"Ang. This will last out a night in Russia, "When nights are longest there: I'll take my leave, "And leave you to the hearing of the cause; 141 "Hoping, you'll find good cause to whip them all. "Escal. I think no less: Good morrow to your [Exit ANGELO. "Now, sir, come on: What was done to Elbow's "wife, once more? lordship. "Clown. Once, sir? there was nothing done to her ❝ once. "Elb. I beseech you, sir, ask him what this man "did to my wife. "Clown. I beseech your honour, ask me. 150 "Escal. Well, sir; what did this gentleman to her? "Clown. I beseech you, sir, look in this gentle"man's face :-Good master Froth, look upon his "honour; 'tis for a good purpose: Doth your ho"nour mark his face? "Escal. Ay, sir, very well. "Clown. Nay, I beseech you mark it well. "Escal. Well, I do so.. "Clown. Doth your honour see any harm in his face? "Escal. Why, no. 160 "Clown. I'll be suppos'd upon a book, his face is "the worst thing about him: Good then; if his face "be the worst thing about him, how could master "Froth do the constable's wife any harm? I would "know that of your honour. "Escal. He's in the right: constable, what say you " to it? D "Elb. "Elb. First, an it like you, the house is a respect"ed house; next, this is a respected fellow; and his "mistress is a respected woman. 170 "Clown. By this hand, sir, his wife is a more res"pected person than any of us all. "Elb. Varlet, thou liest; thou liest, wicked varlet: "the time is yet to come, that she was ever respected "with man, woman, or child. "Clown. Sir, she was respected with him before he "marry'd with her. "Escal. Which is the wiser here? Justice or Ini"quity-Is this true? 179 "Elb. O thou caitiff! O thou varlet! O thou wicked "Hannibal! I respected with her, before I was mar"ry'd to her? If ever I was respected with her, or "she with me, let not your worship think me the poor "duke's officer:-Prove this, thou wicked Hannibal, "or I'll have mine action of battery on thee. "Escal. If he took you a box o' the ear, you might "have your action of slander too.. "Elb. Marry, I thank your good worship for it : "What is't your worship's pleasure I shall do with "this wicked caitiff? 190 "Escal. Truly, officer, because he hath some offen"ces in him, that thou wouldst discover if thou "couldst, let him continue in his courses, till thou "know'st what they are. "Elb. Marry, I thank your worship for it :-Thou "seest, thou wicked varlet now, what's come upon "thee; "thee; thou art to continue now, thou varlet; thou ❝art to continue. "Escal. Where were you born, friend? "Froth. Here in Vienna, sir. [TO FROTH. 200 "Escal. Are you of fourscore pounds a year? "Froth. Yes, and't please you, sir. "Escal. So. What trade are you of, sir? [To the Clown. "Clown. A tapster; a poor widow's tapster. "Escal. Your mistress's name? "Clown. Mistress Overdone. "Escal. Hath she had any more than one husband? "Clown. Nine, sir; Over-done by the last. 208 Escal. Nine! Come hither to me, master Froth. "Master Froth, I would not have you acquainted "with tapsters; they will draw you, master Froth, “and you will hang them: Get you gone, and let " me hear no more of you. "Froth. I thank your worship: For mine own part, "I never come into any room in a taphouse, but I "am drawn in. "Escal. Well; no more of it, master Froth: fare"wel.-Come you hither to me, master Tapster; "what's your name, master Tapster? Clown. Pompey. "Escal. What else? "Clown. Bum, sir. 220 "Escal. Troth, and your bum is the greatest thing "about you; so that, in the beastliest sense, you are Pompey the great. Pompey, you are partly a bawd, "Pompey, howsoever you colour it in being tapster; "Are you not? come, tell me true; it shall be the "better for you. "Clown. Truly, sir, I am a poor fellow that would live. "Escal. How would you live, Pompey? by being a bawd? What do you think of the trade, Pompey? " is it a lawful trade? "Clown. If the law will allow it, sir. 232 "Escal. But the law will not allow it, Pompey; "nor it shall not be allowed in Vienna. "Clown. Does your worship mean to geld and spay "all the youth in the city? "Escal. No, Pompey? 238 "Clown. Truly, sir, in my poor opinion, they will "to't then: If your worship will take order for the "drabs and the knaves, you need not to fear the bawds. "Escal. There are pretty orders beginning, I can tell you it is but heading and hanging. "Clown. If you head and hang all that offend that way but for ten year together, you'll be glad to give "out a commission for more heads. If this law hold ❝ in Vienna ten years, I'll rent the fairest house in it, "after three pence a bay: If you live to see this come "to pass, say, Pompey told you so. : 249 "Escal. Thank you, good Pompey and in re"quital of your prophecy, hark you,—I advise you, "let me not find you before me again upon any complaint whatsoever, no, not for dwelling where you "do; if I do, Pompey, I shall beat you to your tent, " and " and prove a shrewd Cæsar to you; in plain dealing, "Pompey, I shall have you whipt: so, for this time, "Pompey, fare you well. "Clown. I thank your worship for your good coun"sel; but I shall follow it, as the flesh and fortune << shall better determine. 260 "Whip me? No, no: let carman whip his jade; "The valiant heart's not whipt out of his trade. [Exit. Escal. Come hither to me, master Elbow; come "hither, master constable. How long have you been "in this place of constable? "Elb. Seven year and a half, sir. "Escal. I thought, by your readiness in the office, you had continued in it some time: You say, seven years together? "Elb And a half, sir. 270 "Escal. Alas! it hath been great pains to you! they "do you wrong to put you so oft upon't: Are there "not men in your ward sufficient to serve it? દં "Elb. Faith, sir, few of any wit in such matters : as they are chosen, they are glad to chuse me for "them; I do it for some piece of money, and go "through with all. "Escal. Look you, bring me in the names of some "six or seven, the most sufficient of your parish. "Elb. To your worship's house, sir? "Escal. To my house: Fare you well, "What's a clock, think you "Escal. I pray you home to dinner with me. 280 Diij " Just. |