Duke meeting them.
Elbo.
Nay, if there be no remedy for it, but that
you will needs buy and sell men and women like beasts,
we shall have all the world drink brown and white
bastard.
Duke.
O heavens! what stuff is here?
Clow.
'Twas never merry world,14Q0108 since, of two
usuries, the merriest was put down, and the worser
allow'd by order of law a sur'd lamb-skin gown to keep
him warm; and fur'd with fox-skins too, note to signify,
that craft, being richer than innocency, stands for the
facing.
Elbo.
Come your way, sir:—Bless you, good father
-- 52 --
friar.
Duke.
And you, good brother father: What offence
hath this man made you, sir?
Elbo.
Marry, sir, he hath offended the law; and,
sir, we take him to be a thief too, sir; for we have
found upon him, sir, a strange pick-lock, which we
have sent to the deputy.
Duke.
Fie, sirrah; a bawd, a wicked bawd!
The evil that thou causest to be done,
That is thy means to live: Do thou but think
What 'tis to cram a maw, or cloath a back,
From such a filthy vice: say to thyself,—
From their abominable and beastly touches
I drink, I eat, array my note self, and live;
Canst thou believe thy living is a life,
So stinkingly depending? Go, mend, mend note.
Clow.
Indeed, it does stink in some sort, sir: but
yet, sir, I would prove—
Duke.
Nay, if the devil have given thee proofs for sin,
Thou wilt prove his. Take him to prison, officer;
Correction and instruction must both work,
Ere this rude beast will profit.
Elbo.
He must before the deputy, sir; he has
given him warning: the deputy cannot abide a
whore-master: if he be a whore-monger, and comes
before him, he were as good go a mile on his errand.
Duke.
That we were all, as some would seem to be,
Free note from our faults, note as from faults note seeming free!
Enter Lucio.
Elbo.
His neck will come to your waste, a cord, sir.
Clow.
I spy comfort; I cry bail: here's a gentleman,
-- 53 --
and a friend of mine.
Luci.
How now, noble Pompey?14Q0109 what, at the
wheels of Cæsar? art thou led in triumph? What,
is there none of Pigmalion's images, newly made
woman, to had note now, for putting the hand in the
pocket and extracting it clutch'd? what reply? ha?
what say'st thou to this tune, matter, and method?
Is't not drown'd i'th' last rain? ha? what say'st thou,
trot? is the world as it was, man? Which is the
way? is it sad, and few words? or how? the trick
of it?
Duke.
Still thus, and thus! still worse!
Luci.
How doth my dear morsel, thy mistress? procures
she still? ha?
Clow.
Troth, sir, she hath eaten up all her beef, and
she is herself in the tub.
Luci.
Why, 'tis good; it is the right of it; it must
be so: ever your fresh whore, and your powder'd
bawd: an unshun'd consequence; it must be so: Art
going to prison, Pompey?
Clow.
Yes, faith, sir.
Luci.
Why, 'tis not amiss, Pompey: farewel: go;
say, I sent thee thither. For debt, Pompey? or how?
Elbo.
For being a bawd, for being a bawd.
Luci.
Well, then imprison him: if imprisonment
be the due of a bawd, why, 'tis his right; bawd is
he doubtless, and of antiquity too; bawd born. Farewel,
good Pompey: Commend me to the prison, Pompey:
You will turn good husband now, Pompey; you
will keep the house.
Clow.
I hope, sir, your good worship will be my bail.
Luci.
No, indeed, will I not, Pompey, it is not
-- 54 --
the wear; I will pray, Pompey, to encrease your
bondage: if you take it not patiently, why, your
mettle is the more: Adieu, trusty Pompey.—Bless you,
friar.
Duke.
And you.
Luci.
Doth Bridget paint still, Pompey? ha?
Elbo.
Come your ways, sir, come.
Clow.
You will not bail me then, sir?
Luci.
Then, Pompey? nor now.—What news abroad,
friar; what news?
Elbo.
Come your ways, sir, come.
[Exeunt Clown, Elbow, and Officers.
Luci.
Go to kennel, Pompey, go.—What news, friar,
of the duke?
Duke.
I know none; Can you tell me of any?
Luci.
Some say, he is with the emperor of Russia;
other some, he is in Rome: But where is he, think
you?
Duke.
I know not where; but wheresoever, I wish
him well.
Luci.
It was a mad fantastical trick of him, to steal
from the state, and usurp the beggery he was never
born to: Lord Angelo dukes it well in his absence; he
puts transgression to't.
Duke.
He does well in't.
Luci.
A little more lenity to lechery would do
no harm in him: something too crabbed that way,
friar.
Duke.
It is too general a vice, and severity must
cure it.
Luci.
Yes, in good sooth, the vice is of a great
kindred; it is well ally'd: but it is impossible to
-- 55 --
extirpe it quite, friar, 'till eating and drinking be put
down. They say, this Angelo was not made by man
and woman, after the downright note way of creation; Is
it true, think you?
Duke.
How should he be made then?
Luci.
Some report, a sea-maid spawn'd him:
some, that he was begot between two stock-fishes:
But it is certain, that, when he makes water, his
urine is congeal'd ice; that I know to be true:
and he is not a motion generative,14Q0110 that's infallible
Duke.
You are pleasant, sir; and speak apace.
Luci.
Why, what a ruthless thing is this in him,
for the rebellion of a cod-piece to take away the
life of a man? Would the duke that is absent have
done this? ere he would have hang'd a man for the
getting a hundred bastards, he would have pay'd for
the nursing a thousand: he had some feeling of the
sport; he knew the service, and that instructed him
to mercy.
Duke.
I never heard the absent duke much detracted note
for women; he was not inclin'd that way.
Luci.
O, sir, you are deceiv'd.
Duke.
'Tis not possible.
Luci.
Who? not the duke? yes, your beggar of
fifty; and his use was, to put a ducat in her clack-dish:
the duke had crotchets in him: He would be
drunk too; that let me inform you.
Duke.
You do him wrong, surely.
Luci.
Sir, I was an inward of his: A sly fellow note
was the duke: and, I believe, I know the cause of
his withdrawing.
-- 56 --
Duke.
What, I pr'ythee, might be the cause?
Luci.
No, pardon; 'tis a secret must be lock'd within
the teeth and the lips: but this I can let you understand,—The
greater file of the subject held the duke
to be wise:
Duke.
Wise? why, no question but he was.
Luci.
A very superficial, ignorant, unweighing fellow.
Duke.
Either this is envy in you, folly, or mistaking;
the very stream of his life, and the business
he hath helmed, must, upon a warranted need,
give him a better proclamation: let him be but testimony'd
in his own bringings forth, and he shall appear,
to the envious, a scholar, a statesman, and a
soldier: Therefore, you speak unskilfully; or, if
your knowledge be more, it is much darken'd in your
malice.
Luci.
Sir, I know him, and I love him.
Duke.
Love talks with better knowledge, and knowledge
with dearer love note.
Luci.
Come sir, I know what I know.
Duke.
I can hardly believe that, since you know
not what you speak. But, if ever the duke return,
(as our prayers are note he may) let me desire you to
make your answer before him: if it be honest you
have spoke, you have courage to maintain it; I
am bound to call upon you, and, I pray you, your
name?
Luci.
Sir, my name is Lucio; well known to the
duke.
Duke.
He shall know you better, sir, if I may live
to report you.
-- 57 --
Luci.
I fear you not.
Duke.
O, you hope the duke will return no more;
or you imagine me too unhurtful an opposite: but,
indeed, I can do you a little harm: You'll forswear
this again?
Luci.
I'll be hang'd first: thou art deceiv'd in me,
friar. But no more of this: Can'st thou tell if Claudio
dye to-morrow, or no?
Duke.
Why should he dye, sir?
Luci.
Why? for filling a bottle with a tun-dish.
I would the duke, we talk of, were return'd again:
this ungenitur'd agent will unpeople the province
with continency; sparrows must not build in his
house-eaves, because they are lecherous: The duke
yet would have dark deeds darkly answer'd, he would
never bring them to light; 'Would he were return'd!
marry, this Claudio is condemned note for untrussing.
Farewel, good friar; I pr'ythee, pray for me. The
duke, I say to thee again, would eat mutton on
fridays; he's now past it: yea, and I note say to thee,
he would mouth with a beggar, though she smelt
brown note bread and garlick; say, that I said so. Farewel.
[Exit Lucio.
Duke.
No might nor greatness in mortality
Can censure scape; back-wounding calumny
The whitest virtue strikes; What king so strong,
Can tye the gall up in the slanderous note tongue?
But who comes here?
Enter Escalus, Provost, Bawd, and Officers.
Esca.
Go, away with her to prison.
Bawd.
Good my lord, be good to me; your honour
-- 58 --
is accounted a merciful man: good my lord.
Esca.
Double, and treble admonition, and still forfeit
in the same kind? this would make mercy swear
and play the tyrant.
Prov.
A bawd of eleven years continuance, may it
please your honour.
Bawd.
My lord, this is one Lucio's information against
me: mistress Kate Keep-down was with child by him
in the duke's time, he promis'd her marriage; his
child is a year and a quarter old, come Philip and
Jacob; I have kept it myself, and see how he goes
about to abuse me.
Esca.
That fellow is a fellow of much license:—
let him be called before us.—Away with her to
prison:—Go to; no more words. [Exeunt Bawd, and
Officers.] Provost, my brother Angelo will not be alter'd,
Claudio must dye to-morrow; let him be furnish'd
with divines, and have all charitable preparation:
if my brother wrought by my pity, it should not
be so with him.
Prov.
So please you, this friar hath been with him,
and advis'd him for the entertainment of death.
Esca.
Good even, good father.
Duke.
Bliss and goodness on you!
Esca.
Of whence are you?
Duke.
Not of this country, though my chance is now
To use it for my time: I am a brother
Of gracious order, late come from the see note
In special business from his holiness.
Esca.
What news abroad i' the world?
Duke.
None, but that there is so great a fever on
goodness, that the dissolution of it must cure it;
-- 59 --
novelty is only in request; and it note is as dangerous14Q0111 to
be aged in any kind of course, as it is vertuous to be
constant in any undertaking: there is scarce truth enough
alive, to make societies secure; but security enough,
to make fellowships accurst: Much upon this riddle
runs the wisdom of the world. This news is old
enough, yet it is every day's news. I pray you, sir,
of what disposition was the duke?
Esca.
One, that, above all other strifes, contended
especially to know himself.
Duke.
What pleasure was he given to?
Esca.
Rather rejoicing to see another merry, than
merry at any thing which profess'd to make him rejoice:
a gentleman of all temperance. But leave we
him to his events, with a prayer they may prove prosperous;
and let me desire to know, how you find
Claudio prepar'd? I am made to understand, that you
have lent him visitation.
Duke.
He professes to have received no sinister
measure from his judge, but most willingly humbles
himself to the determination of justice: yet had
he framed to himself, by the instruction of his frailty,
many deceiving promises of life; which I, by my good
leisure, note have discredited to him, and now is he resolv'd
to dye.
Esca.
You have pay'd the heavens your function,
and the prisoner the very debt of your calling. I have
labour'd for the poor gentleman, to the extreamest
shore of my modesty; but my brother justice have I
found so severe, that he hath forc'd me to tell him, he
is indeed justice.
Duke.
If his own life answer the straitness of his
-- 60 --
proceeding, it shall become him well; wherein if he
chance to fail, he hath sentenc'd himself.
Esca.
I am going to visit the prisoner: Fare you
well.
Duke.
Peace be with you!
[Exeunt Escalus, and Provost.
He, who the sword14Q0112 of heaven will bear,
should be as holy as severe;
pattern in himself to know;
grace to stand, and virtue go;
more nor less to others paying,
than by self-offences weighing:
Shame to him, whose cruel striking
kills for faults of his own liking!
twice treble shame on Angelo,
to weed my vice, and let his grow!
O, what may man within him hide,
though angel on the outward side!
how may likeness made in crimes,
making practice on the times,
draw note with idle spiders' strings
most pond'rous and substantial things!
Craft against vice I must apply:
with Angelo to-night shall lye
his old betrothed, but despis'd;
so disguise shall, by the disguis'd,
pay with falsehood false exacting,
and perform an old contracting.
[Exit.
Edward Capell [1767], Mr William Shakespeare his comedies, histories, and tragedies, set out by himself in quarto, or by the Players his Fellows in folio, and now faithfully republish'd from those Editions in ten Volumes octavo; with an introduction: Whereunto will be added, in some other Volumes, notes, critical and explanatory, and a Body of Various Readings entire (Printed by Dryden Leach, for J. and R. Tonson [etc.], London) [word count] [S10601].
