from woe,

As I, thus wrong'd, hence unbelieved go! Duke. I know, you'd fain be gone:-An officer !

To prison with her :-Shall we thus permit
A blasting and a scandalous breath to fall
On him so near us? This needs must be a
practice.

-Who knew of your intent, and coming hither? Isab. One that I would were here, friar Lodowick.

Duke. A ghostly father belike :-Who knows that Lodowick?

Lucio. My lord, I know him; 'tis a medling friar ;

[lord, I do not like the man: had he been lay, my For certain words he spake against your grace In your retirement, I had swing'd him soundly. Duke. Words against me? This' a good friar, belike!

And to set on this wretched woman here Against our substitute!-Let this friar be found. Lucio. But yesternight, my lord, she and that

friar

I saw them at the prison: a saucy friar,
A very scurvy fellow.

F. Peter. Blessed be your royal grace!
I have stood by, my lord, and I have heard
Your royal ear abus'd: First, hath this woman
Most wrongfully accus'd your substitute;
Who is as free from touch or soil with her,
As she from one ungot.

Duke. We did believe no less. [of? Know you that friar Lodowick, that she speaks F. Peter. I know him for a man divine and Not scurvy, nor a temporary medler, [holy; As he's reported by this gentleman; And, on my trust, a man that never yet Did, as he vouches, misreport your grace. Lucio. My lord, most villainously; believe it. F. Peter. Well, he in time may come to clear himself;

But at this instant he is sick, my lord, Of a strange fever: Upon his meret request, (Being come to knowledge that there was com

plaint

Intended 'gainst lord Angelo,) came I hither, To speak as from his mouth, what he doth know

Is true, and false; and what he with his oath,
And all probation, will make up full clear,
Whensoever he's convented. First, for this
(To justify this worthy nobleman, [woman;
So vulgarly and personally accus'd,)
Her shall you hear disproved to her eyes,
Till she herself confess it.

Duke. Good friar, let's hear it.

[ISABELLA is carried off, guarded; and MARIANA comes forward. Do you not smile at this lord Angelo?O heaven! the vanity of wretched fools!Give us some seats.-Come, cousin Angelo; In this I'll be impartial; be you judge Of your own cause.-Is this the witness, friar? First, let her show her face; and, after speak.

Duke, Are you a maid?
Mari. No, my lord.
Duke. A widow, then?
Mari. Neither, my lord.
Duke. Why, you

Are nothing then :-Neither maid, widow, nor
Lucio. My lord, she may be a punk; for many
of them are neither maid, widow, nor wife.
Duke. Silence that fellow: I would, he had

some cause

To prattle for himself.

Lucio. Well, my lord.

Mari. My lord, I do confess, I ne'er was married;

And, I confess, besides, I am no maid: I have known my husband; yet my husband knows not,

That ever he knew me,

Lucio. He was drunk then, my lord; it can be no better.

Duke. For the benefit of silence, 'would thou wert so too.

Lucio. Well, my lord.

Duke. This is no witness for lord Angelo.
Mari. Now I come to't, my lord:

She, that accuses him of fornication,
In self-same manner doth accuse my husband;
And charges him, my lord, with such a time,
When I'll depose I had him in mine arms,
With all the effect of love.

Ang. Charges she more than me?
Mari. Not that I know.

Duke. No? you say, your husband.
Mari. Why, just, my lord, and that is Angelo,
Who thinks, he knows, that he ne'er knew my

body,

But knows he thinks, that he knows Isabel's. Ang. This is a strange abuse:*-Let's see

thy face.

Mari. My husband bids me; now I will un[Unveiling.

mask.

This is that face, thou cruel Angelo, [on 2
Which once thou swor'st, was worth the looking
This is the hand, which, with a vow'd contract,
Was fast belock'd in thine; this is the body
That took away the match from Isabel,
And did supply thee at thy garden-house,
In her imagin'd person.

Duke. Know you this woman?
Lucio. Carnally, she says.
Duke. Sirrah, no more.
Lucio. Enough, my lord.

Ang. My lord, I must confess, I know this

woman;

[marriage And, five years since, there was some speech of Betwixt myself and her; which was broke off, Partly, for that her promised proportions Came short of composition ; but, in chief, For that her reputation was disvalued In levity: since which time of five years, I never spake with her, saw her, nor heard from Upon my faith and honour. [her,

Mari. Noble prince,

As there comes light from heaven, and words from breath,

As there is sense in truth, and truth in virtue, I am affianc'd this man's wife, as strongly As words could make up vows: and, my good lord, [house, But Tuesday night last gone, in his gardenHe knew me as a wife: As this is true

Let me in safety raise me from my knees;
Or else for ever be confixed here,
A marble monument!

Ang. I did but smile till now; [tice;
Now, good my lord, give me the scope of jus-
My patience here is touch'd: I do perceive,
These poor informal women are no more
But instruments of some more mightier member,
That sets them on: Let me have way, my lord,
To find this practice out.

Duke. Ay, with my heart; [sure. And punish them unto your height of pleaThou foolish friar; and thou pernicious woman, Compact with her that's gone! think'st thou, thy oaths,

Though they would swear down each particular saint,

Were testimonies against his worth and credit, That's seal'd in approbation?-You, lord Escalus,

Sit with my cousin; lend him your kind pains
To find out this abuse, whence 'tis deriv'd.—
There is another friar that set them on;
Let him be sent for.

F. Peter. Would he were here, my lord; for he, indeed,

Hath set the women on to this complaint: Your provost knows the place where he abides, And he may fetch him.

Duke. Go, do it instantly.

[Exit PROVOST. And you, my noble and well-warranted cousin, Whom it concerns to hear this matter forth, Do with your injuries as seems you best, In any chastisement: I for a while Will leave you; but stir not you, till you have Determined upon these slanderers. [well

Escal. My lord, we'll do it thoroughly.-[Exit DUKE.] Signior Lucio, did not you say, you knew that friar Lodowick to be a dishonest person?

Lucio. Cucullus non facit monachum: honest in nothing, but in his clothes; and one that hath spoke most villainous speeches of theduke. Escal. We shall entreat you to abide here till he come, and enforce them against him: we shall find this friar a notable fellow.

Lucio. As any in Vienna, on my word. Escul. Call that same Isabel here once again; [To an Attendant.] I would speak with her Pray you, my lord, give me leave to question; you shall see how I'll handle her.

Lucio. Not better than he, by her own report.
Escal. Say you?

Lucio. Marry, Sir, I think, if you handled her privately, she would sooner confess; perchance, publicly she'll be ashamed.

Re-enter Officers, with ISABELLA, the DUKE, in the Friar's habit, and PROVOST.

Escal. I will go darkly to work with her. Lucio. That's the way; for women are light at midnight.

Escul. Come on, mistress: [To ISABELLA.] here's a gentlewoman denies all that you have

said.

Duke. Respect to your great place! and let the devil

Be sometime honour'd for his burning throne :-Where is the duke? 'tis he should hear me speak:

Escal. The duke's in us; and we will hear you Look, you speak justly.

Duke. Boldly, at least:-But, O, poor souls, Come you to seek the lamb here of the fox? Good night to your redress. Is the duke gone? Then is your cause gone too. The duke's unThus to retort your manifest appeal, [just, And put your trial in the villain's mouth," Which here you come to acuse.

Lucio. This is the rascal; this is he I spoke of. Escul. Why, thou unreverend and unhallow'd friar!

?

Is't not enough, thou hast suborn'd these women
To accuse this worthy man; but, in foul mouth,
And in the witness of his proper ear,
To call him villain?
[self;
And then to glance from him to the duke him-
To tax him with injustice?-Take him hence;
To the rack with him :-We'll touze you joint
by joint,
Ljust
But we will know this purpose:-What! un-
Duke. Be not so hot; the duke
Dare no more stretch this finger of mine, than he
Dare rack his own; his subject am I not,
Nor here provincial: My business in this state
Made me a looker-on here in Vienna,
Where I have seen corruption boil and bubble,
Till it o'er-run the stew: laws, for all faults;
But faults so countenanc'd, and the strong

statutes

Stand like the forfeits in a barber's shop,
As much in mock as mark.

Escal. Slander to the state! Away with him to prison.

Ang. What can you vouch against him, signior Lucio?

Is this the man that you did tell us of? Lucio. "Tis he, my lord. Come hither, goodman bald-pate: Do you know me?

Duke. I remember you, Sir, by the sound of your voice: I met you at the prison, in the absence of the duke.

Lucio. O, did you so? And do you remember what you said of the duke?

Duke. Most notedly, Sir.

Lucio. Do you so, Sir? And was the duke a flesh-monger, a fool, and a coward, as you then reported him to be?

Duke. You must, Sir, change persons with me, ere you make that my report: you, indeed, spoke so of him; and much more, much worse.

Lucio. O thou damnable fellow! Did not I pluck thee by the nose, for thy speeches?

Duke. I protest, I love the duke, as I love myself.

Ang. Hark! how the villain would close now, after his treasonable abuses.

Escal. Such a fellow is not to be talk'd withal :-Away with him to prison :-Where is the provost-Away with him to prison; lay bolts enough upon him: let him speak no more:Away with those giglots too, and with the other confederate companion.

[The PROVOST lays hands on the DUKE.] Duke. Stay, Sir; stay a while.

Ang. What! resists he? Help him, Lucio. Lucio. Come, Sir; come, Sír; 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 ↑ Wantons.

Refer back.

+ Accountable.

sheep-biting face, and be hang'd 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. Duke. What you have spoke, I pardon; sit you down.[To ESCALUS. We'll borrow place of him :-Sir, by your leave: [TO ANGELO. Hast thou or word, or wit, or impudence, That yet can do thee office?* If thou hast, Rely upon it till my tale be heard, And hold no longer out.

Ang. O my dread lord,

I should be guiltier than my guiltiness,
To think I can be undiscernible,

When I perceive, your grace, like power divine, Hath look'd upon my passes: Then, good prince,

No longer session hold upon my shame,
But let my trial be mine own confession;
Immediate sentence then, and sequent; death,
Is all the grace I beg.

:

Duke. Come hither, Mariana :Say, wast thou e'er contracted to this woman? Ang. I was, my lord.

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 ANGELO, MARIANA, PETER, and PROVOST.

Escal. My lord, I am more amaz'd at his disThan at the strangeness of it. [honour,

Duke. Come hither, Isabel: Your friar is now your prince: As I was then Advertising, and holy to your business, Not changing heart with habit, I am still Attorney'd at your service.

Isab. O, give me pardon,

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; [sure. Like doth quit like, and Measure still for MeaThen, Angelo, thy fault's thus manifested; Which though thou would'st deny, denies thee vantage:

We do condemn thee to the very block Where Claudio stoop'd to death, and with like Away with him. [haste;Mari. O, my most gracious lord, hope you will not mock me with a husband! Duke. It is your husband mock'd you with a husband:

I

Consenting to the safeguard of your honour,
I thought your marriage fit; else imputation,
For that he knew you, might reproach your life,
And choke your good to come: for his posses-
Although by confiscation they are ours, [sions,
We do instate and widow you withal,
To buy you a better husband.

Mari. O, my dear lord,

I crave no other, nor no better man.

Duke. Never crave him; we are definitive. Muri. Gentle, my liege,- [Kneeling. Duke. You do but lose your labour; Away with him to death.-Now, Sir, to you. [TO LUCIO.

Mari. O, my good lord !-Sweet Isabel, take

Mari. Isabel,

Your unknown sovereignty.

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; And you may marvel, why I obscur'd myself, Labouring to save his life; and would not

rather

O, Isabel! will you not lend a knee?
Duke. He dies for Claudio's death.
Isab. Most bounteous Sir, [Kneeling.
Look, if it please you, on this man condemn'd,
As if my brother liv'd: I partly think,
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,
In that he did the thing for which he died:
For Angelo,

His act did not o'ertake his bad intent;
And must be buried but as an intent
That perish'd by the way: thoughts are no sub-
Intents but merely thoughts.
[jects;
Mari. Merely, my lord.

Duke. Your suit's unprofitable; stand up, I

say.

I have bethought me 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. No, my good lord; it was by private message.

Duke. For which I do discharge you of your Give up your keys. [office:

Prov. Pardon me, noble lord:

I thought it was a fault, but knew it not;

Yet did repent me, after more advice:*
For testimony whereof, one in the prison
That should by private order else have died,
I have reserv'd alive.

Duke. What's he?

Prov. His name is Barnardine.

Duke. I would thou had'st done so by Claudio. Go, fetch him hither; let me look upon him. [Exit PROVOST. Escal. I am sorry, one so learned and so wise As you, lord Angelo, have still appear'd, Should slip so grossly, both in the heat of blood, And lack of temper'd judgement afterward. Ang. I am sorry, that such sorrow I procure: And so deep sticks it in my penitent heart, That I crave death more willingly than mercy; "Tis my deserving, and I do entreat it.

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 whipp'd.

Duke. Whipp'd first, Sir, and hang'd after.Proclaim it, Provost, round about the city; If any woman's wrong'd by this lewd fellow, (As I have heard him swear 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.

JULIET.

Duke. Which is that Barnardine?

Prov. This, my lord.

Duke. There was a friar told me of this man :Sirrah, thou art said to have a stubborn soul, That apprehends no further than this world, And squar'st thy life according. Thou'rt condemn'd;

But, for those earthly faults, I quit them all;
And pray thee, take this mercy to provide
For better times to come:Friar, advise him;
I leave him to your hand.-What muffled fel-
low's that?

Prov. This is another prisoner, that I sav'd, That should have died when Claudio lost his As like almost to Claudio, as himself. [head; [Unmuffles CLAUDIO. Duke. If he be like your brother, for his sake [To ISABELLA.

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.
By this, lord Angelo perceives he's safe;
Methinks, I see a quick'ning in his eye:-
Well, Angelo, your evil quits you well:
Look that you love your wife; her worth, worth
I find an apt remission in myself: [yours.
And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon ;-
+ Requites.

* Consideration.

compense 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:
And see our pleasure herein executed.

Lucio. Marrying a punk, my lord, is pressing to death, whipping, and hanging.

Duke. Sland'ring a prince deserves it.She, Claudio, that you wrong'd, look you re

store.

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:

There's more behind, that is more gratulate.§
Thanks, Provost, for thy care, and secrecy;
We shall employ thee in a worthier place:-
Forgive him, Angelo, that brought you home
The head of Ragozine for Claudio's;
The offence pardons itself.-Dear Isabel,
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 show What's yet behind, that's meet you all should know.

Incontinence. Punishments.

[Exeunt.

+ Thoughtless practice. To reward.

DON PEDRO, Prince of Arragon.
DON JOHN, his bastard Brother:
CLAUDIO, a young Lord of Florence, favourite
to Don Pedro.

BENEDICK, a young Lord of Padua, favourite likewise of Don Pedro.

LEONATO, Governor of Messina.

ANTONIO, his Brother.

BALTHAZAR, Servant to Don Pedro.

BORACHIO, Followers of Don John.
CONRADE,

DOGBERRY, Two foolish Officers.
VERGES,

A SEXTON. A FRIAR. A Boy.

HERO, Daughter to Leonato.
BEATRICE, Niece to Leonato.
MARGARET, Gentlewomen attending on Hero.
URSULA,

Messengers, Watch, and Attendants.
SCENE, Messina.

ACT I.

SCENE I.—Before LEONATO's House. Enter LEONATO, HERO, BEATRICE, and others, with a MESSENGER.

Leon. I learn in this letter, that Don Pedro of Arragon comes this night to Messina.

Mess. He is very near by this; he was not three leagues off when I left him."

Leon. How many gentlemen have you lost in this action?

Mess. But few of any sort, and none of

name.

Leon. A victory is twice itself, when the achiever brings home full numbers. I find here, that Don Pedro hath bestowed much Lonour on a young Florentine, called Claudio.

Mess. Much deserved on his part, and equally remembered by Don Pedro: He hath borne himself beyond the promise of his age; doing, in the figure of a lamb, the feats of a lion: he hath, indeed, better bettered expectation, than you must expect of me to tell you how.

Leon. He hath an uncle here in Messina will be very much glad of it.

Mess. I have already delivered him letters, and there appears much joy in him; even so much, that joy could not show itself modest enough, without a badge of bitterness.

Leon. Did he break out into tears?
Mess. In great measure.

Beat. He set up his bills here in Messina, and challenged Cupid at the flight:* and my uncle's fool, reading the challenge, subscribed for Cupid, and challenged him at the bird-bolt.1 pray you, how many hath he killed and eaten in these wars? But how many hath he killed? for, indeed, I promised to eat all of his killing.

Leon. Faith, niece, you tax signior Benedick too much; but he'll be meet+ with you, I doubt it not.

Mess. He hath done good service, lady, in these wars.

Beat. You had musty victual, and he hath . holp to eat it: he is a very valiant trencherman, he hath an excellent stomach.

Mess. And a good soldier too, lady. Beat. And a good soldier to a lady;-But what is he to a lord?

Mess. A lord to a lord, a man to a man; stuffed with all honourable virtues.

Beat. It is so, indeed; he is no less than a stuffed man: but for the stuffing,-Well, we are all mortal.

Leon. You must not, Sir, mistake my niece: there is a kind of merry war betwixt signior Benedick and her: they never meet, but there is a skirmish of wit between them.

Beat. I pray you, is signior Montanto returned from the wars, or no?

Mess. I know none of that name, lady; there was none such in the army of any sort.

Leon. What is he that you ask for, niece? Hero. My cousin means signior Benedick of Padua.

Mess. O, he is returned; and as pleasant as ever he was.

wealth that he hath left, to be known a reasonable creature.-Who is his companion now? He hath every month a new sworn brother. Mess. Is it possible?

Beat. Very easily possible: he wears his faith but as the fashion of his hat, it ever changes with the next block.§

Mess. I see, lady, the gentleman is not in your books.

Beat. No: an he were, I would burn my study. But, I pray you, who is his companion? * At long lengths. A Cuckold.

Even.
Mould for a hat.