Hath yet the deputy sent my brother's pardon? Isab. Nay, but it is not so. It is no other: Duke. "Duke. This nor hurts him, nor profits you a jot: dry your eyes; Who do prepare to meet him at the gates, There to give up their power. If you can, pace your In that good path that I would wish it go; [wisdom And you Ishall have your bosom on this wretch, Grace of the duke, revenges to your heart, And general honour. Isab. I am directed by you. At Mariana's house to-night. Her cause, and yours, And shall be absent. Wend you with this letter: Lucio. Enter LUCIO. Friar, where is the provost? Good even! Not within, sir. Duke. .. Lucio. O, pretty Isabella, I am pale at mine heart, to see thine eyes so red: thou must be patient: I am fain to dine and sup with water and bran; I dare not for my head fill my belly; one fruitful meal would set me to❜t: But they say the duke will be here to-morrow. By my troth, Isabel, I lov'd thy brother: if the old fantastical duke of dark corners had been at home, he had lived. [Exit Isabella. Duke, Sir, the duke is marvellous little beholden to your reports; but the best is, he lives not in them. Lucio. Friar, thou knowest not the duke so well as I do he's a better woodman than thou takest him for. Duke. Well, you'll answer this one day. Fare ye well. Lucio. Nay, tarry; I'll go along with thee; I can tell thee pretty tales of the duke. Duke. You have told me too many of him already, sir, if they be true; if not true, none were enough. Lucio. I was once before him for getting a wench with child. Duke. Did you such a thing? Lucio. Yes, marry, did I: but was fain to forswear it; they would else have married me to the rotten medlar. Duke. Sir, your company is fairer than honest: Rest you well. Lucio. By my troth, I'll go with thee to the lane's end: If bawdy talk offend you, we'll have very little of it: Nay, friar, I am a kind of burr, I shall stick. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. A Room in ANGELO's House. Enter ANGELO and ESCALUS. Escal. Every letter he hath writ hath disvouch'd other. Ang. In most uneven and distracted manner. His actions show much like to madness: pray Heaven, his wisdom be not tainted! And why meet him at the gates, and re-deliver our authorities there? Escal. I guess not. Ang. And why should we proclaim it in an hour before his entering, that, if any crave redress of injustice, they should exhibit their petitions in the street? Escal. He shows his reason for that: to have a despatch of complaints; and to deliver us from devices hereafter, which shall then have no power to stand against us. Ang. Well, I beseech you, let it be proclaim'd: Betimes i'the morn, I'll call you at your house: Give notice to such men of sort and suit, As are to meet him. Escal. Ang. Good night.— I shall, sir: fare you well. [Exit. This deed unshapes me quite, makes me unpregnant, The law against it!-But that her tender shame How might she tongue me? Yet reason dares her?-no: That no particular scandal once can touch, But it confounds the breather. He should have liv'd, With ransom of such shame. 'Would yet he had liv'd! [Exit. SCENE V. Fields without the Town. Enter DUKE in his own Habit, and Friar PETER. Duke. These letters at fit time deliver me. [Giving Letters. The provost knows our purpose, and our plot. The matter being afoot, keep your instruction, And hold you ever to our special drift; Though sometimes you do blench from this to that, As cause doth minister. Go, call at Flavius' house, And tell him where I stay: give the like notice To Valentinus, Rowland, and to Crassus, F. Peter. It shall be speeded well. Enter VARRIUS. [Exit Friar. Duke. I thank thee, Varrius; thou hast made good haste: Come, we will walk There's other of our friends Will greet us here anon, my gentle Varrius. [Exeunt. SCENE VI. Street near the City Gate. Enter ISABELLA and MARIANA. Isab. To speak so indirectly, I am loath; Mari. Be rul'd by him. I should not think it strange: for 'tis a physic, Mari. I would, friar Peter. Isab. O, peace; the friar is come. Enter Friar PETER. F. Peter. Come, I have found you out a stand most fit, Where you may have such vantage on the duke, He shall not pass you: Twice have the trumpets sounded; The generous and gravest citizens Have hent the gates, and very near upon The duke is ent'ring; therefore hence, away. E [Exeunt. SCENE 1. A public Place near the City Gate. MARIANA, (veiled,) ISABELLA, and PETER, at a distance. Enter at opposite Doors, DUKE, VARRIUS, Lords; ANGELO, ESCALUS, LUCIO, Provost, Officers, and Citizens. Duke. My very worthy cousin, fairly met:Our old and faithful friend, we are glad to see you. Ang, and Escal. Happy return be to your royal grace! Duke. Many and hearty thankings to you both. We have made inquiry of you; and we hear Such goodness of your justice, that our soul Cannot but yield you forth to public thanks, Forerunning more requital. Ang. You make my bonds still greater. Duke. O, your desert speaks loud; and I should To lock it in the wards of covert bosom, [wrong it, When it deserves with characters of brass A forted residence, 'gainst the tooth of time, And razure of oblivion: give me your hand, |