Luc. Well, my lord.

[some cause

Mar. My lord, I do confess I ne'er was married; And, I confess, besides, I am no maid:

I have known my husband; yet my husband
That ever he knew me.
[knows not,
Luc. He was drunk then, my lord; it can be
no better.
[wert so too.
Duke. For the benefit of silence, 'would thou
Luc. Well, my lord.

Duke. This is no witness for lord Angelo.
Mar. Now I come to't, my lord:

She, that accuses him of fornication,
In self-same manner doth accuse my husband;
And charges him, my lord, with such a time,
When I'll depose I had him in mine arms,
With all the effect of love.

Ang. Charges she more than me?
Mar. Not that I know.

Duke: No? you say, your husband.

Mar. Why, just, my lord, and that is Angelo, Who thinks, he knows, that he ne'er knew my body,

But knows, he thinks, that he knows Isabel's. Ang. This is a strange abuse. Let's see thy face.

[on:

Mar. My husband bids me; now I will unmask. [unveiling. This is that face, thou cruel Angelo, Which, once thou swor'st, was worth the looking This is the hand, which, with a vow'd contract, Was fast belock'd in thine: this is the body, That took away the match from Isabel, And did supply thee at thy garden-house, In her imagin'd person.

Duke. Know you this woman?

Luc Carnally, she says.

Duke. Sirrah, no more.

Luc. Enough, my lord.

Ang. My lord, I must confess, I know this woman; [marriage And, five years since, there was some speech of Betwixt myself and her; which was broke off, Partly, for that her promised proportions Came short of composition; but, in chief, For that her reputation was disvalued In levity: since which time, of five years, I never spake with her, saw her, nor heard from Upon my faith and honour.

Mar. Noble prince,

[her,

[breath, As there comes light from heaven, and words from

As there is sense in truth, and truth in virtue,
I am affianc'd this man's wife, as strongly
As words could make up vows: and, my good lord,
But Tuesday night last gone, in his garden house,
He knew me as a wife. As this is true,

Let me in safety raise me from my knees:
Or else for ever be confixed here,

A marble monument!

Ang. I did but smile till now;

Now, good my lord, give me the scope of justice; My patience here is touch'd. I do perceive, These poor informal women are no more

But instruments of some more mightier member, That sets them on. Let me have way, my lord, To find this practice out.

Duke. Ay, with my heart;

And punish them unto your height of pleasure.—
Thou foolish friar; and thou pernicious woman,
Compact with her that's gone! think'st thou, thy
oaths,
[saint,
Though they would swear down each particular
Were testimonies against his worth and credit,
That's seal'd in approbation ?—You, lord Escalus,
Sit with my cousin ; lend him your kind pains
To find out this abuse, whence 'tis deriv'd.—
There is another friar that set them on;
Let him be sent for.

[indeed,

F. Pet. Would he were here, my lord; for he, Hath set the women on to this complaint: Your provost knows the place where he abides, And he may fetch him.

Duke. Go, do it instantly.- [exit Provost And you, my noble and well-warranted cousin, Whom it concerns to hear this matter forth, Do with your injuries as seems you best, In any chastisement. I for a while [well Will leave you; but stir not you, till you have Determined upon these slanderers.

Esc. My lord, we'll do it thoroughly.-[exit Duke.] Signior Lucio, did not you say, you knew that friar Lodowick to be a dishonest person?

Luc. Cucullus non facit monachum: honest in nothing, but in his clothes; and one that hath spoke most villainous speeches of the duke.

Esc. We shall entreat you to abide here till he come, and enforce them against him: we shall find this friar a notable fellow.

Luc. As any in Vienna, on my word.

Esc. Call that same Isabel here once again; [to an Attendant.] I would speak with her. Pray you, my lord, give me leave to question; you shall see how I'll handle her.

Luc. Not better than he, by her own report.
Esc. Say you?

Luc. Marry, sir, I think, if you handled her privately, she would sooner confess; perchance, publicly she'll be ashamed.

Re-enter Officers, with Isabella; the Duke, in the Friar's habit, and Provost. Esc. I will go darkly to work with her. Luc. That's the way; for women are light at midnight.

Esc. Come on, mistress: [to Isabella.] here's a gentlewoman denies all that you have said.

Luc. My lord, here comes the rascal I spoke of; here, with the provost.

Esc. How! know you where you are! [devil Duke. Respect to your great place! and let the Be sometime honour'd for his burning throne: Where is the duke? 'tis he should hear me speak. Esc. The duke's in us; and we will hear you Look, you speak justly. [speak: Duke. Boldly, at least:-but, O, poor souls, Come you to seek the lamb here of the fox? Good night to your redress. Is the duke gone? Then is your cause gone to. The duke's unjust, Thus to retort your manifest appeal, And put your trial in the villain's mouth, Which here you come to accuse.

Luc. This is the rascal; this is he I spoke of. Esc. Why, thou unreverend and unhallow'd friar!

Is't not enough, thou hast suborn'd these women
To accuse this worthy man; but, in foul mouth
And in the witness of his proper ear,
To call him villain?

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 countenanc'd, that the strong statutes
Stand like the forfeits in a barber's shop,
As much in mock as mark.

Esc. Slander to the state! Away with him to
prison.

[Lucio?

Ang. What can you vouch against him, signior Is this the man that you did tell us of?

Luc. '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.

Luc. O, did you so? And do you remember what you said of the duke?

Duke. Most notedly, sir.

Luc. Do you so, sir? And was the duke a fleshmonger, 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.

Luc. O thou damnable fellow! Did not I pluck thee by the nose, for thy speeches? [self. Duke. I protest I love the duke, as I love myAng. Hark, how the villain would close now, after his treasonable abuses.

Esc. Such a fellow is not to be talked 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 toe, 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. Luc. Come, sir; come, sir; come, sir; foh, sir:-Why, you bald-pated, lying rascal! you must be hooded, must you? Show your knare's visage, with a pox to you! show your sheep-biting 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
Must have a word anon:-lay hold on him. [you
Luc. This may prove worse than hanging.
Duke. What you have spoke, I pardon; sit you
down.
[to Escalus
We'll borrow place of him:-Sir, by your leave:
[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 nudiscernible,
When I perceive, your grace, like power divine,
Hath looked upon my passes. Then, good prince,
No longer session held 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.
[stantly,

Duke. Go, take her hence, and marry her inDo you the office, friar; which consummate, Return him here again.-Go with him, Provost. [exeunt Angelo, Mariana, Peter, and Provost. Esc. My lord, I am more amax'd at his disThan at the strangeness of it.

Chonour,

Duke. Come hither, Isabel: Your friar is now your prince. As I was then Advértising, and holy to your business, Not changing heart with habit, I ana stille Attorney'd at your service.

Isab. O, give me parden,

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 obscar'd myself,
Labouring 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
That life is better life, past fearing death, [him
Than that which lives to fear: make it your com-
So happy is your brother.

[fort,

Re-enter Angelo, Mariana, Peter, and Provost. Isab. I do, my lord.

[here, Duke For this new-married man, approaching Whose salt imagination yet hath wrong'd Your well-defended honour, you must pardon For Mariana's sake: but as he adjudg'd your (Being criminal in donble violation [brother,

Of sacred chastity, and of promise breach,
Thereon dependent, for your brother's life,)
The very mercy of the law cries out
Most audible, even from his proper tongue,
An Angelo for Claudio, death for death.
Haste still pays haste, and leisure answers leisure;
Like doth quit like, and Measure still for Measure.
Then, Angelo, thy fault's thus manifested:
Which though thou would'st deny, denies thee
We do condemn thee to the very block [vantage:
Where Claudio stoop'd to death, and with like
Away with him.

[haste ;

Mar. O, my most gracious lord,
I hope you will not mock me with a husband!
Duke. It is your husband mock'd you with a
husband:

Consenting to the safeguard of your honour,
I thought your marriage fit; else imputation,
For that he knew you, might reproach your life,
And choke your good to come: for his possessions,
Although by confiscation they are ours,
We do instate and widow you withal,
To buy you a better husband.

Mar. O, my dear lord,

I crave no other, nor no better man.
Duke. Never crave him; we are definitive.
Mar. Gentle my liege,-

[kneeling. Duke. You do but lose your labour: [to you. Away with him to death.-Now, sir, [to Luc.] Mar. O, my good lord!-Sweet Isabel, take my part;

Lend me your knees, and all my life to come
I'll lend you, all my life to do you service.

Duke. Against all sense you do impórtune her: Should she kneel down, in mercy of this fact, Her brother's ghost his paved bed would break, And take her hence in horror.

I have bethought me of another fault:Provost, how came it, Claudio was beheaded At an unusual hour?

Prov. It was commanded so.

Duke. Had you a special warrant for the deed? Prov. No, my good lord; it was by private message.

Duke. For which I do discharge you of your Give up your keys. [office :

Prov. Pardon me, noble lord:

I thought it was a fault, but knew it not;
Yet did repent me, after more advice:
For testimony whereof, one in the prison,.
That should by private order else have died,
I have reserv'd alive.

Duke. What's he?

[dio.

Prov. His name is Barnardine. Duke. I would thou had'st done so by ClauGo, fetch him hither; let me look upon him. [exit Provost.

Esc. 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 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 squar'st 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 sav'd, That should have died when Claudio lost his head; As like almost to Claudio, as himself.

[unmuffles Claudio.

Duke. If he be like your brother, [to Isabella,]

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 quick'ning in his eye :-
Well, Angelo, your evil quits you well:
Look that you love your wife; her worth, worth
I find an apt remission in myself: [yours.
And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon;
You, sirrab, [to Lucio,] that knew me for a fool,
'One all of luxury, an ass, a madman: [a coward,
Wherein have I so deserved of you,
That you extol me thus?

Luc. '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 whipped.

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.

Luc. 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 honour, thou shalt marry Thy slanders I forgive; and therewithal [her. Remit thy other forfeits.—Take him to prison; And see our pleasure herein executed.

Luc. Marrying, a punk, my lord, is pressing to death, whipping, and hanging.

Duke. Sland'ring a prince deserves it.— She, Claudio, that you wrong'd, look you restore.

Joy to you, Mariana!-love her, Angelo;
I have confess'd her, and I know her virtue.—
Thanks, good friend Escalus, for thy much good-
There's more behind, that is more gratulate. [ness:
Thanks, provost, for thy care, and secresy;
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 ear incline,
What's mine is your's, and what is your's is
mine :-

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

know.

King Edward the Fourth.

Edward, Prince of Wales, afterwards

King Edward V.

Richard, Duke of York,

George, Duke of Clarence,

-sons to the king.

Richard, Duke of Gloster, afterwards brothers to the king. King Richard III.

A young son of Clarence.

Henry, Earl of Richmond, afterwards King Henry VII. Cardinal Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury.

Thomas Rotheram, Archbishop of York.

John Morton, Bishop of Ely.

Duke of Buckingham.

Duke of Norfolk: Earl of Surrey, his son.

Earl Rivers, brother to King Edward's queen.
Marquis of Dorset, and Lord Grey, her sons.

Earl of Oxford, Lord Hastings, Lord Stanley, Lord Lovel.
Sir Thomas Vaughan. Sir Richard Ratcliff.

Sir William Catesby. Sir James Tyrrel.,
Sir James Blount. Sir Walter Herbert.
Sir Robert Brakenbury, lieutenant of the Tower.
Christopher Urswick, a priest; another priest.
Lord Mayor of London. Sheriff of Wiltshire.

Elizabeth, Queen of Edward IV.

Margaret, widow of King Henry VI.

Duchess of York, mother to King Edward IV., Clarence, and Gloster.

Lady Anne, widow of Edward, Prince of Wales, son to King Henry VI.; afterwards married to the Duke of Gloster.

A young daughter of Clarence.

Lords and other attendants; two gentlemen; a pursuivant, scrivener, citizens, murderers, messengers, ghosts, sol diers, &c.

SCENE I. LONDON. A STREET.
Glo. Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by the sun of York:
And all the clouds, that lour'd upon our house,
In the deep bosom of the ocean buried.
Now are our brows bound with victorious wreaths;
Our bruised arms hung up for monuments;
Our stern alarums chang'd to merry meetings,
Our dreadful marches to delightful measures.
Grim-visag'd War hath smooth'd his wrinkled
front;

And now, instead of mounting barbed steeds,
To fright the souls of fearful adversaries,—
He capers nimbly in a lady's chamber,
To the lascivious pleasing of a lute.
But I,-that am not shap'd for sportive tricks,
Nor made to court an amorous looking-glass;
I, that am rudely stamp'd and want love's majesty,
To strut before a wanton ambling nymph:
I, that am curtall'd of this fair proportion,
Cheated of feature by dissembling nature,
Deform'd, unfinish'd, sent before my time
Into this breathing world, scarce half made up,
And that so lamely and unfashionable,
That dogs bark at me, as I halt by them :-
Why I, in this weak piping time of
peace,
Have no delight to pass away the time;
Unless to spy my shadow in the sun,
And descant on mine own deformity:
And therefore, since I cannot prove a lover,
To entertain these fair well-spoken days,—
I am determined to prove a villain,
And hate the idle pleasures of these days.
Plots have I laid, inductions dangerous,
By drunken prophecies, libels, and dreams,
To set my brother Clarence, and the king,
In deadly hate, the one against the other:
And, if King Edward be as true and just,
As I am subtle, false, and treacherous,
This day should Clarence closely be mew'd up;

About a prophecy, which says that G
Of Edward's heirs the murderer shall be. }
Dive, thoughts, down to my soul; here Clarence

comes.

Enter Clarence, guarded, and Brakenbury. Brother, good day: what means this armed guard, That waits upon your grace?

Clar. His majesty,

Tendering my person's safety, hath appointed
This conduct to convey me to the Tower.
Glo. Upon what cause?

Clar. Because my name is-George.

Glo. Alack, my lord, that fault is none of yours; He should, for that, commit your godfathers:O, belike, his majesty hath some intent, That you shall be new christen'd in the Tower. But what's the matter, Clarence? may I know? Clar. Yea, Richard, when I know; for I protest, As yet I do not: but, as I can learn, He hearkens after prophecies and dreams; And from the cross-row plucks the letter G, And says a wizard told him, that by G His issue disinherited should be; And, for my name of George begins with G, It follows in his thought, that I am he: These, as I learn, and such like toys as these, Have mov'd his highness to commit me now.

Glo. Why, this it is, when men are rul'd by

women:

'Tis not the king that sends you to the Tower;
My lady Grey, his wife, Clarence, 'tis she,
That tempers him to this extremity.
Was it not she, and that good man of worship,
Antony Woodeville, her brother there,
That made him send lord Hastings to the Tower;
From whence this present day he is deliver'd?
We are not safe, Clarence, we are not safe.

Clar. By heaven, I think, there is no man secure, But the queen's kindred, and night-walking heralds That trudge betwixt the king and inistress Shore.