Claud.
Fellow, why dost thou show me thus to the world?
Bear me to prison, where I am committed.

Prov.
I do it not in evil disposition,
But from lord Angelo by special charge.

Claud.
Thus can the demi-god, Authority,
Make us pay down for our offence by weight.—
The words of heaven;—on whom it will, it will;
On whom it will not, so; yet still 'tis just^{1 note}

Lucio.

Why, how now, Claudio? whence comes this restraint?

Claud.
From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty:
As surfeit is the father of much fast,
So every scope by the immoderate use
Turns to restraint: Our natures do pursue,
(Like rats that ravin down their proper bane^{1 note}

A thirsty evil; and when we drink, we die^{2 note}


.

Lucio.

If I could speak so wisely under an arrest, I would send for certain of my creditors: And yet, to say the truth, I had as lief have the foppery of freedom, as the morality^{3 note} of imprisonment.— What's thy offence, Claudio?

Claud.
What, but to speak of would offend again.

Lucio.
What is it? murder?

Claud.
No.

Lucio.
Lechery?

Claud.
Call it so.

Prov.
Away, sir; you must go.

Claud.
One word, good friend:—Lucio, a word with you. [Takes him aside.

Lucio.
A hundred, if they'll do you any good.—
Is lechery so look'd after?

Claud.
Thus stands it with me:—Upon a true contráct,
I got possession of Julietta's bed^{4 note}

You know the lady; she is fast my wife,
Save that we do the denunciation lack
Of outward order: this we came not to,
Only for propagation of a dower
Remaining in the coffer of her friends^{5 note}

Lucio.
With child, perhaps?

Claud.
Unhappily, even so.
And the new deputy now for the duke,—
Whether it be the fault and glimpse of newness^{6 note}

Or whether that the body public be
A horse whereon the governor doth ride,
Who, newly in the seat, that it may know
He can command, lets it straight feel the spur:
Whether the tyranny be in his place,
Or in his eminence that fills it up,
I stagger in:—But this new governor
Awakes me all the enrolled penalties,
Which have, like unscour'd armour^{7 note}
, hung by the wall
So long, that nineteen zodiacks have gone round^{8 note}
,
And none of them been worn; and, for a name,
Now puts the drowsy and neglected act
Freshly on me^{9 note}

Lucio.

I warrant, it is: and thy head stands so tickle^{1 note}

Claud.
I have done so, but he's not to be found.
I pr'ythee, Lucio, do me this kind service:
This day my sister should the cloister enter,
And there receive her approbation^{2 note}

Such as moves men; beside, she hath prosperous art
When she will play with reason and discourse,
And well she can persuade.

Lucio.

I pray, she may: as well for the encouragement of the like, which else would stand under grievous imposition^{4 note}; as for the enjoying of thy life, who I would be sorry should be thus foolishly lost at a game of tick-tack^{5 note}

Claud.

I thank you, good friend Lucio.

Lucio.

Within two hours,—

Claud.

Come, officer, away.

SCENE IV. A Monastery. Enter Duke, and Friar Thomas.

Duke.
No; holy father; throw away that thought;
Believe not that the dribbling dart of love
Can pierce a cómplete bosom^{6 note}

Fri.
May your grace speak of it?

Duke.
My holy sir, none better knows than you
How I have ever lov'd the life remov'd^{7 note}

I have delivered to lord Angelo
(A man of stricture, and firm abstinence^{1 note}

Fri.
Gladly, my lord.

Duke.
We have strict statutes, and most biting laws,
(The needful bits and curbs for head-strong steeds^{2 note}

Which for these fourteen years we have let sleep^{3 note}

That goes not out to prey: Now, as fond fathers
Having bound up the threat'ning twigs of birch,
Only to stick it in their children's sight,
For terror, not to use; in time the rod
Becomes more mock'd, than fear'd^{4 note}: so our decrees,
Dead to infliction, to themselves are dead;
And liberty plucks justice by the nose;
The baby beats the nurse^{5 note}, and quite athwart
Goes all decorum.

Fri.
It rested in your grace
To unloose this tied-up justice, when you pleas'd:
And it in you more dreadful would have seem'd,
Than in lord Angelo.

Duke.
I do fear, too dreadful:
Sith^{6 note} 'twas my fault to give the people scope,
'Twould be my tyranny to strike, and gall them
For what I bid them do: For we bid this be done,
When evil deeds have their permissive pass,
And not the punishment. Therefore, indeed, my father,
I have on Angelo impos'd the office;
Who may, in the ambush of my name, strike home,
And yet my nature never in the sight,
To do it slander^{7 note}

I will, as 'twere a brother of your order,
Visit both prince and people: therefore, I pr'ythee,
Supply me with the habit, and instruct me
How I may formally in person bear^{8 note}

SCENE V. A Nunnery. Enter Isabella and Francisca.

Isab.
And have you nuns no further privileges?

Fran.
Are not these large enough?

Isab.
Yes, truly: I speak not as desiring more;
But rather wishing a more strict restraint
Upon the sister-hood, the votarists of saint Clare.

Lucio.
Ho! Peace be in this place! [Within.]

Isab.
Who's that which calls?

Fran.
It is a man's voice: Gentle Isabella,
Turn you the key, and know his business of him;
You may, I may not; you are yet unsworn:
When you have vow'd, you must not speak with men,
But in the presence of the prioress:
Then, if you speak, you must not show your face;
Or, if you show your face, you must not speak.
He calls again; I pray you, answer him. [Exit Francisca.

Isab.
Peace and prosperity! Who is't that calls? Enter Lucio.

Lucio.
Hail, virgin, if you be; as those cheek-roses
Proclaim you are no less! Can you so stead me,
As bring me to the sight of Isabella,
A novice of this place, and the fair sister
To her unhappy brother Claudio?

Isab.
Why her unhappy brother? let me ask;
The rather, for I now must make you know
I am that Isabella, and his sister.

Lucio.
Gentle and fair, your brother kindly greets you:

Not to be weary with you, he's in prison.

Isab.
Woe me! for what?

Lucio.
For that, which, if myself might be his judge,
He should receive his punishment in thanks:
He hath got his friend with child.

Isab.
Sir, mock me not—your story^{2 note}

Lucio.
'Tis true. I would not^{3 note}

Tongue far from heart,—play with all virgins so^{5 note}

Isab.
You do blaspheme the good, in mocking me.

Lucio.
Do not believe it. Fewness and truth^{6 note}, 'tis thus:
Your brother and his lover^{7 note}

As those that feed grow full; as blossoming time^{8 note}

Isab.
Some one with child by him?—My cousin Juliet?

Lucio.
Is she your cousin?

Isab.
Adoptedly: as school-maids change their names,
By vain though apt affection.

Lucio.
She it is.

Isab.
O, let him marry her!

Lucio.
This is the point.
The duke is very strangely gone from hence;
Bore many gentlemen, myself being one,
In hand, and hope of action^{9 note}

To soften Angelo: And that's my pith
Of business^{4 note}

Isab.
Doth he so seek his life?

Lucio.
Has censur'd him^{5 note}

Isab.
Alas! what poor ability's in me
To do him good?

Lucio.
Assay the power you have.

Isab.
My power! Alas! I doubt,—

Lucio.
Our doubts are traitors,
And make us lose the good we oft might win,
By fearing to attempt: Go to lord Angelo,
And let him learn to know, when maidens sue,
Men give like gods; but when they weep and kneel,
All their petitions are as freely theirs^{6 note}

As they themselves would owe them^{7 note}.

Isab.
I'll see what I can do.

Lucio.
But, speedily.

Isab.
I will about it straight;
No longer staying but to give the mother^{8 note}
Notice of my affair. I humbly thank you:
Commend me to my brother: soon at night
I'll send him certain word of my success.

Lucio.
I take my leave of you.

Isab.
Good sir, adieu. [Exeunt.

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