Measure for Measure: ACT III , SCENE II. The street before the prison.

Measure for Measure: ACT III


	Introduction

	ACT I

	ACT II

	ACT III

		SCENE I. A room in the prison.

		SCENE II. The street before the prison.

	ACT IV

	ACT V

	About the Play

	Feedback



	Search:
	for:

SCENE II. The street before the prison.

Enter, on one side, DUKE VINCENTIO disguised as before; on the other, ELBOW, and Officers with POMPEY

ELBOW

      Nay, if there be no remedy for it, but that you will
      needs buy and sell men and women like beasts, we
      shall have all the world drink brown and white bastard.

DUKE VINCENTIO

O heavens! what stuff is here

POMPEY

5     'Twas never merry world since, of two usuries, the
      merriest was put down, and the worser allowed by
      order of law a furred gown to keep him warm; and
      furred with fox and lamb-skins too, to signify, that
      craft, being richer than innocency, stands for the facing.

ELBOW

10 Come your way, sir. 'Bless you, good father friar.

DUKE VINCENTIO

And you, good brother father. What offence hath
this man made you, sir?

ELBOW

      Marry, sir, he hath offended the law: and, sir, we
      take him to be a thief too, sir; for we have found
15    upon him, sir, a strange picklock, which we have
      sent to the deputy.

DUKE VINCENTIO

      Fie, sirrah! a bawd, a wicked bawd!
      The evil that thou causest to be done,
      That is thy means to live. Do thou but think
20    What 'tis to cram a maw or clothe a back
      From such a filthy vice: say to thyself,
      From their abominable and beastly touches
      I drink, I eat, array myself, and live.
      Canst thou believe thy living is a life,
25    So stinkingly depending? Go mend, go mend.

POMPEY

Indeed, it does stink in some sort, sir; but yet,
sir, I would prove--

DUKE VINCENTIO

      Nay, if the devil have given thee proofs for sin,
      Thou wilt prove his. Take him to prison, officer:
30    Correction and instruction must both work
      Ere this rude beast will profit.

ELBOW

      He must before the deputy, sir; he has given him
      warning: the deputy cannot abide a whoremaster: if
      he be a whoremonger, and comes before him, he were
35    as good go a mile on his errand.

DUKE VINCENTIO

That we were all, as some would seem to be,
From our faults, as faults from seeming, free!

ELBOW

His neck will come to your waist,--a cord, sir.

POMPEY

I spy comfort; I cry bail. Here's a gentleman and a
40 friend of mine.

Enter LUCIO

LUCIO

      How now, noble Pompey! What, at the wheels of
      Caesar? art thou led in triumph? What, is there
      none of Pygmalion's images, newly made woman, to be
      had now, for putting the hand in the pocket and
45    extracting it clutch'd? What reply, ha? What
      sayest thou to this tune, matter and method? Is't
      not drowned i' the last rain, ha? What sayest
      thou, Trot? Is the world as it was, man? Which is
      the way? Is it sad, and few words? or how? The
50    trick of it?

DUKE VINCENTIO

Still thus, and thus; still worse!

LUCIO

How doth my dear morsel, thy mistress? Procures she
still, ha?

POMPEY

Troth, sir, she hath eaten up all her beef, and she
55 is herself in the tub.

LUCIO

      Why, 'tis good; it is the right of it; it must be
      so: ever your fresh whore and your powdered bawd:
      an unshunned consequence; it must be so. Art going
      to prison, Pompey?

POMPEY

60 Yes, faith, sir.

LUCIO

Why, 'tis not amiss, Pompey. Farewell: go, say I
sent thee thither. For debt, Pompey? or how?

ELBOW

For being a bawd, for being a bawd.

LUCIO

      Well, then, imprison him: if imprisonment be the
65    due of a bawd, why, 'tis his right: bawd is he
      doubtless, and of antiquity too; bawd-born.
      Farewell, good Pompey. Commend me to the prison,
      Pompey: you will turn good husband now, Pompey; you
      will keep the house.

POMPEY

70 I hope, sir, your good worship will be my bail.

LUCIO

      No, indeed, will I not, Pompey; it is not the wear.
      I will pray, Pompey, to increase your bondage: If
      you take it not patiently, why, your mettle is the
      more. Adieu, trusty Pompey. 'Bless you, friar.

DUKE VINCENTIO

75 And you.

LUCIO

Does Bridget paint still, Pompey, ha?

ELBOW

Come your ways, sir; come.

POMPEY

You will not bail me, then, sir?

LUCIO

Then, Pompey, nor now. What news abroad, friar?
80 what news?

ELBOW

Come your ways, sir; come.

LUCIO

Go to kennel, Pompey; go.

Exeunt ELBOW, POMPEY and Officers

What news, friar, of the duke?

DUKE VINCENTIO

I know none. Can you tell me of any?

LUCIO

85 Some say he is with the Emperor of Russia; other
some, he is in Rome: but where is he, think you?

DUKE VINCENTIO

I know not where; but wheresoever, I wish him well.

LUCIO

      It was a mad fantastical trick of him to steal from
      the state, and usurp the beggary he was never born
90    to. Lord Angelo dukes it well in his absence; he
      puts transgression to 't.

DUKE VINCENTIO

He does well in 't.

LUCIO

A little more lenity to lechery would do no harm in
him: something too crabbed that way, friar.

DUKE VINCENTIO

95 It is too general a vice, and severity must cure it.

LUCIO

      Yes, in good sooth, the vice is of a great kindred;
      it is well allied: but it is impossible to extirp
      it quite, friar, till eating and drinking be put
      down. They say this Angelo was not made by man and
100   woman after this downright way of creation: is it
      true, think you?

DUKE VINCENTIO

How should he be made, then?

LUCIO

      Some report a sea-maid spawned him; some, that he
      was begot between two stock-fishes. But it is
105   certain that when he makes water his urine is
      congealed ice; that I know to be true: and he is a
      motion generative; that's infallible.

DUKE VINCENTIO

You are pleasant, sir, and speak apace.

LUCIO

      Why, what a ruthless thing is this in him, for the
110   rebellion of a codpiece to take away the life of a
      man! Would the duke that is absent have done this?
      Ere he would have hanged a man for the getting a
      hundred bastards, he would have paid for the nursing
      a thousand: he had some feeling of the sport: he
115   knew the service, and that instructed him to mercy.

DUKE VINCENTIO

I never heard the absent duke much detected for
women; he was not inclined that way.

LUCIO

O, sir, you are deceived.

DUKE VINCENTIO

'Tis not possible.

LUCIO

120   Who, not the duke? yes, your beggar of fifty; and
      his use was to put a ducat in her clack-dish: the
      duke had crotchets in him. He would be drunk too;
      that let me inform you.

DUKE VINCENTIO

You do him wrong, surely.

LUCIO

125   Sir, I was an inward of his. A shy fellow was the
      duke: and I believe I know the cause of his
      withdrawing.

DUKE VINCENTIO

What, I prithee, might be the cause?

LUCIO

      No, pardon; 'tis a secret must be locked within the
130   teeth and the lips: but this I can let you
      understand, the greater file of the subject held the
      duke to be wise.

DUKE VINCENTIO

Wise! why, no question but he was.

LUCIO

A very superficial, ignorant, unweighing fellow.

DUKE VINCENTIO

135   Either this is the envy in you, folly, or mistaking:
      the very stream of his life and the business he hath
      helmed must upon a warranted need give him a better
      proclamation. Let him be but testimonied in his own
      bringings-forth, and he shall appear to the
140   envious a scholar, a statesman and a soldier.
      Therefore you speak unskilfully: or if your
      knowledge be more it is much darkened in your malice.

LUCIO

Sir, I know him, and I love him.

DUKE VINCENTIO

Love talks with better knowledge, and knowledge with
145 dearer love.

LUCIO

Come, sir, I know what I know.

DUKE VINCENTIO

      I can hardly believe that, since you know not what
      you speak. But, if ever the duke return, as our
      prayers are he may, let me desire you to make your
150   answer before him. If it be honest you have spoke,
      you have courage to maintain it: I am bound to call
      upon you; and, I pray you, your name?

LUCIO

Sir, my name is Lucio; well known to the duke.

DUKE VINCENTIO

He shall know you better, sir, if I may live to
155 report you.

LUCIO

I fear you not.

DUKE VINCENTIO

      O, you hope the duke will return no more; or you
      imagine me too unhurtful an opposite. But indeed I
      can do you little harm; you'll forswear this again.

LUCIO

160   I'll be hanged first: thou art deceived in me,
      friar. But no more of this. Canst thou tell if
      Claudio die to-morrow or no?

DUKE VINCENTIO

Why should he die, sir?

LUCIO

      Why? For filling a bottle with a tundish. I would
165   the duke we talk of were returned again: the
      ungenitured agent will unpeople the province with
      continency; sparrows must not build in his
      house-eaves, because they are lecherous. The duke
      yet would have dark deeds darkly answered; he would
170   never bring them to light: would he were returned!
      Marry, this Claudio is condemned for untrussing.
      Farewell, good friar: I prithee, pray for me. The
      duke, I say to thee again, would eat mutton on
      Fridays. He's not past it yet, and I say to thee,
175   he would mouth with a beggar, though she smelt brown
      bread and garlic: say that I said so. Farewell.

Exit

DUKE VINCENTIO

      No might nor greatness in mortality
      Can censure 'scape; back-wounding calumny
      The whitest virtue strikes. What king so strong
180   Can tie the gall up in the slanderous tongue?
      But who comes here?

Enter ESCALUS, Provost, and Officers with MISTRESS OVERDONE

ESCALUS

Go; away with her to prison!

MISTRESS OVERDONE

Good my lord, be good to me; your honour is accounted
a merciful man; good my lord.

ESCALUS

185   Double and treble admonition, and still forfeit in
      the same kind! This would make mercy swear and play
      the tyrant.

Provost

A bawd of eleven years' continuance, may it please
your honour.

MISTRESS OVERDONE

190   My lord, this is one Lucio's information against me.
      Mistress Kate Keepdown was with child by him in the
      duke's time; he promised her marriage: his child
      is a year and a quarter old, come Philip and Jacob:
      I have kept it myself; and see how he goes about to abuse me!

ESCALUS

195   That fellow is a fellow of much licence: let him be
      called before us. Away with her to prison! Go to;
      no more words.

Exeunt Officers with MISTRESS OVERDONE

      Provost, my brother Angelo will not be altered;
      Claudio must die to-morrow: let him be furnished
200   with divines, and have all charitable preparation.
      if my brother wrought by my pity, it should not be
      so with him.

Provost

So please you, this friar hath been with him, and
advised him for the entertainment of death.

ESCALUS

205 Good even, good father.

DUKE VINCENTIO

Bliss and goodness on you!

ESCALUS

Of whence are you?

DUKE VINCENTIO

      Not of this country, though my chance is now
      To use it for my time: I am a brother
210   Of gracious order, late come from the See
      In special business from his holiness.

ESCALUS

What news abroad i' the world?

DUKE VINCENTIO

      None, but that there is so great a fever on
      goodness, that the dissolution of it must cure it:
215   novelty is only in request; and it is as dangerous
      to be aged in any kind of course, as it is virtuous
      to be constant in any undertaking. There is scarce
      truth enough alive to make societies secure; but
      security enough to make fellowships accurst: much
220   upon this riddle runs the wisdom of the world. This
      news is old enough, yet it is every day's news. I
      pray you, sir, of what disposition was the duke?

ESCALUS

One that, above all other strifes, contended
especially to know himself.

DUKE VINCENTIO

225 What pleasure was he given to?

ESCALUS

      Rather rejoicing to see another merry, than merry at
      any thing which professed to make him rejoice: a
      gentleman of all temperance. But leave we him to
      his events, with a prayer they may prove prosperous;
230   and let me desire to know how you find Claudio
      prepared. I am made to understand that you have
      lent him visitation.

DUKE VINCENTIO

      He professes to have received no sinister measure
      from his judge, but most willingly humbles himself
235   to the determination of justice: yet had he framed
      to himself, by the instruction of his frailty, many
      deceiving promises of life; which I by my good
      leisure have discredited to him, and now is he
      resolved to die.

ESCALUS

240   You have paid the heavens your function, and the
      prisoner the very debt of your calling. I have
      laboured for the poor gentleman to the extremest
      shore of my modesty: but my brother justice have I
      found so severe, that he hath forced me to tell him
245   he is indeed Justice.

DUKE VINCENTIO

      If his own life answer the straitness of his
      proceeding, it shall become him well; wherein if he
      chance to fail, he hath sentenced himself.

ESCALUS

I am going to visit the prisoner. Fare you well.

DUKE VINCENTIO

250 Peace be with you!

Exeunt ESCALUS and Provost

      He who the sword of heaven will bear
      Should be as holy as severe;
      Pattern in himself to know,
      Grace to stand, and virtue go;
255   More nor less to others paying
      Than by self-offences weighing.
      Shame to him whose cruel striking
      Kills for faults of his own liking!
      Twice treble shame on Angelo,
260   To weed my vice and let his grow!
      O, what may man within him hide,
      Though angel on the outward side!
      How may likeness made in crimes,
      Making practise on the times,
265   To draw with idle spiders' strings
      Most ponderous and substantial things!
      Craft against vice I must apply:
      With Angelo to-night shall lie
      His old betrothed but despised;
270   So disguise shall, by the disguised,
      Pay with falsehood false exacting,
      And perform an old contracting.

Exit

Return to top of page ... or ... Go to next scene