Measure for measure. Comedy of errors

Enter LUCIO

Lucio. Good even!

Friar, where is the provost ?

Duke. Not within, sir.

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Lucio. Oh, pretty Isabella, I am pale at mine heart, to see thy eyes so red: thou must be patient; I am fain to dine and sup with water and bran; I dare not for my head fill my belly; one fruitful meal would set me to't: But they say the duke will be here tomorrow. By my troth, Isabel, I lov'd thy brother: if the old fantastical duke of dark corners had been at home, he had liv'd. [Exit ISABELLA.] 470

Duke. Sir, the duke is marvellous little beholden to your report; but the best is, he lives not in them.

Lucio. Friar, thou knowest not the duke so well as I do he's a better woodman, than thou tak'st him for.

Duke. Well, you'll answer this one day. Fare ye well.

Lució. Nay, tarry; I'll go along with thee; I can téll thee pretty tales of the duke.

Duke. You have told me too many of him already, sir, if they be true; if not true, none were enough. Lucio. I was once before him for getting a wench with child.

Duke. Did you such a thing?

Lucio. Yes, marry, did I but I was fain to forswear it they would else have marry'd me to the

rotten medlar.

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Duke.

Duke. Sir, your company is fairer than honest: Rest you well.

Lucio. By my troth, I'll go with thee to the lane's end: if bawdy talk offend you, we'll have very little of it: Nay, friar, I am a kind of burr, I shall stick. [Exeunt.

SCENE IV

Changes to the Palace. Enter ANGELO and ESCALUS.

Escal. Every letter he hath writ hath disvouch'd other.

His

Ang. In most uneven and distracted manner. actions shew much like to madness; pray heaven, his wisdom be not tainted! And why meet him at the gates, and re-deliver our authorities there?

Escal. I guess not.

Ang. And why should we proclaim it in an hour before his entering, that, if any crave redress of injustice, they should exhibit their petitions in the street? 501

Escal. He shews his reason for that: to have a dispatch of complaints; "and to deliver us from devices "hereafter, which shall then have no power to stand "against us."

Ang. Well; I beseech you, let it be proclaim'd; Betimes i' the morn, I'll call you at your house;

Give notice to such men of sort and suit,

As are to meet him,

Escal. I shall, sir: fare you well.

[Exit.

Ang.

Ang. Good night.—

This deed unshapes me quite, makes me unpregnant, And dull to all proceedings. A deflower'd maid! And by an eminent body, that enforc'd,

The law against it !—But that her tender shame
Will not proclaim against her maiden loss,

How might she tongue me? Yet reason dares her?

"no :"

For my authority bears a credent bulk,

That no particular scandal once can touch,

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But it confounds the breather. He should have liv'd,
Save that his riotous youth, with dangerous sense,
Might, in the times to come, have ta'en revenge,
By so receiving a dishonour'd life,

With ransom of such shame. 'Would yet he had liv'd!

Alack, when once our grace we have forgot,

Nothing goes right; we would, and we would not.

[Exit.

"SCENE V.

"Changes to the Fields without the Town.

Enter Duke

in his own Habit, and Friar PETER.

"Duke These letters at fit time deliver me.

"[Giving letters. "The Provost knows our purpose, and our plot. "The matter being afoot, keep your instruction, "And hold you ever to our special drift; Ilij

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"Though

"Though sometimes you do blench from this to that,
As cause doth minister. Go, call at Flavius'-house,
"And tell him where I stay: give the like notice
“Unto Valentius, Rowland, and to Crassus,
"And bid them bring the trumpets to the gate;
"But send me Flavius first.