The dramatic works of William Shakspere, from the text of Johnson, Stevens [sic] & Reed, with glossarial notes, his life, etc. by N. Rowe

(Whom I believe to be most strait in virtue,)
That, in the working of your own affections,
Had time coher'd with place, or place with
wishing,

Or that the resolute acting of your blood
Could have attain'd the effect of your own

purpose,

Whether you had not sometime in your life
Err'd in this point which now you censure him,
And pull'd the law upon you.

Ang. 'Tis one thing to be tempted, Escalus,
Another thing to fall. I not deny,
The jury, passing on the prisoner's life,
May, in the sworn twelve, have a thief or two
Guiltier than him they try: What's open made
to justice,

That justice seizes. What know the laws,
That thieves do passt on thieves? 'Tis very
pregnant,

The jewel that we find, we stoop and take it,
Because we see it; but what we do not see,
We tread upon, and never think of it.
You may not so extenuate his offence,
Fors I have had such faults; but rather tell me,
When I, that censure|| him, do so offend,
Let mine own judgement pattern out my death,
And nothing come in partial. Sir, he must die.
Escal. Be it as your wisdom will.
Ang. Where is the provost?
Prov. Here, if it like your honour.
Ang. See that Claudio

Be executed by nine to-morrow morning:
Bring him his confessor, let him be prepared;
For that's the utmost of his pilgrimage.
[Exit PROVOST.
Escal. Well, heaven forgive him; and forgive
us all!

Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall:
Some run from brakes¶ of vice, and answer

none;

And some condemned for a fault alone.

Enter ELBOW, FROTH, CLOWN, Officers, &c. Elb. Come, bring them away: if these be good people in a common-weal,** that do nothing but use their abuses in common houses, I know no law; bring them away.

Ang. How now, Sir! What's your name? and what's the matter?

Elb. If it please your honour, I am the poor duke's constable, and my name is Elbow; I do lean upon justice, Sir, and do bring in here before your good honour two notorious benefactors.

Ang. Benefactors? Well; what benefactors are they? are they not malefactors?

Elb. If it please your honour, I know not well what they are: but precise villains they are, that I am sure of; and void of all profanation in the world, that good Christians ought to have.

Escal. This comes off well;tt here's a wise officer.

Escal. How know you that?
Elb. My wife, Sir, whom I detest before
heaven and your honour,-

Escal. How! thy wife?

Elb. Ay, Sir; whom, I thank heaven, is an honest woman,

Escal. Dost thou detest her therefore?

Elb. I say, Sir, I will detest myself also, as well as she, that this house, if it be not a bawd's house, it is pity of her life, for it is a naughty house.

Escal. How dst thou know that, constable? Elb. Marry, sir, by my wife; who, if she had been woman cardinally given, might have been accused in fornication, adultery, and all uncleanliness there.

Escal. By the woman's means?

Elb. Ay, Sir, by mistress Overdone's means: but as she spit in his face, so she defied him. Clo. Sir, if it please your honour, this is not

So.

Elb. Prove it before these varlets here, thou
honourable man, prove it.

Escal. Do you hear how he misplaces?
[To ANGELO.

Clo. Sir, she came in great with child; and
longing (saving your honour's reverence,) for
stew'd prunes; Sir, we had but two in the
house, which at that very distant time stood,
as it were, in a fruit dish, a dish of some three-
pence; your honours have seen such dishes;
they are not China dishes, but very good dishes.
Escal. Go to, go to: no matter for the dish,
Sir.

Clo. No, indeed, Sir, not of a pin; you are therein in the right: but, to the point; As I say, this mistress Elbow, being, as I say, with child, and being great belly'd, and longing, as I said, for prunes; and having but two in the dish, as I said, master Froth here, this very man, having eaten the rest, as I said, and, as say, paying for them very honestly;-for, as you know, master Froth, I cou'd not give you threepence again.

Froth. No, indeed.

Clo. Very well: you being then, if you be remember'd, cracking the stones of the foresaid prunes.

Froth. Ay, so I did, indeed.

Clo. Why, very well: I telling you then, if you be remeinber'd, that such a one, and such a one, were past cure of the thing you wot of, unless they kept very good diet, as I told you. Froth. All this is true.

Clo. Why, very well then.

Escal. Come, you are a tedious fool: to the
purpose.-What was done to Elbow's wife,
that he hath cause to complain of? Come me to
what was done to her.

Clo. Sir, your honour cannot come to that yet.
Escal. No, Sir, nor I mean it not.

Clo. Sir, but you shall come to it, by your
honour's leave: And, I beseech you, look into
El-master Froth here, Sir; a man of fourscore
pound a year; whose father died at Hallow-
mas:-Was't not at Hallowmas, master Froth?
Froth. All-hollond+ eve.

Ang. Go to: What quality are they of? bow is your name? Why dost thou not speak, Elbow?

Clo. He cannot, Sir; he's out at elbow.
Ang. What are you, Sir?

Ell. He, Sir? a tapster, Sir; parcel+t-bawd; one that serves a bad woman; whose house, Sir, was, as they say, pluck'd down in the suburbs; and now she professes a hot-house, which, I think, is a very ill house too.

* Suited. +Pass judgement.

Because.

+ Plain.

Il Sentence.

Thickest, thorny paths of vice. ** Wealth. + Well told. if Partly.

19 Keeps a bagnio.

Clo. Why, very well; I hope here be truths:
He, Sir, sitting, as I say, in a lower‡ chair,
Sir;-'twas in the Bunch of Grapes, where, in-
deed, you have a delight to sit: Have you not?

Froth. I have so; because it is an open room,
and good for winter.

Clo. Why, very well then;-I hope here be truths.

ફે

Ang. This will last out a night.in Russia, When nights are longest there: I'll take my leave,

And leave you to the hearing of the cause; Hoping, you'll find good cause to whip them all. Escal. I think no less: Good morrow to your lordship. [Exit ANGELO. Now, Sir, come on: What was done to Elbow's wife, once more?

Clo. Once, Sir? there was nothing done to ber once.

Elb. I beseech you, Sir, ask him what this man did to my wife.

Clo, I beseech your honour, ask me.

Escal. Well, Sir: What did this gentleman to her?

Cle. I beseech you, Sir, look in this gentleman's face:-Good master Froth, look upon his honour; 'tis for a good purpose: Doth your honour mark his face?

Escal. Ay, Sir, very well.

Clo. Nay, I beseech you, mark it well.
Escal. Well, I do so.

Clo. Doth your honour see any harm in his face?

Escal. Why, no.

Clo. I'll be supposed upon a book, his face is the worst thing about him: Good then; if his face be the worst thing about him, how could master Froth do the constable's wife any harm? I would know that of your honour.

Escal. He's in the right: Constable, what say you to it?

Elb. First, an it like you, the house is a respected house; next, this is a respected fellow; and his mistress is a respected woman.

Clo. By this hand, Sir, his wife is a more respected person than any of us all.

Elb. Varlet, thou liest; thou liest, wicked varlet: the time is yet to come, that she was ever respected with man, woman, or child.

Clo. Sir, she was respected with him before he married with her.

Escal. Which is the wiser here? Justice, or Iniquity? Is this true?

Elb. O thou caitiff! O thou varlet! O thou wicked Hannibal! I respected with her, before I was married to her? If ever I was respected with her, or she with me, let not your worship think me the poor duke's officer:Prove this, thou wicked Hannibal, or I'll have mine action of battery on thee.

Escal. If he took you a box o' ear, you might have your action of slander too.

Elb. Marry, I thank your good worship for it: What is't your worship's pleasure I should do with this wicked caitiff?

Escal. Truly, officer, because he hath some offences in him, that thou wouldst discover if thou couldst, let him continue in his courses, till thou know'st what they are.

Elb. Marry, I thank your worship for it:— Thou seest, thou wicked varlet now, what's come upon thee; thou art to continue now, Tarlet; thou art to continue.

thou

Escal. Where were you born, friend?
[TO FROTH.
Froth. Here in Vienna, Sir.
Escal. Are you of fourscore pounds a year?
Froth. Yes, and't please you, Sir.
Escal. So. What trade are you of, Sir?
[To the CLOWN.
Clo. A tapster; a poor widow's tapster.
Escal. Your mistress's name?

Clo. Mistress Over-done.

+ Constable or clown.

Deposed, sworn.

For cannibal

Escal. Hath she had any more than one husband.

Clo. Nine, Sir; Over-done by the last. Escal. Nine!-Come hither to me, master Froth. Master Froth, I would not have you acquainted with tapsters; they will draw yor master Froth, and you will hang them: Go you gone, and let me hear no more of you.

Froth. I thank your worship: For mine own part, I never come into any room in a taphouse, but I am drawn in.

Escal. Well; no more of it, master Froth: farewell. [Exit FROTH.]-Come you hither to me, master tapster; what's your name, master tapster?

Clo. Pompey.

Escal. What else?

Clo. Bum, Sir.

Escal. "Troth, and your bum is the greatest thing about you; so that, in the beastliest sense, you are Pompey the great. Pompey, you are partly a bawd, Pompey, howsoever you colour it in being a tapster. Are you not? come, tell me true; it shall be the better for you.

Clo. Truly, Sir, I am a poor fellow, that would live.

Escal. How would you live Pompey? by being a bawd? What do you think of the trade, Pompey? is it a lawful trade?

Clo. If the law would allow it, Sir. Escal. But the law will not allow it, Pompey; nor it shall not be allowed in Vienna. Clo. Does your worship mean to geld and spay all the youth in the city?

Escal. No, Pompey.

Clo. Truly, Sir, in my poor opinion, they will to't then: If your worship will take order* for the drabs and the knaves, you need not to fear the bawds.

Escal. There are pretty orders beginning, I can tell you: It is but heading and hanging.

Clo. If you head and hang all that offend that way but for ten year together, you'll be glad to give out a commission for more heads. If this law hold in Vienna ten year, I'll rent the fairest house in it, after threepence a bay: If you live to see this come to pass, say, Pompey told you so.

Escal. Thank you, good Pompey: and, in requital of your prophecy, hark you,-I advise you, let me not find you before me again upon any complaint whatsoever, no, not for dwelling where you do; if I do, Pompey, I shall beat you to your tent, and prove a shrewd Cæsar to you; in plain dealing, Pompey, I shall have you whipt: so for this time, Pompey, fare you

well.

Elb. Faith, Sir, few of any wit in such matters: as they are chosen, they are glad to choose me for them; I do it for some piece of money, and go through with all.

Escal. Look you, bring me in the names of some six or seven, the most sufficient of your parish.

Elb. To your worship's house, Sir?

Isab. I have a brother is condemn'd to die:
I do beseech you, let it be his fault,
And not my brother.

Prov. Heaven give thee moving graces!
Ang. Condemn the fault, and not the actor
of it!

Why, every fault's condemn'd, ere it be done:
Mine were the very cipher of a function,

Escal. To my house: Fare you well. [Exit To find the faults, whose fine stands in record, ELBOW.] What's o'clock, think you?

Just. Eleven,

Sir.

Escal. I pray you home to dinner with me.
Just. I humbly thank you.

Escal. It grieves me for the death of Claudio;

But there's no remedy.

Just. Lord Angelo is severe.

Escal. It is but needful:

Mercy is not itself, that oft looks so;
Pardon is still the nurse of second woe:
But yet,-Poor Claudio!-There's no remedy.
Come, Sir.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.-Another Room in the same.

Enter PROVOST and a SERVANT.

Serv. He's hearing of a cause; he will come I'll tell him of you. [straight.

Prov. Pray you, do. [Exit SERV.] I'll know
His pleasure; may be, he will relent: Alas,
He hath but as offended in a dream!

All sects, all ages smack of this vice; and he
To die for it!-

Enter ANGELO.

Ang Now, what's the matter, provost?
Prov. Is it your will Claudio shall die to-

morrow?

Ang. Did I not tell thee, yea? hadst thou not
Why dost thou ask again?
[order?

Prov. Lest I might be too rash:
Under your good correction, I have seen,
When, after execution, judgement hath
Repented o'er his doom.

Ang. Go to; let that be mine:

Do you your office, or give up your place,
And you shall well be spar'd.

Prov. I crave your honour's pardon.

What shall be done, Sir, with the groaning [Juliet?

She's very near her hour.

Ang. Dispose of her

To some more fitter place; and that with speed.

Re-enter SERVANT.

And let go by the actor.
Isab. O just, but severe law!

I had a brother then.-Heaven keep your hon
[Retiring.

our!

Lucio. [To ISAB.] Give't not o'er so: to him

again, entreat him;

Kneel down before him, hang upon his gown;
You are too cold: if you should need a pin,
You could not with more tame a tongue desire
To him, I say.
[it:

Isab. Must he needs die?
Ang. Maiden, no remedy.

him,

Isab. Yes; I do think that you might pardon [mercy. And neither heaven, nor man, grieve at the Ang. I will not do't.

Isab. But can you, if you would?

Ang. Look, what I will not, that I cannot do.
Isub. But might you do't, and do the world.
no wrong,

If so your heart were touch'd with that remorse*
As mine is to him?

Ang. He's sentenc'd; 'tis too late.

Lucio. You are too cold. [To ISABELLA
Isub. Too late? why, no; I, that do speak a

May call it back again: Well believe this,
word,
Not the king's crown, nor the deputed sword,
No ceremony that to great ones 'longs,
The marshal's truncheon, nor the judge's robe,
Become them with one half so good a grace,
As mercy does. If he had been as you,
And you as he, you would have slipt like him;
But he, like you, would not have been so stern.
Ang. Pray you, begone.

Isab. I would to heaven I had your potency,
And you were Isabel! should it then be thus?

No; I would tell what 'twere to be a judge,
And what a prisoner.

Lucio. Ay, touch him: there's the vein.

[Aside.
Ang. Your brother is a forfeit of the law,
And you but waste your words.
Isab. Alas! alas!

Serv. Here is the sister of the man condemn'd, Why, all the souls that were, were forfeit once;

Desires access to you.

Ang. Hath he a sister?

And He that might the vantage best have took,
Found out the remedy: How would you be.

Prov. Ay, my good lord; a very virtuous maid, If He, which is the top of judgement, should And to be shortly of a sisterhood,

Enter LUCIO and ISABELLA.

Prov. Save your honour! [Offering to retire.
Ang. Stay a little while. [To ISAB.] You
are welcome: What's your will?
Isab. am a woeful suitor to your honour,
Please but your honour hear me.

Ang. Well; what's your suit?

Isab. There is a vice, that most I do abhor,
And most desire should meet the blow of justice;
For which I would not plead, but that I must;
For which I must not plead, but that I am
At war, 'twixt will, and will not.
Ang. Well; the matter?

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Lucio. Ay, well said.

Ang. The law hath not been dead, though it hath slept:

Those many had not dar'd to do that evil,
If the first man that did the edict infringe,
Had answer'd for his deed: now, 'tis awake;
Takes note of what is done; and, like a prophet,
Looks in a glass, that shows what future evils,
(Either now, or by remissness new-conceiv'd,
And so in progress to be hatch'd and born,)
Are now to have no successive degrees,
But, where they live, to end.

Isub. Yet show some pity.

Ang. I show it most of all, when I show justice;

For then I pity those I do not know,
Which a dismiss'd offence would after gall;
And do him right, that, answering one foul
wrong,

Lives not to act another. Be satisfied;
Your brother dies to-morrow; be content.

Isab. So you must be the first, that gives this sentence;

And he, that suffers: O, it is excellent
To have a giant's strength; but it is tyrannous
To use it like a giant.

Lucio. That's well said.

Isab. Could great men thunder

As Jove himself does, Jove would ne'er be quiet,
For every pelting, petty officer,
Would use his heaven for thunder; nothing but
Merciful heaven!
[thunder.-

Thou rather, with thy sharp and sulphurous bolt,

Split'st the unwedgeable and gnarledt oak,
Than the soft myrtle:-O, but man, proud man!
Drest in a little brief authority;

Most ignorant of what he's most assur'd,
His glassy essence,-like an angry ape,
Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven,
As make the angels weep; who,with our spleens,
Would all themselves laugh mortal.

Lucio. O, to him, to him, wench: he will reHe's coming, I perceive't. [lent;

Prov. Pray heaven, she win him! Isab. We cannot weigh our brother with ourself: [them; Great men may jest with saints: 'tis wit in But, in the less, foul profanation.

Lucio. Thou'rt in the right, girl; more o' that. Isub. That in the captain's but a choleric word, Which in the soldier is flat blasphemy.

Lucio. Art advis'd o' that? more on't.
Ang. Why do you put these sayings upon me?
Isab. Because authority, though it err like
others,

Hath yet a kind of medicine in itself,
That skins the vice o' the top: Go to your
bosom;
[know

Knock there; and ask your heart, what it doth
That's like my brother's fault: if it confess
A natural guiltiness, such as is his,

Let it not sound a thought upon your tongue
Against my brother's life.

Ang. She speaks, and 'tis

Such sense, that my sense breeds with it.-
Fare you well.

Isab. Gentle my lord, turn back.

Ang. I will bethink me:-Come again to

Lucio. You had marr'd all, clse.

Isab. Not with fond shekels of the tested gold,

Or stones, whose rates are either rich, or poor, As fancy values them: but with true prayers, That shall be up at heaven, and enter there, Ere sunrise; prayers from preservedt souls, From fasting maids, whose minds are dedicate To nothing temporal.

Ang. Well: come to me To-morrow.

Lucio. Go to; it is well; away.

[Aside to ISABELLA. Isab. Heaven keep your honour safe! Ang. Amen: for I

Am that way going to temptation,
Where prayers cross.

Isub. At what hour to-morrow
Shall I attend your lordship?
Ang. At any time 'fore noon.
Isab. Save your honour!

[Aside.

[Exeunt Lucio, ISABELLA, and PROVOST. Ang. From thee; even from thy virtue!What's this? what's this? Is this her fault, or mine? [Ha. The tempter, or the tempted, who sins most? Not she; nor doth she tempt: but it is I, That lying by the violet, in the sun, Do, as the carrion does, not as the flower, Corrupt with virtuous season. Can it be, That modesty may more betray our sense Than woman's lightness? Having waste ground enough,

Shall we desire to raze the sanctuary,
And pitch our evils there? O, fie, fie, fie!
What dost thou? or what art thou, Angelo
Dost thou desire her foully, for those things
That make her good? O, let her brother live:
Thieves for their robbery have authority,
When judges steal themselves. What? do I
love her,

That I desire to hear her speak again,
And feast upon her eyes? What is't I dream on?
O cunning enemy, that, to catch a saint,
With saints dost bait thy hook! Most dangerous
Is that temptation, that doth goad us on [pet,
To sin in loving virtue: never could the strum-
With all her double vigour, art, and nature,
Once stir my temper; but this virtuous maid
Subdues me quite ;-Ever, till now,
When men were fond, I smil'd, and wonder'd
how.
[Exit.

SCENE III.-A Room in a Prison.

Enter DUKE, habited like a Friur, and PROVOST. Duke. Hail to you, provost! so, I think you

are.

Prov. I am the provost: What's your will, good friar?

Duke. Bound by my charity, and my bless'd I come to visit the afflicted spirits [order, Here in the prison: do me the common right To let me see them; and to make me know The nature of their crimes, that I may minister To them accordingly.

Prov. I would do more than that, if more were needful.

and pray

Ang. When I would pray and think, I think [words; To several subjects: heaven hath my empty Whilst my invention, hearing not my tongue, Anchors on Isabel: Heaven in my mouth, As if I did but only chew his name; And in my heart, the strong and swelling evil Of my conception: The state, whereon I studied, Is like a good thing, being often read, Grown fear'd and tedious; yea, my gravity, Wherein (let no man hear me) I take pride, Could I, with boot,t change for an idle plume, Which the air beats for vain. O place! O form! How often dost thou with thy case, thy habit, Wrench awe from fools, and tie the wiser souls To thy false seeming? Blood, thou still art blood:

Let's write good angel on the devil's horn, "Tis not the devil's crest.

Ang. Yea.

Isab. When, I beseech you? that in his reprieve,

Longer, or shorter, he may so be fitted,
That his soul sicken not.

Ang. Ha! Fie, these filthy vices! It were as good

To pardon him, that hath from nature stolen
A man already made, as to remit [image
Their saucy sweetness, that do coin heaven's
In stamps that are forbid: 'tis all as easy
Falsely to take away a life true made,
As to put mettle in restrained means,
To make a false one.

Isab. "Tis set down so in heaven, but not in

speak

Against the thing I say. Answer to this;-
I, now the voice of the recorded law,
Might there not be charity in sin,
Pronounce a sentence on your brother's life:
To save this brother's life?

Isab. Please you to do't,
I'll take it as a peril to my soul,
It is no sin at all, but charity.

Were equal poise of sin and charity.
Ang. Pleas'd you to do't, at peril of your soul,

Heaven, let me bear it! you granting of my
Isab. That I do beg his life, if it be sin,
suit,

If that be sin, I'll make it my morn prayer
To have it added to the faults of mine,
And nothing of your answer.

Ang. Nay, but hear me:

[iguorant,

Your sense pursues not mine: either you are
Or seem so, craftily; and that's not good.
Isab. Let me be ignorant, and in nothing
But graciously to know I am no better. [good,
Ang. Thus wisdom wishes to appear most

bright,

When it doth tax itself: as these black masks Proclaim an enshield+ beauty ten times louder

Spare to offend heaven. + Profit.

* Outside.

* People.

+ Enshielded, coveraí.

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The dramatic works of William Shakspere, from the text of Johnson, Stevens ...