SCENE I. _The city-gate.

_MARIANA veiled, ISABELLA, and FRIAR PETER, at their stand. Enter DUKE, VARRIUS, LORDS, ANGELO, ESCALUS, LUCIO, PROVOST, OFFICERS, and CITIZENS, at several doors._

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

_Ang._ } Happy return be to your royal Grace! _Escal._}

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

_Ang._ You make my bonds still greater.

_Duke._ O, your desert speaks loud; and I should wrong it, To lock it in the wards of covert bosom, 10 When it deserves, with characters of brass, A forted residence 'gainst the tooth of time And razure of oblivion. Give me your hand, And let the subject see, to make them know That outward courtesies would fain proclaim 15 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._

_Fri. P._ Now is your time: speak loud, and kneel before him.

_Isab._ Justice, O royal Duke! Vail your regard 20 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 Till you have heard me in my true complaint, And given me justice, justice, justice, justice! 25

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

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

_Ang._ 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,--

_Isab._ By course of justice! 35

_Ang._ And she will speak most bitterly and strange.

_Isab._ 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, 40 An hypocrite, a virgin-violator; Is it not strange and strange?

_Duke._ Nay, it is ten times strange.

_Isab._ 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 45 To th' end of reckoning.

_Duke._ Away with her!--Poor soul, She speaks this in th' infirmity of sense.

_Isab._ O prince, I conjure thee, as thou believest There is another comfort than this world, That thou neglect me not, with that opinion 50 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 As Angelo; even so may Angelo, 55 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._ By mine honesty, If she be mad,--as I believe no other,-- 60 Her madness hath the oddest frame of sense, Such a dependency of thing on thing, As e'er I heard in madness.

_Isab._ O gracious Duke, Harp not on that; nor do not banish reason For inequality; but let your reason serve 65 To make the truth appear where it seems hid, And hide the false seems true. _Duke._ Many that are not mad Have, sure, more lack of reason. What would you say?

_Isab._ I am the sister of one Claudio, Condemn'd upon the act of fornication 70 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: I came to her from Claudio, and desired her 75 To try her gracious fortune with Lord Angelo For her poor brother's pardon.

_Isab._ That's he indeed.

_Duke._ You were not bid to speak.

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

_Duke._ I wish you now, then; Pray you, take note of it: and when you have 80 A business for yourself, pray heaven you then Be perfect.

_Lucio._ I warrant your honour.

_Duke._ The warrant's for yourself; take heed to't.

_Isab._ This gentleman told somewhat of my tale,--

_Lucio._ Right. 85

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

_Isab._ I went To this pernicious caitiff Deputy,--

_Duke._ That's somewhat madly spoken.

_Isab._ Pardon it; The phrase is to the matter. 90

_Duke._ Mended again. The matter;--proceed.

_Isab._ 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,-- For this was of much length,--the vile conclusion 95 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, My sisterly remorse confutes mine honour, 100 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._ This is most likely!

_Isab._ O, that it were as like as it is true!

_Duke._ By heaven, fond wretch, thou know'st not what thou speak'st, 105 Or else thou art suborn'd against his honour In hateful practice. First, his integrity Stands without blemish. Next, it imports no reason That with such vehemency he should pursue Faults proper to himself: if he had so offended, 110 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 Thou camest here to complain.

_Isab._ And is this all? Then, O you blessed ministers above, 115 Keep me in patience, and with ripen'd time Unfold the evil which is here wrapt up In countenance!--Heaven shield your Grace from woe. As I, thus wrong'd, hence unbelieved go!

_Duke._ I know you'ld fain be gone.--An officer! 120 To prison with her!--Shall we thus permit A blasting and a scandalous breath to fall On him so near us? This needs must be a practice. Who knew of your intent and coming hither?

_Isab._ One that I would were here, Friar Lodowick. 125

_Duke._ A ghostly 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 lay, my lord, For certain words he spake against your Grace In your retirement, I had swinged him soundly. 130

_Duke._ Words against me! this's 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 saucy friar, 135 A very scurvy fellow.

_Fri. P._ 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, 140 Who is as free from touch or soil with her As she from one ungot.

_Duke._ We did believe no less. Know you that Friar Lodowick that she speaks of?

_Fri. P._ I know him for a man divine and holy; Not scurvy, nor a temporary meddler, 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.

_Fri. P._ Well, he in time may come to clear himself; 150 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 155 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, 160 Her shall you hear disproved to her eyes, Till she herself confess it.

_Duke._ 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; 165 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.

_Mari._ Pardon, my lord; I will not show my face Until my husband bid me. 170

_Duke._ What, are you married?

_Mari._ No, my lord.

_Duke._ Are you a maid?

_Mari._ No, my lord.

_Duke._ A widow, then? 175

_Mari._ Neither, my lord.

_Duke._ 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. 180

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

_Lucio._ Well, my lord.

_Mari._ My lord, I do confess I ne'er was married; And I confess, besides, I am no maid: 185 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.

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

_Lucio._ Well, my lord. 190

_Duke._ This is no witness for Lord Angelo.

_Mari._ 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 195 When I'll depose I had him in mine arms With all th' effect of love.

_Ang._ Charges she more than me?

_Mari._ Not that I know.

_Duke._ No? you say your husband.

_Mari._ Why, just, my lord, and that is Angelo, 200 Who thinks he knows that he ne'er knew my body, But knows he thinks that he knows Isabel's.

_Ang._ This is a strange abuse. Let's see thy face.

_Mari._ My husband bids me; now I will unmask. [_Unveiling._ This is that face, thou cruel Angelo, 205 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 210 In her imagined person.

_Duke._ Know you this woman?

_Lucio._ Carnally, she says.

_Duke._ Sirrah, no more!

_Lucio._ Enough, my lord.

_Ang._ My lord, I must confess I know this woman: And five years since there was some speech of marriage 215 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 220 I never spake with her, saw her, nor heard from her, Upon my faith and honour.

_Mari._ Noble prince, 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 225 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 for ever be confixed here, 230 A marble monument!

_Ang._ 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 These poor informal women are no more But instruments of some more mightier member 235 That sets them on: let me have way, 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, Compact with her that's gone, think'st thou thy oaths, 240 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. 245 There is another friar that set them on; Let him be sent for.

_Fri. P._ 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, 250 And he may fetch him.

_Duke._ 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, In any chastisement: I for a while will leave you; 255 But stir not you till you have well determined Upon these slanderers.

_Escal._ My lord, we'll do it throughly. [_Exit Duke._] Signior Lucio, did not you say you knew that Friar Lodowick to be a dishonest person? 260

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

_Escal._ We shall entreat you to abide here till he come, and enforce them against him: we shall find this friar a 265 notable fellow.

_Lucio._ As any in Vienna, on my word.

_Escal._ 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 shall see how I'll handle 270 her.

_Lucio._ Not better than he, by her own report.

_Escal._ Say you?

_Lucio._ Marry, sir, I think, if you handled her privately, she would sooner confess: perchance, publicly, she'll be 275 ashamed.

_Escal._ 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 in his friar's habit._

_Escal._ Come on, mistress: here's a gentlewoman denies all that you have said. 280

_Lucio._ My lord, here comes the rascal I spoke of; here with the provost.

_Escal._ In very good time: speak not you to him till we call upon you.

_Lucio._ Mum. 285

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

_Duke._ 'Tis false.

_Escal._ How! know you where you are?

_Duke._ Respect to your great place! and let the devil 290 Be sometime honour'd for his burning throne! Where is the Duke? 'tis he should hear me speak.

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

_Duke._ Boldly, at least. But, O, poor souls, 295 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 300 Which here you come to accuse.

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

_Escal._ 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, 305 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. 310 What, 'unjust'!

_Duke._ 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 Made me a looker-on here in Vienna, 315 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, As much in mock as mark. 320

_Escal._ Slander to the state! Away with him to prison!

_Ang._ 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 bald-pate: do you know me? 325

_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 notedly, sir. 330

_Lucio._ Do you so, sir? And was the Duke a flesh-monger, 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 report: you, indeed, spoke so of him; and 335 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.

_Ang._ Hark, how the villain would close now, after his 340 treasonable abuses!

_Escal._ 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 giglets too, and with the other 345 confederate companion!

_Duke._ [_To Provost_] Stay, sir; stay awhile.

_Ang._ 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, 350 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?

[_Pulls off the friar's hood, and discovers the Duke._

_Duke._ Thou art the first knave that e'er madest a Duke. First, provost, let me bail these gentle three. 355 [_To Lucio_] Sneak not away, sir; for the friar and you Must have a word anon. Lay hold on him.

_Lucio._ This may prove worse than hanging.

_Duke._ [_To Escalus_] What you have spoke I pardon: sit you down: We'll borrow place of him. [_To Angelo_] Sir, by your leave. 360 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.

_Ang._ O my dread lord, I should be guiltier than my guiltiness, 365 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, But let my trial be mine own confession: 370 Immediate sentence then, and sequent death, Is all the grace I beg.

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

_Ang._ I was, my lord.

_Duke._ Go take her hence, and marry her instantly. 375 Do you the office, friar; which consummate, Return him here again. Go with him, provost.

[_Exeunt Angelo, Mariana, Friar Peter and Provost._

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

_Duke._ Come hither, Isabel. Your friar is now your prince: as I was then 380 Advertising and holy to your business, Not changing heart with habit, I am still Attorney'd at your service.

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

_Duke._ You are pardon'd, Isabel: 385 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 390 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, 395 Than that which lives to fear: make it your comfort, So happy is your brother.

_Isab._ I do, my lord.

_Re-enter ANGELO, MARIANA, FRIAR PETER, and PROVOST._

_Duke._ For this new-married man, approaching here, Whose salt imagination yet hath wrong'd Your well-defended honour, you must pardon 400 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,-- The very mercy of the law cries out 405 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. Then, Angelo, thy fault's thus manifested; 410 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!

_Mari._ O my most gracious lord, I hope you will not mock me with a husband. 415

_Duke._ It is your husband mock'd you with a husband. 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, 420 Although by confiscation they are ours, We do instate and widow you withal, To buy you a better husband.

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

_Duke._ Never crave him; we are definitive. 425

_Mari._ Gentle my liege,-- [_Kneeling._

_Duke._ You do but lose your labour. Away with him to death! [_To Lucio_] Now, sir, to you.

_Mari._ 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. 430

_Duke._ 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.

_Mari._ Isabel, Sweet Isabel, do yet but kneel by me; 435 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? 440

_Duke._ He dies for Claudio's death.

_Isab._ Most bounteous sir, [_Kneeling._ Look, if it please you, on this man condemn'd, As if my brother lived: I partly think A due sincerity govern'd his deeds, Till he did look on me: since it is so, 445 Let him not die. My brother had but justice, In that he did the thing for which he died: For Angelo, His act did not o'ertake his bad intent; And must be buried but as an intent 450 That perish'd by the way: thoughts are no subjects; Intents, but merely thoughts.

_Mari._ Merely, my lord.

_Duke._ Your suit's unprofitable; stand up, I say. I have bethought me of another fault. Provost, how came it Claudio was beheaded 455 At an unusual hour?

_Prov._ It was commanded so.

_Duke._ Had you a special warrant for the deed?

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

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

_Prov._ Pardon me, noble lord: 460 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._ What's he?

_Prov._ His name is Barnardine. 465

_Duke._ I would thou hadst done so by Claudio. Go fetch him hither; let me look upon him. [_Exit Provost._

_Escal._ 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, 470 And lack of temper'd judgment afterward.

_Ang._ I am sorry that such sorrow I procure: 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. 475

_Re-enter PROVOST, with BARNARDINE, CLAUDIO muffled, and JULIET._

_Duke._ Which is that Barnardine?

_Prov._ This, my lord.

_Duke._ 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, And squarest thy life according. Thou'rt condemn'd: 480 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?

_Prov._ This is another prisoner that I saved, 485 Who should have died when Claudio lost his head; As like almost to Claudio as himself. [_Unmuffles Claudio._

_Duke._ [_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, 490 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. Well, Angelo, your evil quits you well: Look that you love your wife; her worth worth yours. 495 I find an apt remission in myself; And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon. [_To Lucio_] 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, 500 That you extol me thus?

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

_Duke._ Whipt first, sir, and hang'd after. 505 Proclaim it, provost, round about the city, Is any woman wrong'd by this lewd fellow, 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, 510 Let him be whipt and hang'd.

_Lucio._ I beseech your highness, do not marry me to a whore. Your highness said even now, I made you a Duke: good my lord, do not recompense me in making me a cuckold. 515

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

_Lucio._ Marrying a punk, my lord, is pressing to death, 520 whipping, and hanging.

_Duke._ Slandering a prince deserves it.

[_Exeunt Officers with Lucio._

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. 525 Thanks, good friend Escalus, for thy much goodness: There's more behind that is more gratulate. Thanks, provost, for thy care and secrecy: We shall employ thee in a worthier place. Forgive him, Angelo, that brought you home 530 The head of Ragozine for Claudio's: The offence pardons itself. Dear Isabel, 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. 535 So, bring us to our palace; where we'll show What's yet behind, that's meet you all should know.

[_Exeunt._

NOTES: V, 1.

The city-gate] Capell. The street. Rowe. A public place near the city. Warburton. Capell adds: A State with chairs under it. MARIANA ... stand.] Capell. om. Ff. PROVOST, OFFICERS] Malone. om. Ff. 4: _thankings_] F1. _thankings be_ F2 F3. _thinkings be_ F4. _thanks be_ Pope. 5: _We have_] _We've_ Pope. 9: _wrong it_] F1. _wrong_ F2 F3 F4. 13: _me_] F3 F4. _we_ F1 F2. 14: _subject_] _subjects_ Theobald. 19: SCENE II. Pope. ... come forward.] Capell. Enter ... Ff. 21: _I would_] _I'd_ Pope. 25: _given_] _give_ F4. 26: Printed as two lines in Ff, ending _wrongs ... brief._ 32: Two lines in Ff, ending _you ... heere._ _Hear me, O hear me, here!_] F3 F4. _Heare me: oh heare me, heere_ F1 F2. _O hear me here._ Pope. _O, hear me, hear me!_ Theobald. 35: _By_] om. Pope. 36: _and strange_] F1. om. F2 F3 F4. _and strangely_ Collier MS. 37: _strange, but yet_] _strangely yet_ Collier MS. 42: _it is_] om. Pope. 47: _infirmity_] _infirmiry_ F4. 48: _O prince, I conjure thee,_] _O, I conjure thee, Prince,_ Pope. _O prince, I do conjure thee,_ Capell. 54, 55: _as absolute As_] F4. _as absolute: As_ F1 F2 F3. 57: _believe it_] _trust me_ Pope. 63: _e'er_] _ne'er_ Capell conj. _O_] om. Pope. 64: _nor_] _and_ Pope. 65: _inequality_] _incredulity_ Collier MS. 65, 66: _serve To make the truth_] _Serve to make truth_ Pope. 67: _And hide_] _Not hide_ Theobald (Warburton). _And hid,_ Phelps. 67: _that are_] om. Hanmer. 68: Two lines in Ff, ending _reason ... say?_ 73: _Lucio_] _Lucio being_ Hanmer. 74: _As_] _Was_ Johnson. 82: _your honour_] _your honour, sir_ Hanmer. 83: _take heed_] _be sure, take heed_ Hanmer. _to't_] _to it_ Capell. 84: _somewhat_] F1. _something_ F2 F3 F4. 91: _Mended_] _Mend it_ Malone conj. _The matter;_] _The matter then;_ Hanmer. om. Capell. _The matter? now_ Collier MS. 92: _process_] F1. om. F2 F3 F4. 94: _refell'd_] _repell'd_ Pope. 98: _concupiscible_] _concupiscent_ Pope. 99: _and_] om. Pope. 101: _but the_] om. Pope. 102: _surfeiting_] Theobald. _surfetting_ F1 F2 F3. _forfeiting_ F4. 107: _First_] om. Pope. 108: _Next_] om. Pope. 109: _vehemency_] _vehemence_ Pope. 110-113: Hanmer ends the lines _so ... by ... one ... say._ 111: _He would_] _he'd_ Hanmer. 123: _needs_] om. Pope. 124: _your_] _our_ Pope. 131: _this 's_] _this'_ F1 F2 F3. _this_ F4. _this is_ Rowe. See note (XXII). 137: _Blessed_] _Bless'd_ Hanmer. _royal_] om. Hanmer. 142, 143: Hanmer ends the lines _believe ... Lodowick._ 143: _that she speaks of_] F1. _which she speaks of_ F2 F3 F4. om. Hanmer. 145: _temporary_] _tamperer and_ Johnson conj. 147: _trust_] _truth_ Collier MS. _troth_ Singer. 149: _villanously;_] _villanously he did;_ Hanmer. 152: _strange_] _strong_ S. Walker conj. 154: _'gainst_] F1. _against_ F2 F3 F4. 156: _what he with_] _he upon_ Pope. 157: _And_] _By_ Pope. 158: _Whensoever he's convented_] _Whenever he's conven'd_ Pope. _Whenever he's convented_ Warburton. 162: [Isabella, &c.] Stage direction to this effect inserted here by Capell. Hanmer, &c. to Johnson place it after line 166, where Ff have: Enter Mariana. 166: _I'll be impartial_] _I will be partial_ Theobald. 168: SCENE III. Pope. _her face_] F2 F3 F4. _your face_ F1. 170-178: Printed as four verses by Steevens (Capell conj.). 175: _A widow_] _Widow_ Capell. 177: _Why_] _What_ Capell. _you are_] F1. _are you_ F2 F3 F4. 186, 167: _husband Knows not_] Ff. _husband knows not_ Pope. 195: _with such a time_] _with such, a time_ Edd. conj. 199: _No?_ om. Hanmer. 202: _he knows_] _he knew_ Hanmer. 213: _my lord_] om. Hanmer. 221: _with her, saw her, nor_] _with, saw, or_ Hanmer. 234: _informal_] _informing_ Hanmer. 235: _mightier_] _mighty_ Pope. 238: _to_] _unto_ Pope. _even to_ Capell. 242: _against_] F1. _gainst_ F2. _'gainst_ F3 F4. 251: _Go_] om. Pope. 255-257: _while ... you; But ... determined Upon_] Spedding conj. _while Will ... have Well determin'd upon_ Ff. _while Will ... well Determined upon_ Theobald. _while Will ... have Determin'd well upon_ Hanmer. 258: SCENE IV. Pope. 275: _would_] F1. _should_ F2 F3 F4. _she'll_] F1 F2 F3. _she'ld_ F4. _she'd_ Rowe. 278: Re-enter ...] Enter Duke, Provost, Isabella. Ff (after line 276). 289: Malone supposes a line preceding this to be lost. 290: _and_] _then_ Collier MS. 295: _at least_] _at least I'll speak_ Hanmer. 296: _fox?_] F2 F3 F4. _fox;_ F1. _fox,_ Dyce. 299: _retort_] _reject_ Collier MS. 305: _in_] _with_ Theobald. 307-311: Capell ends the lines: _villain? ... himself ... hence; ... by joint, ... unjust?_ 307: _to glance_] _glance_ Pope. 309: _you_] _him_ Malone conj. 310: _Joint by joint_] _Even joint by joint_] Hanmer. _his_] _this_ Hanmer. _your_ Collier MS. 311: _What,_] _What? He_ Hanmer. 311, 312: _the duke Dare no more_] Capell. _the duke dare No more_ Ff. 311-313: Pope ends the lines: _stretch ... own ... not._ 319: _forfeits_] _forceps_ Jackson conj. 321: Two lines in Ff. 340: _close_] _gloze_ Collier MS. 345: _giglets_] _giglots_ Capell. 347: [To Provost] Capell. 352: _hanged an hour!_] _hanged! an hour?_ Hanmer. _hanged--an' how?_ Johnson conj. _hanged anon!_ Lloyd conj. 353: Stage direction inserted by Rowe. 354: _madest_] _mad'st_ Ff. _made_ Capell. 373: _e'er_] _ere_] F1. _ever_ F2 F3 F4. om. Hanmer, who divides the lines: _Come ... thou Contracted ... lord._ 378: SCENE V. Pope. 379: _of it._] _of--_ Capell. 381: _and_] _all_ Hanmer. 390: _remonstrance_] _demonstrance_ Staunton (Malone conj.). 391: _so be_] F1 F2 F3. _be so_ F4. 394: _brain'd_] _bain'd_ Warburton. _But_] _But now_ Hanmer. 398: SCENE VI. Pope. 400: _pardon_] _pardon him_ Hanmer. 401: _he adjudged your brother_] _a judge_ Hanmer. 402: _Being criminal, in double violation_] _Being doubly criminal in violation_ Hanmer. 403: _of promise-breach_] _in promise-breach_ Hanmer. _of promise_ Malone conj. 410: _fault's thus manifested;_] Ff. _faults are manifested;_ Rowe. _faults are manifest;_ Hanmer. _fault thus manifested--_ Dyce. 411: _deny, denies_] _deny 'em, deny_ Hanmer. 413: _haste._] _haste,_ F4. 421: _confiscation_] F2 F3 F4. _confutation_ F1. 422: _withal_] F4. _with all_ F1. _withall_ F2 F3. 426: [Kneeling.] Johnson. 441: [Kneeling.] Rowe. 452: _but_] om. Hanmer, who ends lines 448-452 at _o'ertake ... but ... way ... thoughts._ 456: _It was commanded so_] _'Twas so commanded_ Hanmer. 465: _What's he?_] _And what is he?_ Hanmer. See note (XX). 466: _would_] F1. _wouldst_ F2 F3 F4. _wish_ Capell (corrected in MS. to _would_). 470: _the heat_] _heat_ Pope. 476: SCENE VII. Pope. muffled] om. Ff. C. behind, and J. both muffl'd up. Capell. _my lord_] _my good lord_ Hanmer. 480: _according_] _accordingly_ F4. 482: _And_] F1. _I_ F2 F3 F4. 484: _your hand_] _you_ Hanmer. 489: _Is he pardon'd_] _He's pardoned_ Hanmer. _Is he too pardon'd_ Capell. 490: _and say you will_] _say you'll_ Hanmer. 491: _He is_] _And he's_ Hanmer, ending the line here. 495: _her worth worth yours_] _her worth works yours_ Hanmer. _her worth's worth yours_ Heath conj. 500: _so deserved_] _deserved so_ Pope. _so well deserv'd_ Collier MS. _so undeserv'd_ S. Walker conj. 507: _Is any woman_] Edd. _If any woman_ Ff. _If any woman's_ Hanmer. 519: _executed_] _execute_ Hanmer. 522: [Exeunt ... Lucio] Dyce. 527-532: Johnson conjectures: Ang. _The offence pardons itself._ Duke. _There's more behind That is more gratulate. Dear Isabel, ..._ 537: _that's_] F2 F3 F4. _that_ F1.

NOTES.

NOTE I.

I. 1. 8, 9. The suggestion that a line has been lost in this place came first from Theobald. It is scarcely necessary to say that there is no mark of omission in the Folios. Malone supposes that a similar omission has been made II. 4. 123. The compositor's eye (he says) may have glanced from 'succeed' to 'weakness' in a subsequent hemistich.

In order to relieve the plethoric foot-note we set down in this place some conjectures for which we are indebted to Mr Halliwell's note on the passage.

(1) _Then no more remains To your sufficiency as your worth is able But that you let than work._ Wheler MS.

(2) _But task to your sufficience ..._ Dent. MS.

(3) _But that your sufficiency as your worth be able ..._ Monck Mason.

(4) _Then no more remains: To your sufficiency your worth be added, And let them work._ T. Hull's MS. Commentary.

(5) _... I let them work._ Chalmers.

The reading assigned in the foot-note to Steevens is found in a note to the Edition of 1778. He afterwards changed his mind.

NOTE II.

I. 2. 15. Hanmer's reading is recommended by the fact that in the old forms of 'graces' used in many colleges, and, as we are informed, at the Inns of Court, the prayer for peace comes always after, and never before, meat. But as the mistake may easily have been made by Shakespeare, or else deliberately put into the mouth of the 'First Gentleman,' we have not altered the text.

NOTE III.

I. 2. 22-26. In the remainder of this scene Hanmer and other Editors have made capricious changes in the distribution of the dialogue, which we have not thought it worth while to chronicle. It is impossible to discern any difference of character in the three speakers, or to introduce logical sequence into their buffoonery.

NOTE IV.

I. 2. 110. We retain here the stage direction of the Folio, '_Enter ... Juliet, &c._' for the preceding line makes it evident that she was on the stage. On the other hand, line 140 shows that she was not within hearing, nor near Claudio while he spoke. We may suppose that she was following at a distance behind, in her anxiety for the fate of her lover. She appears again as a mute personage at the end of the play.

NOTE V.

I. 2. 115, 116. Johnson in the first Edition, 1765, says, 'I suspect that a line is lost.' This note was omitted in the Edition of 1778.

NOTE VI.

I. 4. 70. 'To soften Angelo: and that's my pith of business.' We have left this line as it is printed in the Folios. There is a line of similar length and rhythm in _The Two Gentlemen of Verona_, IV. 2. 16.

'But here comes Thurio: now must we to her window.'

NOTE VII.

II. 2. 149. A writer, 'A. E. B.' in _Notes and Queries_ (Vol. V. p. 325) points out that in Wickliffe's bible, 'shekels' is spelt 'sickles,' which he says ought, therefore, to be retained. There is no doubt of the meaning; but we, in accordance with our custom, have modernized the spelling.

NOTE VIII.

II. 2. 155-161. The printing in the Folios gives no help towards the metrical arrangement of these and other broken lines. In the present case we might read:

'_Ang._ Well, come to me to-morrow.

_Luc._ Go to: 'tis well; Away!

_Isab._ Heaven keep your honour safe!

_Ang._ Amen: For I, &c.'

Or, considering the first two lines as prose, we might read the last:

'_Isab._ Heaven keep your honour safe!

_Ang._ Amen: for I Am that way going to temptation Where prayers cross.'

NOTE IX.

II. 4. 9. 'fear'd.' Mr Collier, in _Notes and Queries_, Vol. VIII. p. 361, mentions that in Lord Ellesmere's copy of the First Folio the reading is 'sear'd.'

NOTE X.

II. 4. 94. 'all-building.' 'Mr Theobald has _binding_ in one of his copies.' Johnson.

NOTE XI.

II. 4. 103. 'That longing have been sick for.' Delius says in his note on this passage, 'Das _I_ vor _have_ lässt sich nach Shaksperischer Licenz leicht suppliren.' The second person singular of the governing pronoun is frequently omitted by Shakespeare in familiar questions, but, as to the first and third persons, his usage rarely differs from the modern. If the text be genuine, we have an instance in this play of the omission of the third person singular I. 4. 72, 'Has censured him.' See also the early Quarto of the _Merry Wives of Windsor_, Sc. XIV. l. 40, p. 285 of our reprint:

'Ile cloath my daughter, and aduertise _Slender_ To know her by that signe, and steale her thence, And vnknowne to my wife, shall marrie her.'

NOTE XII.

II. 4. 111-113. Mr Sidney Walker adopts Steevens' emendation, and affirms that among all the metrical licenses used by Shakespeare, the omission of the final syllable of the line is not one. But if the reading of the first Folio be allowed to stand, we can find many instances of lines which want the final syllable. The line immediately preceding may be so scanned:

'Ignomy in ransom and free pardon.'

And in this same scene, line 143, we have

'And you tell me that he shall die for't.'

And in V. 1. 83:

'The warrant's for yourself; take heed to't.'

It is conceivable that 'mercy' may be pronounced as a trisyllable; but in all the undoubted examples of such a metrical license, the liquid is the second of the two consonants, not the first. See, however, S. Walker's _Shakespeare's Versification_, pp. 207 sqq.

Possibly a word may have dropt out, and the original passage may have stood thus:

'Ignomy in ransom and free pardon are Of two _opposed_ houses: lawful mercy Is nothing kin to foul redemption.'

NOTE XIII.

III. 1. 29. Mr Collier's copy of the second Folio has 'sire.' _Notes and Queries_, Vol. VI. p. 141.

NOTE XIV.

III. 1. 56, 57. The metrical arrangement is uncertain here. It is not probable that the last word of the Duke's speech, 'concealed,' should be the first of a line which would be interrupted by his exit. Perhaps, too, the true reading of the following line may have been:

'As comforts all are good, most good indeed.'

NOTE XV.

III. 1. 91, 94. The word 'prenzie,' occurring, as it does, twice in this passage, rests on such strong authority that it is better to seek to explain than to alter it. It may be etymologically connected with 'prin,' in old French, meaning 'demure;' also with 'princox,' a 'coxcomb,' and with the word 'prender,' which occurs more than once in Skelton: e.g.

'This pevysh proud, this prender gest, When he is well, yet can he not rest.'

Mr Bullock mentions, in support of his conjecture, that 'pensie' is still used in some north-country dialects. 'Primsie' is also found in Burns' poems with the signification of 'demure, precise,' according to the glossary.

NOTE XVI.

III. 1. 118. Johnson says the most plausible conjecture is 'benighted.' It does not appear by whom this conjecture was made.

NOTE XVII.

III. 1. 168. We must suppose that Claudio, as he is going out, stops to speak with his sister at the back of the stage within sight of the audience.

NOTE XVIII.

IV. 2. 91. This is a case in which we have thought it best to make an exception to our usual rule of modernizing the spelling. The metre requires 'Haply' to be pronounced as a trisyllable. Perhaps it would be well to retain the spelling of the first two Folios 'Happely,' and as a general rule it would be convenient if an obsolete spelling were retained in words used with an obsolete meaning. We have, however, abstained from introducing on our own authority this, or any other innovation in orthography. In IV. 3. 126, we have retained 'covent,' which had grown to be a distinct word from 'convent,' and differently pronounced. Shakespeare's ear would hardly have tolerated the harsh-sounding line

'One of our cónvent and his cónfessor.'

NOTE XIX.

IV. 3. 17. The reading 'cry' (i.e. 'crie') for 'are' was suggested by a passage in Nashe's _Apologie for Pierce Pennilesse_, 1693, quoted by Malone: 'At that time that thy joys were in the _fleeting_, and thus _crying_ 'for the Lord's sake' out at an iron window.'

NOTE XX.

IV. 3. 83. In order to avoid the unmetrical line 83, as given in the Folios and by all Editors to Johnson inclusive, the lines 82-85 have been arranged as five, thus:

_If ... Let ... In secret ... Ere ... To the under_ ... Capell. _If ... Let ... Both ... The sun ... The under_ ... Steevens. _If ... Let ... Both ... Ere ... To yonder_ ... Collier. _If ... Let ... Both ... The sun ... To yond_ ... Singer.

Perhaps the best arrangement, because requiring the least change from the printing of the Folio, would be to put the words 'And Claudio' in a line by themselves. Many examples of such a broken line in the middle of a speech may be found (e.g. V. 1. 448), and it would add to the emphasis with which the Duke commends Claudio to the Provost's care. The long line V. 1. 465, might be similarly reduced by reading

'His name Is Barnardine.'

NOTE XXI.

IV. 5. 1. Mr Spedding suggests that Act V. should begin here. Dr Johnson says: "This play has two Friars, either of whom might singly have served. I should therefore imagine that 'Friar Thomas,' in the first Act, might be changed without any harm to 'Friar Peter:' for why should the Duke unnecessarily trust two in an affair which required only one? The name of Friar Thomas is never mentioned in the dialogue, and therefore seems arbitrarily placed at the head of the scene."

NOTE XXII.

V. 1. 131. Mr Sidney Walker, in his _Shakespeare's Versification_, pp. 80 sqq. suggests that in this and other passages we should read '_this_,' because '_This is_ is not unfrequently, like _That is_, &c. contracted into a monosyllable.' For the reason assigned in Note (III) to _The Tempest_, I. 2. 173, we have preferred the more familiar spelling _this's_.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Sources:

The editors' Preface (e-text 23041) discusses the 17th- and 18th-century editions in detail; the newer (19th-century) editions are simply listed by name. The following editions may appear in the Notes. All inset text is quoted from the Preface.

Folios: F1 1623; F2 (no date given); F3 1663; F4 1685. "The five plays contained in this volume occur in the first Folio in the same order, and ... were there printed for the first time."

Early editions: Rowe 1709 Pope 1715 "Pope was the first to indicate the _place_ of each new scene; as, for instance, _Tempest_, I. 1. 'On a ship at sea.' He also subdivided the scenes as given by the Folios and Rowe, making a fresh scene whenever a new character entered--an arrangement followed by Hanmer, Warburton, and Johnson. For convenience of reference to these editions, we have always recorded the commencement of Pope's scenes." Theobald 1733 Hanmer ("Oxford edition") 1744 Warburton 1747 Johnson 1765 Capell 1768; _also Capell's annotated copy of F2_ Steevens 1773 Malone 1790 Reed 1803

Later editions: Singer, Knight, Cornwall, Collier, Phelps, Halliwell, Dyce, Staunton

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Errata

In Act III, Scene 1, the overlapping line numbers are as in the original. The two lines called 75 occur before and after a page break.

Pope's scenes I.VI and II.VII are not identified in the textual notes.

II. 2. 149 note: ... See note (VII). II. 2. 157 note: ... See note (VIII). [_Endnote references VII, VIII reversed_] IV. 2. 37-42 note: [_All asterisks are in the original._] V. 1. 131 note: ...See note (XXII) [_Text has (XXI)._]

Note XII. ... 'The warrant's for yourself; take heed to't.' [_close quote missing_]