Nay, it is ten times true, for truth is truth
To th' end of reck'ning50.
DUKE Away with her. Poor soul,
She speaks this in th'infirmity of sense52.
ISABELLA O prince, I conjure53 thee, as thou believ'st
There is another comfort54 than this world,
That thou neglect me not with that opinion55
That I am touched56 with madness. Make not impossible
That which but seems unlike. 'Tis not impossible
But one, the wicked'st caitiff58 on the ground,
May seem as shy59, as grave, as just, as absolute
As Angelo: even so may Angelo,
In all his dressings61, caracts, titles, forms,
Be an arch-villain. Believe it, royal prince:
If he be less, he's nothing, but he's more,
Had I more name64 for badness.
DUKE By mine honesty,
If she be mad -- as I believe no other --
Her madness hath the oddest frame of sense67,
Such a dependency of thing68 on thing,
As e'er I heard in madness.
ISABELLA O gracious duke,
Harp71 not on that, nor do not banish reason
For inequality, but let your reason serve
To make the truth appear where it seems hid,
And hide the false seems true74.
DUKE Many that are not mad
Have, sure, more lack of reason. What would you say?
ISABELLA I am the sister of one Claudio,
Condemned upon the act78 of fornication
To lose his head, condemned by Angelo.
I, in probation of a sisterhood80,
Was sent to by my brother, one Lucio
As then82 the messenger--
LUCIO That's I, an't like your grace.
I came to her from Claudio, and desired her
To try her gracious fortune with Lord Angelo
For her poor brother's pardon.
ISABELLA That's he indeed.
DUKE You were not bid to speak.
LUCIO No, my good lord,
Nor wished90 to hold my peace.
DUKE I wish you now, then.
Pray you take note of it. And when you have
A business for yourself93, pray heaven you then
Be perfect94.
LUCIO I warrant95 your honour.
DUKE The warrant's for yourself: take heed to't.
ISABELLA This gentleman told somewhat97 of my tale--
LUCIO Right.
DUKE It may be right, but you are i'the wrong
To speak before your time.-- Proceed.
ISABELLA I went
To this pernicious102 caitiff deputy--
DUKE That's somewhat madly spoken.
ISABELLA Pardon it,
The phrase is to the matter105.
DUKE Mended106 again. The matter: proceed.
ISABELLA In brief, to set the needless process by107 --
How I persuaded108, how I prayed and kneeled,
How he refelled109 me, and how I replied,
For this was of much length -- the vile conclusion
I now begin with grief and shame to utter.
He would not, but by gift of my chaste body
To his concupiscible113 intemperate lust
Release my brother. And after much debatement114
My sisterly remorse115 confutes mine honour,
And I did yield to him. But the next morn betimes116,
His purpose surfeiting117, he sends a warrant
For my poor brother's head.
DUKE This is most likely119.
ISABELLA O, that it were as like as it is true120!
DUKE By heaven, fond121 wretch, thou know'st not what
thou speak'st,
Or else thou art suborned122 against his honour
In hateful practice124. First, his integrity
Stands without blemish. Next, it imports no reason125
That with such vehemency he should pursue
Faults proper to himself126. If he had so offended,
He would have weighed128 thy brother by himself,
And not have cut him off129. Someone hath set you on.
Confess the truth, and say by whose advice
Thou cam'st here to complain.
ISABELLA And is this all?
Then, O you blessed ministers133 above,
Keep me in patience, and with ripened time
Unfold135 the evil which is here wrapt up
In countenance136! Heaven shield your grace from woe,
As I, thus wronged, hence unbelieved go!
She starts to go
DUKE I know you'd fain be gone. An officer!
To prison with her. Shall we thus permit
Isabella is arrested
A blasting140 and a scandalous breath to fall
On him so near us? This needs must be a practice141.
Who knew of your intent and coming hither?
ISABELLA One that I would were here, Friar Lodowick143.
DUKE A ghostly144 father, belike. Who knows that Lodowick?
LUCIO My lord, I know him, 'tis a meddling friar,
I do not like the man. Had he been lay146, my lord,
For certain words he spake against your grace
In your retirement148, I had swinged him soundly.
DUKE Words against me? This'149 a good friar, belike.
And to set on this wretched woman here
Against our substitute! Let this friar be found.
LUCIO But yesternight, my lord, she and that friar,
I saw them at the prison: a saucy153 friar,
A very scurvy154 fellow.
FRIAR PETER Blessed be your royal grace.
I have stood by, my lord, and I have heard
Your royal ear abused157. First, hath this woman
Most wrongfully accused your substitute,
Who is as free from touch or soil159 with her
As she from one ungot160.
DUKE We did believe no less.
Know you that Friar Lodowick that she speaks of?
FRIAR PETER I know him for a man divine and holy,
Not scurvy, nor a temporary meddler164,
As he's reported by this gentleman.
And on my trust a man that never yet
Did, as he vouches167, misreport your grace.
LUCIO My lord, most villainously168, believe it.
FRIAR PETER Well, he in time may come to clear himself,
But at this instant he is sick, my lord,
Of a strange171 fever. Upon his mere request,
Being come to knowledge that there was complaint
Intended 'gainst Lord Angelo, came I hither,
To speak, as from his mouth, what he doth know
Is true and false, and what he with his oath
And all probation176 will make up full clear,
Whensoever he's convented177. First, for this woman.
To justify178 this worthy nobleman
So vulgarly179 and personally accused,
Her shall you hear disproved to her eyes180,
Till she herself confess it.
DUKE Good friar, let's hear it.
[Exit Isabella, guarded]
Do you not smile at this, Lord Angelo?
O heaven, the vanity184 of wretched fools!
Give us some seats. Come, cousin Angelo,
In this I'll be impartial: be you judge
Of your own cause.
Enter Mariana [veiled]
Seats brought in for Duke and Angelo
Is this the witness, friar?
First, let her show her face, and after speak.
MARIANA Pardon, my lord, I will not show my face
Kneels?
Until my husband bid me.
DUKE What, are you married?
MARIANA No, my lord.
DUKE Are you a maid?
MARIANA No, my lord.
DUKE A widow, then?
MARIANA Neither, my lord.
DUKE Why, you are nothing then: neither maid, widow,
nor wife?
LUCIO My lord, she may be a punk199, for many of them are
neither maid, widow, nor wife.
DUKE Silence that fellow. I would he had some cause
To prattle for himself201.
LUCIO Well, my lord.
MARIANA My lord, I do confess I ne'er was married,
And I confess besides I am no maid.
I have known206 my husband, yet my husband
Knows not that ever he knew me.
LUCIO He was drunk then, my lord, it can be no better.
DUKE For the benefit of silence, would thou wert so too209.
LUCIO Well, my lord.
DUKE This is no witness for Lord Angelo.
MARIANA Now I come to't, my lord.
She that accuses him of fornication,
In self-same manner doth accuse my husband,
And charges215 him, my lord, with such a time
When I'll depose216 I had him in mine arms
With all th'effect217 of love.
ANGELO Charges she more218 than me?
MARIANA Not that I know.
DUKE No? You say your husband.
MARIANA Why, just221, 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.
ANGELO This is a strange abuse224. Let's see thy face.
MARIANA My husband bids me, now I will unmask.
Unveils
This is that face, thou cruel Angelo,
Which once thou swor'st was worth the looking on:
This is the hand which, with a vowed contract,
Was fast belocked229 in thine: this is the body
That took away the match230 from Isabel,
And did supply231 thee at thy garden-house
In her imagined person232.
DUKE Know you this woman?
LUCIO Carnally, she says.
DUKE Sirrah, no more!
LUCIO Enough, my lord.
ANGELO My lord, I must confess I know this woman,
And five years since there was some speech of marriage
Betwixt myself and her, which was broke off,
Partly for that her promised proportions240
Came short of composition241, but in chief
For that242 her reputation was disvalued
In levity. Since which time of five years
I never spake with her, saw her, nor heard from her,
Upon my faith and honour.
MARIANA Noble prince,
Kneels?
As there comes light from heaven and words from breath,
As there is sense in truth and truth in virtue,
I am affianced this man's wife as strongly
As words could make up vows. And, my good lord,
But Tuesday night last gone in's garden-house
He knew me as a wife. As this is true,
Let me in safety raise me from my knees,
Or else forever be confixed254 here,
A marble monument!
ANGELO I did but smile256 till now.
Now, good my lord, give me the scope257 of justice,
My patience here is touched258. I do perceive
These poor informal259 women are no more
But instruments of some more mightier member260
That sets them on. Let me have way261, my lord,
To find this practice out.
DUKE Ay, with my heart
And punish them to your height of pleasure.
Thou foolish friar, and thou pernicious woman,
Compact266 with her that's gone, think'st thou thy oaths,
Though they would swear down267 each particular saint,
Were testimonies against his worth and credit
That's sealed in approbation269? You, Lord Escalus,
Sit with my cousin, lend him your kind pains270
To find out this abuse, whence 'tis derived.
There is another friar that set them on,
Let him be sent for.
Duke gets up and Escalus takes his seat
FRIAR PETER Would he were here, my lord, for he indeed
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-warranted279 cousin,
Whom it concerns to hear this matter forth280,
Do with your injuries as seems you best
In any chastisement282. I for a while
Will leave you, but stir not you283 till you have
Well determined284 upon these slanderers.
ESCALUS My lord, we'll do it throughly285.
Exit [Duke]
Signior Lucio, did not you say you knew that Friar Lodowick
to be a dishonest person?
LUCIO Cucullus non facit monachum288: honest in nothing but
in his clothes, and one that hath spoke most villainous
speeches of the duke.
ESCALUS We shall entreat you to abide here till he come and
enforce them against him292. We shall find this friar a notable
fellow.
LUCIO As any in Vienna, on my word.
ESCALUS Call that same Isabel here once again, I would speak
with her.
Exit an Attendant
Pray you, my lord, give me leave to question, you
To Angelo
shall see how I'll handle298 her.
LUCIO Not better than he, by her own report.
ESCALUS Say you?300
LUCIO Marry, sir, I think, if you handled her privately301, she
would sooner confess, perchance publicly she'll be ashamed302.
Enter Duke [in his friar's disguise], Provost, Isabella [and Officers]
ESCALUS I will go darkly to work with her303.
LUCIO That's the way, for women are light304 at midnight.
ESCALUS Come on, mistress, here's a gentlewoman denies all
that you have said.
LUCIO My lord, here comes the rascal I spoke of, here with
the provost.
ESCALUS In very good time. Speak not you to him till we call
upon you.
LUCIO Mum311.
ESCALUS Come, sir, did you set these women on to slander
Lord Angelo? They have confessed you did.
DUKE 'Tis false.
ESCALUS How?315 Know you where you are?
DUKE Respect316 to your great place, and let the devil
Be sometime honoured for his burning throne317.
Where is the duke? 'Tis he should hear me speak.
ESCALUS The duke's in us319, and we will hear you speak:
Look320 you speak justly.
DUKE Boldly, at least. But, O, poor souls,
Come you to seek the lamb here of the fox?
Good night to your redress!323 Is the duke gone?
Then is your cause gone too. The duke's unjust,
Thus to retort325 your manifest appeal,
And put your trial in the villain's mouth
Which here you come to accuse.
LUCIO This is the rascal, this is he I spoke of.
ESCALUS Why, thou unreverend329 and unhallowed friar,
Is't not enough thou hast suborned these women
To accuse this worthy man, but, in foul mouth331
And in the witness of his proper ear332,
To call him villain, and then to glance333 from him
To th'duke himself, to tax334 him with injustice?
Take him hence, to th'rack335 with him! We'll touse you
Joint by joint, but we will know his purpose.
What? Unjust?
DUKE Be not so hot338. The duke dare
r /> No more stretch339 this finger of mine than he
Dare rack his own. His subject am I not,
Nor here provincial341. My business in this state
Made me a looker-on here in Vienna,
Where I have seen corruption boil and bubble
Till it o'errun the stew344: laws for all faults,
But faults so countenanced345 that the strong statutes
Stand like the forfeits in a barber's shop346,
As much in mock as mark347.
ESCALUS Slander to th'state! Away with him to prison!
ANGELO 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, goodman351 baldpate.
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 notedly357, sir.
LUCIO Do you so, sir? And was the duke a fleshmonger358, 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 report361: 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.
ANGELO Hark, how the villain would close366 now, after his
treasonable abuses.
ESCALUS Such a fellow is not to be talked withal. Away with
him to prison. Where is the provost? Away with him to prison.
Lay bolts370 enough upon him. Let him speak
no more. Away with those giglots371 too, and
with the other confederate companion372!
Provost lays hands on the Duke
DUKE Stay, sir, stay awhile.
To Provost
ANGELO What, resists he? Help him, Lucio.
LUCIO Come, sir, come, sir, come, sir. Foh, sir! Why, you bald-
pated, lying rascal, you must be hooded, must you? Show your
knave's visage, with a pox to you: show your
sheep-biting378 face, and be hanged an hour!
Will't not off?
Lucio pulls off the friar's hood and discovers the Duke; all rise
DUKE Thou art the first knave that e'er mad'st380 a duke.--
First, provost, let me bail381 these gentle three.--
Sneak not away, sir, for the friar and you
To Lucio
Must have a word anon.-- Lay hold on him.
Lucio is arrested
LUCIO This may prove worse than hanging.
Aside?
DUKE What you have spoke I pardon. Sit you down,
To Escalus
We'll borrow place386 of him.--
Sir, by your leave.
To Angelo, whose seat he takes
Hast thou or388 word or wit or impudence
That yet can do thee office389? If thou hast,
Rely upon it till my tale be heard,
And hold no longer out391.
ANGELO O, my dread392 lord,
I should be guiltier than my guiltiness,
To think I can be undiscernible394,
When I perceive your grace, like power divine,
Hath looked upon my passes396. Then, good prince,
No longer session397 hold upon my shame,
But let my trial be mine own confession:
Immediate sentence then and sequent399 death
Is all the grace I beg.
DUKE Come hither, Mariana.--
Say: wast thou e'er contracted to this woman?