Measure for Measure: ACT V , SCENE I. The city gate.

Measure for Measure: ACT V


	Introduction

	ACT I

	ACT II

	ACT III

	ACT IV

	ACT V

		SCENE I. The city gate.

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SCENE I. The city gate.

MARIANA veiled, ISABELLA, and FRIAR PETER, at their stand. Enter DUKE VINCENTIO, VARRIUS, Lords, ANGELO, ESCALUS, LUCIO, Provost, Officers, and Citizens, at several doors

DUKE VINCENTIO

My very worthy cousin, fairly met!
Our old and faithful friend, we are glad to see you.

ANGELO
ESCALUS

Happy return be to your royal grace!

DUKE VINCENTIO

      Many and hearty thankings to you both.
5     We have made inquiry of you; and we hear
      Such goodness of your justice, that our soul
      Cannot but yield you forth to public thanks,
      Forerunning more requital.

ANGELO

You make my bonds still greater.

DUKE VINCENTIO

10    O, your desert speaks loud; and I should wrong it,
      To lock it in the wards of covert bosom,
      When it deserves, with characters of brass,
      A forted residence 'gainst the tooth of time
      And razure of oblivion. Give me your hand,
15    And let the subject see, to make them know
      That outward courtesies would fain proclaim
      Favours that keep within. Come, Escalus,
      You must walk by us on our other hand;
      And good supporters are you.

FRIAR PETER and ISABELLA come forward

FRIAR PETER

20 Now is your time: speak loud and kneel before him.

ISABELLA

      Justice, O royal duke! Vail your regard
      Upon a wrong'd, I would fain have said, a maid!
      O worthy prince, dishonour not your eye
      By throwing it on any other object
25    Till you have heard me in my true complaint
      And given me justice, justice, justice, justice!

DUKE VINCENTIO

      Relate your wrongs; in what? by whom? be brief.
      Here is Lord Angelo shall give you justice:
      Reveal yourself to him.

ISABELLA

30    O worthy duke,
      You bid me seek redemption of the devil:
      Hear me yourself; for that which I must speak
      Must either punish me, not being believed,
      Or wring redress from you. Hear me, O hear me, here!

ANGELO

35    My lord, her wits, I fear me, are not firm:
      She hath been a suitor to me for her brother
      Cut off by course of justice,--

ISABELLA

By course of justice!

ANGELO

And she will speak most bitterly and strange.

ISABELLA

40    Most strange, but yet most truly, will I speak:
      That Angelo's forsworn; is it not strange?
      That Angelo's a murderer; is 't not strange?
      That Angelo is an adulterous thief,
      An hypocrite, a virgin-violator;
45    Is it not strange and strange?

DUKE VINCENTIO

Nay, it is ten times strange.

ISABELLA

      It is not truer he is Angelo
      Than this is all as true as it is strange:
      Nay, it is ten times true; for truth is truth
50    To the end of reckoning.

DUKE VINCENTIO

Away with her! Poor soul,
She speaks this in the infirmity of sense.

ISABELLA

      O prince, I conjure thee, as thou believest
      There is another comfort than this world,
55    That thou neglect me not, with that opinion
      That I am touch'd with madness! Make not impossible
      That which but seems unlike: 'tis not impossible
      But one, the wicked'st caitiff on the ground,
      May seem as shy, as grave, as just, as absolute
60    As Angelo; even so may Angelo,
      In all his dressings, characts, titles, forms,
      Be an arch-villain; believe it, royal prince:
      If he be less, he's nothing; but he's more,
      Had I more name for badness.

DUKE VINCENTIO

65    By mine honesty,
      If she be mad,--as I believe no other,--
      Her madness hath the oddest frame of sense,
      Such a dependency of thing on thing,
      As e'er I heard in madness.

ISABELLA

70    O gracious duke,
      Harp 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 true.

DUKE VINCENTIO

75 Many that are not mad
Have, sure, more lack of reason. What would you say?

ISABELLA

      I am the sister of one Claudio,
      Condemn'd upon the act of fornication
      To lose his head; condemn'd by Angelo:
80    I, in probation of a sisterhood,
      Was sent to by my brother; one Lucio
      As then the messenger,--

LUCIO

      That's I, an't like your grace:
      I came to her from Claudio, and desired her
85    To try her gracious fortune with Lord Angelo
      For her poor brother's pardon.

ISABELLA

That's he indeed.

DUKE VINCENTIO

You were not bid to speak.

LUCIO

No, my good lord;
90 Nor wish'd to hold my peace.

DUKE VINCENTIO

      I wish you now, then;
      Pray you, take note of it: and when you have
      A business for yourself, pray heaven you then
      Be perfect.

LUCIO

95 I warrant your honour.

DUKE VINCENTIO

The warrants for yourself; take heed to't.

ISABELLA

This gentleman told somewhat of my tale,--

LUCIO

Right.

DUKE VINCENTIO

It may be right; but you are i' the wrong
100 To speak before your time. Proceed.

ISABELLA

I went
To this pernicious caitiff deputy,--

DUKE VINCENTIO

That's somewhat madly spoken.

ISABELLA

Pardon it;
105 The phrase is to the matter.

DUKE VINCENTIO

Mended again. The matter; proceed.

ISABELLA

      In brief, to set the needless process by,
      How I persuaded, how I pray'd, and kneel'd,
      How he refell'd me, and how I replied,--
110   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 concupiscible intemperate lust,
      Release my brother; and, after much debatement,
115   My sisterly remorse confutes mine honour,
      And I did yield to him: but the next morn betimes,
      His purpose surfeiting, he sends a warrant
      For my poor brother's head.

DUKE VINCENTIO

This is most likely!

ISABELLA

120 O, that it were as like as it is true!

DUKE VINCENTIO

      By heaven, fond wretch, thou knowist not what thou speak'st,
      Or else thou art suborn'd against his honour
      In hateful practise. First, his integrity
      Stands without blemish. Next, it imports no reason
125   That with such vehemency he should pursue
      Faults proper to himself: if he had so offended,
      He would have weigh'd thy brother by himself
      And not have cut him off. Some one hath set you on:
      Confess the truth, and say by whose advice
130   Thou camest here to complain.

ISABELLA

      And is this all?
      Then, O you blessed ministers above,
      Keep me in patience, and with ripen'd time
      Unfold the evil which is here wrapt up
135   In countenance! Heaven shield your grace from woe,
      As I, thus wrong'd, hence unbelieved go!

DUKE VINCENTIO

      I know you'ld fain be gone. An officer!
      To prison with her! Shall we thus permit
      A blasting and a scandalous breath to fall
140   On him so near us? This needs must be a practise.
      Who knew of Your intent and coming hither?

ISABELLA

One that I would were here, Friar Lodowick.

DUKE VINCENTIO

A ghostly father, belike. Who knows that Lodowick?

LUCIO

      My lord, I know him; 'tis a meddling friar;
145   I do not like the man: had he been lay, my lord
      For certain words he spake against your grace
      In your retirement, I had swinged him soundly.

DUKE VINCENTIO

      Words against me? this is a good friar, belike!
      And to set on this wretched woman here
150   Against our substitute! Let this friar be found.

LUCIO

      But yesternight, my lord, she and that friar,
      I saw them at the prison: a saucy friar,
      A very scurvy fellow.

FRIAR PETER

      Blessed be your royal grace!
155   I have stood by, my lord, and I have heard
      Your royal ear abused. First, hath this woman
      Most wrongfully accused your substitute,
      Who is as free from touch or soil with her
      As she from one ungot.

DUKE VINCENTIO

160 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 meddler,
      As he's reported by this gentleman;
165   And, on my trust, a man that never yet
      Did, as he vouches, misreport your grace.

LUCIO

My lord, most villanously; believe it.

FRIAR PETER

      Well, he in time may come to clear himself;
      But at this instant he is sick my lord,
170   Of a strange 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
175   And all probation will make up full clear,
      Whensoever he's convented. First, for this woman.
      To justify this worthy nobleman,
      So vulgarly and personally accused,
      Her shall you hear disproved to her eyes,
180   Till she herself confess it.

DUKE VINCENTIO

Good friar, let's hear it.

ISABELLA is carried off guarded; and MARIANA comes forward

      Do you not smile at this, Lord Angelo?
      O heaven, the vanity of wretched fools!
      Give us some seats. Come, cousin Angelo;
185   In this I'll be impartial; be you judge
      Of your own cause. Is this the witness, friar?
      First, let her show her face, and after speak.

MARIANA

Pardon, my lord; I will not show my face
Until my husband bid me.

DUKE VINCENTIO

190 What, are you married?

MARIANA

No, my lord.

DUKE VINCENTIO

Are you a maid?

MARIANA

No, my lord.

DUKE VINCENTIO

A widow, then?

MARIANA

195 Neither, my lord.

DUKE VINCENTIO

Why, you are nothing then: neither maid, widow, nor wife?

LUCIO

My lord, she may be a punk; for many of them are
neither maid, widow, nor wife.

DUKE VINCENTIO

Silence that fellow: I would he had some cause
200 To prattle for himself.

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 known my husband; yet my husband
205   Knows not that ever he knew me.

LUCIO

He was drunk then, my lord: it can be no better.

DUKE VINCENTIO

For the benefit of silence, would thou wert so too!

LUCIO

Well, my lord.

DUKE VINCENTIO

This is no witness for Lord Angelo.

MARIANA

210   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
215   With all the effect of love.

ANGELO

Charges she more than me?

MARIANA

Not that I know.

DUKE VINCENTIO

No? you say your husband.

MARIANA

      Why, just, my lord, and that is Angelo,
220   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 abuse. Let's see thy face.

MARIANA

My husband bids me; now I will unmask.

Unveiling

      This is that face, thou cruel Angelo,
225   Which once thou sworest was worth the looking on;
      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
230   In her imagined person.

DUKE VINCENTIO

Know you this woman?

LUCIO

Carnally, she says.

DUKE VINCENTIO

Sirrah, no more!

LUCIO

Enough, my lord.

ANGELO

235   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 proportions
      Came short of composition, but in chief
240   For that 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,
245   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
250   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!

ANGELO

      I did but smile till now:
255   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,
260   To find this practise out.

DUKE VINCENTIO

      Ay, with my heart
      And punish them to your height of pleasure.
      Thou foolish friar, and thou pernicious woman,
      Compact with her that's gone, think'st thou thy oaths,
265   Though they would swear down each particular saint,
      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 derived.
270   There is another friar that set them on;
      Let him be sent for.

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
275   And he may fetch him.

DUKE VINCENTIO

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,
280   In any chastisement: I for a while will leave you;
      But stir not you till you have well determined
      Upon these slanderers.

ESCALUS

My lord, we'll do it throughly.

Exit DUKE

Signior Lucio, did not you say you knew that
285 Friar Lodowick to be a dishonest person?

LUCIO

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

ESCALUS

      We shall entreat you to abide here till he come and
290   enforce them against him: 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
295 shall see how I'll handle her.

LUCIO

Not better than he, by her own report.

ESCALUS

Say you?

LUCIO

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

ESCALUS

I will go darkly to work with her.

LUCIO

That's the way; for women are light at midnight.

Re-enter Officers with ISABELLA; and Provost with the DUKE VINCENTIO in his friar's habit

ESCALUS

Come on, mistress: here's a gentlewoman denies all
that you have said.

LUCIO

305 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

Mum.

ESCALUS

310 Come, sir: did you set these women on to slander
Lord Angelo? they have confessed you did.

DUKE VINCENTIO

'Tis false.

ESCALUS

How! know you where you are?

DUKE VINCENTIO

      Respect to your great place! and let the devil
315   Be sometime honour'd for his burning throne!
      Where is the duke? 'tis he should hear me speak.

ESCALUS

The duke's in us; and we will hear you speak:
Look you speak justly.

DUKE VINCENTIO

      Boldly, at least. But, O, poor souls,
320   Come you to seek the lamb here of the fox?
      Good night to your redress! Is the duke gone?
      Then is your cause gone too. The duke's unjust,
      Thus to retort your manifest appeal,
      And put your trial in the villain's mouth
325   Which here you come to accuse.

LUCIO

This is the rascal; this is he I spoke of.

ESCALUS

      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
330   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 touse you
      Joint by joint, but we will know his purpose.
335   What 'unjust'!

DUKE VINCENTIO

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

ESCALUS

Slander to the 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, goodman baldpate:
350 do you know me?

DUKE VINCENTIO

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 VINCENTIO

Most notedly, sir.

LUCIO

355 Do you so, sir? And was the duke a fleshmonger, a
fool, and a coward, as you then reported him to be?

DUKE VINCENTIO

      You must, sir, change persons with me, ere you make
      that my report: you, indeed, spoke so of him; and
      much more, much worse.

LUCIO

360 O thou damnable fellow! Did not I pluck thee by the
nose for thy speeches?

DUKE VINCENTIO

I protest I love the duke as I love myself.

ANGELO

Hark, how the villain would close now, after his
treasonable abuses!

ESCALUS

365   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 too, and
      with the other confederate companion!

DUKE VINCENTIO

370 (To Provost) Stay, sir; stay awhile.

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!
375   show your sheep-biting face, and be hanged an hour!
      Will't not off?

Pulls off the friar's hood, and discovers DUKE VINCENTIO

DUKE VINCENTIO

Thou art the first knave that e'er madest a duke.
First, provost, let me bail these gentle three.

To LUCIO

Sneak not away, sir; for the friar and you
380 Must have a word anon. Lay hold on him.

LUCIO

This may prove worse than hanging.

DUKE VINCENTIO

(To ESCALUS) What you have spoke I pardon: sit you down:
We'll borrow place of him.

To ANGELO

      Sir, by your leave.
385   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.

ANGELO

      O my dread lord,
390   I should be guiltier than my guiltiness,
      To think I can be undiscernible,
      When I perceive your grace, like power divine,
      Hath look'd upon my passes. Then, good prince,
      No longer session hold upon my shame,
395   But let my trial be mine own confession:
      Immediate sentence then and sequent death
      Is all the grace I beg.

DUKE VINCENTIO

Come hither, Mariana.
Say, wast thou e'er contracted to this woman?

ANGELO

400 I was, my lord.

DUKE VINCENTIO

      Go take her hence, and marry her instantly.
      Do you the office, friar; which consummate,
      Return him here again. Go with him, provost.

Exeunt ANGELO, MARIANA, FRIAR PETER and Provost

ESCALUS

My lord, I am more amazed at his dishonour
405 Than at the strangeness of it.

DUKE VINCENTIO

      Come hither, Isabel.
      Your friar is now your prince: as I was then
      Advertising and holy to your business,
      Not changing heart with habit, I am still
410   Attorney'd at your service.

ISABELLA

      O, give me pardon,
      That I, your vassal, have employ'd and pain'd
      Your unknown sovereignty!

DUKE VINCENTIO

      You are pardon'd, Isabel:
415   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 obscured myself,
      Labouring to save his life, and would not rather
      Make rash remonstrance of my hidden power
420   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 him!
      That life is better life, past fearing death,
425   Than that which lives to fear: make it your comfort,
      So happy is your brother.

ISABELLA

I do, my lord.

Re-enter ANGELO, MARIANA, FRIAR PETER, and Provost

DUKE VINCENTIO

      For this new-married man approaching here,
      Whose salt imagination yet hath wrong'd
430   Your well defended honour, you must pardon
      For Mariana's sake: but as he adjudged your brother,--
      Being criminal, in double violation
      Of sacred chastity and of promise-breach
      Thereon dependent, for your brother's life,--
435   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.
440   Then, Angelo, thy fault's thus manifested;
      Which, though thou wouldst deny, denies thee vantage.
      We do condemn thee to the very block
      Where Claudio stoop'd to death, and with like haste.
      Away with him!

MARIANA

445 O my most gracious lord,
I hope you will not mock me with a husband.

DUKE VINCENTIO

      It is your husband mock'd you with a husband.
      Consenting to the safeguard of your honour,
      I thought your marriage fit; else imputation,
450   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.

MARIANA

455 O my dear lord,
I crave no other, nor no better man.

DUKE VINCENTIO

Never crave him; we are definitive.

MARIANA

Gentle my liege,--

Kneeling

DUKE VINCENTIO

You do but lose your labour.
460 Away with him to death!

To LUCIO

Now, sir, to you.

MARIANA

      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 VINCENTIO

465   Against all sense you do importune 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.

MARIANA

      Isabel,
470   Sweet Isabel, do yet but kneel by me;
      Hold up your hands, say nothing; I'll speak all.
      They say, best men are moulded out of faults;
      And, for the most, become much more the better
      For being a little bad: so may my husband.
475   O Isabel, will you not lend a knee?

DUKE VINCENTIO

He dies for Claudio's death.

ISABELLA

Most bounteous sir,

Kneeling

      Look, if it please you, on this man condemn'd,
      As if my brother lived: I partly think
480   A due sincerity govern'd his deeds,
      Till he did look on me: since it is so,
      Let him not die. My brother had but justice,
      In that he did the thing for which he died:
      For Angelo,
485   His act did not o'ertake his bad intent,
      And must be buried but as an intent
      That perish'd by the way: thoughts are no subjects;
      Intents but merely thoughts.

MARIANA

Merely, my lord.

DUKE VINCENTIO

490   Your suit's unprofitable; stand up, I say.
      I have bethought me of another fault.
      Provost, how came it Claudio was beheaded
      At an unusual hour?

Provost

It was commanded so.

DUKE VINCENTIO

495 Had you a special warrant for the deed?

Provost

No, my good lord; it was by private message.

DUKE VINCENTIO

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

Provost

      Pardon me, noble lord:
500   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 reserved alive.

DUKE VINCENTIO

505 What's he?

Provost

His name is Barnardine.

DUKE VINCENTIO

I would thou hadst done so by Claudio.
Go fetch him hither; let me look upon him.

Exit Provost

ESCALUS

      I am sorry, one so learned and so wise
510   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.

ANGELO

      I am sorry that such sorrow I procure:
      And so deep sticks it in my penitent heart
515   That I crave death more willingly than mercy;
      'Tis my deserving, and I do entreat it.

Re-enter Provost, with BARNARDINE, CLAUDIO muffled, and JULIET

DUKE VINCENTIO

Which is that Barnardine?

Provost

This, my lord.

DUKE VINCENTIO

      There was a friar told me of this man.
520   Sirrah, thou art said to have a stubborn soul.
      That apprehends no further than this world,
      And squarest thy life according. Thou'rt condemn'd:
      But, for those earthly faults, I quit them all;
      And pray thee take this mercy to provide
525   For better times to come. Friar, advise him;
      I leave him to your hand. What muffled fellow's that?

Provost

      This is another prisoner that I saved.
      Who should have died when Claudio lost his head;
      As like almost to Claudio as himself.

Unmuffles CLAUDIO

DUKE VINCENTIO

530   (To ISABELLA) If he be like your brother, 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;
535   Methinks I see a quickening in his eye.
      Well, Angelo, your evil quits you well:
      Look that you love your wife; her worth worth yours.
      I find an apt remission in myself;
      And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon.

To LUCIO

540   You, sirrah, that knew me for a fool, a coward,
      One all of luxury, an ass, a madman;
      Wherein have I so deserved of you,
      That you extol me thus?

LUCIO

      'Faith, my lord. I spoke it but according to the
545   trick. If you will hang me for it, you may; but I
      had rather it would please you I might be whipt.

DUKE VINCENTIO

      Whipt first, sir, and hanged after.
      Proclaim it, provost, round about the city.
      Is any woman wrong'd by this lewd fellow,
550   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 whipt and hang'd.

LUCIO

      I beseech your highness, do not marry me to a whore.
555   Your highness said even now, I made you a duke:
      good my lord, do not recompense me in making me a cuckold.

DUKE VINCENTIO

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

LUCIO

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

DUKE VINCENTIO

Slandering a prince deserves it.

Exit Officers with LUCIO

      She, Claudio, that you wrong'd, look you restore.
565   Joy to you, Mariana! Love her, Angelo:
      I have confess'd her and I know her virtue.
      Thanks, good friend Escalus, for thy much goodness:
      There's more behind that is more gratulate.
      Thanks, provost, for thy care and secrecy:
570   We shill 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;
575   Whereto if you'll a willing ear incline,
      What's mine is yours and what is yours is mine.
      So, bring us to our palace; where we'll show
      What's yet behind, that's meet you all should know.

Exeunt

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