Claud.
Fellow, why dost thou show me thus to th' world?
Bear me to prison, where I am committed.

Prov.
I do it not in evil disposition,
But from lord Angelo by special charge.

Claud.
^{3 note}


Thus can the Demi-god, Authority,
Make us pay down, for our offence, by weight.
The words of heav'n; on whom it will, it will;
On whom it will not, so; yet still 'tis just.

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 ev'ry scope by the immod'rate use
Turns to restraint: our natures do pursue,
Like rats that ravin down their proper bane,
A thirsty evil; 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 of imprisonment: what's thy offence, Claudio?

Claud.

What, but to speak of, would offend again.

Lucio.

What is't, murder?

Claud.

No.

Lucio.

Letchery?

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 letchery 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 lack
Of outward order. This we came not to,
Only for propagation 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 ^{4 note}most mutual entertainment,
With character too gross, is writ on Juliet.

Lucio.
With child, perhaps?

Claud.
Unhappily, even so.
And the new deputy now for the Duke,
(Whether it be the fault, and glimpse, of newness;
Or whether that the body publick 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 th' enrolled penalties,
Which have, like unscour'd armour, hung by th' wall
So long, that nineteen Zodiacks have gone round,
And none of them been worn; and, for a name,
Now puts the drowsie and neglected Act
Freshly in me; 'tis surely, for a name.

Lucio.

I warrant, it is; and thy head stands so tickle on thy shoulders, that a milk-maid, if she be 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 pr'ythee, 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, that she make friends
To the strict Deputy; bid her self assay him;
I have great hope in that; for in her youth
There is a prone and speechless dialect,
Such as moves men! beside, she hath prosp'rous 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 grievous imposition; as for the enjoying of thy life, who I would be sorry should be thus foolishly lost at a game of tick-tack. I'll to her.

Claud.

I thank you, good friend Lucio.

Lucio.

Within two hours,—

Claud.

Come, officer, away.