gracious perfon; and much please the abfent Duke, if, peradventure he shall ever return to have hearing of this bufinefs.

ISAB. Let me hear you speak further. I have a spirit to do any thing, that appears not foul in the truth of my fpirit.

DUKE. Virtue is bold, and goodness never fearful; have you not heard speak of Mariana, the fister of Frederick, the great foldier who mifcarried at fea?

ISAB. I have heard of the lady, and good words went with her name.

DUKE. Her should this Angelo have marry'd; was affianc'd to her by oath, and the nuptial appointed; between which time of the contract, and limit of the folemnity, her brother Frederick was wreckt at sea, having in that perifh'd veffel the dowry of his fifter. But mark, how heavily this befel to the poor gentlewoman; there the loft a noble and renowned brother, in his love toward her ever most kind and natural; with him the portion, the finew of her fortune, her marriage-dowry; with both, her combinate hufband, this well-seeming Angelo.

ISAB. Can this be fo? did Angelo fo leave her?

DUKE. Left her in tears, and dry'd not one of them with his comfort; fwallow'd his vows whole, pretending, in her, discoveries of dishonour, in few, bestow'd her on her own lamentation, which the yet wears for his fake; and he, a marble to her tears, is washed with them, but relents not. ISAB. What a merit were it in death to take this poor maid from the world! what corruption in this life, that it will let this man live! but how out of this can fhe avail?

DUKE. It is a rupture that you may eafily heal; and the

cure of it not only faves your brother, but keeps you from difhonour in doing it

ISAB. Shew me how, good father.

DUKE. This fore-nam'd maid hath yet in her the continuance of her first affection; his unjust unkindness, (that in all reafon fhould have quenched her love,) hath, like an impediment in the current, made it more violent and unruly. Go you to Angelo, anfwer his requiring with a plausible obedience; agree with his demands to the point; only refer yourself to this advantage: first, that your stay with him may not be long; that the time may have all fhadow and filence in it; and the place answer to convenience. This being granted, in courfe now follows all. We shall advise this wronged maid to ftead up your appointment, go in your place; if the encounter acknowledge itself hereafter, it may compel him to her recompence; and here by this is your brother faved, your honour untainted, the poor Mariana advantaged, and the corrupt deputy fcaled. The maid will I frame, and make fit for his attempt. If you think well to carry this as you may, the double nefs of the benefit defends the deceit from reproof. What think you of it? ISAB. The image of it gives me content already, and, I truft, it will grow to a most profperous perfection.

DUKE. It lies much in your holding up. Hafte you speedily to Angelo; if for this night he intreat you to his bed, give him promife of fatisfaction. I will presently to St. Luke's; there at the moated Grange refides this dejected Mariana; at that place call upon me, and dispatch with Angelo, that it may be quickly.

ISAB. I thank you for this comfort. Fare you well, good father. [Exeunt feverally.

SCENE IV.

Changes to the street.

Re-enter Duke as a friar, Elbow, clown, and officers.

ELB. Nay, if there be no remedy for it, but that you will needs buy and fell men and women like beafts, we shall have all the world drink brown and white bastard.

DUKE. Oh, heaven's! what ftuff is here?

CLOWN. 'Twas never merry world fince of two ufuries the merriest was put down, and the worfer allow'd by order of law, a furr'd gown to keep him warm, and furr'd with fox and lamb-fkins too, to fignifie, that craft, being richer than innocency, ftands for the facing.

ELB. Come your way, fir. -Bless you, good father friar. DUKE. And you, good brother father; what offence hath this man made you, fir?

ELB. Marry, fir, he hath offended the law; and, fir, we take him to be a thief too, fir; for we have found upon him, fir, a ftrange picklock, which we have sent to the deputy.

DUKE. Fie, firrah, a bawd, a wicked bawd!

The evil that thou causeft to be done,

That is thy means to live. Doft thou but think,
What 'tis to cram a maw, or cloath a back,
From fuch a filthy vice? fay to thyself,
From their abominable and beaftly touches
I drink, I eat, array myself, and live.
Canft thou believe thy living is a life,

So ftinkingly depending! go mend, mend.

CLOWN. Indeed, it doth ftink, in fome fort, fir; but yet,

fir, I would prove

DUKE. Nay, if the devil hath giv'n thee proofs for fin,

Thou wilt prove his. Take him to prison, officer:
Correction and instruction must both work,

Ere this rude beast will profit.

ELB. He must before the deputy, fir; he has given him warning; the deputy cannot abide a whore-mafter: if he be a whore-monger, and comes before him, he were as good go a mile on his errand.

DUKE. That we were all, as fome would feem to be,
Free from all faults, as faults from seeming free!

ELB. His neck will come to your waift, a cord, Sir CLOWN. I spy comfort: I cry, bail: here's a gentleman, and a friend of mine.

LUCIO, How now, noble Pompey? what, at the wheels of Cæfar? art thou led in triumph? what, is there none of Pigmalion's images, newly made woman, to be had now, for putting the hand in the pocket, and extracting it clutch'd? what reply? ha? what say'st thou to this tune, matter and method? is't not drown'd i' th' last rain? ha? what say'st thou, trot? is the world as it was, man? which is the way? is it fad and few words? or how? the trick of it? DUKE. Still thus and thus ; ftill worse !

LUCIO. How doth my dear morfel, thy mistress? procures fhe ftill? ha?

CLOWN. Troth, fir, fhe hath eaten up all her beef, and she is herself in the tub.

LUCIO. Why, it is good; it is the right of it: it must be so. Ever your fresh whore, and your powder'd bawd; an unfhunn'd confequence, it must be fo. Art going to prison, Pompey?

CLOWN. Yes, faith, Sir.

LUCIO. Why, 'tis not amifs, Pompey, farewell: go, say, fent thee thither. For debt, Pompey? or how? ELB. For being a bawd, for being a bawd.

I

Lucio. Well, then imprison him; if imprisonment be the due of a bawd, why, 'tis his right. Bawd is he, doubtless, and of antiquity too; bawd born. Farewell, good Pompey, commend me to the prifon, Pompey; you will turn good husband now, Pompey; you will keep the house.

CLOWN. I hope, Sir, your good worship will be my bail. LUCIO. No, indeed, I will not, Pompey; it is not the wear. I will pray, Pompey, to encreafe your bondage: if you take it not patiently, why, your mettle is the more. Adieu, trusty Pompey. Bless you, Friar.

DUKE. And you.

Lucio. Does Bridget paint ftill, Pompey? ha?

ELB. Come your ways, Sir, come.

CLOWN. You will not bail me then, Sir?

LUCIO. Then, Pompey, nor now. What news abroad,

Friar? what news?

ELB. Come your ways, Sir, come.

Lucio. Go-to kennel, Pompey-go:

What news, Friar, of the Duke?

DUKE, I know none: can you tell me of any ?

LUCIO. Some fay, he is with the emperor of Ruffia; other fome, he is in Rome: but where is he, think you?

DUKE. I know not where; but wherefoever, I wish him well.

Lucie. It was a mad fantastical trick of him to fteal from VOL. I.

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