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To undergo such ample grace and honour,
It is lord Angelo.

SCENE II.

Enter Angelo.

DUKE. Look where he comes.

ANG. Always obedient to your grace's will,

I come to know thy pleasure.

DUKE. Angelo,

There is a kind of character in thy life,
That to th' observer doth thy history
Fully unfold. Thyself and thy belongings
Are not thine own so proper, as to waste
Thyself upon thy virtues; them on thee.
Heav'n 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 issues; nor nature never lends
The smallest scruple of her excellence,

But, like a thrifty goddess, she determines

Herself the glory of a creditor,

Both thanks and use. But I do bend my speech
To one that can my part in him advertise;

Hold therefore Angelo:

In our remove, be thou at full our self.
Mortality and mercy in Vienna

Live in thy tongue and heart; old Efcalus,
Though first in question, is thy secondary.
-Take thy commiffion.
ANG. Now, good my lord,

Let there be some more test made of my metal,

Before so noble and so great a figure

Be stampt upon it.

DUKE. Come, no more evasion:
We have with a leaven'd and prepared choice
Proceeded to you; therefore take your honours.
Our haste from hence is of so quick condition,
That it prefers itself, and leaves unquestion'd
Matters of needful value. We shall write to you,
As time and our concernings shall importune,
How it goes with us; and do look to know
What doth befal you here. So, fare ye well.
To th' hopeful execution do I leave you
Of your commiffions.

ANG. Yet give leave, my lord,

That we may bring you fomething on the way.
DUKE. My haste may not admit it.

Nor need you, on mine honour, have to do
With any fcruple; your scope is as mine own,
So to inforce, or qualify the laws,

As to your soul seems good. Give me your hand;
I'll privily away. I love the people,
But do not like to stage me to their eyes;
Though it do well, I do not relish well
Their loud applause, and Ave's vehement:
Nor do I think the man of safe discretion,
That does affect it. Once more, fare ye well.
ANG. The heav'ns give safety to your purposes!

ESCAL. Lead forth, and bring you back in happiness.

[Exit.

DUKE. I thank you, fare ye well.

ESCAL. I shall desire you, Sir, to give me leave
To have free speech with you; and it concerns me

To look into the bottom of my place;

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A pow'r I have, but of what strength and nature
I am not yet instructed.

ANG. 'Tis so with me. Let us withdraw together,
And we may foon our fatisfaction have

Touching that point.

ESCAL. I'll wait upon your honour.

SCENE HI

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.

I GENT. Heav'n grant us its peace, but not the king of Hungary's!

2 GENT. Amen.

Lucro. Thou conclud'st like the sanctimonious pirate, that went to sea with the ten commandments, but scrap'd one out of the table.

2 GENT. Thou shalt not steal? Lucio. Ay, that he raz'd.

IGENT. 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 thankfgiving before meat, doth relish the petition well that prays for peace,

2 GENT. I never heard any foldier dislike it.

LUCIO. I believe thee; for, I think, thou never wast where. grace was faid.

2 GENT. No? a dozen times at least.

GENT. What? in meeter?

LUCIO. In any proportion, or in any language.
I GENT. I think, or in any religion.

Lucio. Ay, why not? grace is grace, despite of all controversy; as for example thou thyself art a wicked villain, despite of all grace.

I GENT. Well; there went but a pair of sheers between us? Lucio. Igrant; 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 list of an English kersey, as be pil'd, as thou art pil'd, for a French velvet. Do I speak feelingly now?

LUCIO. I think thou dost; and, indeed, with most painful feeling of thy speech: I will, out of thine own confession, learn to begin thy health; but, whilst I live, forget to drink

after thee.

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

LUCIO. Behold, behold, where madam Mitigation comes.
I GENT. 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. GENT. Ay, and more.

LUCIO. A French crown more.

IGENT. Thou art always figuring diseases in me;

But thou art full of error; I am found.

Lucio. Nay, not as one would say healthy; but so sound, as things that are hollow; thy bones are hollow; impiety hath made a feaft of thee.

1

SCENE V.

Enter Bawd.

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

BAWD. Well, well; there's one yonder arrested, and carry'd to prison, was worth five thousand of you all. I GENT. Who's that, I pr'ythee?

BAWD. Marry, Sir, that's Claudio; signior Claudio.

I GENT. Claudio to prison? 'tis not so.

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

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

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

Lucio. Believe me, this may be. He promised to meet me two hours since, and he was ever precise in promisekeeping.

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

I GENT. But most of all agreeing with the proclamation. Lucio. Away, let's go learn the truth of it.

Manet Bawd.

[Exe.

BAWD. Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat, what with the gallows, and what with poverty, I am cuftom shrunk. How now, what's the news with you?

SCENE V.

Enter Clown.

CLOWN. Yonder man is carry'd to prifon.

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