Nor do I think the man of safe discretion Ang. The heavens give safety to your purposes ! well. [Exit. Ang. 'Tis so with me.—Let us withdraw together, I'll wait upon your honour. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-- A Street. Enter Lucio and two GENTLEMEN. Lucio. If the duke, with the other dukes, come not to composition with the King of Hungary, why, then, all the dukes fall upon the king. 1 Gent. Heaven grant us its peace, but not the King of Hungary's! 2 Gent. Amen. Lucio. Thou concludest like the sanctimonious pirate that went to sea with the ten commandments, but scraped one out of the table. 2 Gent. Thou shalt not steal? Lucio. Ay, that he razed. 1 Gent. Why, 'twas a commandment to command the captain and all the rest from their functions; they put forth to steal. There's not a soldier of us all that, in the thanksgiving before meat, doth relish the petition well that prays 2 Gent. I never heard any soldier dislike it. Lucio. I believe thee; for I think thou never wast where grace was said. 2 Gent. No? a dozen times at least. Lucio. Ay! why not? Grace is grace, despite of all controversy. As for example;—thou thyself art a wicked villain, despite of all grace. for peace. us. a or free. 1 Gent. Well, there went but a pair of shears between Lucio. I grant; as there may between the lists and the velvet. Thou art the list. 1 Gent. And thou the velvet: thou art good velvet; thou art a three-piled piece, I warrant thee: I had as lief be a list of an English kersey as be piled, as thou art piled, for a French velvet. Do I speak feelingly now? Lucio. I think thou dost; and, indeed, with most painful feeling of thy speech. I will, out of thine own confession, learn to begin thy health; but, whilst I live, forget to drink after thee. 1 Gent. I think I have done myself wrong; have I not? 2 Gent. Yes, that thou hast; whether thou art tainted Lucio. Behold, behold, where Madam Mitigation comes ! I have purchased as many diseases under her roof as come to 2 Gent. To what, I pray? 1 Gent. Thou art always figuring diseases in me, but thou art full of error; I am sound. Lucio. Nay, not as one would say, healthy; but so sound as things that are hollow: thy bones are hollow: impiety has made a feast of thee. Enter BAWD. 1 Gent. How now! which of your hips has the most profound sciatica? Bawd. Well, well; there's one yonder arrested and carried to prison was worth five thousand of you all. 1 Gent. Who's that, I pray thee? Bawd. Nay, but I know 'tis so: I saw him arrested ; saw him carried away; and, which is more, within these three days his head's to be chopped off. Lucio. But, after all this fooling, I would not have it Art thou sure of this? Bawd. I am too sure of it: and it is for getting Madam Julietta with child. Lucio. Believe me, this may be: he promised to meet me two hours since; and he was ever precise in promise-keeping. so. 2 Gent. Besides, you know, it draws something near to the speech we had to such a purpose. 1 Ĝent. But most of all agreeing with the proclamation. Lucio. Away; let's go learn the truth of it. [Exeunt Lucio and GENTLEMEN. Bawd. Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat, what with the gallows, and what with poverty, I am custom-shrunk. How now! what's the news with you? Enter CLOWN. Clo. No; but there's a woman with maid by him. You have not heard of the proclamation, have you? Bawd. What proclamation, man? Clo. All houses in the suburbs of Vienna must be plucked down. Bawd. And what shall become of those in the city? Clo. They shall stand for seed: they had gone down too, but that a wise burgher put in for them. Bawd. But shall all our houses of resort in the suburbs be pulled down? Clo. To the ground, mistress. Bawd. Why, here's a change indeed in the commonwealth! What shall become of me? Clo. Come; fear not you: good counsellors lack no clients: though you change your place you need not change your trade; I'll be your tapster still. Courage; there will be pity taken on you: you that have worn your eyes almost out in the service, you will be considered. Bawd. What's to do here, Thomas Tapster? Let's withdraw. Clo. Here comes Signior Claudio, led by the provost to prison: and there's Madam Juliet. [E.ceunt. SCENE III.—The same. Lucio and two GENTLEMEN. Prov. I do it not in evil disposition, But from Lord Angelo by special charge. Claud. Thus can the demi-god Authority Make us pay down for our offence by weight. The words of heaven ;-on whom it will, it will; On whom it will not, so; yet still 'tis just. Lucio. Why, how now, Claudio? whence comes this restraint? C'laud. From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty: 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. [Takes him aside. Lucio. A hundred, if they'll do you any good. — Is lechery so looked after? Claud. Thus it stands with me: :-Upon a true contract I got possession of Julietta's bed; You know the lady; she is fast my wife, Save that we do the denunciation lack Of outward order: this we came not to 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. Lucio. With child, perhaps? Claud. Unhappily, even so. : He can command, lets it straight feel the spur: Lucio. I warrant it is: and thy head stands so tickle on thy shoulders that a milkmaid, if she 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. 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. I'll to her. Claud. I thank you, good friend Lucio. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-A Monastery. Enter DUKE and Friar THOMAS. May your grace speak of it? |