The Complete Works of William Shakespeare - Israel Gollancz William Shakespeare [849]
Can tie the gall up in the slanderous tongue?
But who comes here?
Enter ESCALUS, PROVOST, and OFFICERS with
MISTRESS OVERDONE
ESCALUS.
Go, away with her to prison.
MRS.
OVERDONE. Good my lord, be good to me; your honour is
accounted a merciful man; good my lord.
ESCALUS.
Double and treble admonition, and still forfeit in the
same kind! This would make mercy swear and play the tyrant.
PROVOST.
A bawd of eleven years' continuance, may it please your honour.
MRS.
OVERDONE. My lord, this is one Lucio's information against me.
Mistress Kate Keepdown was with child by him in the Duke's time;
he promis'd her marriage. His child is a year and a quarter old
come Philip and Jacob; I have kept it myself; and see how he goes
about to abuse me.
ESCALUS.
That fellow is a fellow of much license. Let him be call'd
before us. Away with her to prison. Go to; no more words.
[Exeunt
OFFICERS with MISTRESS OVERDONE] Provost, my brother Angelo will
not be alter'd: Claudio must die to-morrow. Let him be furnish'd
with divines, and have all charitable preparation. If my brother
wrought by my pity, it should not be so with him.
PROVOST.
So please you, this friar hath been with him, and advis'd
him for th' entertainment of death.
ESCALUS.
Good even, good father.
DUKE.
Bliss and goodness on you!
ESCALUS.
Of whence are you?
DUKE.
Not of this country, though my chance is now
To use it for my time. I am a brother
Of gracious order, late come from the See
In special business from his Holiness.
ESCALUS.
What news abroad i' th' world?
DUKE.
None, but that there is so great a fever on goodness that the
dissolution of it must cure it. Novelty is only in request;
and,
as it is, as dangerous to be aged in any kind of course as it is
virtuous to be constant in any undertakeing. There is scarce
truth enough alive to make societies secure; but security enough
to make fellowships accurst. Much upon this riddle runs the
wisdom of the world. This news is old enough, yet it is every
day's news. I pray you, sir, of what disposition was the Duke?
ESCALUS.
One that, above all other strifes, contended especially to know himself.
DUKE.
What pleasure was he given to?
ESCALUS.
Rather rejoicing to see another merry than merry at
anything which profess'd to make him rejoice; a gentleman of all
temperance. But leave we him to his events, with a prayer they
may prove prosperous; and let me desire to know how you find
Claudio prepar'd. I am made to understand that you have lent him visitation.
DUKE.
He professes to have received no sinister measure from his
judge, but most willingly humbles himself to the determination of
justice. Yet had he framed to himself, by the instruction of his
frailty, many deceiving promises of life; which I, by my good
leisure, have discredited to him, and now he is resolv'd to die.
ESCALUS.
You have paid the heavens your function, and the prisoner
the very debt of your calling. I have labour'd for the poor
gentleman to the extremest shore of my modesty; but my brother
justice have I found so severe that he hath forc'd me to tell him
he is indeed Justice.
DUKE.
If his own life answer the straitness of his proceeding, it
shall become him well; wherein if he chance to fail, he hath sentenc'd himself.
ESCALUS.
I am going to visit the prisoner. Fare you well.
DUKE.
Peace be with you! Exeunt ESCALUS and PROVOST
He who the sword of heaven will bear
Should be as holy as severe;
Pattern in himself to know,
Grace to stand, and virtue go;
More nor less to others paying
Than by self-offences weighing.
Shame to him whose cruel striking
Kills for faults of his own liking!
Twice treble shame on Angelo,
To weed my vice and let his grow!
O, what may man within him hide,
Though angel on the outward side!
How may likeness, made in crimes,
Make a practice on the times,
To draw with idle spiders' strings
Most ponderous and substantial things!
Craft against vice I must apply.
With Angelo to-night shall lie