It is lord Angelo.

Enter ANGELO.

Duke. Look where he comes.

Ang. Always obedient to your grace's will,
I come to know your pleasure.
Duke. Angelo,

There is a kind of character in thy life
That, to the obferver, doth thy history
Fully unfold: thyfelf and thy belongings
Are not thine own fo proper, as to walte
Thyfelf upon thy virtues, them on thee.
Heaven doth with us, as we with torches do;
Not light them for themselves: for if our virtues
Did not go forth of us, 'twere all alike

As if we had them not. Spirits are not finely touch'd
But to fine iffues: nor nature never lends

The fmalleft fcruple of her excellence,

But, like a thrifty goddess, she determines
Herfelf the glory of a creditor,

Both thanks and ufe. But I do bend my fpeech

To one that can my part in him advertise :
Hold therefore, Angelo:

In our remove, be thou at full ourself:

Mortality and mercy and Vienna

Live in thy tongue and heart: Old Efcalus,
Though firft in queftion, is thy fecondary.
Take thy commiffion.

Ang. Now, good my lord,

Let there be fome more teft made of my metal, Before fo noble and fo great a figure

Be ftamp'd upon it.

Duke. No more evasion:

We have with a leaven'd and prepared choice

Proceede

Proceeded to you: therefore take your honours.
Our hafte from hence is of fo quick condition,
That it prefers itself, and leaves unquestion'd
Matters of needful value. We fhall write to you,
As time and our concernings fhall importune,
How it goes with us; and do look to know
What doth befall you here. So fare you well:
To the hopeful execution do I leave you
Of your commissions.

Ang. Yet, give leave, my lord,

That we may bring you fomething on the way.
Duke. My haite may not admit it;

Nor need you, on mine honour, have to do
With any fcruple: your fcope is as mine own
So to enforce or qualify the laws,

As to your foul feems good. Give me your hand;
I'll privily away: I love the people,
But do not like to ftage me to their eyes:
Though it do well, I do not relith well
Their loud applause, and Ave's vehement;
Nor do I think the man of fafe discretion,
That does affect it. Once more fare you well.
Ang. The heavens give fafety to your purposes!
Efcal. Lead forth, and bring you back in hap-
pinefs!

Duke. I thank you: Fare you well.

[Exit. Efcal. I fhall defire you, fir, to give me leave To have free fpeech with you; and it concerns me To look into the bottom of my place:

A power I have; but of what ftrength and nature I am not yet instructed.

Ang. 'Tis fo with me:-Let us withdraw together, And we may foon our fatisfaction have

Touching that point.

A 3

Efcal

3

Efcal. I'll wait upon your honour.

SCENE II. The Street.

Enter Lucio, and two Gentlemen.

[Exeunt.

Lucio. If the duke with the other dukes, come not to compofition with the king of Hungary, why, then all the dukes fall upon the king.

1 Gent. Heaven grant us its peace, but not the king of Hungary's.

2 Gent. Amen.

Lucio. Thou conclud'ft like the fanctimonious pirate, that went to fea with the ten commandments, but fcrap'd one out of the table.

2 Gent. Thou shalt not steal?

Lucio. Ay, that he raz’d.

1 Gent. Why, 'twas a commandment to command the captain and all the rest from their functions; they put forth to steal: There's not a foldier of us all, that, in the thanksgiving before meat, doth relifh the petition well that prays for

peace.

2 Gent. I never heard any foldier diflike it. Lucio. I believe thee; for, I think, thou never waft where grace was faid.

2 Gent. No a dozen times at least.

1 Gent. What, in metre?

Lucio. In any proportion, or in any language. 1 Gent. I think, or in any religion.

Lucio. Ay! why not? Grace is grace, defpight of all controverfy: As for example; Thou thyfelf art a wicked villain, defpight of all grace.

1 Gent. Well, there went but a pair of fheers be

tween us.

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

1 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 kersey, 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, whilft I live, forget to drink after thee.

1 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?

1 Gent. Judge.

2 Gent. To three thousand dollars a year. 1 Gent. Ay, and more.

Lucio. A French crown more.

1 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.

1 Gent. How now? Which of your hips has the most profound sciatica?

Bawd. Well, well; there's one yonder arrested,

and

and carry'd to prifon, was worth five thousand of you all.

1 Gent. Who's that, I pr'ythee?

Bawd. Marry, fir, that's Claudio, fignior Claudio 1 Gent. Claudio to prifon! 'tis not fo.

Bard. Nay, but I know 'tis fo: I faw him ar refted; faw him carry'd away; and, which i more, within these three days his head is to b chopp'd off.

Lucio. But, after all this fooling, I would not hav it fo; art thou fure of this?

Bawd. I am too fure of it: and it is for get ting madam Julietta with child.

Lucio. Believe me, this may be: he promised t meet me two hours fince; and he was ever preci in promife-keeping.

2 Gent. Befides, you know, it draws fomething near to the fpeech we had to fuch a purpose. I Gent. But most of all agreeing with the procla mation.

Lucio. Away; let's go learn the truth of it. [Exeunt

Manet Barwd.

Bad. Thus, what with the war, what with the fweat, what with the gallows, and what with po verty, I am cuftom-fhrunk. How now? what' the news with you?

Enter Clown.

Clown. Yonder man is carry'd to prison.

Bawd. Well; what has he done?

Clown. A woman.

Bawd. But what's his offence?

Clown