Or else forever be confixed here, Ay, with my heart: Mari. My lord, I do confess I ne'er was And punish them to your height of pleasure. 240 married; Thou foolish friar, and thou pernicious woman, Compact with her that's gone, think'st thou thy oaths, And I confess besides I am no maid: I have known my husband; yet my husband Knows not that ever he knew me. Lucio. He was drunk then, my lord: it can be no better. Duke. For the benefit of silence, would thou wert so too! Lucio. Well, my lord. 191 Duke. This is no witness for Lord Angelo. In self-same manner doth accuse my husband, Ang. Charges she more than me? Not that I know. 200 But knows he thinks that he knows Isabel's. This is the hand which, with a vow'd contract, Duke. Sirrah, no more! Lucio. Enough, my lord. [woman: Ang. My lord, I must confess I know this And five years since there was some speech of marriage Though they would swear down each particular saint, Were testimonies against his worth and credit Fri. P. Would he were here, my lord! for he indeed 250 Hath set the woman on to this complaint: Your provost knows the place where he abides And he may fetch him. Duke. Go do it instantly. [Exit Provost. And you, my noble and well-warranted cousin, Whom it concerns to hear this matter forth, Do with your injuries as seems you best, In any chastisement: I for a while will leave you; But stir not you till you have well determined Upon these slanderers. Escal. My lord, we'll do it thoroughly. 260 (Exit Duke. Signior Lucio, did not you say you knew that Friar Lodowick to be a dishonest person? Lucio. 'Cucullus non facit monachum:' honest in nothing but in his clothes; and one that hath spoke most villanous speeches of the duke. Escal. We shall entreat you to abide here till he come and enforce them against him: we shall find this friar a notable fellow. Lucio. As any in Vienna, on my word. Escal. Call that same Isabel here once again: I would speak with her. [Exit an Attendant. Pray you, my lord, give me leave to question; you shall see how I'll handle her. Lucio. Not better than he, by her own report. Escal. Say you? Lucio. Marry, sir, I think, if you handled her privately, she would sooner confess: perchance, publicly, she'll be ashamed. Escal. I will go darkly to work with her. Lucio. That's the way; for women are light at midnight. 281 Re-enter OFFICERS with ISABELLA; and PROVOST with the DUKE in his friar's habit. Escal. Come on, mistress: here's a gentlewoman denies all that you have said. Lucio. My lord, here comes the rascal I spoke of; here with the provost. Escal. In very good time: speak not you to him till we call upon you. Lucio. Mum. Escal. Come, sir: did you set these women on to slander Lord Angelo? they have confessed | Away with him to prison! lay bolts enough upon you did. Duke. 'Tis false. 291 Escal. How! know you where you are? Duke. Respect to your great place! and let the devil Be sometime honor'd for his burning throne! Where is the duke? 'tis he should hear me speak. Escal. The duke's in us; and we will hear you speak : Look you speak justly. Duke. Boldly, at least. But, O, poor souls, Come you to seek the lamb here of the fox? 300 Good night to your redress. Is the duke gone? Then is your cause gone too. The duke's unThus to retort your manifest appeal, [just, And put your trial in the villain's mouth Which here you come to accuse. Lucio. This is the rascal; this is he I spoke of. Escal. Why, thou unreverend and unhallow'd friar, Is't not enough thou hast suborn'd these women To accuse this worthy man, but, in foul mouth And in the witness of his proper ear, 310 To call him villain? and then to glance from him To the duke himself, to tax him with injustice? Take him hence; to the rack with him! We'll touse you Joint by joint, but we will know his purpose. What, unjust!' Duke. Be not so hot; the duke Dare no more stretch this finger of mine than he Dare rack his own; his subject am I not, Nor here provincial. My business in this state Made me a looker on here in Vienna, Where I have seen corruption boil and bubble Till it o'er-run the stew; laws for all faults, 321 But faults so countenanced, that the strong statutes Stand like the forfeits in a barber's shop, Escal. Slander to the state! Away with him to prison! Ang. What can you vouch against him, Signior Lucio? Is this the man that you did tell us of? Lucio. 'Tis he, my lord. Come hither, goodman baldpate: do you know me? Duke. I remember you, sir, by the sound of your voice: I met you at the prison, in the absence of the duke. Lucio. O, did you so? And do you remember what you said of the duke? Duke. Most notedly, sir. Lucio. Do you so, sir? And was the duke a fleshmonger, a fool, and a coward, as you then reported him to be? 341 Duke. You must, sir, change persons with me, ere you make that my report: you, indeed, spoke so of him; and much more, much worse. Lucio. O thou damnable fellow! Did not I pluck thee by the nose for thy speeches? Duke. I protest I love the duke as I love myself. Ang Hark, how the villain would close now, after his treasonable abuses! Escal. Such a fellow is not to be talked withal. Away with him to prison! Where is the provost? him: let him speak no more. Away with those giglots too, and with the other confederate companion! Duke. (To Provost] Stay, sir; stay awhile. Ang. What, resists he? Help him, Lucio. Lucio. Come, sir; come, sir; come, sir; foh, sir! Why, you bald-pated, lying rascal, you must be hooded, must you? Show your knave's visage, with a pox to you! show your sheep-biting face, and be hanged an hour! "Will't not off? 360 [Pulls off the friar's hood, and discovers the Duke. Duke. Thou art the first knave that e'er madest a duke. First, provost, let me bail these gentle three. [To Lucio] Sneak not away, sir; for the friar and you Must have a word anon. Lay hold on him. Lucio. This may prove worse than hanging. Duke. To Escalus] What you have spoke I pardon: sit down: you We'll borrow place of him. [To Angelo] Sir, by your leave. 370 Hast thou or word, or wit, or impudence, Duke. Come hither, Mariana. Say, wast thou e'er contracted to this woman? Ang. I was, my lord. 381 Duke. Go take her hence, and marry her instantly. Do you the office, friar: which consummate, Return him here again. Go with him, provost. [Exeunt Angelo, Mariana, Friar Peter, and Provost. Escal. My lord, I am more amazed at his dishonor Than at the strangeness of it. You are pardon'd, Isabel: That life is better life, past fearing death, MEASURE FOR MEASURE. Than that which lives to fear: make it your | A due sincerity govern'd his deeds comfort, So happy is your brother. Isab I do, my lord. Re-enter ANGELO, MARIANA, FRIAR PETER, Duke. For this new-married man approach- Whose salt imagination yet hath wrong'd Being criminal in double violation Of sacred chastity and of promise-breach 410 Most audible, even from his proper tongue, Like doth quit like, and MEASURE Still FOR Then, Angelo, thy fault's thus manifested; We do condemn thee to the very block O my most gracious lord, 420 Away with him! Consenting to the safeguard of your honor, Although by confiscation they are ours, Mari. I crave no other, nor no better man. Mari. O my good lord! Sweet Isabel, take Lend me your knees, and all my life to come her: 441 Should she kneel down in mercy of this fact, Her brother's ghost his paved bed would break, And take her hence in horror. Mari. Sweet Isabel, do yet but kneel by me, Isabel, Hold up your hands, say nothing: I'll speak all. They say, best men are moulded out of faults; And, for the most, become much more the better For being a little bad: so may my husband. O Isabel, will you not lend a knee? Duke. He dies for Claudio's death. Isab. Most bounteous sir, [Kneeling. Look, if it please you, on this man condemn'd, As if my brother lived: I partly think 450 Till he did look on me: since it is so, Let him not die. My brother had but justice, His act did not o'ertake his bad intent Intents but merely thoughts. Mari. Merely, my lord. Duke. Your suit's unprofitable; stand up, I say. 460 I have bethought me of another fault. Prov. No, my good lord; it was by private message. Duke. For which I do discharge you of your office: Give up your keys. Prov. Pardon me, noble lord: I thought it was a fault, but knew it not; For testimony whereof, one in the prison, 470 Yet did repent me, after more advice: That should by private order else have died, I have reserved alive. Duke. Prov. His name is Barnardine. Duk. I would thou hadst done so by Claudio. Go fetch him hither; let me look upon him. Escal. I am sorry, one so learned and so (Exit Provost. wise What's he? As you, Lord Angelo, have still appear'd, Should slip so grossly, both in the heat of blood, And lack of temper'd judgment afterward. Ang. I am sorry that such sorrow I pro cure: And so deep sticks it in my penitent heart 480 That I crave death more willingly than mercy; 'Tis my deserving, and I do entreat it. Re-enter PROVOST, with Barnardine, CLAUDIO muffled, and JULIET. Duke. Which is that Barnardine? And pray thee take this mercy to provide Who should have died when Claudio lost his head; I find an apt remission in myself: And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon. One all of luxury, an ass, a madman; Lucio. 'Faith, my lord, I spoke it but according to the trick. If you will hang me for it, you may; but I had rather it would please you I might be whipt. Duke. Whipt first, sir, and hanged after. Proclaim it, provost, round about the city, Is any woman wrong'd by this lewd fellow, As I have heard him swear himself there's one Whom he begot with child, let her appear, And he shall marry her: the nuptial finish'd, Let him be whipt and hang'd. Lucio. I beseech your highness, do not marry me to a whore. Your highness said even now, I made you a duke: good my lord, do not recompense me in making me a cuckold. Duke. Upon mine honor, thou shalt marry her. Thy slanders I forgive; and therewithal Lucio. Marrying a punk, my lord, is pressing to death, whipping, and hanging. 530 Duke. Slandering a prince deserves it. [Exeunt Officers with Lucio. She, Claudio, that you wrong'd, look you restore. Joy to you, Mariana! Love her, Angelo: I have confess'd her and I know her virtue. Thanks. good friend Escalus, for thy much goodness: 540 There's more behind that is more gratulate. THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. SOLINUS, duke of Ephesus. ÆGEON, a merchant of Syracuse. ANTIPHOLUS of Ephesus, ANTIPHOLUS of Syracuse, DRAMATIS PERSONE. twin brothers, and sons to Ægeon and Æmilia. twin brothers, and attendants on the two Antipholuses. DROMIO of Ephesus, DROMIO of Syracuse, BALTHAZAR, a merchant. ANGELO, a goldsmith. ACT I. First Merchant, friend to Antipholus of Syracuse Second Merchant, to whom Angelo is a debtor. PINCH, a schoolmaster. EMILIA, wife to Egeon, an abbess at Ephesus. LUCE, servant to Adriana. Jailer, Officers, and other attendants. SCENE-Ephesus. SCENE I. A hall in the DUKE's palace. Enter DUKE, EGEON, Jailer, Officers, and other Attendants. Ege. Proceed, Solinus, to procure my fall, Excludes all pity from our threatening looks. 10 If any born at Ephesus be seen Come to the bay of Ephesus, he dies, 20 His goods confiscate to the duke's dispose, My woes end likewise with the evening sun. With her I lived in joy; our wealth increased 40 71 A league from Epidamnum had we sail'd, |