1491Elb. Nay, if there be no remedy for it, but that you

1492will needes buy and sell men and women like beasts, we

1493shall haue all the world drinke browne & white bastard.

1494Duk. Oh heauens, what stuffe is heere.

1495Clow. Twas neuer merry world since of two vsuries

1496the merriest was put downe, and the worser allow'd by

1497order of Law; a fur'd gowne to keepe him warme; and

1498furd with Foxe and Lamb-skins too, to signifie, that craft

1499being richer then Innocency, stands for the facing.

1500Elb. Come your way sir : 'blesse you good Father

1501Frier.

1502Duk. And you good Brother Father; what offence

1503hath this man made you, Sir?

1504Elb. Marry Sir, he hath offended the Law; and Sir,

1505we take him to be a Theefe too Sir: for wee haue found

1506vpon him Sir, a strange Pick-lock, which we haue sent

1507to the Deputie.

1508Duke. Fie, sirrah, a Bawd, a wicked bawd,

1509The euill that thou causest to be done,

1510That is thy meanes to liue. Do thou but thinke

1511What 'tis to cram a maw, or cloath a backe

1512From such a filthie vice: say to thy selfe,

1513From their abhominable and beastly touches

1514I drinke, I eate away my selfe, and liue:

1515Canst thou beleeue thy liuing is a life,

1516So stinkingly depending? Go mend, go mend.

1517Clo. Indeed, it do's stinke in some sort, Sir:

1518But yet Sir I would proue.

1519Duke. Nay, if the diuell haue giuen thee proofs for sin

1520Thou wilt proue his. Take him to prison Officer:

1521Correction, and Instruction must both worke

1522Ere this rude beast will profit.

1523Elb. He must before the Deputy Sir, he ha's giuen

1524him warning: the Deputy cannot abide a Whore-ma-

1525ster: if he be a Whore-monger, and comes before him,

1526he were as good go a mile on his errand.

1527Duke. That we were all, as some would seeme to bee

1528From our faults, as faults from seeming free.

1530Elb. His necke will come to your wast, a Cord sir.

1531Clo. I spy comfort, I cry baile: Here's a Gentleman,

1532and a friend of mine.

1533Luc. How now noble Pompey? What, at the wheels

1534of Casar? Art thou led in triumph? What is there none

1535of Pigmalions Images newly made woman to bee had

1536now, for putting the hand in the pocket, and extracting

1537clutch'd? What reply? Ha? What saist thou to this

1538Tune, Matter, and Method? Is't not drown'd i'th last

1539raine? Ha? What saist thou Trot? Is the world as it was

1540Man? Which is the vvay? Is it sad, and few words?

1541Or how? The tricke of it?

1542Duke. Still thus, and thus: still vvorse?

1543Luc. How doth my deere Morsell, thy Mistris? Pro-

1544cures she still? Ha?

1545Clo. Troth sir, shee hath eaten vp all her beefe, and

1546she is her selfe in the tub.

1547Luc. Why 'tis good: It is the right of it: it must be

1548so. Euer your fresh Whore, and your pouder'd Baud, an

1549vnshun'd consequence, it must be so. Art going to pri-

1550son Pompey?

1551Clo. Yes faith sir.

1552Luc. Why 'tis not amisse Pompey: farewell: goe say

1553I sent thee thether: for debt Pompey? Or how?

1554Elb. For being a baud, for being a baud.

1555Luc. Well, then imprison him: If imprisonment be

1556the due of a baud, why 'tis his right. Baud is he doubt-

1557lesse, and of antiquity too: Baud borne. Farwell good

1558Pompey: Commend me to the prison Pompey, you will

1559turne good husband now Pompey, you vvill keepe the

1560house.

1561Clo. I hope Sir, your good Worship wil be my baile?

1562Luc. No indeed vvil I not Pompey, it is not the wear:

1563I will pray ( Pompey) to encrease your bondage if you

1564take it not patiently: Why, your mettle is the more:

1565Adieu trustie Pompey.

1566Blesse you Friar.

1567Duke. And you.

1568Luc. Do's Bridget paint still, Pompey? Ha?

1569Elb. Come your waies sir, come.

1570Clo. You will not baile me then Sir?

1571Luc. Then Pompey, nor now: what newes abroad Fri-

1572er? What newes?

1573Elb. Come your waies sir, come.

1574Luc. Goe to kennell ( Pompey) goe:

1575What newes Frier of the Duke?

1576Duke. I know none: can you tell me of any?

1577Luc. Some say he is with the Emperor of Russia: other

1578some, he is in Rome: but where is he thinke you?

1579Duke. I know not where: but wheresoeuer, I wish

1580him well.

1581Luc. It was a mad fantasticall tricke of him to steale

1582from the State, and vsurpe the beggerie hee was neuer

1583borne to: Lord Angelo Dukes it well in his absence: he

1584puts transgression too't.

1585Duke. He do's well in't.

1586Luc. A little more lenitie to Lecherie would doe no

1587harme in him: Something too crabbed that way, Frier.

1588Duk. It is too general a vice, and seueritie must cure it.

1589Luc. Yes in good sooth, the vice is of a great kindred;

1590it is vvell allied, but it is impossible to extirpe it quite,

1591Frier, till eating and drinking be put downe. They say

1592this Angelo vvas not made by Man and Woman, after

1593this downe-right vvay of Creation: is it true, thinke

1594you?

1595Duke. How should he be made then?

1596Luc. Some report, a Sea-maid spawn'd him. Some,

1597that he vvas begot betweene two Stock-fishes. But it

1598is certaine, that when he makes water, his Vrine is con-

1599geal'd ice, that I know to bee true: and he is a motion

1600generatiue, that's infallible.

1601Duke. You are pleasant sir, and speake apace.

1602Luc. Why, what a ruthlesse thing is this in him, for

1603the rebellion of a Cod-peece, to take away the life of a

1604man? Would the Duke that is absent haue done this?

1605Ere he vvould haue hang'd a man for the getting a hun-

1606dred Bastards, he vvould haue paide for the Nursing a

1607thousand. He had some feeling of the sport, hee knew

1608the seruice, and that instructed him to mercie.

1609Duke. I neuer heard the absent Duke much detected

1610for Women, he was not enclin'd that vvay.

1611Luc. Oh Sir, you are deceiu'd.

1612Duke. 'Tis not possible.

1613Luc. Who, not the Duke? Yes, your beggar of fifty:

1614and his vse was, to put a ducket in her Clack-dish; the

1615Duke had Crochets in him. Hee would be drunke too,

1616that let me informe you.

1617Duke. You do him wrong, surely.

1618Luc. Sir, I vvas an inward of his: a shie fellow vvas

1619the Duke, and I beleeue I know the cause of his vvith-

1620drawing.

1621Duke. What (I prethee) might be the cause?

1622Luc. No, pardon: 'Tis a secret must bee lockt with-

1623in the teeth and the lippes: but this I can let you vnder-

1624stand, the greater file of the subiect held the Duke to be

1625vvise.

1626Duke. Wise? Why no question but he was.

1627Luc. A very superficiall, ignorant, vnweighing fellow

1628Duke. Either this is Enuie in you, Folly, or mista-

1629king: The very streame of his life, and the businesse he

1630hath helmed, must vppon a warranted neede, giue him

1631a better proclamation. Let him be but testimonied in

1632his owne bringings forth, and hee shall appeare to the

1633enuious, a Scholler, a Statesman, and a Soldier: there-

1634fore you speake vnskilfully: or, if your knowledge bee

1635more, it is much darkned in your malice.

G Luc.

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