Claud. No. Lucio. Letchery? Claud. Call it fo. Prov. Away, Sir, you muft go. Claud. One Word, good Friend: Lucio, a Word with you. Lucio. A hundred; If they'll do you any good: Is Letchery fo look'd after? Cland. Thus ftands it with me; upon a true Contract I got Poffeffion of Julietta's Bed, You know the Lady, fhe is faft my Wife, Save that we do the Denunciation lack Of outward Order. This we came not to, 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 moft mutual Entertainment With Character too grofs, is writ in Juliet. Cland. Unhappily, even fo. And the new Deputy, now for the Duke, A Horse whereon the Governor doth ride, I ftagger in: But this new Governor Which have, like unfcour'd Armour, hung by th' Wall Freshly on me; 'tis furely for a Name. Lucio. I warrant it is; and thy Head ftands fo tickle on thy Shoulders, that a Milk-maid, if fhe be in Love, may figh it off. Send after the Duke, and appeal to him. Claud. I have done fo, but he's not to be found. I prethee, Lucio, do me this kind Service: SCENE IV. A Nunnery. Enter Ifabella and Francifca. Ifab. And have you Nuns no farther Privileges? Ifab. Yes truly; I fpeak not as defiring more, Lucio. Hoa! Peace be in this Place. Nun. It is a Man's Voice, gentle Isabella, When you have vow'd, you must not speak with Men, Then if you speak, you must not fhew your Face, [Exit Franc. Ifab. Peace and Profperity, who is't that calls? Enter Lucio. Lucio. Hail Virgin, if you be, as those Cheek-Rofes A Novice of this Place, and the fair Sifter Ifab. Why her unhappy Brother? Let me ask, I am that Ifabella, and his Sifter. Lucio. Gentle and Fair, your Brother kindly greets you; Not to be weary with you, he's in Prison. Ifab. Wo me, for what? Lucio. For that, which if my felf might be his Judge, He should receive his Punishment in Thanks; He hath got his Friend with Child. Ifab. Sir, make me not your Story. Lucio. 'Tis true; I would not, tho' tis my familiar Sin, With Maids to seem the Lapwing, and to jeft, Tongue, far from Heart; play with all Virgins fo. By Be your Renouncement an Immortal Spirit, As with a Saint. Ifab. You do blafpheme the Good, in mocking me. Lucio. Do not believe it. Fewness, and Truth; 'tis thus; Your Brother and his Lover having embrac'd, As those that feed grow full, as blossoming time Ifab. Some one with Child by him? My Cozen Juliet? Ijab. Adoptedly, as School-Maids change their Names, By vain, tho' apt Affection. Lucio. She it is. Ifab. Let him marry her. Lucio. This is the Point. The Duke is very ftrangely gone from hence; Governs Lord Angelo; a Man whofe Blood Ifab. Doth he fo Seek his Life? Lucio. Has cenfur'd him already, And, as I hear, the Provoft hath a Warrant Ifab. Alas! what poor Ability's in me, to do him good? And makes us lofe the Good we oft might win, As they themselves would owe them. Ifab. I will about it ftrait; No longer ftaying, but to give the Mother ACT II. [Exeunt. SCENE I. SCENE the Palace. Enter Angelo, Efcalus, Juftice and Attendants. Ang. WE E muft not make a Scar-crow of the Law, And let it keep one Shape, 'till Cuftom make it Alas! this Gentleman, Whom I would fave, had a most noble Father; Whom I believe to be moft ftrait in Virtue, That That in the working of your own Affections, Had Time coheer'd with Place, or Place with Wishing, Ang. 'Tis one thing to be tempted, Efcalus, The Jury paffing on the Prifoner's Life, May in the fworn Twelve have a Thief or two, Guiltier than him they try; what's open made to Justice, That Juftice feizes. What knows the Laws That Thieves do pafs on Thieves? 'Tis very pregnant, Efcal. Be it as your Wisdom will. Prov. Here, if it like your Honour. Be executed by nine to Morrow Morning. Bring him his Confeffor, let him be prepar'd, For that's the utmost of his Pilgrimage. [Exit Provoft. Efcal. Well: Heav'n forgive him; and forgive us all; Some rife by Sin, and fome by Virtue fall: Some run through Brakes of Vice, and answer none, Enter Elbow, Froth, Clown and Officers. Elb. Come, bring them away; if these be good People in a Common-weal, that do nothing but ufe their Abuses in common Houses, I know no Law; bring them away. Ang. How now, Sir, what's your Name? and what's the Matter? VOL. I. P Elb. |