Measure for Measure Part 17

_Lucio._ Does Bridget paint still, Pompey, ha?

_Elb._ Come your ways, sir; come.

_Pom._ You will not bail me, then, sir? 75

_Lucio._ Then, Pompey, nor now. What news abroad, friar? what news?

_Elb._ Come your ways, sir; come.

_Lucio._ Go to kennel, Pompey; go. [_Exeunt Elbow, Pompey and Officers._] What news, friar, of the Duke? 80

_Duke._ I know none. Can you tell me of any?

_Lucio._ Some say he is with the Emperor of Russia; other some, he is in Rome: but where is he, think you?

_Duke._ I know not where; but wheresoever, I wish him well. 85

_Lucio._ It was a mad fantastical trick of him to steal from the state, and usurp the beggary he was never born to. Lord Angelo dukes it well in his absence; he puts transgression to't.

_Duke._ He does well in't. 90

_Lucio._ A little more lenity to lechery would do no harm in him: something too crabbed that way, friar.

_Duke._ It is too general a vice, and severity must cure it.

_Lucio._ Yes, in good sooth, the vice is of a great kindred; 95 it is well allied: but it is impossible to extirp it quite, friar, till eating and drinking be put down. They say this Angelo was not made by man and woman after this downright way of creation: is it true, think you?

_Duke._ How should he be made, then? 100

_Lucio._ Some report a sea-maid sp.a.w.ned him; some, that he was begot between two stock-fishes. But it is certain that, when he makes water, his urine is congealed ice; that I know to be true: and he is a motion generative; that's infallible. 105

_Duke._ You are pleasant, sir, and speak apace.

_Lucio._ Why, what a ruthless thing is this in him, for the rebellion of a codpiece to take away the life of a man!

Would the Duke that is absent have done this? Ere he would have hanged a man for the getting a hundred b.a.s.t.a.r.ds, 110 he would have paid for the nursing a thousand: he had some feeling of the sport; he knew the service, and that instructed him to mercy.

_Duke._ I never heard the absent Duke much detected for women; he was not inclined that way. 115

_Lucio._ O, sir, you are deceived.

_Duke._ 'Tis not possible.

_Lucio._ Who, not the Duke? yes, your beggar of fifty; and his use was to put a ducat in her clack-dish: the Duke had crotchets in him. He would be drunk too; that let me 120 inform you.

_Duke._ You do him wrong, surely.

_Lucio._ Sir, I was an inward of his. A shy fellow was the Duke: and I believe I know the cause of his withdrawing. 125

_Duke._ What, I prithee, might be the cause?

_Lucio._ No, pardon; 'tis a secret must be locked within the teeth and the lips: but this I can let you understand, the greater file of the subject held the Duke to be wise.

_Duke._ Wise! why, no question but he was. 130

_Lucio._ A very superficial, ignorant, unweighing fellow.

_Duke._ Either this is envy in you, folly, or mistaking: the very stream of his life and the business he hath helmed must, upon a warranted need, give him a better proclamation.

Let him be but testimonied in his own bringings-forth, 135 and he shall appear, to the envious, a scholar, a statesman and a soldier. Therefore you speak unskilfully; or if your knowledge be more, it is much darkened in your malice.

_Lucio._ Sir, I know him, and I love him. 140

_Duke._ Love talks with better knowledge, and knowledge with dearer love.

_Lucio._ Come, sir, I know what I know.

_Duke._ I can hardly believe that, since you know not what you speak. But, if ever the Duke return, as our prayers 145 are he may, let me desire you to make your answer before him. If it be honest you have spoke, you have courage to maintain it: I am bound to call upon you; and, I pray you, your name?

_Lucio._ Sir, my name is Lucio; well known to the 150 duke.

_Duke._ He shall know you better, sir, if I may live to report you.

_Lucio._ I fear you not.

_Duke._ O, you hope the Duke will return no more; or 155 you imagine me too unhurtful an opposite. But, indeed, I can do you little harm; you'll forswear this again.

_Lucio._ I'll be hanged first: thou art deceived in me, friar. But no more of this. Canst thou tell if Claudio die to-morrow or no? 160

_Duke._ Why should he die, sir?

_Lucio._ Why? For filling a bottle with a tun-dish. I would the Duke we talk of were returned again: this ungenitured agent will unpeople the province with continency; sparrows must not build in his house-eaves, because 165 they are lecherous. The Duke yet would have dark deeds darkly answered; he would never bring them to light: would he were returned! Marry, this Claudio is condemned for untrussing. Farewell, good friar: I prithee, pray for me. The Duke, I say to thee again, would eat mutton on 170 Fridays. He's not past it yet, and I say to thee, he would mouth with a beggar, though she smelt brown bread and garlic: say that I said so. Farewell. [_Exit._

_Duke._ No might nor greatness in mortality Can censure 'scape; back-wounding calumny 175 The whitest virtue strikes. What king so strong Can tie the gall up in the slanderous tongue?

But who comes here?

_Enter ESCALUS, PROVOST, and _Officers_ with MISTRESS OVERDONE._

_Escal._ Go; away with her to prison!

_Mrs Ov._ Good my lord, be good to me; your honour 180 is accounted a merciful man; good my lord.

_Escal._ Double and treble admonition, and still forfeit in the same kind! This would make mercy swear and play the tyrant.

_Prov._ A bawd of eleven years' continuance, may it 185 please your honour.

_Mrs Ov._ My lord, this is one Lucio's information against me. Mistress Kate Keepdown was with child by him in the Duke's time; he promised her marriage: his child is a year and a quarter old, come Philip and Jacob: 190 I have kept it myself; and see how he goes about to abuse me!

_Escal._ That fellow is a fellow of much license: let him be called before us. Away with her to prison! Go to; no more words. [_Exeunt Officers with Mistress Ov._] 195 Provost, my brother Angelo will not be altered; Claudio must die to-morrow: let him be furnished with divines, and have all charitable preparation. If my brother wrought by my pity, it should not be so with him.