2654She would sooner confesse, perchance publikely she'll be

2655asham'd.

2656 Enter Duke, Prouost, Isabella..

2657Esc. I will goe darkely to worke with her.

2658Luc. That's the way: for women are light at mid-

2659night.

2660Esc. Come on Mistris, here's a Gentlewoman,

2661Denies all that you haue said.

2662Luc. My Lord, here comes the rascall I spoke of,

2663Here, with the Prouost.

2664Esc. In very good time: speake not you to him, till

2665we call vpon you.

2666Luc. Mum.

2667Esc. Come Sir, did you set these women on to slan-

2668der Lord Angelo? they haue confes'd you did.

2669Duk. 'Tis false.

2670Esc. How? Know you where you are?

2671Duk. Respect to your great place; and let the diuell

2672Be sometime honour'd, for his burning throne.

2673Where is the Duke? 'tis he should heare me speake.

2674Esc. The Duke's in vs: and we will heare you speake,

2675Looke you speake iustly.

2676Duk. Boldly, at least. But oh poore soules,

2677Come you to seeke the Lamb here of the Fox;

2678Good night to your redresse: Is the Duke gone?

2679Then is your cause gone too: The Duke's vniust,

2680Thus to retort your manifest Appeale,

2681And put your triall in the villaines mouth,

2682Which here you come to accuse.

2683Luc. This is the rascall: this is he I spoke of.

2684Esc. Why thou vnreuerend, and vnhallowed Fryer:

2685Is't not enough thou hast suborn'd these women,

2686To accuse this worthy man? but in foule mouth,

2687And in the witnesse of his proper eare,

2688To call him villaine; and then to glance from him,

2689To th' Duke himselfe, to taxe him with Iniustice?

2690Take him hence; to th' racke with him: we'll towze you

2691Ioynt by ioynt, but we will know his purpose:

2692What? vniust?

2693Duk. Be not so hot: the Duke dare

2694No more stretch this finger of mine, then he

2695Dare racke his owne : his Subiect am I not,

2696Nor here Prouinciall: My businesse in this State

2697Made me a looker on here in Vienna,

2698Where I haue seene corruption boyle and bubble,

2699Till it ore-run the Stew : Lawes, for all faults,

2700But faults so countenanc'd, that the strong Statutes

2701Stand like the forfeites in a Barbers shop,

2702As much in mocke, as marke.

2703Esc. Slander to th' State:

2704Away with him to prison.

2705Ang. What can you vouch against him Signior Lucio?

2706Is this the man you did tell vs of?

2707Luc. 'Tis he, my Lord: come hither goodman bald-pate,

2708doe you know me?

2709Duk. I remember you Sir, by the sound of your voice,

2710I met you at the Prison, in the absence of the Duke.

2711Luc. Oh, did you so? and do you remember what you

2712said of the Duke.

2713Duk. Most notedly Sir.

2714Luc. Do you so Sir: And was the Duke a flesh-mon-

2715ger, a foole, and a coward, as you then reported him

2716to be?

2717Duk. You must (Sir) change persons with me, ere you

2718make that my report: you indeede spoke so of him, and

2719much more, much worse.

2720Luc. Oh thou damnable fellow: did I not plucke thee

2721by the nose, for thy speeches?

2722Duk. I protest, I loue the Duke, as I loue my selfe.

2723Ang. Harke how the villaine would close now, after

2724his treasonable abuses.

2725Esc. Such a fellow is not to be talk'd withall: Away

2726with him to prison: Where is the Prouost? away with

2727him to prison: lay bolts enough vpon him: let him speak

2728no more: away with those Giglets too, and with the o-

2729ther confederate companion.

2730Duk. Stay Sir, stay a while.

2731Ang. What, resists he? helpe him Lucio.

2732Luc. Come sir, come sir, come sir: foh sir, why you

2733bald-pated lying rascall : you must be hooded must you?

2734show your knaues visage with a poxe to you: show your

2735sheepe-biting face, and be hang'd an houre: Will't

2736not off?

2737Duk. Thou art the first knaue, that ere mad'st a Duke.

2738First Prouost, let me bayle these gentle three:

2739Sneake not away Sir, for the Fryer, and you,

2740Must haue a word anon: lay hold on him.

2741Luc. This may proue worse then hanging.

2742Duk. What you haue spoke, I pardon: sit you downe,

2743We'll borrow place of him; Sir, by your leaue:

2744Ha'st thou or word, or wit, or impudence,

2745That yet can doe thee office? If thou ha'st

2746Rely vpon it, till my tale be heard,

2747And hold no longer out.

2748Ang. Oh, my dread Lord,

2749I should be guiltier then my guiltinesse,

2750To thinke I can be vndiscerneable,

2751When I perceiue your grace, like powre diuine,

2752Hath look'd vpon my passes. Then good Prince,

2753No longer Session hold vpon my shame,

2754But let my Triall, be mine owne Confession:

2755Immediate sentence then, and sequent death,

2756Is all the grace I beg.

2757Duk. Come hither Mariana,

2758Say: was't thou ere contracted to this woman?

2759Ang. I was my Lord.

2760Duk. Goe take her hence, and marry her instantly.

2761Doe you the office ( Fryer) which consummate,

2762Returne him here againe: goe with him Prouost. Exit.

2763Esc. My Lord, I am more amaz'd at his dishonor,

2764Then at the strangenesse of it.

2765Duk. Come hither Isabell,

2766Your Frier is now your Prince: As I was then

2767Aduertysing, and holy to your businesse,

2768(Not changing heart with habit) I am still,

2769Atturnied at your seruice.

2770Isab. Oh giue me pardon

2771That I, your vassaile, haue imploid, and pain'd

2772Your vnknowne Soueraigntie.

2773Duk. You are pardon'd Isabell:

2774And now, deere Maide, be you as free to vs.

2775Your Brothers death I know sits at your heart:

2776And you may maruaile, why I obscur'd my selfe,

2777Labouring to saue his life: and would not rather

2778Make rash remonstrance of my hidden powre,

2779Then let him so be lost: oh most kinde Maid,

2780It was the swift celeritie of his death,

2781Which I did thinke, with slower foot came on,

2782That brain'd my purpose: but peace be with him,

2783That life is better life past fearing death,

2784Then that which liues to feare: make it your comfort,