207Cla. Fellow, why do'st thou show me thus to th' world?

208Beare me to prison, where I am committed.

209Pro. I do it not in euill disposition,

210But from Lord Angelo by speciall charge.

211Clau. Thus can the demy-god (Authority)

212Make vs pay downe, for our offence, by waight

213The words of heauen; on whom it will, it will,

214On whom it will not (soe) yet still 'tis iust.

215Luc. Why how now Claudio? whence comes this re-(straint.

216Cla. From too much liberty, (my Lucio) Liberty

217As surfet is the father of much fast,

218So euery Scope by the immoderate vse

219Turnes to restraint: Our Natures doe pursue

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.