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LUCIO: Go to kennel, Pompey; go. |
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. |
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? |
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. |
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! |
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! |
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