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 touze you, joint by joint,

But we will know this 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;
But faults so countenanced, that the strong
statutes

Stand like the forfeits in a barber's shop,
As much in mock as mark.

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 bald-pate: 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 flesh-monger, a fool, and a coward, as you then reported him to be?

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 talk'd withal:-Away with him to prison :-Where is the provost ?-Away with him to prison; lay bolts enough upon him: let him speak no more:-Away with those giglots too, and with the other confederate companion.

[The Provost lays hands on the DUKE. Duke. Stay, sir; stay a while. Ang. What! resists he? Help him, Lucio. Lucio. Come, sir; come, sir; come, sir; foh, sir: Why, yon bald-pated, lying rascal! you must be hooded, must you? Show your knave's visage, with a pox to you! show your sheepbiting face, and be hang'd an hour! Will't not off? [Pulls off the Friar's hood, and discovers the DUKE.

Duke. Thou art the first knave, that e'er made a duke.

First, provost, let me bail these gentle three. Sneak not away, sir; [To Lucio.] for the friar

and you

Must have a word anon:-lay hold on him. Lucio. This may prove worse than hanging.

Duke. What you have spoke, I pardon; sit [TO ESCALUS.

you down.

leave:

We'll borrow place of him:-Sir, by your
[TO ANGELO.
Hast thou or word, or wit, or impudence,
That yet can do thee office? If thou hast,
Rely upon it till my tale be heard,
And hold no longer out.
Ang.

O my dread lord,
I should be guiltier than my guiltiness,
To think I can be undiscernible,
When I perceive your grace, like power divine,
Hath look'd upon my passes: Then, good
prince,

No longer session hold upon my shame,
But let my trial be mine own confession;
Immediate sentence, then, and sequent death,
Is all the grace I beg.

Duke.

Come hither, Mariana :Say, wast thou e'er contracted to this woman? Ang. I was, my lord.

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, PETER, and Provost.

Escal. My lord, I am more amazed at his dishonor,

Than at the strangeness of it.

Duke. Come hither, Isabel: Your friar is now your prince: As I was then Advertising, and holy to your business, Nor changing heart with habit, I am still Attorney'd at your service.

Isab O, give me pardon, That I, your vassal, have employ'd and pain'd Your unknown sovereignty.

Duke.

You are pardon'd, Isabel: And now, dear maid, be you as free to us. Your brother's death, I know, sits at your heart; And you may marvel, why I obscured myself, Laboring to save his life; and would not rather Make rash remonstrance of my hidden power, Than let him so be lost: O, most kind maid, It was the swift celerity of his death, Which I did think with slower foot came on, That brain'd my purpose: But, peace be with him!

That life is better life, past fearing death, Than that which lives to fear: make it your comfort,

So happy is your brother.

Re-enter ANGELO, MARIANA, PETER, and

Isab.

Provost.

I do, my lord. Duke. For this new-married man, approaching here,

| Whose salt imagination yet hath wrong'd Your well-defended honor, you must pardon, For Mariana's sake: but as he adjudged your

Mari.

Isabel, Sweet Isabel, do yet but kneel by me; 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 liusband.
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,
A due sincerity govern'd his deeds,
Till he did look on me: since it is so,
Let him not die: My brother had but justice,
In that he did the thing for which he died:
For Angelo,

Ilis act did not o'ertake his bad intent;
And must be buried but as an intent

Go, fetch him hither; let me look upon him. [Exit Provost.

Escal. I am sorry, one so learned and so wise 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 procure: And so deep sticks it in my penitent heart, That I crave death more willingly than mercy; 'Tis my deserving, and I do entreat it. Re-enter Provost, BARNARDINE, CLAUDIO,

and JULIET.

Duke. Which is that Barnardine?
Prov.
This, my lord.
Duke. There was a friar told me of this

man:

Sirrah, thou art said to have a stubborn soul, That apprehends no further than this world, And squarest thy life according. Thou'rt condemn'd;

But, for those earthly faults, I quit them all; And pray thee, take this mercy to provide For better times to come :-Friar, advise him; I leave him to your hand.-What muffled fellow's that?

Prov. This is another prisoner, that I saved, That should have died when Claudio lost his head; As like almost to Claudio, as himself. [Unmuffles CLAUDIO. Duke. If he be like your [To ISABELLA.] brother, for his sake

Is he pardon'd: And, for your lovely sake, Give me your hand, and say you will be mine, He is my brother too: But fitter time for that. By this, lord Angelo perceives he's safe; Methinks, I see a quickening in his eye:Well, Angelo, your evil quits you well:

Intents but merely thoughts.

yours.

I find an apt remission in myself:

Mari.

Merely, my lord.

And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon;→

You, sirrah, [To LUCIO.] that knew me for a fool, a coward,

One all of luxury, an ass, a madman;
Wherein have I deserved so of you,
That you extol me thus?

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 whipp'd.

Duke. Whipp'd first, sir, and hang'd after. Proclaim it, provost, round about the city; If any woman's 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 whipp'd 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

Remit thy other forfeits :-Take him to prison:
And see our pleasure herein executed.
Lucio. Marrying a punk, my lord, is pressing
to death, whipping, and hanging.

Duke. Slandering a prince deserves it.― She, Claudio, that you wrong'd, look you re

store.

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:

There's more behind, that is more gratulate.
Thanks, provost, for thy care and secrecy;
We shall employ thee in a worthier place:-
Forgive him, Angelo, that brought you home
The head of Ragozine for Claudio's;
The offence pardons itself.-Dear Isabel,
I have a motion much imports your good;
Whereto if you'll a willing car incline,
What's mine is yours, and what is yours is
mine:--

So bring us to our palace; where we'll show What's yet behind, that's meet you all should know.

[Exeunt.

lords, attending on the princess of France.

DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO, a fantastical
Spaniard.

SIR NATHANIEL, a curate.
HOLOFERNES, a schoolmastere

DULL, a constable. COSTARD, a clown. MOTH, page to irmado. A Forester.

Princess of France.
ROSALINE,
MARIA,

ladies, attending on the

SCENE I. Navarre. A Park,with a Palace in it.

Enter the KING, BIRON, LONGAVILLE, and DUMAIN.

King. Let faine, that all hunt after in their lives,

Live register'd upon our brazen tombs,
And then grace us in the disgrace of death;
When, spite of cormorant devouring time,
The endeavour of this present breath may buy
That honor, which shall bate his scythe's keen
edge,

And make us heirs of all eternity.
Therefore, brave conquerors!-for so you are,
That war against your own affections,
And the huge army of the world's desires,-
Our late edict shall strongly stand in force:
Navarre shall be the wonder of the world;
Our court shall be a little Academe,
Still and contemplative in living art.
You three, Birón, Dumain, and Longaville,
Have sworn for three years' term to live with
me,

My fellow-scholars, and to keep those statutes
That are recorded in this schedule here:
Your oaths are past, and now subscribe your

names;

Dum. My loving lord, Dumain is mortified; The grosser manner of these world's delights He throws upon the gross world's baser slaves: To love, to wealth, to pomp, I pine and die ; With all these living in philosophy.

Biron. I can but say their protestation over, So much, dear liege, I have already sworn, That is, To live and study here three years. But there are other strict observances: As, not to see a woman in that term; Which, I hope well, is not enrolled there: And, one day in a week to touch no food; And but one meal on every day beside; The which, I hope, is not enrolled there: And then, to sleep but three hours in the night, And not be seen to wink of all the day; (When I was wont to think no harm all night, And make a dark night too of half the day;) Which, I hope well, is not enrolled there: O, these are barren tasks, too hard to keep; Not to see ladies, study, fast, not sleep.

King. Your oath is pass'd to pass away from these.

Biron. Let me say no, my liege, an if you please;

I only swore to study with your grace, And stay here in your court for three years' space.

Long, You swore to that, Biron, and to the

rest.

Biron. By yea and nay, sir, then I swore in jest.

What is the end of study? let me know. King. Why, that to know, which else we should not know.

Biron. Things hid and barr'd, you mean, from common sense?

King Ay,that is study's god-like recompense.

Biron.Come on then, I will swear to study so, To know the thing I am forbid to know: As thus-To study where I well may dine, When I to feast expressly am forbid; Or, study where to meet some mistress fine, When mistresses from common sense are hid: Or, having sworn too hard-a-keeping oath, Study to break it, and not break my troth. If study's gain be thus, and this be so, Study knows that, which yet it doth not know: Swear me to this, and I will ne'er say, no.

King. These be the stops that hinder study quite,

And train our intellects to vain delight.

Biron. Why, all delights are vain; but that most vain,

Which, with pain purchased, doth inherit pain: As, painfully to pore upon a book,

Toseek the light of truth; while truth the while Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look:

Light,seeking light, doth light oflight beguile: So, cre you find where light in darkness lies, Your light grows dark by losing of your eyes. Study me how to please the eye indeed,

By fixing it upon a fairer eye;
Who dazzling so, that eye shall be his heed,

And give him light that was it blinded by. Study is like the heaven's glorious sun,

That will not be deep-search'd with saucy looks;

Small have continual plodders ever won,

Save base authority from others' books. These earthly godfathers of heaven's lights, That give a name to every fixed star, Have no more profit of their shining nights, Than those that walk, and wot not what they

are.

Too much to know, is, to know naught but fame;

And every godfather can give a name. King. How well he's read, to reason against reading!

Dum. Proceeded well, to stop all good prosig.ceeding!

Long. He weeds the corn, and still lets grow the weeding.

Biron. The spring is near, when green geese
are breeding.
Dum. How follows that?
Biron.

Fit in his place and time.
Dum. In reason nothing.
Biron.
Something then in rhyme.
Long. Biron is like an envious sneaping frost,
That bites the first-born infants of the spring.
Biron. Well, say I am; why should proud
summer boast,

Before the birds have any cause to sing? Why should I joy in an abortive birth? At Christmas I no more desire a rose Than wish a snow in May's new-fangled (

Biron. [Reads.] Item, That no woman shall come within a mile of my court.And hath this been proclaim'd? Four days ago.

Long.
Biron. Let's see the penalty.
[Reads.]—On pain of losing her tongue.—
Who devised this?

Long. Marry, that did I.
Biron. Sweet lord, and why?
Long. To fright them hence with that dread
empenalty.

Biron. A dangerous law against gentility. [Reads.] Item, If any man be seen to talk with a woman, within the term of three years, he shall endure such public shame as the rest of the court can possibly devise.— This article, my liege, yourself must break;

For, well you know, here comes in embassy The French king's daughter, with yourself to speak,→→ 1

A maid of grace, and cómplete majesty,— About surrender-up of Aquitain

To her decrepit, sick, and bed-rid father: Therefore this article is made in vain,

Or vainly comes the admired princess hither. King. What say you, lords? why, this was

quite forgot.

Biron. So study evermore is overshot; While it doth study to have what it would, It doth forget to do the thing it should: And when it hath the thing it hunteth most, 'Tis won, as towns with fire; so won, so lost. King. We must, of force, dispense with this

decree;

She must lic here on mere necessity.
Biron. Necessity will make us all forsworn
Three thousand times within this three
years' space:
For every man with his affects is born;

Not by might master'd,but by special grace:
If I break faith, this word shall speak for me,
I am forsworn on mere necessity.-
So to the laws at large I write my name:
[Subscribes.

And he that breaks them in the least degree, Stands in attainder of eternal shame;

Suggestions are to others, as to me; But, I believe, although I seem so loth, I am the last that will last keep his oath. But, is there no quick recreation granted? King. Ay, that there is: our court, you know, is haunted

With a refined traveller of Spain; A man in all the world's new fashion planted, That hath a mint of phrases in his brain: