Elb. He must before the deputy, sir; he has given him warning: the deputy cannot abide a whore-master: 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 some would seem to be, Free from all faults, "as faults from seeming free !"

Enter LUCIO.

"Elb. His neck will come to your waist, a cord, "sir."

Clown. I spy comfort; I cry bail; here's a gentle. man, and a friend of mine.

334

Lucio. How now, noble Pompey? what, at the heels of Cæsar? 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' the last rain? ha? what say'st "thou, trot? is the world as it was, man? Which is "the way? is it sad, and few words? or how? the "trick of it?

"Duke. Still thus, and thus! still worse!

"Lucio." How doth my dear morsel, thy mistress ? procures she still ha?

"Clown. Troth, sir, she hath eaten up all her beef, "and she is herself in the tub. 349

"Lucio. Why, 'tis good; it is the right of it; it must be so: ever your fresh whore, and your powder'd

powder'd bawd: an unshun'd consequence; it must be "so:" Art going to prison, Pompey ?

Clown. Yes, faith, sir.

Lucio. Why, 'tis not amiss, Pompey: farewel: go; say, I sent thee thither. For debt, Pompey? or how?

Elb. For being a bawd, for being a bawd.

358 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. Farewel, good Pompey: Commend me to the prison, 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, will I not, Pompey; it is not the wear. I will pray, Pompey, to encrease your bondage: if you take it not patiently, why, your mettle is the more: Adieu, trusty Pompey.-Bless you, friar.

Duke. And you..

371

"Lucio. Does Bridget paint still, 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?

1

Elb, Come your ways, sir, come.

Lucio. Go,-to kennel, Pompey,-go:

[Exeunt ELBOW, Clown, and Officers.

What news, friar, of the duke ?
G

380

Duke.

Duke. 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. 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.

390

Lucio. A little more lenity to lechery would do no harm in him: something too crabbed that way, friar.

Duke. 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 ally'd: 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 the downright way of creation; Is it true, think you?

Duke. How should he be made then?

402

Lucio. Some report, a sea-maid spawn'd him :Some, that he was begot between two stock-fishes :---"But it is certain, that when he makes water, his urine "is congeal'd ice; that I know to be true: and he is "a motion ungenerative, that's infallible."

Duke. You are pleasant, sir; and speak apace. Lucio. Why, what a ruthless thing is this in him,

"for

"for the rebellion of a cod-piece, to take away the "life of a man ?" Would the duke, that is absent, have done this? ere he would have hang'd 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. I never heard the absent duke much detected

for women; he was not inclin'd that way.

Lucio. O, sir, you are deceiv'd.

Duke. 'Tis not possible.

420

Lucio. Who? not the duke? yes, your beggar of fifty ;--and his use was, to put a ducket in her clack dish: the duke had crotchets in him. He would be

drunk too; that let me inform you.

Duke. 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. What, I pr'ythee, might be the cause? 430 Lucio. No-pardon ;-'tis a secret must be lock'd 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. Wise? why, no question but he was.

Lucio. A very superficial, ignorant, unweighing fellow.

Duke. Either this is 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

Gij

a better

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 darken'd in your malice. Lucio. Sir, I know him, and I love him. Duke. Love talks with better knowledge, and knowledge with dearer love.

Lucio. Come, sir, I know what I know.

449

Duke. 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. He shall know you better, sir, if I may live to report you."

Lucio. I fear you not.

460

Duke. Oh, 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 hang'd first: thou art deceiv'd in me, friar. But no more of this: Canst thou tell, if Claudio die to-morrow, or no?

Duke. Why should he die, sir?

469