controverfy: As for example; Thou thyfelf art a wicked villain, despite of all grace.

us.

I GENT. Well, there went but a pair of fheers between

LUCIO. I grant; as there may between the lifts and the velvet Thou art the lift.

I GENT. And thou the velvet: thou art good velvet; thou art a three-pil'd piece, I warrant thee: I had as lief be a lift of an English kerfey, as be pil'd, as thou art pil'd, for a French velvet. Do I fpeak feelingly now?

LUCIO. I think thou doft; and, indeed, with most painful feeling of thy fpeech: I will, out of thine own confeffion, learn to begin thy health; but, whilst I live, forget to drink after thee.

I GENT. I think, I have done myself wrong; have I not? 2 GENT. Yes, that thou haft; whether thou art tainted, or free.

LUCIO. Behold, behold, where madam Mitigation comes! I have purchased as many diseases under her roof, as come

to

2 GENT. To what, I pray?

I GENT. Judge.

2 GENT. To three thousand dollars a year.

I GENT. Ay, and more.

LUCIO. A French crown more.

I GENT. Thou art always figuring diseases in me: but thou art full of error; I'am found.

LUCIO. Nay, not as one would fay, healthy; but fo found, as things that are hollow: thy bones are hollow; impiety has made a feast of thee.

Enter BAWD.

I GENT. How now? Which of your hips has the most profound sciatica ?

BAWD. Well, well; there's one yonder arrested, and carried to prison, was worth five thousand of you all. I GENT. Who's that, I pray thee?

BAWD. Marry, fir, that's Claudio, fignior Claudio.

1 GENT. Claudio to prison! 'tis not so.

BAWD. Nay, but I know, 'tis fo: I faw him arrested; faw him carried away; and, which is more, within these three days his head's to be chopped off.

LUCIO. But, after all this fooling, I would not have it fo: Art thou sure of this?

BAWD. I am too fure of it and it is for getting madam Julietta with child.

LUCIO. Believe me, this may be: he promised to meet me two hours fince; and he was ever precise in promisekeeping.

2 GENT. Besides, you know, it draws fomething near to the speech we had to fuch a purpose.

I GENT. But most of all, agreeing with the proclamation.

LUCIO. Away; let's go learn the truth of it.

[Exeunt Lucio, and GENTLEMEN. BAWD. Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat, what with the gallows, and what with poverty, I am custom-fhrunk. How now? what's the news with you? Enter CLOWN.

CLO. Yonder man is carried to prifon.

BAWD. Well; what has he done?

CLO. A woman.

BAWD. But what's his offence?

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

BAWD. What, proclamation, man?

CLO. All houses in the fuburbs of Vienna must be

pluck'd down.

BAWD. And what fhall become of thofe in the city? CLO. They shall stand for feed: they had gone down too, but that a wife burgher put in for them.

BAWD. But fhall all our houfes of refort in the suburbs be pull'd down?

CLO. To the ground, mistress.

BAWD. Why, here's a change, indeed, in the commonwealth! What shall become of me?

CLO. 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.

CLO. Here comes fignior Claudio, led by the provost to prifon? and there's madam Juliet. [Exeunt.

SCENE III. The fame.

Enter PROVOST, CLAUDIO, JULIET, and OFFICERS; LUCIO,, and two GENTLEMEN.

CLAUD. Fellow, why doft thou fhow me thus to the

Bear me to prifon, where I am committed.

PROV. I do it not in evil difpofition, But from lord Angelo by fpecial 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 juft.

[world?

LUCIO. Why, how now, Claudio? whence comes this restraint?

CLAUD. From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty: As furfeit is the father of much fast,

So every 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 fpeak 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 imprisonment.—What's thy offence, Claudio?

CLAUD. What, but to speak of would offend again.
LUCIO. What is it? murder?

CLAUD. NO.

LUCIO. Lechery?

CLAUD. Call it fo.

PROV. Away, fir; you muft go.

CLAUD. One word, good friend :-Lucio, a word with

you.

[Takes him afide. LUCIO. A hundred, if they'll do you any good.—Is lechery fo look'd after?

CLAUD. Thus ftands it with me:-Upon a true contract, I got poffeffion of Julietta's bed;

7

You know the lady; she is faft 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 most 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 feat, that it may know
He can command, lets it straight feel the fpur:
Whether the tyranny be in his place,

Or in his eminence that fills it

up,

I stagger in:—But this new governor
Awakes me all the enrolled penalties,

Which have, like unscour'd armour, hung by the 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 shoulders, that a milk-maid, if she 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 fister should the cloister 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 affay him;
I have great hope in that: for in her youth
There is a prone and speechless dialect,

Such as moves men; befide, fhe hath profperous art
When she will play with reafon and discourse,
And well the can perfuade.