Nay, it is ten times truer; for truth is truth Duke. Away with her: poor foul, She speaks this in th' infirmity of sense. Ifab. O Prince, I conjure thee, as thou believ'st There is another comfort than this world, That thou neglect me not; with that opinion That I am touch'd with madnefs. Make not impoffible In all his dreffings, caracts, titles, forms, Duke. By mine honefty, If the be mad, as I believe no other, Ifab. Gracious Duke, Harp not on that; nor do not banish reason Duke. Many, that are not mad, Ifab. I am the fifter of one Claudio, Was fent to by my brother; one Lucio, Lucio. That's I, an't like your Grace : I came to her from Claudio, and defir'd her To try her gracious fortune with Lord Angelo For her poor brother's pardon. Ifab. That's he, indeed Duke. You were not bid to speak. [To Lucio. Lucio. No, my good Lord, nor wish'd to hold my peace. Duke. I with you now then; Pray you take note of it: and when you have Lucio. I warrant your Honour. Duke. The warrant's for yourself; take heed to't. Ijab. This gentleman told fomewhat of my tale. Lucio. Right. Duke. It may be right, but you are in the wrong To fpeak before your time. Proceed. Ifab. I went To this pernicious caitiff Deputy. Duke. That's fomewhat madly spoken. The phrafe is to the matter. Duke. Mended again: the matter;-proceed. Release my brother; and after much debatement, My fifterly remorfe confutes mine honour, And I did yield to him: But the next morn betimes, His purpofe furfeiting, he fends a warrant For my poor brother's head. Duke. This is most likely! Ifab. Oh, that it were as like as it is true! Duke. By heav'n, fond wretch, thou know'ft not what thou fpeak't, Or elfe thou art fuborn'd against his honour Stands without blemish. Next, it imports no reason, Thou cam'ft here to complain. Ifab. And is this all ? Then, oh, you bleffed minifters above! Keep me in patience; and with ripen'd time, In countenance: Heav'n fhield your Grace from woe, Duke. I know you'd fain be gone. An officer; To prifon with her. Shall we thus permit A blafting and a scandalous breath to fall On him fo near us? This needs must be a practice. Who knew of your intent, and coming hither? Ifab. One that I would were here, Friar Lodowick. Duke. A ghoftly father, belike: Who knows that Lodowick ? Lucie. My Lord, I know him; 'tis a meddling Friar; I do not like the man; had he been lay, my Lord, For certain words he fpake against your Grace In your retirement, I had fwinge'd him foundly. Duke. Words against me? this is a good Friar, belike; And to fet on this wretched woman here Against our fubftitute! let this Friar be found. Lucio. But yefternight, my Lord, fhe and that Friar, I faw them at the prifon; a faucy Friar, A very fcurvy fellow. Peter. Bleffed be your Royal Grace! I have flood by, my Lord, and I have heard Who is as free from touch or foil with her, As the from one ungot. Duke. We did believe no less. Know you that Friar Lodowick, which fhe fpeaks of? Peter. I know him for a man divine and holy; Not fcurvy, nor a temporary medler, As he's reported by this gentleman; And, on my truft, a man that never yet Did, as he vouches, mifreport your Grace. Lucio. My Lord, moft villanously; believe it. Peter. Well; he in time may come to clear himself; But at this inftant he is fick, my Lord, Of a ftrange fever. On his mere request, VOL. I. Sf (Being (Being come to knowledge that there was complaint So vulgarly and perfonally accus'd, Her fhall you hear difproved to her eyes, Duke. Good Friar, let's hear it. Do you not fmile at this, Lord Angelo? SCENE [Isabella is carried off, guarded: III. Enter Mariana veil'd. First let her fhew her face; and, after, fpeak. Mari. Pardon, my Lord, I will not fhew my face, Until hufband bid me. my Duke. What, are you marry'd? Mari. No, my Lord. Duke. Are you a maid? Mari. No, my Lord. Duke. A widow then? Mari. Neither, my Lord. Duke. Why, are you nothing then? neither maid, widow, nor wife? Lucio. My Lord, fhe may be a punk; for many of them are neither maid, widow, nor wife. Duke. Silence that fellow: I would he had fome caufe to prattle for himself. Lucio. Well, my Lord. Mari. My Lord, I do confefs, I ne'er was marry'd; I've known my husband; yet my husband knows not, Lucio. He was drunk then, my Lord; it can be no better. Duke. A Duke. For the benefit of filence, would thou wert fo too. Lucio. Well, my Lord. Duke. This is no witness for Lord Angelo. Mari. Now I come to't, my Lord. She that accufes him of fornication, In felf-fame manner doth accuse my husband; Ang. Charges fhe more than me? Duke. No? you say your husband. [To Mariana, Mari. Why, juft, my Lord; and that is Angelo; Who thinks he knows that he ne'er knew my body; But knows, he thinks, that he knows Isabel's. Ang. This is a ftrange abuse; let's fee thy face. Mari. My husband bids me; now I will unmask. [Unveiling. This is that face, thou cruel Angelo, Which once thou fwor'ft, was worth the looking on: Duke. Know you this woman? Lucio. Carnally, the fays. Duke. Sirrah, no more. Lucio. Enough, my Lord. Ang My Lord, I must confefs, I know this woman; And five years fince there was fome fpeech of marriage Betwixt myself and her; which was broke off, Partly, for that her promifed proportions Came fhort of compofition; but, in chief, For that her reputation was disvalu'd In levity: fince which time of five years I never spake with her, faw her, nor heard from her, Upon my faith and honour. Mari. Noble Prince, [breath, As there comes light from heav'n, and words from As there is fenfe in truth, and truth in virtue, |