Complete Plays, The

by William Shakespeare

  Pompey

  I hope, sir, your good worship will be my bail.

  Lucio

  No, indeed, will I not, Pompey; it is not the wear. I will pray, Pompey, to increase your bondage: If you take it not patiently, why, your mettle is the more. Adieu, trusty Pompey. ’Bless you, friar.

  Duke Vincentio

  And you.

  Lucio

  Does Bridget paint still, Pompey, ha?

  Elbow

  Come your ways, sir; come.

  Pompey

  You will not bail me, then, sir?

  Lucio

  Then, Pompey, nor now. What news abroad, friar? what news?

  Elbow

  Come your ways, sir; come.

  Lucio

  Go to kennel, Pompey; go.

  Exeunt Elbow, Pompey and Officers

  What news, friar, of the duke?

  Duke Vincentio

  I know none. Can you tell me of any?

  Lucio

  Some say he is with the Emperor of Russia; other some, he is in Rome: but where is he, think you?

  Duke Vincentio

  I know not where; but wheresoever, I wish him well.

  Lucio

  It was a mad fantastical trick of him to steal from the state, and usurp the beggary he was never born to. Lord Angelo dukes it well in his absence; he puts transgression to ’t.

  Duke Vincentio

  He does well in ’t.

  Lucio

  A little more lenity to lechery would do no harm in him: something too crabbed that way, friar.

  Duke Vincentio

  It is too general a vice, and severity must cure it.

  Lucio

  Yes, in good sooth, the vice is of a great kindred; it is well allied: but it is impossible to extirp it quite, friar, till eating and drinking be put down. They say this Angelo was not made by man and woman after this downright way of creation: is it true, think you?

  Duke Vincentio

  How should he be made, then?

  Lucio

  Some report a sea-maid spawned him; some, that he was begot between two stock-fishes. But it is certain that when he makes water his urine is congealed ice; that I know to be true: and he is a motion generative; that’s infallible.

  Duke Vincentio

  You are pleasant, sir, and speak apace.

  Lucio

  Why, what a ruthless thing is this in him, for the rebellion of a codpiece to take away the life of a man! Would the duke that is absent have done this? Ere he would have hanged a man for the getting a hundred bastards, he would have paid for the nursing a thousand: he had some feeling of the sport: he knew the service, and that instructed him to mercy.

  Duke Vincentio

  I never heard the absent duke much detected for women; he was not inclined that way.

  Lucio

  O, sir, you are deceived.

  Duke Vincentio

  ’Tis not possible.

  Lucio

  Who, not the duke? yes, your beggar of fifty; and his use was to put a ducat in her clack-dish: the duke had crotchets in him. He would be drunk too; that let me inform you.

  Duke Vincentio

  You do him wrong, surely.

  Lucio

  Sir, I was an inward of his. A shy fellow was the duke: and I believe I know the cause of his withdrawing.

  Duke Vincentio

  What, I prithee, might be the cause?

  Lucio

  No, pardon; ’tis a secret must be locked within the teeth and the lips: but this I can let you understand, the greater file of the subject held the duke to be wise.

  Duke Vincentio

  Wise! why, no question but he was.

  Lucio

  A very superficial, ignorant, unweighing fellow.

  Duke Vincentio

  Either this is the envy in you, folly, or mistaking: the very stream of his life and the business he hath helmed must upon a warranted need give him a better proclamation. Let him be but testimonied in his own bringings-forth, and he shall appear to the envious a scholar, a statesman and a soldier. Therefore you speak unskilfully: or if your knowledge be more it is much darkened in your malice.

  Lucio

  Sir, I know him, and I love him.

  Duke Vincentio

  Love talks with better knowledge, and knowledge with dearer love.

  Lucio

  Come, sir, I know what I know.

  Duke Vincentio

  I can hardly believe that, since you know not what you speak. But, if ever the duke return, as our prayers are he may, let me desire you to make your answer before him. If it be honest you have spoke, you have courage to maintain it: I am bound to call upon you; and, I pray you, your name?

  Lucio

  Sir, my name is Lucio; well known to the duke.

  Duke Vincentio

  He shall know you better, sir, if I may live to report you.

  Lucio

  I fear you not.

  Duke Vincentio

  O, you hope the duke will return no more; or you imagine me too unhurtful an opposite. But indeed I can do you little harm; you’ll forswear this again.

  Lucio

  I’ll be hanged first: thou art deceived in me, friar. But no more of this. Canst thou tell if Claudio die to-morrow or no?

  Duke Vincentio

  Why should he die, sir?

  Lucio

  Why? For filling a bottle with a tundish. I would the duke we talk of were returned again: the ungenitured agent will unpeople the province with continency; sparrows must not build in his house-eaves, because they are lecherous. The duke yet would have dark deeds darkly answered; he would never bring them to light: would he were returned! Marry, this Claudio is condemned for untrussing. Farewell, good friar: I prithee, pray for me. The duke, I say to thee again, would eat mutton on Fridays. He’s not past it yet, and I say to thee, he would mouth with a beggar, though she smelt brown bread and garlic: say that I said so. Farewell.

  Exit

  Duke Vincentio

  No might nor greatness in mortality

  Can censure ’scape; back-wounding calumny

  The whitest virtue strikes. What king so strong

  Can tie the gall up in the slanderous tongue?

  But who comes here?

  Enter Escalus, Provost, and Officers with Mistress Overdone

  Escalus

  Go; away with her to prison!

  Mistress Overdone

  Good my lord, be good to me; your honour is accounted a merciful man; good my lord.

  Escalus

  Double and treble admonition, and still forfeit in the same kind! This would make mercy swear and play the tyrant.

  Provost

  A bawd of eleven years’ continuance, may it please your honour.

  Mistress Overdone

  My lord, this is one Lucio’s information against me. Mistress Kate Keepdown was with child by him in the duke’s time; he promised her marriage: his child is a year and a quarter old, come Philip and Jacob: I have kept it myself; and see how he goes about to abuse me!

  Escalus

  That fellow is a fellow of much licence: let him be called before us. Away with her to prison! Go to; no more words.

  Exeunt Officers with Mistress Overdone

  Provost, my brother Angelo will not be altered; Claudio must die to-morrow: let him be furnished with divines, and have all charitable preparation. if my brother wrought by my pity, it should not be so with him.

  Provost

  So please you, this friar hath been with him, and advised him for the entertainment of death.

  Escalus

  Good even, good father.

  Duke Vincentio

  Bliss and goodness on you!

  Escalus

  Of whence are you?

  Duke Vincentio

  Not of this country, though my chance is now

  To use it for my time: I am a brother

  Of gracious order, late come from the See

  In special
business from his holiness.

  Escalus

  What news abroad i’ the world?

  Duke Vincentio

  None, but that there is so great a fever on goodness, that the dissolution of it must cure it: novelty is only in request; and it is as dangerous to be aged in any kind of course, as it is virtuous to be constant in any undertaking. There is scarce truth enough alive to make societies secure; but security enough to make fellowships accurst: much upon this riddle runs the wisdom of the world. This news is old enough, yet it is every day’s news. I pray you, sir, of what disposition was the duke?

  Escalus

  One that, above all other strifes, contended especially to know himself.

  Duke Vincentio

  What pleasure was he given to?

  Escalus

  Rather rejoicing to see another merry, than merry at any thing which professed to make him rejoice: a gentleman of all temperance. But leave we him to his events, with a prayer they may prove prosperous; and let me desire to know how you find Claudio prepared. I am made to understand that you have lent him visitation.

  Duke Vincentio

  He professes to have received no sinister measure from his judge, but most willingly humbles himself to the determination of justice: yet had he framed to himself, by the instruction of his frailty, many deceiving promises of life; which I by my good leisure have discredited to him, and now is he resolved to die.

  Escalus

  You have paid the heavens your function, and the prisoner the very debt of your calling. I have laboured for the poor gentleman to the extremest shore of my modesty: but my brother justice have I found so severe, that he hath forced me to tell him he is indeed Justice.

  Duke Vincentio

  If his own life answer the straitness of his proceeding, it shall become him well; wherein if he chance to fail, he hath sentenced himself.

  Escalus

  I am going to visit the prisoner. Fare you well.

  Duke Vincentio

  Peace be with you!

  Exeunt Escalus and Provost

  He who the sword of heaven will bear

  Should be as holy as severe;

  Pattern in himself to know,

  Grace to stand, and virtue go;

  More nor less to others paying

  Than by self-offences weighing.

  Shame to him whose cruel striking

  Kills for faults of his own liking!

  Twice treble shame on Angelo,

  To weed my vice and let his grow!

  O, what may man within him hide,

  Though angel on the outward side!

  How may likeness made in crimes,

  Making practise on the times,

  To draw with idle spiders’ strings

  Most ponderous and substantial things!

  Craft against vice I must apply:

  With Angelo to-night shall lie

  His old betrothed but despised;

  So disguise shall, by the disguised,

  Pay with falsehood false exacting,

  And perform an old contracting.

  Exit

  ACT IV

  SCENE I. THE MOATED GRANGE AT ST. LUKE’S.

  Enter Mariana and a Boy

  Boy sings

  Take, O, take those lips away,

  That so sweetly were forsworn;

  And those eyes, the break of day,

  Lights that do mislead the morn:

  But my kisses bring again, bring again;

  Seals of love, but sealed in vain, sealed in vain.

  Mariana

  Break off thy song, and haste thee quick away:

  Here comes a man of comfort, whose advice

  Hath often still’d my brawling discontent.

  Exit Boy

  Enter Duke Vincentio disguised as before

  I cry you mercy, sir; and well could wish

  You had not found me here so musical:

  Let me excuse me, and believe me so,

  My mirth it much displeased, but pleased my woe.

  Duke Vincentio

  ’Tis good; though music oft hath such a charm To make bad good, and good provoke to harm. I pray, you, tell me, hath any body inquired for me here to-day? much upon this time have I promised here to meet.

  Mariana

  You have not been inquired after:

  I have sat here all day.

  Enter Isabella

  Duke Vincentio

  I do constantly believe you. The time is come even now. I shall crave your forbearance a little: may be I will call upon you anon, for some advantage to yourself.

  Mariana

  I am always bound to you.

  Exit

  Duke Vincentio

  Very well met, and well come.

  What is the news from this good deputy?

  Isabella

  He hath a garden circummured with brick,

  Whose western side is with a vineyard back’d;

  And to that vineyard is a planched gate,

  That makes his opening with this bigger key:

  This other doth command a little door

  Which from the vineyard to the garden leads;

  There have I made my promise

  Upon the heavy middle of the night

  To call upon him.

  Duke Vincentio

  But shall you on your knowledge find this way?

  Isabella

  I have ta’en a due and wary note upon’t:

  With whispering and most guilty diligence,

  In action all of precept, he did show me

  The way twice o’er.

  Duke Vincentio

  Are there no other tokens

  Between you ’greed concerning her observance?

  Isabella

  No, none, but only a repair i’ the dark;

  And that I have possess’d him my most stay

  Can be but brief; for I have made him know

  I have a servant comes with me along,

  That stays upon me, whose persuasion is

  I come about my brother.

  Duke Vincentio

  ’Tis well borne up.

  I have not yet made known to Mariana

  A word of this. What, ho! within! come forth!

  Re-enter Mariana

  I pray you, be acquainted with this maid;

  She comes to do you good.

  Isabella

  I do desire the like.

  Duke Vincentio

  Do you persuade yourself that I respect you?

  Mariana

  Good friar, I know you do, and have found it.

  Duke Vincentio

  Take, then, this your companion by the hand,

  Who hath a story ready for your ear.

  I shall attend your leisure: but make haste;

  The vaporous night approaches.

  Mariana

  Will’t please you walk aside?

  Exeunt Mariana and Isabella

  Duke Vincentio

  O place and greatness! millions of false eyes

  Are stuck upon thee: volumes of report

  Run with these false and most contrarious quests

  Upon thy doings: thousand escapes of wit

  Make thee the father of their idle dreams

  And rack thee in their fancies.

  Re-enter Mariana and Isabella

  Welcome, how agreed?

  Isabella

  She’ll take the enterprise upon her, father,

  If you advise it.

  Duke Vincentio

  It is not my consent,

  But my entreaty too.

  Isabella

  Little have you to say

  When you depart from him, but, soft and low,

  ‘Remember now my brother.’

  Mariana

  Fear me not.

  Duke Vincentio

  Nor, gentle daughter, fear you not at all.

  He is your husband on a pre-contract:

  To bring you thus together, ’tis no sin
,

  Sith that the justice of your title to him

  Doth flourish the deceit. Come, let us go:

  Our corn’s to reap, for yet our tithe’s to sow.

  Exeunt

  SCENE II. A ROOM IN THE PRISON.

  Enter Provost and Pompey

  Provost

  Come hither, sirrah. Can you cut off a man’s head?

  Pompey

  If the man be a bachelor, sir, I can; but if he be a married man, he’s his wife’s head, and I can never cut off a woman’s head.

  Provost

  Come, sir, leave me your snatches, and yield me a direct answer. To-morrow morning are to die Claudio and Barnardine. Here is in our prison a common executioner, who in his office lacks a helper: if you will take it on you to assist him, it shall redeem you from your gyves; if not, you shall have your full time of imprisonment and your deliverance with an unpitied whipping, for you have been a notorious bawd.

  Pompey

  Sir, I have been an unlawful bawd time out of mind; but yet I will be content to be a lawful hangman. I would be glad to receive some instruction from my fellow partner.

  Provost

  What, ho! Abhorson! Where’s Abhorson, there?

  Enter Abhorson

  Abhorson

  Do you call, sir?

  Provost

  Sirrah, here’s a fellow will help you to-morrow in your execution. If you think it meet, compound with him by the year, and let him abide here with you; if not, use him for the present and dismiss him. He cannot plead his estimation with you; he hath been a bawd.

  Abhorson

  A bawd, sir? fie upon him! he will discredit our mystery.

  Provost

  Go to, sir; you weigh equally; a feather will turn the scale.

  Exit

  Pompey

  Pray, sir, by your good favour,— for surely, sir, a good favour you have, but that you have a hanging look,— do you call, sir, your occupation a mystery?

  Abhorson

  Ay, sir; a mystery

  Pompey

  Painting, sir, I have heard say, is a mystery; and your whores, sir, being members of my occupation, using painting, do prove my occupation a mystery: but what mystery there should be in hanging, if I should be hanged, I cannot imagine.

  Abhorson

  Sir, it is a mystery.

  Pompey

  Proof?

  Abhorson

  Every true man’s apparel fits your thief: if it be too little for your thief, your true man thinks it big enough; if it be too big for your thief, your thief thinks it little enough: so every true man’s apparel fits your thief.

  Re-enter Provost

  Provost

  Are you agreed?

  Pompey