Thereon dependent for your brother's life,
The very mercy of the law cries out
Moft audible, even from his proper tongue,
An Angelo for Claudio; death for death.

Hafte ftill pays hafte, and leifure anfwers leifure:
Like doth quit like, and meafure ftill for measure.
Then, Angelo, thy faults are manifested;

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

Where Claudio ftoop'd to death; and with like hafte; Away with him.

Mari. Oh, my moft gracious Lord,

I hope you will not mock me with a hufband.

Duke. It is your hufband 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,
And choke your good to come: for his poffeffions,
Altho' by confifcation they are ours,

We do inftate 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:

Away with him to death. Now, Sir, to you.

Mari. Oh, my good Lord! Sweet Ifabel, take my part; Lend me your knees, and all my life to come I'll lend you all my life, to do you fervice. Duke. Against all fenfe you do importune her; Should fhe kneel down, in mercy of this fact, Her brother's ghost 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, best men are moulded out of faults;
And, for the moft, become much more the better
For being a little bad: fo may my husband.

Oh, Ifabel! will you not lend a knee?

* vantage, for means, opportunity. VOL. I. Τε

Duke.

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: fince it is fo,

Let him not die. My brother had but justice,
In that he did the thing for which he dy'd;

For Angelo, his act did not o'ertake his bad intent,
And must be bury'd but as an intent,

That perish'd by the way: thoughts are no fubjects; Intents, but merely thoughts.

Mari. Merely, my Lord.

Duke. Your fuit's unprofitable; ftand up, I fay: I have bethought me of another fault.

Provoft, how came it Claudio was beheaded
At an unusual hour?

Prov. It was commanded fo.

Duke. Had you a fpecial warrant for the deed? Prov. No, my good Lord; it was by private meffage. Duke. For which I do difcharge you of your office:

Give up your keys.

Prov. Pardon me, Noble Lord.

I thought it was a fault, but knew it not;
Yet did repent me, after more advice :
For teftimony whereof, one in the prison,
That fhould by private order elfe have dy'd,
I have referv'd alive.

Duke. What's he?

Prov. His name is Barnardine.

Duke I would thou hadst done fo by Claudio : Go, fetch him hither; let me look upon him. [Exit. Prov.

Efcal. I'm forry, one fo learned and fo wife
As you, Lord Angelo, have ftill appear'd,
Should flip fo grofsly both in heat of blood.
And lake of temper'd judgment afterward.

Ang. I'm forry, that fuch forrow I procure;
And fo deep fticks it in my penitent heart,
That I crave death more willingly than mercy:
'Tis my deferving, and I do intreat it.

SCENE

Enter Provost, Barnardine, Claudio, and Julietta.

Duke. Which is that Barnardine?

Prov. This my Lord.

Duke, There was a Friar told me of this man. Sirrah, thou'rt faid to have a stubborn foul, That apprehends no further than this world; And squar'ft thy life accordingly: thou'rt condemn'd; But for thofe earthly faults, I quit them all:

I pray thee, take this mercy to provide

For better times to come: Friar, advise him;

I leave him to your hand. What muffled fellow's that?
Prov. This is another prisoner that I fav'd,
Who fhould have dy'd when Claudio loft his head;
As like almost to Claudio, as himfelf. [Uncovers him.
Duke. If he be like your brother, for his fake [To Ifab.
Is he pardon'd; and for your lovely fake,

Give me your hand, and fay, you will be mine,
He is my brother too; but fitter time for that.
By this Lord Angelo perceives he's fafe;
Methinks I fee a quick'ning in his eye.
Well, Angelo, your evil quits you well;

Look that you love your wife; her worth works your's.
I find an apt remiffion in myfelf;

And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon.

You, firrah, that knew me for a fool, a coward, [To Luc. One of all luxury, an afs, a madman;

Wherein have I deferved fo of you,

That you extol me thus?

Lucio. 'Faith, my Lord, I fpoke it but according to the trick *; if you will hang me for it, you may: but I had rather it would please you I might be whipp'd. Duke. Whipp'd firft, Sir, and hang'd after. Proclaim it, Provost, round about the city; If any woman, wrong'd by this lewd fellow, (As I have heard him fwear himself, there's one Whom he begot with child), let her appear, And he shall marry her; the nuptial finish'd, Let him be whipp'd and hang'd.

i. e. the fashion. So to trick up, fignifies to drefs in the mode.

Lucio. I befeech your Highness, do not marry me to a whore: your Highness faid even now, I made you a Duke; good my Lord, do not recompenfe me, in making me a cuckold.

Duke. Upon mine honour, thou fhalt marry her: Thy flanders I forgive, and therewithal

Remit thy other forfeits; take him to prifon :
And fee our pleasure herein executed.

Lucio. Marrying a punk, my Lord, is preffing to death; whipping and hanging.

Duke. Sland'ring a prince deferves it.

She, Claudio, that you wrong'd, look you restore.
Joy to you, Mariana: love her, Angelo:

I have confefs'd her, and I know her virtue.
Thanks, good friend Efcalus, for thy much goodness:
There's more behind; that is more gratulate.
Thanks, Provoft, for thy care and fecrecy;
We fhall employ thee in a worthier place:
Forgive him, Angelo, that brought you home
The head of Ragozine for Claudio's;
Th' offence pardons itself. Dear Ifabel,
I have a motion much imports your good,
Whereto if you'll a willing ear incline,

What's mine is your's, and what is your's is mine.
So bring us to our palace, where we'll fhow
What's yet behind, that's meet you all should know.

[Exeunt.

END OF VOLUME FIRST.