Escal.

I will go darkly to work with her.

Lucio.

That's the way; for women are light at midnight.

Escal.

Come on, mistress: here's a gentlewoman denies all that you have said.

Lucio.

My lord, here comes the rascal I spoke of, here with the Provost.

Escal.

In very good time: speak not you to him 'till we call upon you.

Lucio.

Mum.

Escal.

Come, Sir, did you set these women on to slander lord Angelo? they have confess'd you did.

Duke.

'Tis false.

Escal.

How? know you where you are?

Duke.
Respect to your great place; and let the devil
Be sometime honour'd for his burning throne.
Where is the Duke? 'tis he should hear me speak.

Escal.
The Duke's in us; and we will hear you speak:
Look you speak justly.

Duke.
Boldly at least. But oh, poor souls,
Come you to seek the lamb here of the fox?
Good-night to your redress: is the Duke gone?
Then is your cause gone too. The Duke's unjust,
Thus to retort your manifest appeal,
And put your tryal in the villain's mouth
Which here you come to accuse.

Lucio.
This is the rascal; this is he I spoke of.

Escal.
Why thou unrev'rend and unhallow'd Friar,
Is't not enough thou hast suborn'd these women
T' accuse this worthy man, but in foul mouth,
And in the witness of his proper ear,
To call him villain; and then glance from him
To th' Duke himself; to tax him with injustice?
Take him hence; to th' rack with him: well touze you

Joint by joint, but we will know his purpose:
What? unjust?

Duke.
Be not so hot; the Duke dare no more stretch
This finger of mine, than he dare rack his own:
His subject am I not,
Nor here provincial; my business in this state
Made me a looker-on here in Vienna;
Where I have seen corruption boil and bubble,
'Till it o'er-run the stew: laws for all faults,
But faults so countenanc'd, that the strong statutes
Stand like the forfeits in a barber's shop,
As much in mock as mark.

Escal.
Slander to th' state! away with him to prison.

Ang.
What can you vouch against him, signior Lucio?
Is this the man that you did tell us of?

Lucio.
'Tis he, my lord. Come hither, goodman baldpate:
Do you know me?

Duke.

I remember you, Sir, by the sound of your voice: I met you at the prison in the absence of the Duke.

Lucio.

Oh, did you so? and do you remember what you said of the Duke?

Duke.

Most notedly, Sir.

Lucio.

Do you so, Sir? and was the Duke a flesh-monger, a fool, and a coward, as you then reported him to be?

Duke.

You must, Sir, change persons with me ere you make that my report: you indeed spoke so of him, and much more, much worse.

Lucio.

Oh thou damnable fellow! did not I pluck thee by the nose for thy speeches?

Duke.

I protest, I love the Duke as I love my self.

Ang.

Hark how the villain would close now after his treasonable abuses.

Escal.

Such a fellow is not to be talk'd withal: away with him

to prison: where is the Provost? away with him to prison; lay bolts enough upon him; let him speak no more; away with those giglets too, and with the other confederate companion.

Duke.

Stay, Sir, stay a while.

Ang.

What! resists he? help him, Lucio.

Lucio.

Come Sir, come Sir, come Sir; foh, Sir; why, you bald-pated lying rascal; you must be hooded, must you? show your knave's visage, with a pox to you; show your sheep-biting face, and be hang'd an hour: will't not off?