Duke.
My very worthy cousin, fairly met:—
Our old and faithful friend, we are glad to see you.

Ang. and Escal.
Happy return be to your royal grace!

Duke.
Many and hearty thankings to you both,

We have made inquiry of you; and we hear
Such goodness of your justice, that our soul
Cannot but yield you forth to public thanks,
Forerunning more requital.

Ang.
You make my bonds still greater.

Duke.
O, your desert speaks loud; and I should wrong it,
To lock it in the wards of covert bosom,
When it deserves with characters of brass
A forted residence, 'gainst the tooth of time,
And razure of oblivion: Give me your hand,
And let the subject see, to make them know
That outward courtesies would fain proclaim
Favours that keep within.—Come, Escalus;
You must walk by us on our other hand;—
And good supporters are you. Peter and Isabella come forward.

F. Peter.
Now is your time; speak loud, and kneel before him.

Isab.
Justice, O royal duke! Vail your regard^{4 note}

Duke.
Relate your wrongs: In what? By whom? Be brief:
Here is lord Angelo shall give you justice;
Reveal yourself to him.

Isab.
O, worthy duke,
You bid me seek redemption of the devil:
Hear me yourself; for that which I must speak
Must either punish me, not being believ'd,
Or wring redress from you: hear me, O, hear me, here.

Ang.
My lord, her wits, I fear me, are not firm:
She hath been a suitor to me for her brother,
Cut off by course of justice.

Isab.
By course of justice!

Ang.
And she will speak most bitterly, and strange.

Isab.
Most strange, but yet most truly, will I speak:
That Angelo's forsworn; is it not strange?
That Angelo's a murderer; is't not strange?
That Angelo is an adulterous thief,
An hypocrite, a virgin-violator;
Is it not strange, and strange?

Duke.
Nay, ten times strange.

Isab.
It is not truer he is Angelo,
Than this is all as true as it is strange:
Nay, it is ten times true; for truth is truth
To the end of reckoning^{5 note}
.

Duke.
Away with her:—Poor soul,
She speaks this in the infirmity of sense.

Isab.
O prince, I cónjure thee, as thou believ'st

There is another comfort than this world,
That thou neglect me not, with that opinion
That I am touch'd with madness: make not impossible
That which but seems unlike: 'tis not impossible,
But one, the wicked'st caitiff on the ground,
May seem as shy, as grave, as just, as absolute^{6 note},
As Angelo; even so may Angelo,
In all his dressings^{7 note}, characts^{8 note}

Duke.
By mine honesty,
If she be mad, (as I believe no other,)
Her madness hath the oddest frame of sense,
Such a dependency of thing on thing,
As e'er I heard in madness^{9 note}
.

Isab.
O, gracious duke,
Harp not on that; nor do not banish reason
For inequality^{1 note}

Duke.
Many that are not mad,
Have, sure, more lack of reason.—What would you say?

Isab.
I am the sister of one Claudio,
Condemn'd upon the act of fornication
To lose his head; condemn'd by Angelo:
I, in probation of a sisterhood,
Was sent to by my brother: One Lucio
As then the messenger;—

Lucio.
That's I, an't like your grace:

I came to her from Claudio, and desir'd her
To try her gracious fortune with lord Angelo,
For her poor brother's pardon.

Isab.
That's he, indeed.

Duke.
You were not bid to speak.

Lucio.
No, my good lord;
Nor wish'd to hold my peace.

Duke.
I wish you now then;
Pray you, take note of it: and when you have
A business for yourself, pray heaven, you then
Be perfect.

Lucio.
I warrant your honour.

Duke.
The warrant's for yourself; take heed to it.

Isab.
This gentleman told somewhat of my tale.

Lucio.
Right.

Duke.
It may be right; but you are in the wrong
To speak before your time.—Proceed.

Isab.
I went
To this pernicious caitiff deputy.

Duke.
That's somewhat madly spoken.

Isab.
Pardon it;
The phrase is to the matter^{2 note}.

Duke.
Mended again: the matter;—Proceed.

Isab.
In brief,—to set the needless process by,
How I persuaded, how I pray'd, and kneel'd,
How he refell'd me^{3 note}

(For this was of much length,) the vile conclusion
I now begin with grief and shame to utter:
He would not, but by gift of my chaste body
To his concupiscible intemperate lust^{4 note},
Release my brother; and, after much debatement,
My sisterly remorse^{5 note}
confutes mine honour,
And I did yield to him: But the next morn betimes,
His purpose surfeiting^{6 note}
, he sends a warrant
For my poor brother's head.

Duke.
This is most likely!

Isab.
O, that it were as like, as it is true^{7 note}

Duke.
By heaven, fond wretch^{8 note}
, thou know'st not what thou speak'st;

Or else thou art suborn'd against his honour,
In hateful practice^{9 note}

Isab.
And is this all?
Then, oh, you blessed ministers above,
Keep me in patience; and, with ripen'd time,
Unfold the evil which is here wrapt up
In countenance^{1 note}

Duke.
I know, you'd fain be gone:—An officer!
To prison with her:—Shall we thus permit
A blasting and a scandalous breath to fall
On him so near us? This needs must be a practice^{2 note}

—Who knew of your intent, and coming hither?

Isab.
One that I would were here, friar Lodowick.

Duke.
A ghostly father, belike:—Who knows that Lodowick?

Lucio.
My lord, I know him; 'tis a medling friar;
I do not like the man: had he been lay, my lord,
For certain words he spake against your grace
In your retirement, I had swing d him soundly.

Duke.
Words against me? This' a good friar, belike!
And to set on this wretched woman here
Against our substitute!—Let this friar be found.

Lucio.
But yesternight, my lord, she and that friar
I saw them at the prison: a saucy friar,
A very scurvy fellow.

F. Peter.
Blessed be your royal grace!
I have stood by, my lord, and I have heard
Your royal ear abus'd: First, hath this woman
Most wrongfully accus'd your substitute;
Who is as free from touch or soil with her,
As she from one ungot.

Duke.
We did believe no less.
Know you that friar Lodowick, that she speaks of?

F. Peter.
I know him for a man divine and holy;
Not scurvy, nor a temporary medler^{3 note}

As he's reported by this gentleman;
And, on my trust, a man that never yet
Did, as he vouches, misreport your grace.

Lucio.
My lord, most villainously; believe it.

F. Peter.
Well, he in time may come to clear himself;
But at this instant he is sick, my lord,
Of a strange fever: Upon his mere request^{4 note}

(To justify this worthy nobleman,
So vulgarly^{6 note}

Duke.
Good friar, let's hear it. [Isabella is carried off guarded; and Mariana comes forward.
Do you not smile at this, lord Angelo?—
O heaven! the vanity of wretched fools!—
Give us some seats.—Come, cousin Angelo;
In this I'll be impartial; be you judge
Of your own cause^{7 note}

First, let her show her face^{8 note}; and, after, speak.

Mari.
Pardon, my lord; I will not show my face,
Until my husband bid me.

Duke.
What, are you married?

Mari.
No, my lord.

Duke.
Are you a maid?

Mari.
No, my lord.

Duke.
A widow then?

Mari.
Neither, my lord.

Duke.
Why, you
Are nothing then:—Neither maid, widow, nor wife^{9 note}?

Lucio.

My lord, she may be a punk; for many of them are neither maid, widow, nor wife.

Duke.
Silence that fellow: I would, he had some cause
To prattle for himself.

Lucio.
Well, my lord.

Mari.
My lord, I do confess I ne'er was married;
And, I confess, besides, I am no maid:
I have known my husband; yet my husband knows not,
That ever he knew me.

Lucio.

He was drunk then, my lord; it can be no better.

Duke.

For the benefit of silence, 'would thou wert so too.

Lucio.

Well, my lord.

Duke.

This is no witness for lord Angelo.

Mari.
Now I come to't, my lord:
She, that accuses him of fornication,
In self-same manner doth accuse my husband;
And charges him, my lord, with such a time,
When I'll depose I had him in mine arms,
With all the effect of love.

Ang.
Charges she more than me?

Mari.
Not that I know.

Duke.
No? you say, your husband.

Mari.
Why, just my lord, and that is Angelo,
Who thinks, he knows, that he ne'er knew my body,
But knows, he thinks, that he knows Isabel's.

Ang.
This is a strange abuse^{1 note}

Mari.
My husband bids me; now I will unmask. [Unveiling.
This is that face, thou cruel Angelo,
Which, once thou swor'st, was worth the looking on:
This is the hand, which, with a vow'd contráct,
Was fast belock'd in thine: this is the body
That took away the match from Isabel,
And did supply thee at thy garden-house^{3 note}

Duke.
Know you this woman?

Lucio.
Carnally, she says.

Duke.
Sirrah, no more.

Lucio.
Enough, my lord.

Ang.
My lord, I must confess, I know this woman;
And, five years since, there was some speech of marriage
Betwixt myself and her; which was broke off,
Partly, for that her promised proportions
Came short of composition^{3 note}
; but, in chief,
For that her reputation was disvalued
In levity: since which time, of five years,
I never spake with her, saw her, nor heard from her,
Upon my faith and honour.

Mari.
Noble prince,
As there comes light from heaven, and words from breath,
As there is sense in truth, and truth in virtue,
I am affianc'd this man's wife, as strongly
As words could make up vows: and, my good lord,
But Tuesday night last gone, in his garden-house,
He knew me as a wife: As this is true

Let me in safety raise me from my knees;
Or else for ever be confixed here,
A marble monument!

Ang.
I did but smile till now;
Now, good my lord, give me the scope of justice;
My patience here is touch'd: I do perceive,
These poor informal women^{4 note}

Duke.
Ay, with my heart;
And punish them unto your height of pleasure.—
Thou foolish friar; and thou pernicious woman,
Compáct with her that's gone! think'st thou, thy oaths,
Though they would swear down each particular saint^{5 note}
,
Were testimonies against his worth and credit,
That's seal'd in approbation^{6 note}?—You, lord Escalus,

Sit with my cousin: lend him your kind pains
To find out this abuse, whence 'tis deriv'd.—
There is another friar that set them on;
Let him be sent for.

F. Peter.
Would he were here, my lord; for he, indeed,
Hath set the women on to this complaint:
Your provost knows the place where he abides,
And he may fetch him.

Duke.
Go, do it instantly.— [Exit Provost.
And you, my noble and well-warranted cousin,
Whom it concerns to hear this matter forth^{7 note},
Do with your injuries as seems you best,
In any chastisement: I for a while
Will leave you; but stir not you, till you have well
Determined upon these slanderers.

Escal.

My lord, we'll do it thoroughly.—[Exit Duke.] Signior Lucio, did not you say, you knew that Friar Lodowick to be a dishonest person?

Lucio.

Cucullus non facit monachum: honest in nothing, but in his clothes; and one that hath spoke most villainous speeches of the duke.

Escal.

We shall entreat you to abide here till he come, and enforce them against him: we shall find this friar a notable fellow.

Lucio.

As any in Vienna, on my word.

Escal.

Call that same Isabel here once again; [To an Attendant.] I would speak with her: Pray you, my lord, give me leave to question; you shall see how I'll handle her.

Lucio.

Not better than he, by her own report.

Escal.

Say you?

Lucio.

Marry, sir, think, if you handled her

privately, she would sooner confess; perchance, publickly she'll be ashamed.

Escal.

I will go darkly to work with her.

Lucio.

That's the way; for women are light at midnight^{8 note}
.

Escal.

Come on, mistress: [To Isabella.] here's a gentlewoman denies all that you have said.

Lucio.

My lord, here comes the rascal I spoke of; here with the provost.

Escal.

In very good time:—speak not you to him, till we call upon you.

Lucio.

Mum.

Escal.

Come, sir: Did you set these women on to slander lord Angelo? they have confess'd you did.

Duke.

'Tis false.

Escal.

How! know you where you are?

Duke.
Respect to your great place! and let the devil
Be sometime honour'd for his burning throne^{9 note}

Where is the duke? 'tis he should hear me speak.

Escal.
The duke's in us; and we will hear you speak:
Look, you speak justly.

Duke.
Boldly, at least:—But, O, poor souls,
Come you to seek the lamb here of the fox?
Good night to your redress. Is the duke gone?
Then is your cause gone too. The duke's unjust,
Thus to retort your manifest appeal^{1 note},
And put your trial in the villain's mouth,
Which here you come to accuse.

Lucio.
This is the rascal; this is he I spoke of.

Escal.
Why, thou unreverend and unhallow'd friar!
Is't not enough, thou hast suborn'd these women
To accuse this worthy man; but, in foul mouth,
And in the witness of his proper ear,
To call him villain?
And then to glance from him to the duke himself;
To tax him with injustice?—Take him hence;
To the rack with him:—We'll touze you joint by joint,
But we will know this purpose^{2 note}

Duke.
Be not so hot; the duke
Dare no more stretch this finger of mine, than he
Dare rack his own; his subject am I not,
Nor here provincial^{3 note}

Escal.
Slander to the state! Away with him to prison.

Ang.
What can you vouch against him, signior Lucio?
Is this the man that you did tell us of?

Lucio.

'Tis he, my lord. Come hither, goodman bald-pate: Do you know me?

Duke.

I remember you, sir, by the sound of your voice: I met you at the prison, in the absence of the duke.

Lucio.

O, did you so? And do you remember what you said of the duke?

Duke.

Most notedly, sir.

Lucio.

Do you so, sir? And was the duke a fleshmonger, a fool, and a coward^{6 note}

Duke.

You must, sir, change persons with me, ere you make that my report: you, indeed, spoke so of him; and much more, much worse.

Lucio.

O thou damnable fellow! Did not I pluck thee by the nose, for thy speeches?

Duke.

I protest, I love the duke, as I love myself.

Ang.

Hark! how the villain would close now, after his treasonable abuses.

Escal.

Such a fellow is not to be talk'd withal:— Away with him to prison:—Where is the provost? —Away with him to prison; lay bolts enough upon him: let him speak no more:—Away with those giglots too^{7 note}

, and with the other confederate companion.

Duke.

Stay, sir; stay a while.

Ang.

What! resists he? Help him, Lucio.

Lucio.

Come, sir; come, sir; come, sir; foh, sir: Why, you bald-pated, lying rascal! you must be hooded, must you! show your knave's visage, with a pox to you! show your sheep-biting face, and be hang'd an hour! Will't not off^{8 note}

Duke.
Thou art the first knave, that e'er made a duke.—
First, Provost, let me bail these gentle three:—
Sneak not away, sir; [To Lucio.] for the friar and you
Must have a word anon:—lay hold on him.

Lucio.
This may prove worse than hanging.

Duke.
What you have spoke, I pardon; sit you down.— [To Escalus.
We'll borrow place of him:—Sir, by your leave: [To Angelo.
Hast thou or word, or wit, or impudence,
That yet can do thee office^{9 note}? If thou hast,
Rely upon it till my tale be heard,
And hold no longer out.

Ang.
O my dread lord,
I should be guiltier than my guiltiness,
To think I can be undiscernible,

When I perceive, your grace, like power divine,
Hath look'd upon my passes^{1 note}: Then, good prince,
No longer session hold upon my shame,
But let my trial be mine own confession;
Immediate sentence then, and sequent death,
Is all the grace I beg.

Duke.
Come hither, Mariana:—
Say, wast thou e'er contracted to this woman?

Ang.
I was, my lord.

Duke.
Go take her hence, and marry her instantly.—
Do you the office, friar; which consummate^{2 note},
Return him here again:—Go with him, Provost. [Exeunt Angelo, Mariana, Peter, and Provost.

Escal.
My lord, I am more amaz'd at his dishonour,
Than at the strangeness of it.

Duke.
Come hither, Isabel:
Your friar is now your prince: As I was then
Advértising, and holy^{3 note} to your business,
Not changing heart with habit, I am still
Attorney'd at your service.

Isab.
O, give me pardon,
That I, your vassal, have employ'd and pain'd
Your unknown sovereignty.

Duke.
You are pardon'd, Isabel:
And now, dear maid, be you as free to us^{4 note}.
Your brother's death, I know, sits at your heart;

And you may marvel, why I obscur'd myself,
Labouring to save his life; and would not rather
Make rash remonstrance of my hidden power^{5 note}

Isab.
I do, my lord.

Duke.
For this new-married man, approaching here,
Whose salt imagination yet hath wrong'd
Your well-defended honour, you must pardon
For Mariana's sake: but as he adjudg'd your brother,
(Being criminal, in double violation
Of sacred chastity, and of promise-breach^{7 note},
Thereon dependent, for your brother's life,)
The very mercy of the law cries out

Most audible, even from his proper tongue^{8 note}

,
An Angelo for Claudio, death for death.
Haste still pays haste, and leisure answers leisure;
Like doth quit like, and Measure still for Measure^{9 note}

Mari.
O, my most gracious lord,
I hope you will not mock me with a husband!

Duke.
It is your husband mock'd you with a husband:
Consenting to the safeguard of your honour,
I thought your marriage fit; else imputation,
For that he knew you, might reproach your life,
And choke your good to come: for his possessions,
Although by confiscation they are ours^{2 note}

We do instate and widow you withal,
To buy you a better husband.

Mari.
O, my dear lord,
I crave no other, nor no better man.

Duke.
Never crave him; we are definitive.

Mari.
Gentle, my liege,— [Kneeling.

Duke.
You do but lose your labour;
Away with him to death.—Now, sir, [To Lucio.] to you.

Mari.
O, my good lord!—Sweet Isabel, take my part;
Lend me your knees, and all my life to come
I'll lend you, all my life to do you service.

Duke.
Against all sense you do impórtune her^{3 note}

Mari.
Isabel,
Sweet Isabel, do yet but kneel by me;
Hold up your hands, say nothing, I'll speak all.
They say, best men are moulded out of faults;
And, for the most, become much more the better
For being a little bad: so may my husband.
O, Isabel! will you not lend a knee?

Duke.
He dies for Claudio's death.

Isab.
Most bounteous sir, [Kneeling.
Look, if it please you, on this man condemn'd,
As if my brother liv'd: I partly think,
A due sincerity govern'd his deeds,
Till he did look on me^{4 note}

That perish'd by the way^{6 note}


: thoughts are no subjects;
Intents but merely thoughts.

Mari.
Merely, my lord.

Duke.
Your suit's unprofitable; stand up, I say.—
I have bethought me of another fault:—
Provost, how came it, Claudio was beheaded
At an unusual hour?

Prov.
It was commanded so.

Duke.
Had you a special warrant for the deed?

Prov.
No, my good lord; it was by private message.

Duke.
For which I do discharge you of your office:
Give up your keys.

Prov.
Pardon me, noble lord:
I thought it was a fault, but knew it not;
Yet did repent me, after more advice^{7 note}
:
For testimony whereof, one in the prison,
That should by private order else have died,
I have reserv'd alive.

Duke.
What's he?

Prov.
His name is Barnardine.

Duke.
I would thou had'st done so by Claudio.—
Go, fetch him hither; let me look upon him. [Exit Provost.

Escal.
I am sorry, one so learned and so wise
As you, lord Angelo, have still appear'd,
Should slip so grossly, both in the heat of blood,

And lack of temper'd judgment afterward.

Ang.
I am sorry, that such sorrow I procure:
And so deep sticks it in my penitent heart,
That I crave death more willingly than mercy;
'Tis my deserving, and I do entreat it. Re-enter Provost, Barnardine, Claudio, and Juliet.

Duke.
Which is that Barnardine?

Prov.
This, my lord.

Duke.
There was a friar told me of this man:—
Sirrah, thou art said to have a stubborn soul,
That apprehends no further than this world,
And squar'st thy life according. Thou'rt condemn'd;
But, for those earthly faults^{8 note}, I quit them all;
And pray thee, take this mercy to provide
For better times to come:—Friar, advise him;
I leave him to your hand.—What muffled fellow's that?

Prov.
This is another prisoner, that I sav'd,
That should have died when Claudio lost his head;
As like almost to Claudio, as himself. [Unmuffles Claudio.

Duke.
If he be like your brother, [To Isabella.] for his sake
Is he pardon'd; And, for your lovely sake,
Give me your hand, and say you will be mine,
He is my brother too: But fitter time for that.
By this, lord Angelo perceives he's safe^{9 note}

Methinks, I see a quick'ning in his eye:—
Well, Angelo, your evil quits you well^{1 note}:
Look that you love your wife^{2 note}
; her worth, worth yours^{3 note}

Lucio.

'Faith, my lord, I spoke it but according to the trick^{6 note}

but I had rather it would please you, I might be whipp'd.

Duke.
Whipp'd first, sir, and hang'd after.—
Proclaim it, provost, round about the city;
If any woman's wrong'd by this lewd fellow,
(As I have heard him swear himself, there's one
Whom he begot with child,) let her appear,
And he shall marry her: the nuptial finish'd,
Let him be whipp'd and hang'd.

Lucio.

I beseech your highness, do not marry me to a whore! Your highness said even now, I made you a duke; good my lord, do not recompense me, in making me a cuckold.

Duke.
Upon mine honour, thou shalt marry her.
Thy slanders I forgive; and therewithal
Remit thy other forfeits^{7 note}

Lucio.

Marrying a punk, my lord, is pressing to death, whipping, and hanging.

Duke.
Sland'ring a prince deserves it.—
She, Claudio, that you wrong'd, look you restore.—
Joy to you, Mariana!—love her, Angelo;
I have confess'd her, and I know her virtue.—
Thanks, good friend Escalus, for thy much goodness^{8 note}








:

There's more behind, that is more gratulate^{9 note}

Forgive him, Angelo, that brought you home
The head of Ragozine for Claudio's;
The offence pardons itself.—Dear Isabel,
I have a motion much imports your good;
Whereto if you'll a willing ear incline,
What's mine is yours, and what is yours is mine:—
So, bring us to our palace; where we'll show
What's yet behind, that's meet you all should know. [Exeunt¹. ^note

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