And how shall we continue Claudio, To save me from, the danger that might come, Duke. Let this be done; Put them in secret holds, Both Barnardine and Claudio: Ere twice Your safety manifested. Prov. I am your free dependant. Duke. Quick, despatch, And send the head to Angelo. Now will I write letters to Angelo, [Exit Provost. The provost, he shall bear them, whose contents And that, by great injunctions, I am bound To meet me at the consecrated fount, A league below the city; and from thence, Re-enter Provost. Prov. Here is the head; I'll carry it myself. Duke. Convenient is. it: Make a swift return; For I would commune with you of such things, That want no ear but yours. Prov. I'll make all speed. Isab. [Within.] Peace, ho, be here! know, [Exit. She's come to If yet her brother's pardon be come hither: Enter ISABELLA. Isab. Ho, by your leave. Duke. Good morning to you, fair and gracious daughter. Isab. The better, given me by so holy a man. Hath yet the deputy sent my brother's pardon? Duke. He hath releas'd him, Isabel, from the world; His head is off, and sent to Angelo. Isab. Nay, but it is not so. Duke. It is no other: Show your wisdom, daughter, in your patience. Isab. O, I will to him, and pluck out his eyes. Duke. You shall not be admitted to his sight. Isab. Unhappy Claudio! Wretched Isabel! Injurious world? Most damned Angelo ! Duke. This nor hurts him, nor profits you a jot: Forbear it therefore; give your cause to heaven. your eyes; One of our convent, and his confessor, nay, dry Gives me this instance: Already he hath carried Notice to Escalus and Angelo; Who do prepare to meet him at the gates, There to give up their power. If you can, pace your wisdom In that good path that I would wish it go; And you shall have your bosom on this wretch, Asab. I am directed by you. Duke. This letter then to friar Peter give; yours, Her cause, and I'll perfect him withal; and he shall bring you And shall be absent. Wend you with this letter; Enter LUCIO. Lucio. Good even! Friar, where is the Provost? Lucio. O, pretty Isabella, I am pale at mine heart, to see thine eyes so red: thou must be patient : I am fain to dine and sup with water and bran; I dare not for my head fill my belly; one fruitful meal would set me to't: But they say the Duke will be here to-morrow By my troth, Isabel, I lov'd thy brother: if the old fantasticalDuke of dark corners had been at home, he had lived. [Exit ISABELLA. Duke. Sir, the Duke is marvellous little beholden to your reports; but the best is, he lives not in them. Lucio. Friar, thou knowest not the Duke so well as I do: he's a better woodman than thou takest him for. Duke. Well, you'll answer this one day. Fare ye well. Lucio. Nay, tarry; I'll go along with thee; 1 can tell thee pretty tales of the Duke. Duke. You have told me too many of him Falready, Sir, if they be true; if not true, none were enough. Lucio. I was once before him for getting a wench with child. Duke. Did you such a thing? Lucio. Yes, marry, did I: but was fain to forswear it; they would else have married me to the rotten medlar. Duke. Sir, your company is fairer than honest: Rest you well. Lucio. By my troth, I'll go with thee to the lane's end: If bawdy talk offend you, we'll have very little of it: Nay, friar, I am a kind of burr, I shall stick. [Exeunt. Enter ANGELO and ESCALUS. Escal. Every letter he hath writ hath disvouch'd other. Ang. In most uneven and distracted manner. His actions show much like to madness: pray heaven, his wisdom be not tainted!, And why meet him at the gates, and re-deliver our authorities there? Escal, I guess not. Ang. And why should we proclaim it in an hour before his entering, that, if any crave redress of injustice, they should exhibit their petitions in the street? VOL. 11. 11 Escal. He shows his reason for that: to have a dispatch of complaints; and to deliver us from devices hereafter, which shall then have no power to stand against us. Ang. Well, I beseech you, let it be proclaim'd; Betimes i the morn, I'll call you at your house: Give notice to such men of sort and suit, As are to meet him. Escal. I shall, Sir: fare you well. Ang. Good night. This deed unshapes me quite, makes me unpregnant, And dull to all proceedings. A deflower'd maid! And by an eminent body, that enforc'dà - The law against it! But that her tender shame Will not proclaim against her maiden loss, How might she tongue me? Yet reason dares For my authority bears a credent bulk, That no particular scandal once can touch, But it confounds the breather. He should have liv'd,. Save that his riotous youth, with dangerous sense, Might, in the times to come, have ta'en revenge, By so receiving a dishonour'd life, With ransom of such shame. 'Would yet he had liv'd! Alack, when once our grace we have forgot, Nothing goes right; we would, and we would [Exit. 9 not. Fields without the Town. Enter DUKE in his own habit, and Friar PETER. Duke. These letters at fit time deliver me. [Giving letters. The provost knows our purpose, and our plot. |