practise on the Times,

1760To draw with ydle Spiders strings

1761Most ponderous and substantiall things?

1762Craft against vice, I must applie.

1763With Angelo to night shall lye

1764His old betroathed (but despised:)

1765So disguise shall by th' disguised

1766Pay with falshood, false exacting,

1767And performe an olde contracting. Exit