Duke.
No, holy father; throw away that thought;
Believe not that the dribbling dart of love,
Can pierce a compleat bosom; why I desire thee
To give me secret harbour, hath a purpose,
More grave and wrinkled, than the aims and ends,
Of burning youth.

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;
And held in idle price to haunt assemblies,
Where youth, and cost, and witness bravery keeps.
I have deliver'd to Lord Angelo,
(A man of stricture and firm abstinence)
My absolute pow'r and place, here in Vienna;
And he supposes me travell'd to Poland.
For so I've strew'd it in the common ear,
And so it is receiv'd: now, pious Sir,
You will demand of me, why I do this?

Fri.
Gladly, my Lord.

Duke.
We have strict statutes and most binding laws,
(The needful bits and curbs for headstrong steeds,)
Which for these nineteen years we have let sleep;
Even like an o'er-grown lion in a cave,
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: so our decrees,
Dead to infliction, to themselves are dead;
And liberty plucks justice by the nose;
The baby beats the nurse, and quite athwart
Goes all decorum* ^note.

Fri.
It rested in your Grace
T'unloose this ty'd-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 '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, good father,
I have on Angelo impos'd the office,
Who may in th' ambush of my name strike home:
And to behold his sway,
I will, as 'twere a brother of your order,
Visit both Prince and people; therefore pr'ythee,
Supply me with the habit, and instruct me
How I may formally in person bear,
Like a true Friar. More reasons for this action,
At our more leisure shall I render you;
Only, this one:—Lord Angelo is precise† ^note;

Stands at a guard with envy; scarce confesses
That his blood flows, or that his appetite
Is more to bread than stone: hence shall we see,
If pow'r change purpose, what our seemers be. [Exeunt.

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