_Escal._ Come on, mistress: here's a gentlewoman denies all that you have said. 280

_Lucio._ My lord, here comes the rascal I spoke of; here with the provost.

_Escal._ In very good time: speak not you to him till we call upon you.

_Lucio._ Mum. 285

_Escal._ Come, sir: did you set these women on to slander Lord Angelo? they have confessed you did.

_Duke._ 'Tis false.

_Escal._ How! know you where you are?

_Duke._ Respect to your great place! and let the devil 290 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 speak: Look you speak justly.

_Duke._ Boldly, at least. But, O, poor souls, 295 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 unjust, Thus to retort your manifest appeal, And put your trial in the villain's mouth 300 Which here you come to accuse.

_Lucio._ This is the rascal; this is he I spoke of.

_Escal._ 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, 305 And in the witness of his proper ear, To call him villain? and then to glance from him To the Duke himself, to tax him with injustice?

Take him hence; to the rack with him! We'll touse you Joint by joint, but we will know his purpose. 310 What, 'unjust'!

_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, 315 Where I have seen corruption boil and bubble Till it o'er-run the stew; laws for all faults, But faults so countenanced, that the strong statutes Stand like the forfeits in a barber's shop, As much in mock as mark. 320

_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? 325

_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. 330

_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 335 much more, much worse.

_Lucio._ O thou d.a.m.nable 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 340 treasonable abuses!

_Escal._ Such a fellow is not to be talked 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 giglets too, and with the other 345 confederate companion!

_Duke._ [_To Provost_] Stay, sir; stay awhile.

_Ang._ What, resists he? Help him, Lucio.

_Lucio._ Come, sir; come, sir; come, sir; foh, sir!

Why, you bald-pated, lying rascal, you must be hooded, 350 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 madest a Duke.

First, provost, let me bail these gentle three. 355 [_To Lucio_] Sneak not away, sir; for the friar and you Must have a word anon. Lay hold on him.

_Lucio._ This may prove worse than hanging.

_Duke._ [_To Escalus_] What you have spoke I pardon: sit you down: We'll borrow place of him. [_To Angelo_] Sir, by your leave. 360 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, 365 To think I can be undiscernible, When I perceive your Grace, like power divine, Hath look'd upon my pa.s.ses. Then, good prince, No longer session hold upon my shame, But let my trial be mine own confession: 370 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. 375 Do you the office, friar; which consummate, Return him here again. Go with him, provost.

[_Exeunt Angelo, Mariana, Friar Peter and Provost._

_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 380 Advertising and holy to your business, Not changing heart with habit, I am still Attorney'd at your service.

_Isab._ O, give me pardon, That I, your va.s.sal, have employ'd and pain'd Your unknown sovereignty!

_Duke._ You are pardon'd, Isabel: 385 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 obscured myself, Labouring to save his life, and would not rather Make rash remonstrance of my hidden power 390 Than let him so be lost. O most kind maid, It was the swift celerity of his death, Which I did think with slower foot came on, That brain'd my purpose. But, peace be with him!

That life is better life, past fearing death, 395 Than that which lives to fear: make it your comfort, So happy is your brother.

_Isab._ I do, my lord.

_Re-enter ANGELO, MARIANA, FRIAR 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 400 For Mariana's sake: but as he adjudged your brother,-- Being criminal, in double violation Of sacred chast.i.ty, and of promise-breach Thereon dependent, for your brother's life,-- The very mercy of the law cries out 405 Most audible, even from his proper tongue, 'An Angelo for Claudio, death for death!'