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 wrinkl'd than the aims and ends
Of burning youth.

Friar.
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 witless bravery keeps.
I have deliver'd to lord Angelo
(A man of stricture, and firm abstinence)
My absolute power and place here in Vienna,
And he supposes me travel'd to Poland;
For so ^note I have 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.

Friar.
Gladly, my lord.

Duke.
We have strict14Q0090 statutes, and most biting laws,
(The needful bits and curbs for head-strong steeds ^note)
Which for these fourteen years we have let sleep ^note;
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, ^note 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.

Friar.
It rested in your grace
To 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, my father,
I have on Angelo impos'd the office:
Who may, in the ambush of my name, strike home;
And yet my nature never in the sight,
To do it slander ^note: And to behold his sway,
I will, as 'twere a brother of your order,
Visit both prince and people: therefore, I pr'ythee,
Supply me with the habit, and instruct me
How I may formally in person bear me
Like a true friar. More reasons for this action,
At our more ^note leisure, shall I render you;
Only this one,—Lord Angelo is precise;
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 power change purpose, what our seemers be.

Previous section

Next section