220Like Rats that rauyn downe their proper Bane,

221A thirsty euill, and when we drinke, we die.

222Luc. If I could speake so wisely vnder an arrest, I

223would send for certaine of my Creditors: and yet, to say

224the truth, I had as lief haue the foppery of freedome, as

225the mortality of imprisonment: what's thy offence,

226Claudio?

227Cla. What (but to speake of) would offend againe.

228Luc. What, is't murder?

229Cla. No.

230Luc. Lecherie?

231Cla. Call it so.

232Pro. Away, Sir, you must goe.

233Cla. One word, good friend:

234Lucio, a word with you.

235Luc. A hundred:

236If they'll doe you any good: Is Lechery so look'd after?

237Cla. Thus stands it with me: vpon a true contract

238I got possession of Iulietas bed,

239You know the Lady, she is fast my wife,

240Saue that we doe the denunciation lacke

241Of outward Order. This we came not to,

242Onely for propogation of a Dowre

243Remaining in the Coffer of her friends,

244From whom we thought it meet to hide our Loue

245Till Time had made them for vs. But it chances

246The stealth of our most mutuall entertainment

247With Character too grosse, is writ on Iuliet.

248Luc. With childe, perhaps?

249Cla. Vnhappely, euen so.

250And the new Deputie, now for the Duke,

251Whether it be the fault and glimpse of newnes,

252Or whether that the body publique, be

253A horse whereon the Gouernor doth ride,

254Who newly in the Seate, that it may know

255He can command; lets it strait feele the spur:

256Whether the Tirranny be in his place,

257Or in his Eminence that fills it vp

258I stagger in: But this new Gouernor

259Awakes me all the inrolled penalties

260Which haue (like vn-scowr'd Armor) hung by th' wall

261So long, that ninteene Zodiacks haue gone round,

262And none of them beene worne; and for a name

263Now puts the drowsie and neglected Act

264Freshly on me: 'tis surely for a name.

265Luc. I warrant it is: And thy head stands so tickle on

266thy shoulders, that a milke-maid, if she be in loue, may

267sigh it off: Send after the Duke, and appeale to him.

268Cla. I haue done so, but hee's not to be found.

269I pre'thee ( Lucio) doe me this kinde seruice :

270This day, my sister should the Cloyster enter,

271And there receiue her approbation.

272Acquaint her with the danger of my state,

273Implore her, in my voice, that she make friends

274To the strict deputie: bid her selfe assay him,

275I haue great hope in that: for in her youth

276There is a prone and speechlesse dialect,

277Such as moue men: beside, she hath prosperous Art

278When she will play with reason, and discourse,

279And well she can perswade.

280Luc. I pray shee may; aswell for the encouragement

281of the like, which else would stand vnder greeuous im-

282position: as for the enioying of thy life, who I would be

283sorry should bee thus foolishly lost, at a game of ticke-

284tacke: Ile to her.

285Cla. I thanke you good friend Lucio.

286Luc. Within two houres.

287Cla. Come Officer, away. Exeunt.

290Duk. No: holy Father, throw away that thought,

291Beleeue not that the dribling dart of Loue

292Can pierce a compleat bosome: why, I desire thee

293To giue me secret harbour, hath a purpose

294More graue, and wrinkled, then the aimes, and ends

295Of burning youth.

296Fri. May your Grace speake of it?

297Duk. My holy Sir, none better knowes then you

298How I haue euer lou'd the life remoued

299And held in idle price, to haunt assemblies

300Where youth, and cost, witlesse brauery keepes.

301I haue deliuerd to Lord Angelo

302(A man of stricture and firme abstinence)

303My absolute power, and place here in Vienna,

304And he supposes me trauaild to Poland,

305(For so I haue strewd it in the common eare)

306And so it is receiu'd: Now (pious Sir)

307You will demand of me, why I do this.

308Fri. Gladly, my Lord.

309Duk. We haue strict Statutes, and most biting Laws,

310(The needfull bits and curbes to headstrong weedes,)

311Which for this foureteene yeares, we haue let slip,

312Euen like an ore-growne Lyon in a Caue

313That goes not out to prey: Now, as fond Fathers,

314Hauing bound vp the threatning twigs of birch,

315Onely to sticke it in their childrens sight,

316For terror, not to vse: in time the rod

317More mock'd, then fear'd: so our Decrees,

318Dead to infliction, to themselues are dead,

319And libertie, plucks Iustice by the nose;

320The Baby beates the Nurse, and quite athwart

321Goes all decorum.

322Fri. It rested in your Grace

323To vnloose this tyde-vp Iustice, when you pleas'd:

324And it in you more dreadfull would haue seem'd

325Then in Lord Angelo.

326Duk. I doe feare: too dreadfull:

327Sith 'twas my fault, to giue the people scope,

328'Twould be my tirrany to strike and gall them,

329For what I bid them doe: For, we bid this be done

330When euill deedes haue their permissiue passe,

331And not the punishment: therefore indeede (my father)

332I haue on Angelo impos'd the office,

333Who may in th' ambush of my name, strike home,

334And yet, my nature neuer in the sight

335To do in slander: And to behold his sway

336I will, as 'twere a brother of your Order,

337Visit both Prince, and People: Therefore I pre'thee

338Supply me with the habit, and instruct me

339How I may formally in person beare

340Like a true Frier: Moe reasons for this action

341At our more leysure, shall I render you;

342Onely, this one: Lord Angelo is precise,

343Stands at a guard with Enuie: scarce confesses

344That his blood flowes: or that his appetite

345Is more to bread then stone: hence shall we see

346If power change purpose: what our Seemers be. Exit.

F2 Scoena