SCENE III. The Street.

Enter Lucio, and two Gentlemen.

Lucio. If the Duke, with the other Dukes, come not to compofition with the King of Hungary, why then all the Dukes fall upon the King.

1 Gent. Heav'n grant us its peace, but not the King of Hungary's!

2 Gent. Amen.

Lucio. Thou conclud'ft like the fanctimonious pirate, that went to fea with the ten commandments, but fcrap'd one out of the table.

2 Gent. Thou fhalt not fteal. Lucio. Ay, that he raz'd.

1 Gent. Why, 'twas, a commandment to command the Captain and all the reft from their functions; they put forth to steal; there's not a foldier of us all, that, in the thanksgiving before meat, does relish the petition well that prays for peace.

2 Gent. I never heard any foldier diflike it.

Lucio. I believe thee: for I think thou never waft where grace was said.

2 Gent. No? a dozen times at least.

1 Gent. What, in metre?

Lucio. In any proportion, or in any language. 1 Gent. I think, or in any religion.

Lucio. Ay, why not? Grace is grace, defpight of all controverfy; as for example, thou thy felf art a wicked villain, defpight of all grace.

1 Gent. Well, there went but a pair of fheers be

tween us.

Lucio. I grant; as there may be between the lifts and the velvet. Thou art the lift.

1 Gent. And thou the velvet; thou art good velvet; thou art a three-pil'd piece, I warrant thee: I had as lief be a list of an English kerfey, as be pil'd, as thou art pil'd for a French velvet. Do I speak feelingly now?

Lucio. I think thou doft; and indeed with most painful feeling of thy fpeech: I will, out of thine own confeffion, learn to begin thy health; but, whilft I live, forget to drink after thee.

1 Gent. I think I have done myself wrong, have I

not?

2 Gent. Yes, that thou haft; whether thou art tainted, or free.

Lucio. Behold, behold, where Madam Mitigation

comes

Gent. I have purchas'd as many diseases under her roof, as come to

2 Gent. To what, I pray?

1 Gert. Judge.

2 Gent. To three thousand dollars * a-year. 1 Gent Ay, and more

Lucio. A French crown more †.

Gent. Thou art always figuring diseases in me; but thou art full of error; I am found.

Lucio. Nay, not as one would fay healthy; but so found, as things that are hollow; thy bones are hollow; impiety hath made a feast of thee.

SCENE IV. Enter Bawd.

1 Gent How now? which of your hips has the moft profound feiatica?

Barwd Well well; there's one yonder arrefted, and carry'a to prifon, was worth five thoufand of you all. 1 Gent. Who's that, I pr ythee?

Bawd. arry, ir, that's Claudio; Signior Claudio. 1 Gent. Claudio to prifon 'tis not fo.

Bard Nay, but I know 'tis fo; I faw him arrefted faw him carry'd away; and, which is more within these three days his head is to be chopt off.

Lucio But, after all this fooling, I would not have it fo. Art thou fure of this?

Bawd. I am too fure of it; and it is for getting Madam Julietta with child.

Lucio Believe me this may be; he promifed to meet me two hours fince, and he was ever precife in promite keeping.

Cent. Befides, you know, it draws fomething near to the speech we had to such a purpose.

A quibble intended between dollars and dolours.

Alluding to the venereal fcab upon the head, called corono veneris.

I Gent.

1 Gent. But moft of all agreeing with the proclamation.

Lucio. Away, let's go learn the truth of it. [Exit. Manet Bawd.

Bawd. Thus, what with the war, what with the fweat, what with the gallows, and what with poverty, I am cuftom-fhrunk. How now? what's the news with you?

Clown. Yonder man is carry'd to prifon.
Bawd. Well; what has he done?

Clown. A woman.

Bawd. But what's his offence?

Clown. Groping for trouts in a peculiar river. Bawd. What is there a maid with child by him? Clown. No; but there's a woman with maid by him. You have not heard of the proclamation, have you? Bawd. What proclamation, man?

Clown, All houfes in the fuburbs of Vienna mull be pluck'd down.

Bard. And what fhall become of thofe in the city? Clown. They fhall ftand for feed; they had gone down too, but that a wife burgher put in for them. Bawd. But fhall all our houfes of refort in the fuburbs be pull'd down?

Clown. To the ground, Mifrefs.

Bawd. Why, here's a change, indeed, in the commonwealth; what fhall become of me?

Clown. Come, fear not you; good counfellors lack no clients; though you change your place, you need not change your trade: I'll be your tapfter ftill. Courage, there will be pity taken on you; you that have worn your eyes almost out in the fervice, you will be confidered.

Bawd. What's to do here, Thomas Tapfter? let's withdraw.

Clown. Here comes Signior Claudio, led by the Proyoft to prifon; and there's Madam Juliet. [Exeunt Bawd and Clown.

SCENE

Enter Provoft, Claudio, Juliet, and officers. Lucio,

and two Gentlemen.

Claud. Fellow, why doft thou fhow me thus to th❜ world?

Bear me to prifon, where I am committed.
Prov. I do it not in evil difpofition,
But from Lord Angelo by fpecial charge.

Claud. Thus can the demi-god, Authority,
Make us pay down, for our offence, by weight.
The words of Heav'n; on whom it will, it will;
On whom it will not, fo; yet ftill 'tis juft.

Lucio. Why, how now, Claudio? whence comes this restraint?

Claud. From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty: As furfeit is the father of much faft;

So ev'ry scope, by the immod`rate use,
Turns to restraint: our natures do pursue,
Like rats that ravin down their proper bane,
A thirsty evil; and when we drink, we die.

Lucio. If I could speak fo wifely under an arrest, I would fend for certain of my creditors; and yet, to fay the truth, I had as lief have the foppery of freedom, as the morality of imprisonment. What's thy offence, Claudio?

Claud. What, but to speak of, would offend again. Lucio. What is't, murder?

Claud. No.

Lucio. Letchery?

Claud. Call it fo.

Prov. Away, Sir, you must go.

Claud. One word, good friend.-Lucio, a word with you.

Lucio. A hundred, if they'll do you any good. Is letchery fo look'd after?

Claud. Thus ftands it with me; upon a true contract I got poffeffion of Julietta's bed,

(You know the lady), fhe is faft my wife; Save that we do the denunciation lack

Of outward order. This we came not to,

Only

Only for propagation of a dower

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,

With character too grofs, is writ on Juliet.
Lucio. With child, perhaps?

Claud. Unhappily, even fo.

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 feat, 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 ftagger in): but this new governor
Awakes me all th' enrolled penalties,

Which have, like unfcour'd armour, hung by th' wall
So long, that nineteen zodiacs have gone round,
And none of them been worn; and, for a name,
Now puts the drowsy and neglected act

Freshly in me; 'tis furely for a name.

Lucio. I warrant it is; and thy head ftands fo tickle on thy fhoulders, that a milk-maid, if she be in love, may figh it off. Send after the Duke, and appeal to him.

Claud. I have done so, but he's not to be found,
I pr'ythee, Lucio, do me this kind fervice:
This day my fifter should the cloister enter,
And there receive her approbation.

Acquaint her with the danger of my state,
Implore her, in my voice, that the make friends
To the ftrict deputy; bid herself assay him;
I have great hope in that; for in her youth
There is a prone and fpeechlefs dialect,

Such as moves men! befide, fhe hath profp'rous art
When the will play with reafon and difcourfe,
And well the can perfuade.

Lucio. I pray fhe may; as well for the encouragement of the like, which elfe would ftand under grievous impofition; as for the enjoying of thy life, who I would

be