Open Source Shakespeare

Measure for Measure

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Act V, Scene 1

The city gate.

       

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

  • Vincentio. My very worthy cousin, fairly met!
    Our old and faithful friend, we are glad to see you.
  • Angelo. [with Escalus] Happy return be to your royal grace!
  • Vincentio. Many and hearty thankings to you both. 2390
    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. 2395
  • Vincentio. 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, 2400
    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. 2405

[FRIAR PETER and ISABELLA come forward]

  • Friar Peter. 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 2410
    By throwing it on any other object
    Till you have heard me in my true complaint
    And given me justice, justice, justice, justice!
  • Vincentio. Relate your wrongs; in what? by whom? be brief.
    Here is Lord Angelo shall give you justice: 2415
    Reveal yourself to him.
  • Isabella. 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, 2420
    Or wring redress from you. Hear me, O hear me, here!
  • Angelo. 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! 2425
  • Angelo. And she will speak most bitterly and strange.
  • Isabella. 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, 2430
    An hypocrite, a virgin-violator;
    Is it not strange and strange?
  • 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: 2435
    Nay, it is ten times true; for truth is truth
    To the end of reckoning.
  • Vincentio. Away with her! Poor soul,
    She speaks this in the infirmity of sense.
  • Isabella. O prince, I conjure thee, as thou believest 2440
    There is another comfort than this world,
    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, 2445
    May seem as shy, as grave, as just, as absolute
    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, 2450
    Had I more name for badness.
  • Vincentio. 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, 2455
    As e'er I heard in madness.
  • Isabella. 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, 2460
    And hide the false seems true.
  • Vincentio. 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 2465
    To lose his head; condemn'd by Angelo:
    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: 2470
    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.
  • Vincentio. You were not bid to speak. 2475
  • Lucio. No, my good lord;
    Nor wish'd to hold my peace.
  • Vincentio. I wish you now, then;
    Pray you, take note of it: and when you have
    A business for yourself, pray heaven you then 2480
    Be perfect.
  • Lucio. I warrant your honour.
  • Vincentio. The warrants for yourself; take heed to't.
  • Isabella. This gentleman told somewhat of my tale,—
  • Lucio. Right. 2485
  • Vincentio. It may be right; but you are i' the wrong
    To speak before your time. Proceed.
  • Isabella. I went
    To this pernicious caitiff deputy,—
  • Vincentio. That's somewhat madly spoken. 2490
  • Isabella. Pardon it;
    The phrase is to the matter.
  • 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, 2495
    How he refell'd 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 concupiscible intemperate lust, 2500
    Release my brother; and, after much debatement,
    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. 2505
  • Vincentio. This is most likely!
  • Isabella. O, that it were as like as it is true!
  • 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 2510
    Stands without blemish. Next, it imports no reason
    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: 2515
    Confess the truth, and say by whose advice
    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 2520
    Unfold the evil which is here wrapt up
    In countenance! Heaven shield your grace from woe,
    As I, thus wrong'd, hence unbelieved go!
  • Vincentio. I know you'ld fain be gone. An officer!
    To prison with her! Shall we thus permit 2525
    A blasting and a scandalous breath to fall
    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.
  • Vincentio. A ghostly father, belike. Who knows that Lodowick? 2530
  • Lucio. My lord, I know him; 'tis a meddling friar;
    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.
  • Vincentio. Words against me? this is a good friar, belike! 2535
    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 saucy friar,
    A very scurvy fellow. 2540
  • Friar Peter. Blessed be your royal grace!
    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 2545
    As she from one ungot.
  • Vincentio. 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, 2550
    As he's reported by this gentleman;
    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; 2555
    But at this instant he is sick my lord,
    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 2560
    Is true and false; and what he with his oath
    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, 2565
    Her shall you hear disproved to her eyes,
    Till she herself confess it.
  • Vincentio. Good friar, let's hear it.
    [ISABELLA is carried off guarded; and MARIANA comes forward]
    Do you not smile at this, Lord Angelo? 2570
    O heaven, the vanity of wretched fools!
    Give us some seats. Come, cousin Angelo;
    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. 2575
  • Mariana. Pardon, my lord; I will not show my face
    Until my husband bid me.
  • Vincentio. What, are you married?
  • Mariana. No, my lord.
  • Vincentio. Are you a maid? 2580
  • Mariana. No, my lord.
  • Vincentio. A widow, then?
  • Mariana. Neither, my lord.
  • Vincentio. Why, you are nothing then: neither maid, widow, nor wife?
  • Lucio. My lord, she may be a punk; for many of them are 2585
    neither maid, widow, nor wife.
  • Vincentio. Silence that fellow: I would he had some cause
    To prattle for himself.
  • Lucio. Well, my lord.
  • Mariana. My lord; I do confess I ne'er was married; 2590
    And I confess besides I am no maid:
    I have known my husband; yet my husband
    Knows not that ever he knew me.
  • Lucio. He was drunk then, my lord: it can be no better.
  • Vincentio. For the benefit of silence, would thou wert so too! 2595
  • Lucio. Well, my lord.
  • Vincentio. 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, 2600
    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.
  • Angelo. Charges she more than me?
  • Mariana. Not that I know. 2605
  • Vincentio. No? you say your husband.
  • Mariana. 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.
  • Angelo. This is a strange abuse. Let's see thy face. 2610
  • Mariana. My husband bids me; now I will unmask.
    [Unveiling]
    This is that face, thou cruel Angelo,
    Which once thou sworest was worth the looking on;
    This is the hand which, with a vow'd contract, 2615
    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 imagined person.
  • Vincentio. Know you this woman? 2620
  • Lucio. Carnally, she says.
  • Vincentio. 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 2625
    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 2630
    I never spake with her, saw her, nor heard from her,
    Upon my faith and honour.
  • Mariana. Noble prince,
    As there comes light from heaven and words from breath,
    As there is sense in truth and truth in virtue, 2635
    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 2640
    Or else for ever be confixed here,
    A marble monument!
  • Angelo. 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 2645
    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 practise out.
  • Vincentio. Ay, with my heart 2650
    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,
    Though they would swear down each particular saint,
    Were testimonies against his worth and credit 2655
    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.
    There is another friar that set them on;
    Let him be sent for. 2660
  • 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.
  • Vincentio. Go do it instantly. 2665
    [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 will leave you; 2670
    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 2675
    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 2680
    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] 2685
    Pray you, my lord, give me leave to question; you
    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, 2690
    she would sooner confess: perchance, publicly,
    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] 2695
    the DUKE VINCENTIO in his friar's habit]
  • 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. 2700
  • Escalus. In very good time: speak not you to him till we
    call upon you.
  • Lucio. Mum.
  • Escalus. Come, sir: did you set these women on to slander
    Lord Angelo? they have confessed you did. 2705
  • Vincentio. 'Tis false.
  • Escalus. How! know you where you are?
  • Vincentio. Respect to your great place! and let the devil
    Be sometime honour'd for his burning throne!
    Where is the duke? 'tis he should hear me speak. 2710
  • Escalus. The duke's in us; and we will hear you speak:
    Look you speak justly.
  • Vincentio. 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? 2715
    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
    Which here you come to accuse.
  • Lucio. This is the rascal; this is he I spoke of. 2720
  • 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
    And in the witness of his proper ear,
    To call him villain? and then to glance from him 2725
    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.
    What 'unjust'!
  • Vincentio. Be not so hot; the duke 2730
    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 2735
    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,
    As much in mock as mark.
  • Escalus. Slander to the state! Away with him to prison! 2740
  • 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:
    do you know me?
  • Vincentio. I remember you, sir, by the sound of your voice: I 2745
    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?
  • Vincentio. Most notedly, sir.
  • Lucio. Do you so, sir? And was the duke a fleshmonger, a
    fool, and a coward, as you then reported him to be? 2750
  • 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. O thou damnable fellow! Did not I pluck thee by the
    nose for thy speeches? 2755
  • Vincentio. I protest I love the duke as I love myself.
  • Angelo. Hark, how the villain would close 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 2760
    to prison! lay bolts enough upon him: let him
    speak no more. Away with those giglots too, and
    with the other confederate companion!
  • Vincentio. [To Provost] Stay, sir; stay awhile.
  • Angelo. What, resists he? Help him, Lucio. 2765
  • 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-biting face, and be hanged an hour!
    Will't not off? 2770

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

  • 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 2775
    Must have a word anon. Lay hold on him.
  • Lucio. This may prove worse than hanging.
  • Vincentio. [To ESCALUS] What you have spoke I pardon: sit you down:
    We'll borrow place of him.
    [To ANGELO] 2780
    Sir, by your leave.
    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. 2785
  • Angelo. O my dread lord,
    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, 2790
    But let my trial be mine own confession:
    Immediate sentence then and sequent death
    Is all the grace I beg.
  • Vincentio. Come hither, Mariana.
    Say, wast thou e'er contracted to this woman? 2795
  • Angelo. I was, my lord.
  • 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
    Than at the strangeness of it.
  • Vincentio. Come hither, Isabel.
    Your friar is now your prince: as I was then
    Advertising and holy to your business, 2805
    Not changing heart with habit, I am still
    Attorney'd at your service.
  • Isabella. O, give me pardon,
    That I, your vassal, have employ'd and pain'd
    Your unknown sovereignty! 2810
  • Vincentio. 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 obscured myself,
    Labouring to save his life, and would not rather 2815
    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 him! 2820
    That life is better life, past fearing death,
    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]

  • Vincentio. For this new-married man approaching here,
    Whose salt imagination yet hath wrong'd
    Your well defended honour, you must pardon
    For Mariana's sake: but as he adjudged your brother,—
    Being criminal, in double violation 2830
    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!' 2835
    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 wouldst deny, denies thee vantage.
    We do condemn thee to the very block 2840
    Where Claudio stoop'd to death, and with like haste.
    Away with him!
  • Mariana. O my most gracious lord,
    I hope you will not mock me with a husband.
  • Vincentio. It is your husband mock'd you with a husband. 2845
    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, 2850
    We do instate and widow you withal,
    To buy you a better husband.
  • Mariana. O my dear lord,
    I crave no other, nor no better man.
  • Vincentio. Never crave him; we are definitive. 2855
  • Mariana. Gentle my liege,—

[Kneeling]

  • Vincentio. You do but lose your labour.
    Away with him to death!
    [To LUCIO] 2860
    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.
  • Vincentio. Against all sense you do importune her: 2865
    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,
    Sweet Isabel, do yet but kneel by me; 2870
    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.
    O Isabel, will you not lend a knee? 2875
  • 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 2880
    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, 2885
    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. 2890
  • Vincentio. 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. 2895
  • Vincentio. Had you a special warrant for the deed?
  • Provost. No, my good lord; it was by private message.
  • Vincentio. For which I do discharge you of your office:
    Give up your keys.
  • Provost. Pardon me, noble lord: 2900
    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. 2905
  • Vincentio. What's he?
  • Provost. His name is Barnardine.
  • 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
    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: 2915
    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, with BARNARDINE, CLAUDIO muffled,]
    and JULIET] 2920
  • Vincentio. Which is that Barnardine?
  • Provost. This, my lord.
  • Vincentio. 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, 2925
    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
    For better times to come. Friar, advise him;
    I leave him to your hand. What muffled fellow's that? 2930
  • 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]

  • Vincentio. [To ISABELLA] If he be like your brother, for his sake 2935
    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 quickening in his eye. 2940
    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] 2945
    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 2950
    trick. If you will hang me for it, you may; but I
    had rather it would please you I might be whipt.
  • Vincentio. Whipt first, sir, and hanged after.
    Proclaim it, provost, round about the city.
    Is any woman wrong'd by this lewd fellow, 2955
    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. 2960
    Your highness said even now, I made you a duke:
    good my lord, do not recompense me in making me a cuckold.
  • Vincentio. Upon mine honour, thou shalt marry her.
    Thy slanders I forgive; and therewithal
    Remit thy other forfeits. Take him to prison; 2965
    And see our pleasure herein executed.
  • Lucio. Marrying a punk, my lord, is pressing to death,
    whipping, and hanging.
  • Vincentio. Slandering a prince deserves it.
    [Exit Officers with LUCIO] 2970
    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 goodness:
    There's more behind that is more gratulate. 2975
    Thanks, provost, for thy care and secrecy:
    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, 2980
    I have a motion much imports your good;
    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. 2985

[Exeunt]