Volume 1 / Act 1 — I. 2 Scene II. A street.
Reading edition
I. 2 Scene II. A street.
Enter Lucio and two Gentlemen.
Lucio. If the duke, with the other dukes, come not to composition with the King of Hungary, why then all the dukes fall upon the king.
First Gent. Heaven grant us its peace, but not the 5 King of Hungary’s!
Sec. Gent. Amen.
Lucio. Thou concludest like the sanctimonious pirate, that went to sea with the Ten Commandments, but scraped one out of the table.
10 Sec. Gent. ‘Thou shalt not steal’?
Lucio. Ay, that he razed.
First Gent. Why, ’twas a commandment to command the captain and all the rest from their functions: they put forth to steal. There’s not a soldier of us all, that, in the 15 thanksgiving before meat, do relish the petition well that prays for peace.
Sec. Gent. I never heard any soldier dislike it.
Lucio. I believe thee; for I think thou never wast where grace was said.
20 Sec. Gent. No? a dozen times at least.
First Gent. What, in metre?
Lucio. In any proportion or in any language.
First Gent. I think, or in any religion.
Lucio. Ay, why not? Grace is grace, despite of all I. 2. 25 controversy: as, for example, thou thyself art a wicked villain, despite of all grace.
First Gent. Well, there went but a pair of shears between us.
Lucio. I grant; as there may between the lists and the 30 velvet. Thou art the list.
First Gent. And thou the velvet: thou art good velvet; thou’rt a three-piled piece, I warrant thee: I had as lief be a list of an English kersey, as be piled, as thou art piled, for a French velvet. Do I speak feelingly now?
35 Lucio. I think thou dost; and, indeed, with most painful feeling of thy speech: I will, out of thine own confession, learn to begin thy health; but, whilst I live, forget to drink after thee.
First Gent. I think I have done myself wrong, have 40 I not?
Sec. Gent. Yes, that thou hast, whether thou art tainted or free.
Lucio. Behold, behold, where Madam Mitigation comes! I have purchased as many diseases under her roof 45 as come to—
Sec. Gent. To what, I pray?
Lucio. Judge.
Sec. Gent. To three thousand dolours a year.
First Gent. Ay, and more.
I. 2. 50 Lucio. A French crown more.
First Gent. Thou art always figuring diseases in me; but thou art full of error; I am sound.
Lucio. Nay, not as one would say, healthy; but so sound as things that are hollow: thy bones are hollow; 55 impiety has made a feast of thee.
Enter Mistress Overdone.
First Gent. How now! which of your hips has the most profound sciatica?
Mrs Ov. Well, well; there’s one yonder arrested and carried to prison was worth five thousand of you all.
60 Sec. Gent. Who’s that, I pray thee?
Mrs Ov. Marry, sir, that’s Claudio, Signior Claudio.
First Gent. Claudio to prison? ’tis not so.
Mrs Ov. Nay, but I know ’tis so: I saw him arrested; saw him carried away; and, which is more, within these 65 three days his head to be chopped off.
Lucio. But, after all this fooling, I would not have it so. Art thou sure of this?
Mrs Ov. I am too sure of it: and it is for getting Madam Julietta with child.
70 Lucio. Believe me, this may be: he promised to meet me two hours since, and he was ever precise in promise-keeping.
Sec. Gent. Besides, you know, it draws something near to the speech we had to such a purpose.
I. 2. 75 First Gent. But, most of all, agreeing with the proclamation.
Lucio. Away! let’s go learn the truth of it.
Exeunt Lucio and Gentlemen.
Mrs Ov. Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat, what with the gallows, and what with poverty, I am 80 custom-shrunk.
Enter Pompey.
How now! what’s the news with you?
Pom. Yonder man is carried to prison.
Mrs Ov. Well; what has he done?
Pom. A woman.
85 Mrs Ov. But what’s his offence?
Pom. Groping for trouts in a peculiar river.
Mrs Ov. What, is there a maid with child by him?
Pom. No, but there’s a woman with maid by him. You have not heard of the proclamation, have you?
90 Mrs Ov. What proclamation, man?
Pom. All houses in the suburbs of Vienna must be plucked down.
Mrs Ov. And what shall become of those in the city?
Pom. They shall stand for seed: they had gone down too, 95 but that a wise burgher put in for them.
Mrs Ov. But shall all our houses of resort in the suburbs be pulled down?
Pom. To the ground, mistress.
Mrs Ov. Why, here’s a change indeed in the commonwealth! I. 2. 100 What shall become of me?
Pom. Come; fear not you: good counsellors lack no clients: though you change your place, you need not change your trade; I’ll be your tapster still. Courage! there will be pity taken on you: you that have worn your 105 eyes almost out in the service, you will be considered.
Mrs Ov. What’s to do here, Thomas tapster? let’s withdraw.
Pom. Here comes Signior Claudio, led by the provost to prison; and there’s Madam Juliet.
Exeunt.
Enter Provost, Claudio, Juliet, and Officers.
110 Claud. Fellow, why dost thou show me thus to the world? Bear me to prison, where I am committed.
Prov. I do it not in evil disposition, But from Lord Angelo by special charge.
Claud. Thus can the demigod Authority 115 Make us pay down for our offence by weight The words of heaven;—on whom it will, it will; On whom it will not, so; yet still ’tis just.
Re-enter Lucio and two Gentlemen.
Lucio. Why, how now, Claudio! whence comes this restraint?
Claud. From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty: 120 As surfeit is the father of much fast, So every scope by the immoderate use Turns to restraint. Our natures do pursue, Like rats that ravin down their proper bane, A thirsty evil; and when we drink we die.
I. 2. 125 Lucio. If I could speak so wisely under an arrest, I would send for certain of my creditors: and yet, to say the truth, I had as lief have the foppery of freedom as the morality of imprisonment. What’s thy offence, Claudio?
Claud. What but to speak of would offend again.
130 Lucio. What, is’t murder?
Claud. No.
Lucio. Lechery?
Claud. Call it so.
Prov. Away, sir! you must go.
135 Claud. One word, good friend. Lucio, a word with you.
Lucio. A hundred, if they’ll do you any good. Is lechery so look’d after?
Claud. Thus stands it with me:—upon a true contract I got possession of Julietta’s bed: 140 You know the lady; she is fast my wife, Save that we do the denunciation lack Of outward order: this we came not to, Only for propagation of a dower Remaining in the coffer of her friends; 145 From whom we thought it meet to hide our love Till time had made them for us. But it chances The stealth of our most mutual entertainment With character too gross is writ on Juliet.
Lucio. With child, perhaps?
Claud. Unhappily, even so. I. 2. 150 And the new Deputy now for the Duke,— Whether it be the fault and glimpse of newness, Or whether that the body public be A horse whereon the governor doth ride, Who, newly in the seat, that it may know 155 He can command, lets it straight feel the spur; Whether the tyranny be in his place, Or in his eminence that fills it up. I stagger in:—but this new governor Awakes me all the enrolled penalties 160 Which have, like unscour’d armour, hung by the wall So long, that nineteen zodiacs have gone round, And none of them been worn; and, for a name, Now puts the drowsy and neglected act Freshly on me: ’tis surely for a name.
165 Lucio. I warrant it is: and thy head stands so tickle on thy shoulders, that a milkmaid, if she be in love, may sigh it off. Send after the duke, and appeal to him.
Claud. I have done so, but he’s not to be found. I prithee, Lucio, do me this kind service: 170 This day my sister should the cloister enter And there receive her approbation: Acquaint her with the danger of my state; Implore her, in my voice, that she make friends To the strict deputy; bid herself assay him: I. 2. 175 I have great hope in that; for in her youth There is a prone and speechless dialect, Such as move men; beside, she hath prosperous art When she will play with reason and discourse, And well she can persuade.
180 Lucio. I pray she may; as well for the encouragement of the like, which else would stand under grievous imposition, as for the enjoying of thy life, who I would be sorry should be thus foolishly lost at a game of tick-tack. I’ll to her.
185 Claud. I thank you, good friend Lucio.
Lucio. Within two hours.
Claud.
Come, officer, away!
Exeunt.