The City Gate.
 Enter, at one door, DUKE as himself, VARRIUS, and LORDS attending;
 at another door, ANGELO, ESCALUS, LUCIO, PROVOST and CITIZENS.

Duke	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	Many and hearty thankings to you both.
	We have made enquiry 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	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 we our hand,
	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.

                     Enter FRIAR PETER and ISABELLA.

Friar Peter	Now is your time. Speak loud, and kneel before him.

Isabella	[Kneeling.] Justice, O royal duke! Vail your regard
	Upon a wronged - I'd 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!

Duke	Relate your wrongs. In what? By whom? Be brief.
	Here is Lord Angelo shall give you justice.
	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,
	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!

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,
	A hypocrite, a virgin-violator,
	Is it not strange, and strange?

Duke								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
	To the end of reck'ning.

Duke							Away with her. Poor soul,
	She speaks this in th' infirmity of sense.

Isabella	O prince, I conjure thee, as thou believ'st
	There is another comfort than this world,
	That thou neglect me not with that opinion
	That I am touched 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,
	In 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,
	Her madness hath the oddest frame of sense,
	Such a dependency of thing on thing,
	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,
	And hide the false seems true.

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

Isabella	I am the sister of one Claudio,
	Condemned upon the act of fornication
	To lose his head; condemned by Angelo.
	I, in probation of a sisterhood,
	Was sent to by my brother; one Lucio
	As then the messenger.

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

Isabella									That's he indeed.

Duke	You were not bid to speak.

Lucio								No, my good lord;
	Nor wished to hold my peace.

Duke									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	I warrant your honour.

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

Isabella	This gentleman told somewhat of my tale.

Lucio	Right.

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

Isabella										I went
	To this pernicious caitiff deputy-

Duke	That's somewhat madly spoken.

Isabella									Pardon it;
	The phrase is to the matter.

Duke	Mended again. The matter; proceed.

Isabella	In brief, to set the needless process by,
	How I persuaded, how I prayed and kneeled,
	How he refelled 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,
	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.

Duke								This is most likely!

Isabella	O, that it were as like as it is true.

Duke	By heaven, fond wretch, thou know'st not what thou speakst,
	Or else thou art suborned 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,
	He would have weighed thy brother by himself,
	And not have cut him off. Someone hath set you on.
	Confess the truth, and say by whose advice
	Thou cam'st here to complain.

Isabella									And is this all?
	Then, O you blessd ministers above,
	Keep me in patience, and with ripened time
	Unfold the evil which is here wrapped up
	In countenance! Heaven shield your grace from woe,
	As I, thus wronged, hence unbelievd go.

Duke	I know you'd fain be gone. An officer!
	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?

Isabella	One that I would were here, Friar Lodowick.

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.

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,
	A very scurvy fellow.

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
	As she from one ungot.

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

Friar Peter	I know him for a man divine and holy;
	Not scurvy, nor a temporary 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 villainously, believe it.

Friar Peter	Well, he in time may come to clear himself;
	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
	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,
	Her shall you hear disprovd to her eyes,
	Till she herself confess it.

Duke								Good friar, let's hear it.
													[Exit ISABELLA, guarded.
	Do you not smile at this, Lord Angelo?
	O heaven, the vanity of wretched fools!
	Give us some seats. Come, cousin Angelo,
	In this I'll be impartial; be you judge
	Of your own cause.

                          Enter MARIANA veiled.

							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	What, are you married?

Mariana	No, my lord.

Duke	Are you a maid?

Mariana	No, my lord.

Duke	A widow, then?

Mariana	Neither, my lord.

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

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

Duke	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,
	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.

Duke	For the benefit of silence, would thou wert so too.

Lucio	Well, my lord.

Duke	This is no witness for Lord Angelo.

Mariana	Now I come to't, my lord.
	She that accuses him of fornication
	In selfsame manner doth accuse my husband,
	And charges him, my lord, with such a time
	When I'll depose I had him in mine arms
	With all th' effect of love.

Angelo	Charges she more than me?

Mariana								Not that I know.

Duke	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.

Mariana	[Unveiling.] My husband bids me; now I will unmask.
	This is that face, thou cruel Angelo,
	Which once thou swor'st was worth the looking on;
	This is the hand which, with a vowed contract,
	Was fast belocked 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.

Duke								Know you this woman?

Lucio	Carnally, she says.

Duke	Sirrah, no more!

Lucio	Enough, my lord.

Angelo	My lord, I must confess I know this woman;
	And five years since there was some speech of marriage
	Betwixt myself and her, which was broke off,
	Partly for that her promisd proportions
	Came short of composition, but in chief
	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,
	As there comes light from heaven and words from breath,
	As there is sense in truth and truth in virtue,
	I am affianced this man's wife as strongly
	As words could make up vows. And, my good lord,
	But Tuesday night last gone, in's garden-house,
	He knew me as a wife. As this is true,
	Let me in safety raise me from my knees,
	Or else for ever be confixd 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 touched. 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,
	To find this practice out.

Duke								Ay, with my heart;
	And punish them unto 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
	That's sealed 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.

Friar Peter	Would he were here, my lord, for he indeed
	Hath set the women on to this complaint.
	Your Provost knows the place where he abides,
	And he may fetch him.

Duke							Go, do it instantly.
													[Exit PROVOST.
	And you, my noble and well-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;
	But stir not you till you have well determined
	Upon these slanderers.

Escalus							My lord, we'll do it throughly.
													[Exit DUKE.
	Signor Lucio, did not you say you knew that 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 villainous speeches 
	of the duke.

Escalus	We shall entreat you to abide here till he come, and 
	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 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 she'll be ashamed.

                    Re-enter ATTENDANT with ISABELLA.

Escalus	I will go darkly to work with her.

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

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

              Re-enter DUKE as Friar Lodowick, and PROVOST.

Lucio	My lord, here comes the rascal I spoke of, here with the 
	Provost.

Escalus	In very good time. Speak not you to him till we call upon 
	you.

Lucio	Mum.

Escalus	Come, sir, did you set these women on to slander Lord 
	Angelo? They have confessed you did.

Duke	'Tis false.

Escalus	How? Know you where you are?

Duke	Respect to your great place, and let the devil
	Be sometime honoured 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	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?
	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.

Escalus	Why, thou unreverend and unhallowed friar!
	Is't not enough thou hast suborned 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
	To the duke himself, to tax him with injustice?
	Take him hence! To th' rack with him! We'll touse you
	Joint by joint, but we will know his purpose.
	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,
	Where I have seen corruption boil and bubble
	Till it o'errun 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 th' state! Away with him to prison!

Angelo	What can you vouch against him, Signor Lucio?
	Is this the man that you did tell us of?

Lucio	'Tis he, my lord. Come hither, goodman Baldpate; do you 
	know me?

Duke	I remember you, sir, by the sound of your voice. I met you 
	at the prison, in the absence of the duke.

Lucio	O, did you so? And do you remember what you said of the 
	duke?

Duke	Most 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?

Duke	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?

Duke	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 to prison! Lay 
	bolts enough upon him; let him speak no more. Away with 
	those giglets too, and with the other confederate 
	companion!
							  [The PROVOST lays hands on the DUKE.

Duke	Stay, sir, stay a while.

Angelo	What, resists he? Help him, Lucio.

Lucio	Come, sir. Come, sir; come, sir! Foh, sir! Why, you 
	baldpated, 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?
										[Pulls off the friar's hood,
													and discovers the DUKE.

Duke	Thou art the first knave that e'er mad'st a duke.
	First, Provost, let me bail these gentle three.
	[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.
	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,
	I should be guiltier than my guiltiness
	To think I can be undiscernible,
	When I perceive your grace, like power divine,
	Hath looked upon my passes. Then, good prince,
	No longer session hold upon my shame,
	But let my trial be mine own confession.
	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?

Angelo	I was, my lord.

Duke	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.

Duke									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
	Attorneyed at your service.

Isabella								O, give me pardon,
	That I, your vassal, have employed and pained
	Your unknown sovereignty.

Duke									You are pardoned, 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
	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 brained my purpose. But peace be with him!
	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.

Duke	For this new-married man approaching here,
	Whose salt imagination yet hath wronged
	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-
	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".
	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 stooped 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!

Duke	It is your husband mocked 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,
	Although by confiscation they are ours,
	We do instate and widow you with all,
	To buy you a better husband.

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

Duke	Never crave him; we are definitive.

Mariana	Gentle my liege-
													[Kneeling.

Duke							You do but lose your labour.
	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	Against all sense you do importune her.
	Should she kneel down in mercy of this fact,
	Her brother's ghost his pavd bed would break,
	And take her hence in horror.

Mariana									Isabel,
	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.
	O Isabel, will you not lend a knee?

Duke	He dies for Claudio's death.

Isabella			[Kneeling.]			Most bounteous sir,
	Look, if it please you, on this man condemned
	As if my brother lived. I partly think
	A due sincerity governed 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,
	His act did not o'ertake his bad intent,
	And must be buried but as an intent
	That perished by the way. Thoughts are no subjects;
	Intents but merely thoughts.

Mariana									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
	At an unusual hour?

Provost							It was commanded so.

Duke	Had you a special warrant for the deed?

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

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

Provost							Pardon me, noble lord;
	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?

Provost										His name is Barnardine.

Duke	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 appeared,
	Should slip so grossly, both in the heat of blood
	And lack of tempered judgement afterward.

Angelo	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.

      Re-enter PROVOST with BARNARDINE, CLAUDIO muffled, and JULIET.

Duke	Which is that Barnardine?

Provost								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 squar'st thy life according. Thou'rt condemned;
	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?

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	[To ISABELLA.] If he be like your brother, for his sake
	Is he pardoned; 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.
	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.] 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 trick. If 
	you will hang me for it, you may; but I had rather it would 
	please you I might be whipped.

Duke	Whipped first, sir, and hanged after.
	Proclaim it, Provost, round about the city,
	If any woman wronged 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 finished,
	Let him be whipped and hanged.

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.

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, whipping, 
	and hanging.

Duke	Slandering a prince deserves it.
										[Exeunt OFFICERS with LUCIO.
	She, Claudio, that you wronged, look you restore.
	Joy to you, Mariana. Love her, Angelo;
	I have confessed 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;
	We shall employ thee in a worthier place.
	Forgive him, Angelo, that brought you home
	The head of Ragozine for Claudio's:
	Th' 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.
	So, bring us to our palace, where we'll show
	What's yet behind that's meet you all should know.
													[Exeunt.
