change your trade; I'll be your tapster still. Courage; there will be pity taken on you: you that have worn your eyes almost out in the service, you will be considered. Bawd. What's to do here, Thomas Tapster? Let's withdraw. Clo. Here comes seignior Claudio, led by the provost to prison; and there's madam Juliet. [Exeunt. SCENE III. The Same. Enter Provost,' CLAUDIO, JULIET, and Officers: LUCIO and two Gentlemen. Claud. Fellow, why dost thou show me thus to the world? Bear me to prison, where I am committed. But from lord Angelo by special charge. Claud. Thus can the demi-god, Authority, Make us pay down for our offence by weight.The words of Heaven;-on whom it will, it will; On whom it will not, so; yet still 'tis just.2 Lucio. Why, how now, Claudio? Whence comes this restraint? Claud. From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty; As surfeit is the father of much fast, So every scope by the immoderate use Turns to restraint: our natures do pursue (Like rats that ravin3 down their proper bane) A thirsty evil; and when we drink, we die. Lucio. If I could speak so wisely under an arrest, I would send for certain of my creditors: and yet, to say the truth, I had as lief have the foppery of freedom, as the morality of imprisonment. What's thy offence, Claudio? 1 i. e. gaoler. 2 The Poet alludes to a passage in St. Paul's Epist. to the Romans, ch ix. v. 15-18: "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy." 3 To ravin is to devour voraciously. Claud. What, but to speak of, would offend again. Lucio. What is it? Claud. No. Lucio. Lechery? Claud. Call it so. Murder? Prov. Away, sir; you must go. Claud. One word, good friend :-Lucio, a word with you. [Takes him aside. Lucio. A hundred, if they'll do you any good.— Is lechery so looked after? Claud. Thus stands it with me:-upon a true contract, I got possession of Julietta's bed; You know the lady; she is fast my wife, Save that we do the denunciation lack Of outward order: this we came not to, From whom we thought it meet to hide our love, But it chances, The stealth of our most mutual entertainment, With character too gross, is writ on Juliet. Claud. Unhappily, even so. And the new deputy now for the duke,- A horse whereon the governor doth ride, He can command, lets it straight feel the spur: Which have, like unscoured armor, hung by the wall 1 It appears that Claudio would say "for the sake of promoting such a dower as her friends might hereafter bestow on her, when time had reconciled them to her clandestine marriage." Now puts the drowsy and neglected act Lucio. I warrant, it is: and thy head stands so tickle' on thy shoulders, that a milk-maid, if she be in love, may sigh it off. Send after the duke, and appeal to him. Claud. I have done so, but he's not to be found. Such as moves men; besides, she hath prosperous art Lucio. I pray, she may; as well for the encouragement of the like, which else would stand under grievous imposition, as for the enjoying of thy life, who I would be sorry should be thus foolishly lost at a game of tick-tack. I'll to her. Claud. I thank you, good friend Lucio. Claud. Come, officer, away. SCENE IV. A Monastery. Enter DUKE and Friar Thomas. Duke. No; holy father; throw away Believe not that the dribbling dart of love [Exeunt. that thought; Can pierce a complete bosom: why I desire thee 1 Tickle, for ticklish. 2 i. e. enter on her novitiate or probation. 3 Prone is prompt or ready. 4 "A complete bosom" is a bosom completely armed. More grave and wrinkled than the aims and ends Fri. May your grace speak of it? Duke. My holy sir, none better knows than you How I have ever loved the life removed; And held in idle price to haunt assemblies, Where youth, and cost, and witless bravery keeps. (A man of stricture1 and firm abstinence) Duke. We have strict statutes and most biting laws, The needful bits and curbs for headstrong steeds,) Which for these fourteen years we have let sleep; Even like an o'ergrown lion in a cave, That goes not out to prey: now, as fond fathers, For terror, not to use; in time the rod Becomes more mocked than feared: so our decrees, The baby beats the nurse, and quite athwart Fri. It rested in your grace To unloose this tied-up justice when you pleased; Duke. I do fear, too dreadful: Sith 'twas my fault to give the people scope, And not the punishment. Therefore, indeed, my father, 1 Strictness. I have on Angelo imposed the office; Who may, in the ambush of my name, strike home, To do it slander: and to behold his sway, I will, as 'twere a brother of your order, Visit both prince and people: therefore, I pr'ythee, Like a true friar. More reasons for this action, Is more to bread than stone: hence shall we see, If SCENE V. A Nunnery. Enter ISABELLA and FRANCISCA. [Exeunt. Isab. And have you nuns no further privileges? [Within. Isab. Yes, truly; I speak not as desiring more; But rather wishing a more strict restraint Upon the sisterhood, the votarists of Saint Clare. Lucio. Ho! Peace be in this place! Isab. Who's that which calls? Fran. It is a man's voice: gentle Isabella, Turn you the key, and know his business of him; You may, I may not; you are yet unsworn: When you have vowed, you must not speak with men, But in the presence of the prioress: Then, if you speak, you must not show your face; He calls again; I pray you, answer him. [Exit FRANCISCA. Isab. Peace and prosperity! Who is't that calls? 1 i. e. on his defence. |