Now, sir, come on: what was done to Elbow's wife, once more? Froth. I thank your worship: for mine own part, I never come into any room in a taphouse, but I Clo. Once, sir? there was nothing done to her am drawn in. once. Elb. I beseech you, sir, ask him what this man did to my wife? Clo. I beseech your honor, ask me. Escal. Well, sir: what did this gentleman to her? Clo. I beseech you, sir, look in this gentleman's face:-Good master Froth, look upon his honor; 'tis for a good purpose: doth your honor mark his face? Escal. Ay, sir, very well. Clo. Nay, I beseech you, mark it well. Clo. Doth your honor see any harm in his face? Clo. I'll be suppos'd' upon a book, his face is the worst thing about him: good then; if his face be the worst thing about him, how could master Froth do the constable's wife any harm? I would know that of your honor. Escal. He's in the right: constable, what say you to it? Elb. First, an it like you, the house is a respected house; next, this is a respected fellow; and his mistress is a respected woman. Clo. By this hand, sir, his wife is a more respected person than any of us all. Elb. Varlet, thou liest; thou liest, wicked varlet: the time is yet to come, that she was ever respected with man, woman, or child. Clo. Sir, she was respected with him before he married with her. Escal. Which is the wiser here? justice or iniquity? Is this true? Elb. O thou caitiff! O thou varlet! O thou wicked Hannibal! I respected with her, before I was married to her? If ever I was respected with her, or she with me, let not your worship think me the poor duke's officer:-Prove this, thou wicked Hannibal, or I'll have mine action of battery on thee. Escal. If he took you a box o' the ear, you might have your action of slander too. Elb. Marry, I thank your good worship for it: what is't your worship's pleasure I should do with this wicked caitiff? Escul. Truly, officer, because he hath some of fences in him, that thou wouldst discover if thou couldst, let him continue in his courses, till thou know'st what they are. Elb. Marry, I thank your worship for it:-thou seest, thou wicked varlet now, what's come upon thee; thou art to continue now, thou varlet; thou art to continue. Escal. Where were you born, friend? [To FROTH. Escal. Are you of fourscore pounds a year? Escal. Hath she had any more than one husband? Clo. Nine, sir; Over-done by the last. Escal. Nine!-Come hither to me, master Froth. Master Froth, I would not have you acquainted with tapsters; they will draw you, master Froth, and you will hang them: get you gone, and let me hear no more of you. Clo. Truly, sir, in my poor opinion, they will to't then if your worship will take order for the drabs and the knaves, you need not to fear the bawds. Escal. There are pretty orders beginning, I can tell you: it is but heading and hanging. Clo. If you head and hang all that offend that way but for ten year together, you'll be glad to give out a commission for more heads. If this law hold in Vienna ten year, I'll rent the fairest house in it, after three pence a day: if you live to see this come to pass, say Pompey told you so. Escal. Thank you, good Pompey and, in requital of your prophecy, hark you,-I advise you, let me not find you before me again upon any complaint whatsoever, no, not for dwelling where you do: if I do, Pompey, I shall beat you to your tent, and prove a shrewd Cæsar to you; in plain dealing, Pompey, I shall have you whipt: so for this time, Pompey, fare you well. Clo. I thank your worship for your good counsel; but I shall follow it, as the flesh and fortune shall better determine. Whip me! No, no; let carman whip his jade; [Exit. Escal. Come hither to me, master Elbow; come hither, master Constable. How long have you been in this place of constable? Elb. Seven years and a half, sir. Escal. I thought, by your readiness in the office, you had continued in it some time: You say, seven years together? Elb. And a half, sir. Escal. Alas! it hath been great pains to you! They do you wrong to put you so oft upon 't: Are there not men in your ward sufficient to serve it? Elb. Faith, sir, few of any wit in such matters: as they are chosen, they are glad to choose me for them; I do it for some piece of money, and go through with all. Escal. Look you, bring me in the names of some six or seven of the most sufficient of your parish. Elb. To your worship's house, sir? Escal. To my house: Fare you well. [Exit ELBOW.] What's o'clock, think you? • Measures. Just. Eleven, sir. Escal. I pray you home to dinner with me. Escal. It grieves me for the death of Claudio; Just. Lord Angelo is severe. Ang. Condemn the fault and not the actor of it! O just, but severe law! It is but needful: I had a brother then.-Heaven keep your honor! Now, what's the matter, Provost? Prov. Is it your will Claudio shall die to-morrow? [Retiring. Lucio. [To ISAB.] Give't not o'er so: to him again, intreat him; Kneel down before him, hang upon his gown; Isab. Must he needs die? Isab. wrong? If so, your heart were touch'd with that remorse Ang. He's sentenced: 'tis too late. Lucio. You are too cold. [To ISABELLA. Isab. Too late? why, no; I, that do speak a word, Ang. Did I not tell thee, yea? hadst thou not May call it back again: Well believe this, order? Why dost thou ask again? Prov. No ceremony that to great ones 'longs, See you, the fornicatress be remov'd; Enter Lucio and ISABELLA. Ang. Ang. Well; the matter? And not my brother. Prov. Become them with one half so good a grace, Isab. I would to heaven I had your potency, Lucio. Ay, touch him: there's the vein. [Aside. Why, all the souls that were, were forfeit once; Ang. It should be thus with him:-he must die to-morrow. Lucio. Those many had not dar'd to do that evil, If the first man that did the edict infringe, Heaven give thee moving graces! Looks in a glass, that shows what future evils (Either now, or by remissness new-conceiv'd, Isab. Isab. So you must be the first that gives this sen- And he, that suffers: O, it is excellent To have a giant's strength; but it is tyrannous Shall I attend your lordship? Isab. Save your honor! At any time 'fore-noon. [Exeunt Lucio, ISABELLA, and Provost. Shall we desire to raze the sanctuary, Thou rather, with thy sharp and sulphurous bolt, And pitch our evils there? O, fye, fye, fye! Most ignorant of what he's most assur'd, Luc. O, to him, to him, wench: he will relent; Prov. Lucio. Thou'rt in the right, girl; more o' that. Lucio. Art advis'd o' that? more on't. That skins the vice o' the top: Go to your bosom ; Let it not sound a thought upon your tongue Ang. Isab. Gentle my lord, turn back. Ang. I will bethink me:-Come again to morrow. Isab. Hark, how I'll bribe you: Good my lord, turn back. Ang. How, bribe me? What dost thou or what art thou, Angelo! When men were fond, I smil'd, and wonder'd how. SCENE III-A Room in a Prison. Enter DUKE, habited like a Friar, and Provost. Duke. Bound by my charity, and my bless'd order, Here in the prison: do me the common right Prov. I would do more than that, if more were Enter JULIET. Look, here comes one; a gentlewoman of mine, Isab. Ay, with such gifts, that heaven shall share And he that got it, sentenced: a young man with you. Lucio. You had marr'd all else. Isab. Not with fond shekels of the tested gold More fit to do another such offence, Duke. Then was your sin of heavier kind than his. Juliet. I do confess it, and repent it, father. Duke. "Tis meet so, daughter: But lest you do repent, As that the sin hath brought you to this shame,Which sorrow is always toward ourselves, not heaven; Showing, we'd not spare heaven, as we love it, Juliet. I do repent me, as it is an evil; To several subjects: heaven hath my empty words; And in my heart, the strong and swelling evil Ang. Yet may he live a while; and, it may be As long as you or I: Yet he must die. Isab. Under your sentence? Ang. Yea. Isab. When, I beseech you? that in his reprieve, Longer, or shorter, he may be so fitted, That his soul sicken not. Ang. Ha! fye, these filthy vices! It were as good To pardon him, that hath from nature stolen A man already made, as to remit Their saucy sweetness, that do coin heaven's image, In stamps that are forbid: 'tis all as easy Falsely to take away a life true made, As to put mettle in restrained means, To make a false one. Isab. "Tis set down so in heaven, but not in earth. Ang. Say you so then I shall pose you quickly. Which had you rather, that the most just law Now took your brother's life; or, to redeem him, Give up your body to such sweet uncleanness, As she that he hath stained? Isab. Sir, believe this, I had rather give my body than my soul. Ang. I talk not of your soul; our compell'd sins Stand more for number than accompt. Isab. How say you? Ang. Nay I'll not warrant that; for I can speak Against the thing I say. Answer to this;I, now the voice of the recorded law, Pronounce a sentence on your brother's life: Might there not be a charity in sin, To save this brother's life? Isab. Please you to do 't, Ang. Pleas'd you to do 't, at peril of your soul, Were equal poise of sin and charity. Isab. That I do beg his life, if it be sin, Heaven, let me bear it! you granting of my suit, If that be sin, I'll make it my morn prayer To have it added to the faults of mine, And nothing of your answer. Ang. Nay, but hear me : Your sense pursues not mine: either you are igno Ang. And his offence is so, as it appears Ang. Admit no other way to save his life, Isab. As much for my poor brother as myself; That is, were I under the terms of death, The impression of keen whips I'd wear as rubies, • Covered. And strip myself to death, as to a bed Ang. Then must your brother die. Ang. Were not you then as cruel as the sentence Isab. Ignomy in ransom, and free pardon, Ang. You seem'd of late to make the law a tyrant; Isab. O, pardon me, my lord; it oft falls out, mean: I something do excuse the thing I hate, Isab. I know your virtue hath a licence in't, Which seems a little fouler than it is, To pluck on others. Ang. Believe me, on mine honor, Isab. Ha! little honor to be much believ'd, Ang. Else let my brother die, Or else he must not only die the death, If not a feodary,' but only he, Which are as easy broke as they make forms. Isab. I have no tongue but one: gentle my lord, Isab. My brother did love Juliet; and you tell me That he shall die for it. Ang. He shall not, Isabel, if you give me love. Isab. To whom shall I complain? Did I tell this, Bidding the law make court'sy to their will; ACT III. SCENE I-A Room in the Prison. Claud. The miserable have no other medicine, I have hope to live, and am prepar'd to die. That none but fools would keep: a breath thou art, That dost this habitation, where thou keep'st, • Associate. • Own. For thou dost fear the soft and tender fork |