Gentlemen.
Lucio.
If the duke, with the other dukes, come not to
composition with the King of Hungary, why then all the
dukes fall upon the king.
First Gent.
Heaven grant us its peace, but not the
King of Hungary's!
Sec. Gent.
Amen.
Lucio.
Thou concludest like the sanctimonious pirate,
that went to sea with the Ten Commandments, but scraped
one out of the table.
Sec. Gent.
‘Thou shalt not steal’?
Lucio.
Ay, that he razed.
-- 299 --
First Gent.
Why, 'twas note a commandment to command
the captain and all the rest from their functions: they put
forth to steal. There's not a soldier of us all, that, in the
thanksgiving before note meat, do note relish the petition well that
prays for peace.
Sec. Gent.
I never heard any soldier dislike it.
Lucio.
I believe thee; for I think thou never wast
where grace was said.
Sec. Gent.
No? a dozen times at least.
First Gent.
What, in metre?
Lucio.
In any proportion or in any language.
First Gent.
I think, or in any religion.
Lucio.
Ay, why not? Grace is grace, despite of all
controversy: as, for example, thou thyself art a wicked
villain, despite of all grace. note
First Gent.
Well, there went but a pair of shears between
us.
Lucio.
I grant; as there may between the lists note and the
velvet. Thou art the list.
First Gent.
And thou the velvet: thou art good velvet;
thou'rt a three-piled piece, I warrant thee: I had as lief
be a list of an English kersey, as be piled, as thou art
piled, for a French velvet. Do I speak feelingly now?
Lucio.
I think thou dost; and, indeed, with most painful
feeling of thy speech: I will, out of thine own confession,
learn to begin thy health; but, whilst I live, forget to
drink after thee.
First Gent.
I think I have done myself wrong, have
I not?
Sec. Gent.
Yes, that thou hast, whether thou art tainted
noteor free.
-- 300 --
note
Lucio.
Behold, behold, where Madam Mitigation
comes! I have note purchased as many diseases under her roof
as come to—
Sec. Gent.
To what, I pray?
Lucio.
Judge.
Sec. Gent.
To three thousand dolours note a year.
First Gent.
Ay, and more.
Lucio.
A French crown more.
First Gent.
Thou art always figuring diseases in me;
but thou art full of error; I am sound.
Lucio.
Nay, not as one would say, healthy; but so
sound as things that are hollow: thy bones are hollow;
impiety has made a feast of thee.
noteEnter Mistress Overdone.
First Gent.
How now! which of your hips has the
most profound sciatica?
Mrs Ov.
Well, well; there's one yonder arrested and
carried to prison was worth five thousand of you all.
Sec. Gent.
Who's that, I pray thee?
Mrs Ov.
Marry, sir, that's Claudio, Signior Claudio.
First Gent.
Claudio to prison? 'tis not so.
Mrs Ov.
Nay, but I know 'tis so: I saw him arrested;
saw him carried away; and, which is more, within these
three days his head note to be chopped off.
Lucio.
But, after all this fooling, I would not have it
so. Art thou sure of this?
Mrs Ov.
I am too sure of it: and it is for getting
Madam Julietta with child.
Lucio.
Believe me, this may be: he promised to meet
me two hours since, and he was ever precise in promise-keeping.
Sec. Gent.
Besides, you know, it draws something near
to the speech we had to such a purpose.
-- 301 --
First Gent.
But, most of all, agreeing with the proclamation.
Lucio.
Away! let's go learn the truth of it.
[Exeunt Lucio and Gentlemen.
Mrs Ov.
Thus, what with the war, what with the
sweat, what with the gallows, and what with poverty, I am
custom-shrunk.
noteEnter Pompey.
How now! what's the news with you?
Pom.
Yonder man is carried to prison.
Mrs Ov.
Well; what has he done?
Pom.
A woman.
Mrs Ov.
But what's his offence?
Pom.
Groping for trouts in a peculiar river.
Mrs Ov.
What, is there a maid with child by him?
Pom.
No, but there's a woman with maid note by him.
You have not heard of the proclamation, have you?
Mrs Ov.
What proclamation, man?
Pom.
All houses note in the suburbs of Vienna must be
plucked down.
Mrs Ov.
And what shall become of those in the city?
Pom.
They shall stand for seed: they had gone down
too, but that a wise burgher put in for them.
Mrs Ov.
But shall all note our houses of resort in the suburbs
be pulled down?
Pom.
To the ground, mistress.
Mrs Ov.
Why, here's a change indeed in the common-wealth!
What shall become of me?
Pom.
Come; fear not you: good counsellors lack no
clients: though you change your place, you need not
change your trade; I'll be your tapster still. Courage!
there will be pity taken on you: you that have worn your
eyes almost out in the service, you will be considered.
Mrs Ov.
What's to do here, Thomas tapster? let's
withdraw.
-- 302 --
Pom.
Here comes Signior Claudio, led by the provost
to prison; and there's Madam Juliet.
[Exeunt.
noteEnter Provost, Claudio, Juliet note, and Officers.
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 note Angelo by special charge.
Claud.
Thus can the demigod Authority
Make us pay down for our offence note by weight
The words note of heaven;—on whom it will, it will;
On whom it will not, so; yet still 'tis just note.
Re-enter Lucio and two Gentlemen.
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 note by the immoderate use
Turns to restraint. Our natures do pursue,
Like rats that ravin down their proper bane,
A thirsty evil note; and when we drink we die.
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 note of imprisonment. What's thy offence, Claudio?
Claud.
What but to speak of would offend again.
Lucio.
What, is't murder?
-- 303 --
Claud.
No.
Lucio.
Lechery?
Claud.
Call it so.
Prov.
Away, sir! you must go.
Claud.
One word, good friend. Lucio, a word with you.
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 contract
I got possession of Julietta's bed:
You know the lady; she is fast my wife,
Save that we do the denunciation note lack
Of outward order: this we came not to,
Only for propagation note of a dower
Remaining in the coffer of her friends;
From whom we thought it meet to hide our love
Till time had made them for us. But it chances
The stealth of our most note mutual entertainment
With character too gross is writ on note Juliet.
Lucio.
With child, perhaps?
Claud.
Unhappily, even so.
And the new Deputy now for the Duke,—
Whether it be the fault and note glimpse note of newness,
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, hung by the wall
So long, that nineteen note zodiacs have gone round,
And none of them been worn; and, for a name,
-- 304 --
Now puts the drowsy and neglected act
Freshly on me: 'tis surely for a name.
Lucio.
I warrant it is note: and thy head stands so tickle
on thy shoulders, that a milkmaid, if she be note in love, may
sigh it off. Send after the duke, and appeal to him.
Claud.
I have done so, but he's not to be found.
I prithee, Lucio, do me this kind service:
This day my sister should the cloister enter
And there receive her approbation:
Acquaint her with the danger of my state;
Implore her, in my voice note, that she make friends
To the strict deputy; bid herself assay him:
I have great hope in that; for in her youth note
There is a prone note and speechless dialect,
Such as move note men; beside note, 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 note grievous imposition note,
as for the enjoying of note thy life, who I would note be sorry
should be thus foolishly lost at a game of tick-tack. I'll
to her note.
Claud.
I thank you, good friend Lucio.
Lucio.
Within two hours.
Claud.
Come, officer, away!
[Exeunt.
-- 305 --
note
William Aldis Wright [1863–1866], The works of William Shakespeare edited by William George Clark... and John Glover [and William Aldis Wright] (Macmillan and Co., London) [word count] [S10701].
