BAWD. Well; what has he done? CLOWN. A woman. BAWD. But what's his offence? CLOWN. Groping for trouts in a peculiar river. CLOWN. All houses in the suburbs of Vienna must be pluck'd down. BAWD. And what shall become of those in the city? CLOWN. They fhall stand for seed; they had gone down too, but that a wife burgher put in for them. BAWD. But fhall all our houses of refort in the fuburbs be pull'd down? CLOWN. To the ground, mistress. BAWD. Why here's a change, indeed, in the common wealth. What fhall become of me? CLOWN. Come, fear not you? good counsellors lack no clients, though you change your place, you need not change your trade; I'll be your tapfter ftill. Courage, there will be pity taken on you; you that have worn your eyes almost out in the fervice, you will be confidered. BAWD. What's to do here, Thomas Tapfter? let's withdraw. CLOWN. Here comes fignior Claudio, led by the Provost to prifon; and there's madam Juliet. [Exit Bawd and Clown. SCENE VI. Enter Provoft, Claudio, Juliet, and officers. Lucio and two gentlemen. CLAUD. Fellow, why dost thou fhow me thus to th' world? Bear me to prison, where I am committed. But from lord Angelo by special charge. On whom it will not, fo; yet ftill 'tis just. LUCIO. Why, how now, Claudio? whence comes this reftraint? CLAUD. From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty; So ev'ry scope by the immoderate use LUCIO. If I could speak fo wifely under an arreft, I would fend for certain of my creditors; and yet, to fay the truth, I had as lief have the foppery of freedom, as the morality of imprifonment: what's thy offence, Claudio? CLAUD. What, but to fpeak of, would offend again. CLAUD. No. LUCIO. Letchery? CLAUD. Call it fo. PROV. Away, Sir, you must go. CLAUD. One word, good friend:-Lucio, a word with you. LUCIO. A hundred; if they'll do you any good. Is letchery fo look'd after? CLAUD. Thus ftands it with me; upon a true contract got poffeffion of Julietta's bed, (You know the lady) she is fast my wife; Save that we do the denunciation lack Of outward order. This we came not to, Remaining in the coffer of her friends; From whom we thought it meet to hide our love, CLAUD. Unhappily, even fo. And the new deputy now for the duke, A horse whereon the governor doth ride, Or in his eminence that fills it up,. Awakes me all th' enrolled penalties, Which have, like unfcour'd armour, hung by th' wall So long, that nineteen zodiacks have gone round, Now puts the drowsy and neglected act Freshly on me.- -"Tis, furely, for a name. Lucio. I warrant, it is. And thy head ftands fo tickle on thy fhoulders, that a milk-maid, if the be in love, may figh it off. Send after the duke, and appeal to him. CLAUD. I have done fo, but he's not to be found. I pr'ythee, Lucio, do me this kind service: This day my fifter should the cloifter enter, And there receive her approbation. Acquaint her with the danger of my state, ་ Implore her, in my voice, that she make friends I have great hope in that; for in her youth Such as moves men! befide, she hath profp'rous art LUCIO. I pray, fhe may; as well for the encouragement of the like, which else would stand under grievous imposition; as for the enjoying of thy life, who I would be forry should be thus foolishly loft at a game of tick-tack. I'll to her. CLAUD. I thank you, good friend Lucio. LUCIO. Within two hours," CLAUD. Come, officer, away. SCENE VII. A monastery, Enter Duke, and friar Thomas. [Exeunt. DUKE. No, holy father-Throw away that thought- Can pierce a compleat bofom; why I defire thee To give me secret harbour, hath a purpose More grave, and wrinkled, than the aims and ends Of burning youth. FRI. May your grace fpeak of it? DUKE. My holy Sir, none better knows than you, How I have ever lov'd the life remov'd; And held in idle price to haunt affemblies, A man of stricture and firm abstinence My abfolute pow'r and place here in Vienna; DUKE. We have strict statutes and most biting laws, Becomes more mock'd, than fear'd; fo our decrees, Dead to infliction, to themselves are dead; And liberty plucks justice by the nofe; And baby beats the nurse, and quite athwart FRI. It refted in your grace. T'unloose this ty'd up justice, when you pleas'd: Than in lord Angelo. DUKE. I do fear, too dreadful. Sith 'twas my fault to give the people scope, 'Twould be my tyranny to strike and gall them, For what I bid them do. For we bid this be done, And not the punishment. Therefore, indeed, my father, I have on Angelo impos'd the office:, Who may in th' ambush of my name ftrike home, And yet, my nature never in the fight |