Escalus.
Escal.
Every letter he hath writ hath disvouch'd
other.
Ang.
In most uneven and distracted manner10 note
.
His actions show much like to madness: pray heaven,
His wisdom be not tainted!
And why meet him at the gates, and re-deliver
Our authorities there?
Escal.
I guess not.
-- 85 --
Ang.
And why should we
Proclaim it in an hour before his ent'ring,
That if any crave redress of injustice,
They should exhibit their petitions
In the street?
Escal.
He shows his reason for that: to have a despatch
of complaints, and to deliver us from devices
hereafter,
Which shall then have no power to stand against us1 note.
Ang.
Well, I beseech you, let it be proclaim'd:
Betimes i' the morn, I'll call you at your house.
Give notice to such men of sort and suit,
As are to meet him.
Escal.
I shall, sir: fare you well.
[Exit.
Ang.
Good night.—
This deed unshapes me quite, makes me unpregnant2 note,
And dull to all proceedings. A deflowered maid,
And by an eminent body, that enforc'd
The law against it!—But that her tender shame
Will not proclaim against her maiden loss,
How might she tongue me! Yet reason dares her?—no3 note
:
For my authority bears of a credent bulk
That no particular scandal once can touch,
But it confounds the breather. 11Q0123 He should have liv'd,
-- 86 --
Save that his riotous youth, with dangerous sense,
Might in the times to come have ta'en revenge,
By so receiving a dishonour'd life
With ransom of such shame. Would yet he had liv'd!
Alack! when once our grace we have forgot,
Nothing goes right: we would, and we would not.
[Exit.
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].
