honours have feen fuch difhes; they are not China honour; 'tis for a good purpofe: Doth your hodanny but very good difhes. nour mark his face? Etal. Go to, go to; no matter for the difh, fir. wa. No, indeed, fir, "not of a pin; you are therein in the right: but to the point: As I fay, ths mitreis Elbow, being, as I fay, with child, and being great belly'd, and longing, as I faid, for pes; and having but two in the difh, as I faid, | mer Froth here, this very man, having eaten the rest, as I faid, and, as I fay, paying for them very honestly ;-for, as you know, mafter Froth, I could not give you three pence again. Frith. No, indeed. C. Very well: you being then, if you bel remember'd, cracking the stones of the forefaid Pranes. Frach Av, fo I did, indeed. Chem. Why, very well: I telling you then, if y be remember'd, that such a one, and such a ene, were part cure of the thing you wot of, unless they kept very good diet, as I told you. Fr. All this is true. Ch. Why, very well then. Fal. Come, you are a tedious fool: to the pspore-What was done to Elbow's wife, that be both cafe to complain of? come me to what was done to her. C. Sir, your honour cannot come to that yet. 23. 4. Sir, but you fhall come to it, by your Hour's leave: And, I befeech you, look into mafter Frith here, fir; a man of four core pound a year; whofe father dy'd at Hallowmas :-Was 't alt at Hallowmas, mafter Froth ? All-hollond eve. Ffcal. Ay, fir, very well. Clown. Nay, I befecch you mark it well. Clown. Doth your honour fee any harm in his face? Ffcal. Why, no. Clown. I'll be fuppos'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 mafter Froth do the conftable's wife any harm? I would know that of your honour. Escal. He's in the right: constable, what fay you to it? Elb. Firft, an it like you, the houfe is a refpeced houfe; next, this is a refpected fellow; and his mistress is a respected womán. Clown. By this hand, fir, his wife is a more respected perfon than any of us all. Elb. Varlet, thou lieft; thou lieft, wicked varlet: the time is yet to come, that fhe was ever refpected with man, woman, or child. Clown. Sir, fhe was refpected with him before he marry'd with her. Ejcal. Which is the wifer here? Justice or Iniquity Is this true? Elb. O thou caitiff! O thou varlet! O thou wicked Hannibal 2! I refpected with her, before I was marry'd to her? If ever I was refpected with her, or the 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. Efcal. If he took you a box o' the ear, you Chern. Winy, very well; I hope here be truths: might have your action of flander too. He, fir, fitting, as I fav, in a lower chair, fir;in the Bunch of Grapes, where, indeed, you ha e a light to fit, Have you not? Frab. I have fo; because it is an open room, god for winter. Elb. Marry, I thank your good worship for it : What is 't your worship's pleafure I fhall do with this wicked caitiff? Efcal. Truly, officer, becaufe he hath fome offences in him, that thou wouldt difcover if thou C. Why, very well then;-I hope here couldft, let him continue in his courfes, till thou be truths. Ag. This will laft out a night in Ruffia, a. I think no lefs: Good-morrow to your Lam. Once, fir? there was nothing done to ber noce El. I befeech you, fir, afk him what this man Gen. 1 befeech your honour, ask me. know'ft what they are. Elb. Marry, thank your worship for it : Ffcal. Where were you born, friend? [To Froth. Ffcal. Are you of four core pounds a year? Efcal. So.-What trade are you of, fir? [To the Clown. Clown. A tapfter; a poor widow's tapfter. Efcal. Hath fhe had any more than one husband? C. I befeech you, fir, look in this gentle'fice :-Good mafter Froth, look upon his Froth. Mafter Froth, I would not have you ac This probably alludes to two perfonages well known to the audience by their frequent introducLe cold Moralities. 2 A miftake for Cannibal. quainted quainted with tapfters; they will draw I your, mafter Froth, and you will hang them: Get you gone, and let me hear no more of you. Froth. I thank your worship: For mine own part, I never come into any room in a taphouse, but I am Crawn in. Efcal. I thought, by your readiness in the office, you had continued in it fome time: You fay, feven years together? Elb. And a half, fir. Efal. Alas! it hath been great pains to you! they do you wrong to put you fo oft upon't: Are there Efeat. Well; no more of it, mafter Froth :-not men in your ward fufficient to ferve it? Farewell. Come you hither to me, mafter tapster; what's your name, mafter tapster ? Clur. Pompey. Clown. Bum, fir. Efcal. Troth, and your bum is the greatest thing about you; fo that, in the beatlieft fenfe, you are Pompey the great. Pompey, you are partly a bawd, Pompey, howfoever you colour it in being tapfter; Are you not? Come, tell me true; it Thall be the better for you. Clown. Truly, fir, I am a poor fellow that would live. Flb. Faith, fir, few of any wit in fuch matters as they are chofen, they are glad to chufe me for them; I do it for fome piece of money, and go through with all. Eftal. Look you, bring me in the names of fom Efcal. I pray you, home to dinner with me. Fjal. It grieves me for the death of Claudio Efcal. How would you live, Pompey? by be-But there's no remedy. ing a bawd? What do you think of the trade, Pompey is it a lawful trade? Clown. If the law will allow it, fir. Efcal. But the law will not allow it, Pompey; nor it fhall not be allowed in Vienna. Clown. Does your worship mean to geld and fpay all the youth in the city? Efcal. No, Pompey. Clown. Truly, fir, in my poor opinion, they will to 't then: If your worthip will take order for the drabs and the knaves, you need not to fear the bawds. Efcal. There are pretty orders beginning, I can tell you it is but heading and hanging. Clown. If you head and hang all that offend that way but for ten year together, you'll be glad to give out a commiffion for more heads. If this law hold in Vienna ten years, I'll rent the faireft houfe in it, after three-pence a bay 2: If you live to fee this come to pafs, fay, Pompey told you fo. Full. Lord Angelo is fevere. Mercy is not itfelf, that oft looks fo; Ang. Now, what's the matter, provost? Efcal. Thank you, good Pompey; and in re- Prov. Left I might be too rafh: Clean. I thank your worship for your good counfel; but I fhall follow it, as the fieth and fortune fhall better determine. Whip me? No, no; let carman whip his jade; Efcal. Come hither to me, mafter Elbow; come hither, mafter conftable. How long have you been in this place of constable? Elb. Seven year and a half, fir. ing. Go to; let that be mine: Prov. I crave your honour's pardon.- Ang. Difpofe of her To fome more fitting place; and that with speed Serv. Here is the fifter of the man condemn'd, & Draw includes here a variety of fenfes. As it refers to the tapfter, it means, to drain, to empty;" as it refers to hang, it implies to be conveyed to execution on a hurdle. In Froth's aufwer, it imports the fame as to bring along by fome motive or power. 2 Dr. Johnfon fays, a bay of building is, in many parts of England, a comnion term, for the fpace between the main beams of the roof; fo that a barn croffed twice with beams is a barn of three bays. In Staffordshire, it is applied to the two open Spaces of a barn on each fide the threshing-floor. Ang. Ang. Hath he a fifter? Pr. Ay, my good lord; a very virtuous maid, And to be thortly of a fifter-hood, If not already. Would not have been fo ftern Ang. Pray you, be gone. Ifab. I would to heaven I had your potency, And you were Ifabel! fhould it then be thus? g. Well, let her be admitted. [Exit Servant. No; I would tell what 'twere to be a judge, Ang. Stay yet a while.-[To Ifab.] You are wel- Why, all the fouls that were 2, were forfeit once; come: What's your will? ab. I am a woeful fuitor to your honour, Pleate but your honour hear me. Ag. Well; what's your fuit? jab. There is a vice that moft I do abhor, And most defire should meet the blow of juftice: For which I would not plead, but that I must; For which I must not plead, but that I am At war, 'twixt will, and will not. Arg. Well; the matter? Ib. I have a brother is condemn'd to die: Pres. Heaven give thee moving graces! jab. O juft, but fevere law! I had a brother then.-Heaven keep your honour! Lacio. [To Ifab.] Give 't not o'er fo: to him again, intreat him; Kneel down before him, hang upon his gown; Kab. Muft he needs die? dag. Maiden, no remedy. b. Yes; I do think that you might pardon him, And neither heaven, nor man, grieve at the mercy. Ang. I will not do't. Ijab. But can you, if you would? Ag. Look, what I will not, that I cannot do. Ijab. But might you do 't, and do the world no wrong, Iffo your heart were touch'd with that remorse 1 Ag. He's fentenc'd; 'tis too late. [To Ifabel. fab. Too late? why, no; I, that do fpeak a word, May call it back again: Well believe this, No ceremony that to great ones 'longs, Not the king's crown, nor the deputed fword, The marinal's truncheon, nor the judge's robe, Become them with one half so good a grace, As mercy does. If he had been as you, and you as he, You would have flipt, like him; but he, like you, And He that might the 'vantage best have took, Ang. Be you content, fair maid; It is the law, not I, condemns your brother: It should be thus with him;-he muft die to-morrow. Ifab. To-morrow? Oh, that's fudden! Spare him, fpare him; He's not prepar'd for death! Even for our kitchens To our grofs felves? Good, good my lord, bethink you; Lucio. Ay, well said. Ang. The law hath not been dead, tho' it hath sept: Thofe many had not dar'd to do that evil, If the first man, that did the edict infringe, Had anfwer'd for his deed: now, 'tis awake; Takes note of what is done; and, like a prophet, Looks in a glafs + that fhews what future evils, (Either now, or by remiffness new-conceiv'd, And fo in progress to be hatch'd and born) Are now to have no fucceffive degrees, But, ere they live, to end. Ifab. Yet fhew fome pity. Ang. I fhew it most of all, when I fhew juftice; For then I pity those I do not know, Which a difmifs'd offence would after gall; And do him right, that, anfwering one foul wrong, Lives not to act another. Be fatisfy'd; Your brother dies to-morrow; be content. Ifab. So you must be the first, that gives this fenAnd he, that fuffers: Oh, it is excellent [tence; To have a giant's ftrength; but it is tyrannous, To ufe it like a giant. Lucio. That's well faid. Ijab. Could great men thunder As Jove himfelf does, Jove would ne'er be quiet, Thou rather with thy fharp and fulphurous bolt That is, pity. 2 Perhaps we ought to read are. 3 Meaning, that he would be quite another man. This alludes to the fopperies of the berril, much ufed at that time by cheats and fortunetellers to predict by. Paltry. That is, knotted. G& (Draft (Dreft in a little brief authority; Moft ignorant of what he's most affur'd, As make the angels weep; who, with our fpleens, That lying by the violet in the fun, Do as the carrion does, not as the flower, Lucio. Oh, to him, to him, wench; he will relent; And pitch our evils there? Oh, fie, fic, fie! Prov. Pray heaven the win him! Ijab. We cannot weigh our brother with ourself: Great men may jeft with faints: 'tis wit in them; But, in the leis, foul profanation. Lucio. Thou'rt in the right, girl; more o' that. Ifab. That in the captain's but a cholerick word, Which in the foldier is flat blafphemy. Lucio. Art advis'd o' that? more on 't. That skins the vice o' the top: Go to your bofom; Let it not found a thought upon your tongue Ang. [Afide. She peaks, and 'tis Such fenfe, that my fenfe breeds with it. [To Ifab. Fare you well. Ifab. Gentle, my lord, turn back. What doit thou, or what art thou, Angelo? And feaft upon her eyes? what is 't I dream on? Enter Duke, babited like a Friar, and Provoft. Duke. Hail to you, provoft! fo, I think you are. Prov. I am the provoft: What's your will, good friar? [order, Duke. Bound by my charity, and my blefs'd [turn back. I come to vifit the afflicted fpirits Ang. I will bethink me :-Come again to-morrow. Ifab. Hark, how I'll bribe you: Good my lord,| Ang. How! bribe me? Ijab. Ay, with fuch gifts, that heaven fhall thare Lucio. You had marr'd all eife. [with you. Jfab. Not with fond 2 fhekels of the tefted 3 gold, Or ftones, whofe rates are either rich or poor, As fancy values them: but with true prayers, That fhall be up at heaven, and enter there, Ere fun-rife; prayers from preferved fouls 4, From fafting mails, whofe minds are dedicate To nothing temporal. Here in the prifon: do me the common right To let me fee them; and to make me know The nature of their crimes, that I may minifter To them accordingly. [nceaful. Prov. I would do more than that, if more were Look, here comes one; a gentlewoman of mine, Duke. When must he die? Pro. As I do think, to-morrow.- I have provided for you; stay a while, [To Jaliet. And you fhall be conducted. Duke. Repent you, fair one, of the fin you carry? And try your penitence, if it be found, I Dr. Warburton affigns the following meaning to this passage: That if the angels poffeffed that peculiar turn of the human mind, which always inclines it to a spiteful, unfeafonable mirth, they would laugh themselves out of their immortality, by indulging a paífion which does not deserve that prerogative. The ancients thought, that immoderate laughter was caused by the bignels of the fpleen. 2 Fond here means, valued or prized by folly. 3 That is, cupelled, brought to the test, refined. 4 That is, preferved from the corruption of the world. 5 Dr. Johnfon thinks, that inftead of where we should read, which your prayers cross. The meaning of the paffage will then be, The temptation under which I labour is that which thou haft unknowingly thwarted with thy prayer. Perhaps it were better to read flames. 7 That is, has disfigured her tame or reputation. Duke. De Love you the man that wrong'd you? him. [act So play the foolish throngs with one that fwoons; J. Yes, as I love the woman that wrong'd Come all to help him, and fo ftop the air By which he fhould revive: and even fo The general, fubject to a well-wifh'd king, Quit their own part, and in obfequious fondness Crowd to his prefence, where their untaught love Muft needs appear offence. Die. So then, it feems, your moft offenceful Was mutually committed? for. Mutually. D.. Then was your fin of heavier kind than his. As that the fin hath brought you to this fhame,— Shewing, we would not fpare heaven, as we love it, Jallet. I do repent me, as it is an evil; Lake. There rest. Your partner, as I hear, muft die to-morrow, [Exit Pros. Tis pity of him. SCENE Angela's Houfe. Enter Angels. IV. Enter Ifabella. How now, fair maid ? lab. I am come to know your pleasure. [live. Than to demand what 'tis. Your brother cannot Ijab. Even fo -Heaven keep your honour ! [Going. Ang. Yea. Hab. When, I beseech you? that in his reprieve Ang. Ha Fie, these filthy vices! It were as good Their fawcy fweetness 7, that do coin heaven's image Ag. When I would pray and think, I think: To make a falie one 3. and pray T. feveral fubiects: heaven hath my empty words; And in my heart, the strong and fwelling evil jab. How fay you? Any. Nay, I'll not warrant that; for I can fpeak How often doft thou with thy cafe, thy habit,Againft the thing I fay. Anfwer to this,-- Wrench awe from fools, and tie the wifer fouls 1, now the voice of the recorded law, Ifab. Please you to do 't, I'll take it as a peril to my foul, Ang. Pleas'd you to dɔ't, at peril of your foul, Ifab. That I do beg his life, if it be fin, bowe er, reads invention, by which the poet might mean imagination. shere put for cutfide, or external fhew. 5 The meaning is, Let the most wicked thing Thus if we write good angel on the devil's This phrafe of the general, means the people 7 That is, faucy indulgence of the appetite. • The fonfe Marc Des & virtuous pretence, and it fhali pafs for innocent. page is nmply, that murder is as cafy as fornication, and it is as improper to pardon the an as the igrmer, |