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Efcal. You have paid the heav'ns your function, and the prifoner the very debt of your calling. I have labour'd for the poor gentleman, to the extremeft fhore of my modefty; but my brother Juftice have I found fo fevere, that he hath forc'd me to tell him, he is indeed justice.

Duke. If his own life anfwer the ftraitness of his proceeding, it shall become him well; wherein if he chance to fail, he hath fentenc'd himself.

Efcal. I am going to vifit the prifoner; fare you

well.

Duke.

SCENE

EACE be with you!

VIII.

[Exit.

P He, who the word of heav'n will bear,

Should be as holy as fevere:
Pattern in himself to know,
Grace to ftand, and virtue go;
More nor lefs to others paying,
Than by felf-offences weighing.
Shame to him, whofe cruel ftriking
Kills for faults of his own liking!
Twice treble fhame on Angelo,
To weed my vice, and let his grow!
Oh, what may man within him hide,
Tho' angel on the outward fide!
How may that likenefs, made in crimes,
Making practice on the times,

Draw with idle fpiders' ftrings
Moft pond'rous and fubftantial things!
Craft against vice I muft apply.
With Angelo to night fhall lie
His old betrothed, but defpis'd;
So disguise fhall by th'difguis'd
Pay with falfhood falfe extracting;
And perform an old contracting.

[Exit. ACT

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Mari. Break off thy song, and hafte thee quick

away:

Here comes a man of comfort, whofe advice

Hath often still'd my brawling difcontent.

I

cry you mercy, Sir, and well could wish,

You had not found me here fo mufical:

Let me excufe me, and believe me fo, My mirth is much difpleas'd, but pleas'd my woe. Duke. 'Tis good; tho' mufic oft hath fuch a charm To make bad, good; and good provoke to harm. pray you, tell me, hath any body enquir'd for me here to day? much upon this time, have I promis'd here to meet.

I

Mari. You have not been enquir'd after: I have fate here all day.

Enter Ifabel.

Duke. I do conftantly believe you: the time is come, even now. I fhall' crave your forbearance a little; may be, I will call upon you anon for fome advantage to yourself.

Mari. I am always bound to you.

Ꭰ ;

Exit.

SCENE

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Duke. What is the news from this good deputy?

ERY well met, and welcome:

Ifab. He hath a garden circummur'd with brick, Whofe western fide is with a vineyard backt; And to that vineyard is a planched gate, That makes his opening with this bigger key: This other doth command a little door, Which from the vineyard to the garden leads; There, on the heavy middle of the night, Have I my promise made to call upon him.

Duke. But fhall you on your knowledge find this
way?

Ifab. I've ta'en a due and wary note upon't;
With whisp'ring and moft guilty diligence,
In action all of precept, he did shew me

The way twice o'er.

Duke. Are there no other tokens

Between you 'greed, concerning her obfervance ?
Ifab. No: none, but only a repair i'th' dark;
And that I have poffeft him, my most stay
Can be but brief; for I have made him know,
I have a fervant comes with me along,
That ftays upon me; whose persuasion is,
I come about my brother.

Duke. 'Tis well born up.

I have not yet made known to Mariana

A word of this.

What, hoa! within! come forth!

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Ι pray you be acquainted with this maid;

She comes to do you good.

Ifab. I do defire the like.

Duke. Do you perfuade yourfelf that I refpect you?

Mari. Good Friar, I know you do; and I have found it.

Duke. Take then this your companion by the hand, Who hath a story ready for your ear:

I fhall attend your leifure; but make haste;
The vaporous night approaches.

Mari. Wilt please you walk afide?

[Exeunt Mar. and Ifab.

Duke. O place and greatness! millions of false

eyes

Are stuck upon thee: volumes of report
Run with these false and most contrarious quests
Upon thy doings; thousand 'fcapes of wit

Make thee the father of their idle dreams,

And rack thee in their fancies! welcome; how agreed?

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Re-enter Mariana, and Ifabel.

HE'LL take the enterprize upon her, father,
If you advise it.

Ifab.

SH

Duke. 'Tis not my confent,

But my intreaty too.

Ifab. Little have you to fay,

When you depart from him, but foft and low,

Remember now my

brother.

Mari. Fear me not.

Duke. Nor, gentle daughter, fear you not at all: He is your hulband on a pre-contract;

To bring you thus together, 'tis no fin;
Sith that the juftice of your title to him
Doth flourish the deceit.

Come, let us go;

Our corn's to reap; *for yet our tilth's to fow.Exeu.

for yet our tythe's to sow.] It must be Tilth; that is our Tillage is yet to be made; our Grain is yet to be put in the Ground; the Project, from which we expect to Profit in the Iffue, is ftill to be put in Hand. Mr. Theobald.

D 6

SCENE

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Changes to the Prifon.

Enter Provoft and Clown.

Prov-C man's head?

OME hither, firrah: can you cut off a

Clown. If the man be a batchelor, Sir, I can: but if he be a marry'd man, he is his wife's head, and I can never cut off a woman's head.

Prov. Come, Sir, leave me your fnatches, and yield me a direct anfwer. To-morrow morning are to die Claudio and Barnardine: here is in our prifon a common executioner, who in his office lacks a helper; if you will take it on you to affift him, it fhall redeem you from your gyves: if not, you fhall have your full time of imprisonment, and your deliverance with an unpitied whipping; for you have been a notorious bawd.

Clown. Sir, I have been an unlawful bawd, time out of mind, but yet I will be content to be a lawful hangman; I would be glad to receive fome inftruction from my fellow-partner.

Prov. What hoa, Abhorfon! where's Abhorfon, there? Enter Abhorfon.

Abhor. Do you call, Sir?

Prov. Sirrah, here's a fellow will help you to-morrow in your execution; if you think it meet, compound with him by the year, and let him abide here with you; if not, ufe him for the prefent, and difmiss him. He cannot plead his eftimation with you, he hath been a bawd.

Abhor. A bawd, Sir? fie upon him, he will difcredit our miftery.

Prov. Go to, Sir, you weigh equally; a feather will turn the scale.

[Exit.

Clown. Pray, Sir, by your good favour; (for, furely,

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