maid from the world! what corruption in this life, that it will let this man live! But how out of this can the avail?

Duke. It is a rupture that you may easily heal; and the cure of it not only faves your brother, but keeps you from dishonour in doing it.

Ifab. Shew me how, good father.

Duke. This fore-nam'd maid hath yet in her the continuance of her firft affection; his unjuft unkindness (that in all reason fhould have quench'd her love) hath, like an impediment in the current, made it more violent and unruly. Go you to Angelo, anfwer his requiring with a plaufible obedience; agree with his demands to the point; only refer yourfelf to this advantage: firft, that your stay with him may not be long; that the time may have all fhadow and filence in it; and the place anfwer to convenience. This being granted, in course now follows all we fhall advife this wronged maid to ftead up your appointment, go in your place; if the encounter acknowledge itself hereafter, it may compel him to her retompence; and here by this is your brother faved, your honour untainted, the poor Mariana advantaged, and the corrupt Deputy fcaled. The maid will I frame, and make fit for his attempt: if you think well to carry this as you may, the doubleness of the benefit defends the deceit from reproof. What think you of it?

Ifab. The image of it gives me content already, and, I trust, it will grow to a most profperous perfec

tion.

Duke. It lies much in your holding up; hafte you speedily to Angelo; if for this night he intreat you tỏ his bed, give him promife of fatisfaction. I will prefently to St. Luke's; there at the moated Grange refides this dejected Mariana; at that place call upon me, and dispatch with Angelo, that it may be quickly. Ifab. I thank you for this comfort: fare you well, good father.

[Exeunt feverally.

SCENE

SCENE IV. Changes to the street. Re-enter Duke as a Friar, Elbow, Clown, and officers.

Elb. Nay, if there be no remedy for it, but that you will needs buy and fell men and women like beasts, we shall have all the world drink brown and white baftard.

Duke. Oh, heav'ns! what ftuff is here?

Clown. 'Twas never merry world fince of two ufuries the merriest was put down, and the worfer allow'd by order of law. *** a furr'd gown to keep him warm, and furr'd with fox and lamb fkins too, to fignify, that craft, being richer than innocency, ftands for the facing.

Elb. Come your way, Sir: blefs you, good father Friar.

Duke. And you, good brother father. What offence hath this man made you, Sir?

Elb. Marry, Sir, he hath offended the law; and, Sir, we take him to be a thief too, Sir; for we havę, found upon him, Sir, a ftrange pick-lock, which we have fent to the Deputy.

Duke. Fie, Sirrah, a bawd, a wicked bawd!

The evil that thou caufeft to be done,

That is thy means to live. Doft thou but think,
What 'tis to cram a maw, or clothe a back,
From fuch a filthy vice? fay to thyself,
From their abominable and beaftly touches
I drink, I eat, array myfelf, and live.
Canft thou believe thy living is a life,
So ftinkingly depending! go mend, mend.

Clown. Indeed, it doth flink in fome fort, Sir; but yet, Sir, I would prove-

Duke. Nay, if the devil have giv'n thee proofs for

fin,

Thou wilt prove his. Take him to prifon, officer;
Correction and inftruction must both work,
Ere this rude beaft will profit.

Elb. He must before the Deputy, Sir; he has given him warning; the Deputy cannot abide a whore

mafter;

mafter; if he be a whoremonger, and comes before him, he were as good go a mile on his errand.

Duke. That we were all, as fome would feem to be, Free from all faults, as faults from feeming free!

SCENE V. Enter Lucio.

Elb. His neck will come to your wafte, a cord, Sir. Clown. I fpy comfort: I cry, Bail: here's a Gentleman, and a friend of mine.

Lucio. How now, noble Pompey? What, at the wheels of Cæfar? art thou led in triumph? What, is there none of Pigmalion's images, newly made woman, to be had now, for putting the hand in the pocket, and extracting it clutch'd? What reply? ha? what say'it thou to this tune, matter and method? It's not down i' th' laft reign. Ha? what fay'ft thou, trot? is the world as it was, man? which is the way? it is fad and few words? or how? the trick of it?

Duke. Still thus and thus; still worfe?

Lucio. How doth my dear morfel, thy mistress? procures fhe ftill? ha?

Clown. Troth, Sir, fhe hath eaten up all her beef and fhe is herfelf in the tub.

Lucio. Why, 'tis good; it is the right of it; it must be fo. Ever your freth whore, and your powder'd bawd; an unfhunn'd confequence, it must be fo. Art going to prifon, Pompey?

Clown. Yes, faith, Sir.

Lucio. Why, 'tis not amifs, Pompey: farewel: go, fay, I fent thee thither for debt, Pompey; or how. Elb. For being a bawd, for being a bawd.

Lucio. Well, then imprison him; if imprisonment be the due of a bawd, why, 'tis his right. Bawd is he, doubtless, and of antiquity too; bawd born. Farewel, good Pompey: commend me to the prifon, Pompey; you will turn good husband now, Pompey; you will keep the house.

Clown. I hope, Sir, your good Worship will be my bail.

Lucio. No, indeed, will I not, Pompey; it is not the wear; I will pray, Pompey, to increase your bondage:

1

if you take it not patiently, why, your mettle is the more. Adieu, trufty Pompey. Blefs you, Friar.

Duke. And you.

Lucio. Does Bridget paint ftill, Pompey? ha?
Elb. Come your ways, Sir, come,

Clown. You will not bail me then, Sir?

Lucio. Then, Pompey, nor now. What news abroad,

Friar what news?

Elb. Come your ways, Sir, come.

Lucio. Go to kennel, Pompey, go,

[Exeunt Elbow, Clown, and officers.

S C E NE

What news, Friar, of the Duke?

VI.

Duke. I know none: can you tell me of any?

Lucio. Some fay, he is with the Emperor of Ruffia; other fome, he is in Rome: but where is he, think you?

Duke. I know not where; but wherefoever, I wish him well.

Lucio. It was a mad fantastical trick of him, to steal from the state, and ufurp the beggary he was never born to. Lord Angelo.dukes it well in his abfence; he puts tranfgreffion to't.

Duke. He does well in't.

Lucio. A little more lenity to leachery would do no harm in him; fomething too crabbed that way, Friar. Duke. It is top gentle a vice, and feverity must cure it.

Lucio. Yes, in good footh, the vice is of a great kindred; it is well ally'd; but it is impoffible to extirp it quite, Friar, till eating and drinking be put down. They fay this Angelo was not made by man and woman after the downright way of creation; is it true, think you?

Duke. How fhould he be made then?

Lucio. Some report, a fea-maid spawn'd him; fome, that he was got between two stock-filhes. But it is certain, that when he makes water his urine is congeal'd ice; that I know to be true; and he is a motion ungenerative, that's infallible.

Duke. You are pleafant, Sir, and fpeak apace.
VOL. I.

PP

Lucio.

Lucio. Why, what a ruthless thing is this in him, for the rebellion of a cod-piece to take away the life of a man? Would the Duke, that is absent, have done this? Ere he would have hang'd a man for the getting a hundred baftards, he would have paid for the nurfing a thousand. He had fome feeling of the sport, he knew the fervice, and that inftructed him to mercy.

Duke. I never heard the absent Duke much detected for women; he was not inclin'd that way.

Lucio. Oh, Sir, you are deceiv'd.

Duke. 'Tis not poffible.

Lucio. Who, not the Duke? Yes, your beggar of fifty; and his ufe was, to put a ducket in her clackdish; the Duke had crotchets in him. He would be drunk too, that let me inform you.

Duke. You do him wrong, furely.

Lucio. Sir, I was an inward of his: a fhy fellow was the Duke; and, I believe, I know the cause of his withdrawing.

Duke. What, pr'ythee, might be the cause?

Lucio. No; pardon: 'tis a fecret must be lock'd within the teeth and the lips; but this I can let you understand, the greater file of the subject held the Duke to be wife.

Duke. Wife? why, no queftion but he was.

Lucio. A very fuperficial, ignorant, unweighing fellow.

Duke. Either this is envy in you, folly, or mistaking. The very ftream of his life, and the bufinefs he hath helmed, muft, upon a warranted need, give him a better proclamation. Let him be but teftimonied in his own bringings forth, and he fhall appear to the envious, a fcholar, a statesman, and a foldier. Therefore you fpeak unfkilfully; or, if your knowledge be more, it is much darken'd in your malice.

Lucio. Sir, I know him, and I love him.

Duke. Love talks with better knowledge, and know ledge with dearer love.

Lucio. Come, Sir, I know what I know.

Duke. I can hardly believe that, fince you know not what you speak. But if ever the Duke return, as our prayers are he may, let me defire you to make your an

fwer