Escalus.
Escal.
Every letter he hath writ hath disvouch'd
other.
Ang.
In most uneven and distracted manner.
His actions show much like to madness: pray heaven,
his wisdom be not tainted! and why meet
him at the gates, and re-deliver our authorities
there?
Escal.
I guess not.
-- 171 --
Ang.
And why should we9 note proclaim it in an hour
before his entering, that, if any crave redress of injustice,
they should exhibit their petitions in the
street?
Escal.
He shows his reason for that; to have a
despatch of complaints; and to deliver us from devices
hereafter, which shall then have no power to
stand against us.
Ang.
Well, I beseech you, let it be proclaim'd:
Betimes i' the morn, I'll call you at your house1 note
:
Give notice to such men of sort and suit2 note
,
As are to meet him.
Escal.
I shall, sir: fare you well.
[Exit.
Ang.
Good night.—
This deed unshapes me quite, makes me unpregnant3 note,
-- 172 --
And dull to all proceedings. A deflower'd maid!
And by an eminent body, that enforc'd
The law against it!—But that her tender shame
Will not proclaim against her maiden loss,
How might she tongue me? Yet reason dares her?—no4 note
:
-- 173 --
For my authority bears off a credent bulk,
That no particular scandal once can touch,
But it confounds the breather5 note
. He should have liv'd,
-- 174 --
Save that his riotous youth, with dangerous sense,
Might, in the times to come, have ta'en revenge,
By so receiving a dishonour'd life,
With ransome of such shame. 'Would yet he had liv'd!
Alack, when once our grace we have forgot,
Nothing goes right; we would, and we would not6 note.
[Exit.
James Boswell [1821], The plays and poems of William Shakspeare, with the corrections and illustrations of various commentators: comprehending A Life of the Poet, and an enlarged history of the stage, by the late Edmond Malone. With a new glossarial index (J. Deighton and Sons, Cambridge) [word count] [S10201].
