As much in mock as mark.

Efcal. Slander to th' ftate! away with him to prifon. Ang. What can you vouch against him, fignior Lucio.

Is this the man that you did tell us of?

Lucio. 'Tis he, my lord. Come hither, goodman bald-pate;

Do you know me?

Duke. I remember you, Sir, by the found of your voice: I met you at the prifon in the ablence of the duke.

Lucio. Oh, did you fo? and do

you faid of the duke?

Duke. Moft notedly, Sir.

you remember what

Lucio. Do you so, Sir; and was the duke a fiefhmonger, a fool, and a coward, 7 as you then reported him to be?

Duke. You muft, Sir, change perfons with me, cre you make that my report: you fpoke fo of him, and much more, much worfe.

Lucio. Oh thou damnable fellow! did not I pluck thee by the nofe, for thy ipeeches !

Duke. I proteft, I love the duke as I love myself. Ang. Hark! how the villain would clofe now, after his treasonable abuses.

Efcal. Such a fellow is not to be talk'd withal; away with him to prifon :--where is the Provoft?-away with him to prifon; lay bolts enough upon him; let him

it is not likely, would long preferve its authority. WARBURT.

This explanation may ferve till a better is difcovered. But whoever has feen the inftruments of a chirurgeon, knows that they may be very eafily kept out of improper hands in a very fmali box, or in his pocket.

7-and a coward.] fo again afterwards,

You, Sirrah, that know me for a foil, a coward, One of all luxury— But Lucio had not, in the former converfation, mentioned cowardije aning the faults of the Duke. Such failures of memory are incident to writers more diligent than this poet.

Bb 3

Speak

fpeak no more;-away with thofe giglets too, and with the other confederate companion.

[The Provost lays hands on the Duke. Duke. Stay, Sir, ftay a-while.

Ang. What! refifts he? help him, Lucio.

Lucio. Come, Sir; come, Sir; come, Sir; foh, Sir; why, you bald pated lying rafcal: you must be hooded, must you; how your knave's vifage, with a pox to you; fhow your fheep-biting face, and be hang'd an hour will't not off? 8

[Pulls off the Friar's hood, and discovers the Duke. Duke. Thou art the first knave, that e'er maďʼst a duke.

First, Provost, let me bail thefe gentle three.
Sneak not away, Sir; [To Lucio for the Friar and you
Must have a word anon:-lay hold on him..

Lucio. This may prove wrfe than hanging
Duke. What you have fpoke, I pardon; fit you

down.

[To Efcalus. We'll borrow place of him.-Sir, by your leave: —

Halt thou a word, or wit, or impudence,
That yet can do thee office? if thou haft,
Rely upon it 'till my tale be heard,
And hold no longer out.

Ang. O my dread lord,

I fhould be guiltier than my guiltinefs,

To think I can be undifcernable;

[To Angelo.

When I perceive your Grace, like pow'r divine, Hath look'd upon my paffes. Then, good prince,

8 Show your freep-biting face and be hang'a an hour: wil't not off? This is intended to be the common language of vulgar indignation. Our phrafe on fuch occafions is fimply? for your Sheep-biting face and be hang'd. The words an hour have no particular ufe here, nor are autho

rifed by cuftom. I fuppofe it was written thus, show your fbeepbiting face and be banged an bow? wilt not off. In the midland counties, upon any unexpected obftruction or refiftance, it is common to exclaim an' bow?

No longer feffion hold upon my fhame;
But let my trial be mine own confeffion :
Immediate fentence then, and fequent death,
Is all the grace I beg.

Duke. Come hither, Mariana:

Say;, waft thou e'er contracted to this woman?
Ang. I was, my lord.

Duke. Go take her hence, and marry her instantly. Do you the office, Friar; which confummate, Return him here again. Go with him, Provoft.

[Exeunt Angelo, Mariana, Peter, and Provoft.

SCENE VI.

Efcal. My lord, I am more amaz'd at his dishonour, Than at the ftrangeness of it,

Duke. Come hither, Ifabel;

Your Friar is now your prince: as I was then
Advertifing, and holy 9 to your bufinefs,
Not changing heart with habit, I am ftill
Attornied at your fervice.

Ifab. Oh, give me pardon,

That I, your vaffal, have employ'd and pain'd
Your unknown fovereignty.

Duke. You are pardon'd, Ifabel:

And now, dear maid, be you as free to us. 1
Your brother's death, I know, fits at your heart :
And you may marvel, why I obfcur'd myself,
Labouring to fave his life; and would not rather
Make rash remonftrance of my hidden power,
Than let him be fo loft. Oh, moit kind maid,
It was the swift celerity of his death,

Which, I did think, with flower foot came on,
That brain'd my purpofe: 2 but, peace be with him!

Bb 4

That

That life is better life, paft fearing death,

Than that which lives to fear: make it

So, happy is your brother.

SCEN E VII.

your

comfort;

Enter Angelo, Mariana, Peter, and Provost.

Ifab. I do, my lord.

Duke. For this new-marry'd man, approaching here, Whofe falt imagination yet hath wrong'd

Your well defended honour, you must pardon him.
For Mariana's fake: but as he adjudg'd your brother,
Being criminal, in double violation.

Of facred chastity, and in promise-breach,
Thereon dependant, for your brother's life,
The very mercy of the law cries out

Moft audible, ev'n from his proper tongue, 3
An Angelo for Claudio; death for death.

Hafte ftill pays hafte, and leisure answers leifure;
Like doth quit like, and Measure still for Meafure.
Then, Angelo, thy faults are manifested;

Which tho' thou would't deny, deny thee vantage.
We do condemn thee to the very block,

Where Cloudio ftoop'd to death; and with like hasteAway with him.

Mari. Oh, my moft gracious lord,

I hope, you will not mock me with a husband?
Duke. It is your husband mock'd you with a husband.
Confenting to the fafeguard of your honour,

I thought your marriage fit; elfe imputation,
For that he knew you, might reproach your life,

We now ufe in converfation a
like phrafe. This it was that
knocked my defign on the head. Dr.
Warburton cads,

baned my purpose. 3. even from his proper tongue.] Even from Angelo's own

tongue. So above.

In the witness of his proper ear
To call him villain.

4

deny thee vantage.] Take from, thee all opportunity, all expedient of denial.

WARBURTON.

And

For his poffeffions,

And choak your good to come.
Altho' by confifcation they are ours,
We do enftate and widow you withal,
To buy you a better husband.

Mari. Oh, my dear lord,

I crave no other, nor no better man.

Duke. Never crave him; we are definitive.
Mari. Gentle, my liege

Duke. You do but lofe your labour

[Kneeling.

Away with him to deathNow, Sir, to you.

[To Lucio. Mari. Oh, my good lord!-Sweet Isabel, take my

part;

Lend me your knees, and all my life to come
I'll lend you all my life, to do you service.

Duke. Against all fenfe you do importune her; 5
Should the kneel down, in mercy of this fact,
Her brother's ghoft his paved bed would break,
And take her hence in horror.

Mari. Ifabel,

Sweet Ifabel, do yet but kneel by me;

Hold up your hands, fay nothing; I'll speak all-
They fay, beft men are moulded out of faults;

And, for the most, become much more the better
For being a little bad: fo may my husband.
-Oh, Ifabel! will you not lend a knee?
Duke. He dies for Claudio's death.

Ifab. Moft bounteous Sir,

[Kneeling.

Look, if it please you, on this man condemn'd,

As if my brother liv'd, I partly think,
A due fincerity govern'd his deeds,
'Till he did look on me; 6 fince it is fo,

5 Against all fenfe you do importune her. The meaning required is, againft all reafon and natural affection; Shakespear, therefore, judiciously ufes a fingle

Let

word that implies both; Senfe fignifying both reafon and affec tion.

6 'Till he did look on me.] The Duke has juftly observed that If

abel