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BAWD. Well; what has he done?

CLOWN. A woman.

BAWD. But what's his offence?

CLOWN. Groping for trouts in a peculiar river.
BAWD. What? is there a maid with child by him?
CLOWN. No; but there's a woman with maid by him.
You have not heard of the proclamation, have you ?
BAWD. What proclamation, man?

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.
PROV. I do it not in evil disposition,

But from lord Angelo by special charge.
CLAUD. Thus can the demi-god, authority,
Make us pay down, for our offence, by weight.-
The words of heaven; on whom it will, it will;

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;
As furfeit is the father of much fast,

So ev'ry scope by the immoderate use
Turns to restraint: our natures do pursue,
Like rats that ravin down their proper bane,
A thirsty evil; and when we drink, we die.

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.
LUCIO. What is't, murder?

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,
Only for propagation of a dower

Remaining in the coffer of her friends;

From whom we thought it meet to hide our love,
"Till time had made them for us. But it chances,
The stealth of our moft mutual entertainment,
With character too grofs, is writ on Juliet.
LUCIO. With child, perhaps?

CLAUD. Unhappily, even fo.

And the new deputy now for the duke,
(Whether it be the fault, and glimpse, of newness;
Or whether that the body public be

A horse whereon the governor doth ride,
Who, newly in the seat, that it may know
He can command, let's it ftrait feel the fpur;*
Whether the tyranny be in his place,

Or in his eminence that fills it up,.
Iftagger in:) but this new governor

Awakes me all th' enrolled penalties,

Which have, like unfcour'd armour, hung by th' wall

So long, that nineteen zodiacks have gone round,
And none of them been worn; and, for a name,

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
To the strict deputy; bid herself assay him;

I have great hope in that; for in her youth
There is a prone and speechlefs dialect,

Such as moves men! befide, she hath profp'rous art
When she will play with reason and discourse,
And well the can perfuade.

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-
Believe not, that the dribbling dart of love

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,
Where youth, and cost, and witless bravery keeps.
I have deliver'd to lord Angelo

A man of stricture and firm abstinence

My abfolute pow'r and place here in Vienna;
And he supposes me travell❜d to Poland;
For fo I've ftrew'd it in the common ear,
And fo it is receiv'd: now, pious Sir,
You will demand of me, why I do this?
FRI. Gladly, my lord.

DUKE. We have strict statutes and most biting laws,
The needful bits and curbs for head-strong steeds,
Which for these nineteen years we have let sleep;
Even like an o'er-grown lion in a cave,
That goes not out to prey. Now, as fond fathers
Having bound up the threat'ning twigs of birch,
Only to stick it in their children's fight,
For terror, not to ufe; in time the rod

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
Goes all decorum.

FRI. It refted in your grace.

T'unloose this ty'd up justice, when you pleas'd:
And it in you more dreadful would have seem'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,
When evil deeds have their permiffive pass,

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

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