Fryer Thomas.
Duk.
Think not I've chang'd my Ducal Robes for these,
Because I Love—no 'tis a cause more wrinkl'd
Has made me assume this Habit, tho' your Duke.
We have strict Statutes, and sharp Penal Laws,
Which I have suffer'd Nineteen years to sleep,
Ev'n like an over-grown Lion, in a Cave,
That goes not out to Prey. But as fond Fathers
So long stick up the Rod for Terror, that
-- 17 --
The bold Child contemns it, so our Decrees,
Dead to Infliction, to themselves are dead,
And forward Liberty does Justice strike
As Infants do the Nurse: Wherefore I have
Fixt all my Pow'r in Angelo, that he
May wake these drowsie Laws to Execution.
Fryer.
Ty'd up Justice, Sir, you soon might loose;
And 'twou'd more dreadful seem in you than Angelo.
Duke.
Too dreadful, Sir, in me:—for since it was
My fault to give the People so much Hope,
It may seem Tyranny to punish them
For what my own Permission bid them act:
For Pow'r that hinders not ill Deeds, commands them.
Fryer.
I am convinc'd.
Duke.
I have on Angelo impos'd
Th' unpleasant Pow'r of punishing; while I
In this Disguise may visit Prince and People:
And hear how both approve this means I've taken.
Fryer.
You find already how you've been mistaken
In Angelo, you so long thought a Saint:
And I am glad I've found this way to help
The injur'd Mariana.
Duke.
But that she told it
In her Confession, I should yet doubt the Truth
That Angelo is her true married Husband
While he has made his false severity
Bawd to his Fame, and Broaker to his Vice
Of Avarice. This makes me, Father,
By your Assistance try to speak with Claudio,
To sift, and know if what Report has spread,
Be true, of his being married to Julietta.
Fryer.
'Twill not be difficult; because we always
Go forth in Pairs, ev'n to these Deeds of Goodness:
But see the Provost.
Enter Provost.
Duke.
Hail to thee, Provost, so I think you are.
Prov.
I am the Provost: What's your Will, good Fathers?
Fryer.
Bound by our Charity and holy Orders,
We come to visit the afflicted Minds
In Prison here; Do us the common Right
To let us see 'em, and to tell their Crimes,
That we may minister according to their nature.
Prov.
I wou'd do more than that if more were needful.
-- 18 --
This, Sir, is Claudio,
Enter Claudio.
Who dies to morrow for uncertain Crimes,
For Innocence that wants a Proof, is Guilt.
Duke.
Must he then die?
Prov.
I think to morrow.
I'll leave him to your pious Exhortations.
Exit.
Claud.
There is no Rack so painful in this Prison,
As that which stretches me 'twixt Hope and Doubt.
Duke.
Blessings on you, Son, I've heard your Fortune:
And as the Duty of my Orders bid me,
I wou'd exhort you to a true Repentance.
Claud.
O Fathers, I rejoice at your Arrival:
For it will ease me of my greatest Pain.
Duke.
This pious Disposition's a good Sign
That you repent the Sin that brought you hither.
Claud.
'Twas not my Sin, but Folly brought me hither:
And yet it was a Sin to wish for ought
Beyond Possession of so pure a Virtue.
You say you are no Stranger to my Story:
You then have heard too of a Lady's Suff'rings,
Which I thro' Avarice, alas, have caus'd.
That, that, my Fathers, is the Sin that racks me;
That haunts my Conscience; and that only you
Can e'er appease: For oh! a Lady's Honour
And lost for me, is a more cruel Murther,
Than if I'd ta'ne her Life.
Duke.
Have Comfort, Son; for Heav'n,
Indulgent to our Frailty, is content
To take our Penitence, if it be true,
For our Transgressions.
Claud.
Oh! Heaven is merciful;
Because 'tis wise and just, and knows our Sorrows:
But Man by Ignorance, jealous of our Hearts,
Or else by his own Passions, led from Goodness,
Still deviates from the beauteous Paths of Mercy,
And seldom keeps the noble Tracks of Justice.
Oh, hear me then: I look on you as Heaven:—
[Kneels.
(For we are taught you represent high Heaven
By Delegation too possess its Power of Mercy)
My Birth was Noble, tho' my Fortune small,
Which is a Clog upon a generous Soul,
That might excuse the Caution that I us'd,
When to secure the mighty Dowr of Juliet
I married her in private.
Duke.
Then are you married?
-- 19 --
Claud.
I call all Heav'n to witness that we are.
A Father of your Order joyn'd our Hands.
Fryer.
His Name, my Son.
Claud.
'Twas Father Pierre, not long
Return'd to France to his own Monastery,
I've writ to him; but the too cruel Deputy,
Press'd by the barb'rous Avarice of Pedro,
Will not expect his Answer.
Duke.
Rise up, my Son.
Claud.
No, my good Father, till I have your Promise
To justifie immediately Julietta's Honour.
Duke.
We promise our Endeavour, Sir, to do it.
Claud.
Avouch it as my dying Oath, by all
My Hopes of Happiness hereafter,
[Rises.
She is my Wife. There being a doubtful Clause
In her Father's Will in favour of this Pedro,
Her Guardian, we conceal'd our Wedding,
Till being out of his Wardship, and possess'd
Of all her Fortune, she might own it
Without so great a Hazard. But oh! that
He had taken all, had she but escap'd
This hateful Scandal, that I'm sure must torture
Her nice and vertuous Soul.
Duke.
Who is this Pedro?
Claud.
The Deputy's Privado, his Right-hand;
One that by well-acted Piety has gain'd
Trusts from believing Friends that think him honest
To ruin their Children, and enrich himself.
And thus he hopes by pushing on my Death,
To have her too on the same Law confin'd
Within a Cloyster's Walls during her Life,
And so secure himself her wealthy Dowr.
Duke.
Son, Put your trust in Heav'n, that can relieve
When least you hope it, I'll do my endeavour
To help your Fortune; but if my Pow'r's too small
T' assist in that, I will still help your Soul.
Claud.
I thank you, Fathers, and desire your Prayrs.
[Exit.
Duke.
I am confirm'd he's innocent of this,
Tho' his most watchful Foe has taken this time
To make him suffer:
Enter Provost and Julietta.
But who is this?
Prov.
The Lady, Sir, with Child by Claudio,
But by strict Order of the Deputy confin'd
From farther Commerce with him; Your Advice
-- 20 --
May steed her much, good Fathers.
Duke.
Repent, you Fair One, of the Sin you carry.
Jul.
I do repent me of my Sins, good Father:
But sure the Blessings of the Marriage-bed
Can be no Sin.
Duke.
You may amuse your self
With the firm Vows of him you call your Husband,
His secret Contracts and his plighted Faith:
But these, my Daughter, will not salve the Sin:
They're oft the giddy Rashness of hot Youth,
Which it repents, and breaks without a Pang.
Jul.
'Tis true, I am a Woman still frail and ignorant:
But yet my Honour and Religion joyn'd,
Have taught me the full Knowledge of this Point;
And we are marry'd with all those holy Rites
The Church ordains: The pious Father Pierre
Of your good Order, joyn'd our Hands in private:
'Tis true, for worldly Cause, and for that Fault
I take this Shame most patiently.
Duke.
Can you forgive the Cause of this your Infamy?
Can you love still the Man that seems to've wrong'd you?
Jul.
Yes, as I love the Woman that wrong'd him,
That has undone him, taken away his Life.
O Heav'n! prevent his Fate, or take me too.
Duke.
Resign your self to Heav'n: If you're Innocent, [Benedicite.
Be sure of Help. We'll to your Partner.
[Exit with the Fryer.
Jul.
Must die to morrow! Oh, injurious Love!
That dost the Life of my sad Life remove,
Yet doom'st me still to agonizing Breath,
And barr'st me from the sweet Retreat of Death!
O, Heav'n! my Claudio to these Arms restore;
Or, when he dies, O let me be no more!
The End of the Second Act.
Charles Gildon [1700], Measure for Measure, or beauty the Best Advocate. As it is acted at the theatre in Lincolns-Inn-Fields. VVritten Originally by Mr. Shakespear: And now very much Alter'd; VVith Additions of several Entertainments of Musick (Printed for D. Brown... and R. Parker [etc.], London) [word count] [S31700].
