Claud. From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty; As surfeit is the father of much fast, So every scope by the immoderate use Lucio. If I could speak so wisely under an arrest, I would send for certain of my creditors: And yet, to say 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. Claud. No. Lucio. Lechery? Claud. Call it so. Prov. Away, sir; you must go. with you. Claud. One word, good friend:-Lucio, a word [Takes him aside. Lucio. A hundred if they'll do you any good.Is lechery so look'd after? Claud. Thus stands it with me:-Upon a true contract, I got possession of Julietta's bed5; You know the lady; she is fast my wife, Of outward order: this we came not to, 3 To ravin is to voraciously devour. So, in Chapman's Revenge for Honour: 'Like poison'd rats, which, when they've swallowed And can rest then much less, until they burst. 5 This speech is surely too indelicate to be spoken concerning Juliet before her face. Claudio may therefore be supposed to speak to Lucio apart. VOL. II. C 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 gross, is writ on Juliet. Claud. Unhappily, even so. And the new deputy now for the duke,— A horse whereon the governor doth ride, Or in his eminence that fills it up, I stagger in:-But this new governor Which have, like unscour❜d armour, hung by the wall Lucio. I warrant, it is: and thy head stands so tickle on thy shoulders, that a milk-maid, if she 8 6 This singular mode of expression has not been satisfactorily explained. The old sense of the word is 'promoting, inlarging, increasing, spreading.' It appears that Claudio would say: 'for the sake of promoting such a dower as her friends might hereafter bestow on her, when time had reconciled them to her clandestine marriage.' The verb is as obscurely used by Chapman in the Sixteenth book of the Odyssey: Shakspeare uses To propagate their states,' for to improve or promote their conditions, in Timon of Athens, Act i. Sc. 1. 7 Zodiacs, yearly circles. 8 Tickle, for ticklish. be in love, may sigh it off. Send after the duke, and appeal to him. Claud. I have done so, but he's not to be found. Acquaint her with the danger of my state; art Lucio. I pray, she may: as well for the encouragement of the like, which else would stand under grievous imposition; as for the enjoying of thy life, who I would be sorry should be thus foolishly lost at a game of tick-tack 11. I'll to her. Claud. I thank you, good friend Lucio. Claud. Come, officer, away. SCENE IV. A Monastery. Enter DUKE and Friar Thomas. [Exeunt. Duke. No; holy Father; throw away that thought; Believe not that the dribbling dart of love Can pierce a complete bosom1: why I desire thee and wrinkled than the aims and ends Of burning youth. Fri. May your grace speak of it? 9 i. e. enter on her noviciate or probation. 10 Prone, is prompt or ready. 11 Jouer au tric trac is used in French in a wanton sense. 16 A cómplete bosom' is a bosom completely armed. Duke. My holy sir, none better knows than you How I have ever lov'd the life remov'd2; And held in idle price to haunt assemblies, (A man of stricture and firm abstinence), Duke. We have strict statutes and most biting laws, (The needful bits and curbs for headstrong steeds), Which for these fourteen years we have let sleep; Even like an o'ergrown lion in a cave, That goes not out to prey: Now, as fond fathers, Becomes more mock'd than fear'd: so our decrees, The baby beats the nurse, and quite athwart Fri. It rested in your grace To unloose this tied-up justice, when you pleas'd: And it in you more dreadful would have seem'd, Than in Lord Angelo. Duke. I do fear, too dreadful: Sith 'twas my fault to give the people scope, 'Twould be my tyranny to strike, and gall them For what I bid them do: For we bid this be done, When evil deeds have their permissive pass, 2 i. e. retired. 3 Bravery is showy dress. Keeps, i. e. resides. And not the punishment. Therefore, indeed, my father, I have on Angelo impos'd the office; Who may, in the ambush of my name, strike home, And yet my nature never in the sight, To do it slander: And to behold his sway, I will, as 'twere a brother of your order, Visit both prince and people: therefore, I pr'ythee, Supply me with the habit, and instruct me How I may formally in person bear me Like a true friar. More reasons for this action, Is more to bread than stone: Hence shall we see, SCENE V. A Nunnery. Enter ISABELLA and FRANCISCA. [Exeunt. Isab. And have you nuns no further privileges? Fran. Are not these large enough? Isab. Yes, truly: I speak not as desiring more; But rather wishing a more strict restraint Upon the sisterhood, the votarists of Saint Clare. Lucio. Ho! Peace be in this place? [Within.] Isab. Who's that which calls? Fran. It is a man's voice: Gentle Isabella, Turn you the key, and know his business of him; You may, I may not; you are yet unsworn: When you have vow'd, you must not speak with men, But in the presence of the prioress: Then, if you speak, you must not show your face; 5 i. e. on his defence. |