Lucio. Come, sir; come, sir! come, sir; foh, sir. Why, you bald-pated, lying rascal! you must be hooded, must you? Show your knave's visage, with a pox to you! show your sheep-biting face, and be hanged an hour! Will't not off? [Pulls off the Friar's hood, and discovers the DUKE. Duke. Thou art the first knave that e'er made a duke.First, Provost, let me bail these gentle three:Sneak not away, sir [to LUCIO]; for the friar and you Must have a word anon:-Lay hold on him. Lucio. This may prove worse than hanging. [TO ESCALUS. We'll borrow place of him.-Sir, by your leave: Hast thou or word, or wit, or impudence And hold no longer out. Ang. O my dread lord, I should be guiltier than my guiltiness, To think I can be undiscernible, [TO ANGELO. When I perceive your grace, like power divine, But let my trial be mine own confession: Duke. Come hither, Mariana : Say, wast thou e'er contracted to this woman? Duke. Go, take her hence and marry her instantly. Do you the office, friar; which consummate, Return him here again.-Go with him, Provost. [Exeunt ANG., MARI., PET., and PROV. Escal. My lord, I am more amazed at his dishonour Than at the strangeness of it. Duke. Come hither, Isabel: Your friar is now your prince. As I was then Not changing heart with habit, I am still Isab. O give me pardon, That I, your vassal, have employ'd and pain'd Duke. You are pardon'd, Isabel. And now, dear maid, be you as free to us. Your brother's death, I know, sits at your heart; Than that which lives to fear: make it your comfort, Isab. I do, my lord. Re-enter ANGELO, MARIANA, PETER, and PROVOST. Duke. For this new-married man, approaching here, Whose salt imagination yet hath wrong'd Your well-defended honour, you must pardon For Mariana's sake: but as he adjudg'd your brother,Being criminal, in double violation Of sacred chastity and of promise-breach Thereon dependent, for your brother's life, The very mercy of the law cries out Most audible, even from his proper tongue, An Angelo for Claudio, death for death. Haste still pays haste, and leisure answers leisure; Like doth quit like, and measure still for measure. Then, Angelo, thy fault thus manifested, Which though thou would'st deny, denies thee vantage,- Where Claudio stoop'd to death, and with like haste.-- Mari. O my most gracious lord, I hope you will not mock me with a husband! Duke. It is your husband mock'd you with a husband. Consenting to the safeguard of your honour, I thought your marriage fit; else imputation, We do instate and widow you withal, To buy you a better husband. Mari. O my dear lord, [Kneeling. I crave no other, nor no better man. Duke. You do but lose your labour.Away with him to death.-Now, sir [to LUCIO], to you. Mari. O my good lord!-Sweet Isabel, take my part; Lend me your knees, and all my life to come I'll lend you all my life to do you service. Duke. Against all sense you do impórtune her: Sweet Isabel, do yet but kneel by me; Hold up your hands, say nothing,-I'll speak all. Duke. He dies for Claudio's death. Most bounteous sir, A due sincerity govern'd his deeds Till he did look on me; since it is so, Let him not die. My brother had but justice, For Angelo, His act did not o'ertake his bad intent, And must be buried but as an intent [Kneeling. That perish'd by the way: thoughts are no subjects; Mari. Merely, my lord. Duke. Your suit's unprofitable; stand up, I say.I have bethought of another fault. Provost, how came it Claudio was beheaded At an unusual hour? Prov. It was commanded so. Duke. Had you a special warrant for the deed? Prov. Prov. His name is Barnardine. Duke. I would thou hadst done so by Claudio. Go fetch him hither; let me look upon him. [Exit PROVOST. Ang. I am sorry that such sorrow I procure: Re-enter PROVOST, with BARNARDINE, CLAUDIO Duke. Which is that Barnardine? Prov. This, my lord. For better times to come:- -Friar, advise him; I leave him to your hand.-What muffled fellow's that? Who should have died when Claudio lost his head; As like almost to Claudio as himself. [Unmuffles CLAUDIO. Duke. If he be like your brother [to ISABELLA], for his sake Is he pardon'd; and, for your lovely sake, Give me your hand, and say you will be mine; He is my brother too: but fitter time for that. Look that you love your wife; her worth worth yours.— I find an apt remission in myself; And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon. You, sirrah [to LUCIO], that knew me for a fool, a coward, One all of luxury, an ass, a madman; Wherein have I so deserved of you That you extol me thus? Lucio. 'Faith, my lord, I spoke 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 whipped. Duke. Whipp'd first, sir, and hang'd after.— Proclaim it, Provost, round about the city, Lucio. I beseech your highness, do not marry me to a whore! Your highness said even now I made you a duke; good my lord, do not recompense me in making me a cuckold. Duke. Upon mine honour, thou shalt marry her. Thy slanders I forgive; and therewithal Remit thy other forfeits. Take him to prison; Lucio. Marrying a punk, my lord, is pressing to death, whipping, and hanging. Duke. Slandering a prince deserves it. [Exeunt Officers with LUCIO. She, Claudio, that you wrong'd, look you restore.Joy to you, Mariana!-Love her, Angelo; I have confess'd her, and I know her virtue. Thanks, good friend Escalus, for thy much goodness: Whereto if you'll a willing ear incline, What's mine is yours, and what is yours is mine:- What's yet behind that's meet you all should know. [Exeunt. BELL AND BAIN, PRINTERS, GLASGOW. |