Lucio, and two Gentlemen.
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.
Thus can the demi-god, Authority,
Make us pay down for our offence by weight.—
The words of heaven;—on whom it will, it will;
On whom it will not, so: yet still 'tis just6 note.
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 every scope by the immoderate use
Turns to restraint: Our natures do pursue,
-- 15 --
Like rats that ravin down their proper bane,
A thirsty evil, and when we drink, we die7 note
.
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 morality8 note of imprisonment.—What's thy offence,
Claudio?
Claud.
What but to speak of would offend again.
Lucio.
What is it? murder?
Claud.
No.
Lucio.
Lechery?
Claud.
Call it so.
Prov.
A way, sir: you must go.
Claud.
One word, good friend.—Lucio, a word with you.
[Takes him aside.
Lucio.
A hundred, if they'll do you any good.—Is
lechery 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 11Q00999 note
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 most mutual entertainment
-- 16 --
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 public 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 the enrolled penalties,
Which have, like unscour'd armour, hung by the wall
So long, that nineteen zodiacks have gone round,
And none of them been worn; and, for a name,
Now puts the drowsy and neglected act
Freshly on 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 him1 note.
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 herself 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 prosperous art,
When she will play with reason and discourse,
And well she can persuade.
Lucio.
I pray, she may: as well for the encouragement
-- 17 --
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-tack2 note.
I'll to her.
Claud.
I thank you, good friend Lucio.
Lucio.
Within two hours,—
Claud.
Come, officer; away!
[Exeunt.
J. Payne Collier [1842–1844], The works of William Shakespeare. The text formed from an entirely new collation of the old editions: with the various readings, notes, a life of the poet, and a history of the Early English stage. By J. Payne Collier, Esq. F.S.A. In eight volumes (Whittaker & Co. [etc.], London) [word count] [S10101].
