Iul. 'T is true I am a Woman frail and ignorant But yet my Honour and Religion joyn'd Have taught me the full Knowledge of this Point And we are marry'd with all those holy Rites The Church ordains The pious Father Pierre Of your good Order joyn'd our Hands in private 'T is true for worldly Cause and for that Fault I take this Shame most patiently Duke Can you forgive the Cause of this your Infamy Can you love still the Man that seems t o've wrong'd you Iul. Yes as I love the Woman that wrong'd him That has undone him taken away his Life O Heav'n prevent his Fate or take me too Duke Resign your self to Heav'n If you 're Innocent Be sure of Help We 'll to your Partner Benedicite Exit with the Fryer Iul. Must die to morrow Oh injurious Love That dost the Life of my sad Life remove Yet doom'st me still to agonizing Breath And barr'st me from the sweet Retreat of Death O Heav'n my Claudio to these Arms restore Or when he dies O let me be no more The End of the Second Act. ACT III. SCENE I. The Prison Enter Duke Fryer and Claudio Duke THEN you still hope a Pardon from Lord Angelo Claud. The Miserable have no Ease but Hope I hope to live but am prepar'd to die Duke Be absolute for Death for Death or Life Will so the sweeter be if you lose Life You lose a thing that none but fools would keep A Breath that 's subject to a thousand chances That hourly pains ev'n us that wou'd preserve it We are deaths Fools whom while we strive to shun We hasten to Cowards we fear the tender fork Of a poor Worm the best of Rest is Sleep That we provoke tho grosly fear our Death Which is no more Fry Happy we 're not For what we 've not we vainly strive to gain And what we have forget tho' rich we 're poor For like an Ass whose Back with Ingots bows We bear our heavy Riches but a Journey And Death unlades us Duke Friends we 've none Our very Off-spring cursing our Distempers For ending us no sooner We have not Youth nor Age But as it were an after Dinners sleep Dreaming upon both Youth has no thought And Age no heat or taste to relish Life Yet Life we cherish that 's thus fill'd with woe But fear kind Death that makes these odds all ev'n Clau. To sue to live I find I seek to dye And seeking Death find Life Enter Isabella Isa. Peace here and Grace Duke That wish deserves a Welcome Clau. My Sister Duke E'r long my Son again I 'll see you Clau. Most holy Sir I thank you Duke Father Thomas Let us retire I wou'd conceal'd orehear ' em Clau. Well Sister what 's the Comfort Exit with Fryer Isa. Why as all worldly Comforts use to be Lord Angelo having Affairs to heav'n Intends you for his swift Ambassadour Therefore your best appointment make with speed To morrow you set out Claud. Is there no Remedy Isa. Yes Brother you may live There is a devilish mercy in the Judge That will if you 'l implore it free your Life But fetter you till Death Claud. Perpetual durance Isa. T is worse more painful too than Racks and Tortures For 't is a rack of Mind Clau. But of what Nature Isa. 'T is such as shou'd you give it your consent Wou'd leave you stript of all your wreaths of War And shew you naked to the scornful World Clau. Let me know my Doom Isa. If I cou'd fear thee Claudio I should weep Lest thou a shameful life should'st now prefer And six or seven short Winters more respect Than a perpetual Honour Dar'st thou dye The sense of Death is most in Apprehension And the small Beetle when we tread on it In corporal Sufferance finds a pang as great As when a Gyant dyes Clau. Why give you me this shame Think you I can Resolution fetch From flowing tenderness If I must dye I 'll welcome Darkness as a shining Bride And hug it in my Arms. Isa. There spoke my Brother there my Fathers Grave Sent forth a chearful Voice yes you must dye Thou art too Noble to preserve thy Life By such base means This outward rigid Saint Does in his gracious Looks disguise the Devil His filth within being cast he wou'd appear A pond as foul as Hell Clau. What Angelo Isa. Oh! he is uglier than a Fiend confess'd Speak Claudio cou'd you think it you may live If to his Lust I 'd Sacrifice my Honour Clau. Impossible it cannot be Hypocrite Isa. Yes he that wou'd not hear your Innocence Would quit you now of the most horrid Guilt Give you a Licence to Sin on securely Wou'd I consent to be more black than he is This Night 's the time that he would have me do What I abhor to name or else you dye To Morrow Clau. By Heav'n thou shalt not do it Isa. Oh! were it but my Life dear Claudio I 'd throw it down for your Deliverance Without the least delay Clau. Thanks my Dear Sister Isa. Since nothing but my Honour can Redeem you Prepare to dye to Morrow Clau. Hah to Morrow But Isabella Isa. What says my Brother Clau. Death is a fearful thing Isa. But Infamy more hateful Sure you have study'd what it is to dye Clau. Oh! Sister t is to go we know not whither To lye a kneaded Clod in the dark Grave And have this sensible warm motion end Or rotting get another of crawling Worms That springs from every part of our Corruption The Spirit perhaps must bathe in fiery Floods Or shiver in shrilling Regions of rib'd Ice Or be imprison'd in the viewless Winds And blown with restless Violence round about This pendant World or if condemn'd like those Whom our uncertain Thoughts imagine howling Oh! 't is too horrible and the most loath'd Life That Age or Ach or Want or Imprisonment Can lay on Nature is a Paradise To what we fear of Death Isa. Alass alass Clau. Ah! My Dear Sister I would live Isa. Ha! Live d'ye say O you base one O! faithless Coward O dishonest Wretch Wilt thou be made a Man out of my Vice Is 't not a kind of Incest to take Life From thy own Sisters shame But sure thou art not My Brother Dye Perish if but my word Would save thy loathsom Life I wou'd not speak it I 'll pay a thousand Prayers for thy Deaths But not a word to save thee Clau. But hear me Isa. Oh! Fie fie fie how can I think thou art Innocent Clau. Your over-nicety of Honour feeds Your fancy with strange ugly forms That have no real Existence But by excess of Vertue you offend I said indeed that I wou'd Live what then Is 't not the Voice of Nature that abhors The fatal Separation Then where 's the Crime Isa. None but in living by a Crime Claud. You 're right but eagerly you cut off halfmy Words Which had imply'd that Truth
pardon But yours I ask that by delays surpriz'd Have lost your Brothers life But he that judg'd him Guilty of breach of Promise as of Lust The very mercy of the Law cries out An Angelo for Claudio life for life We do condemn thee then to that same Block Where Claudio stoop'd to death with the same haste Away with him Mar. Oh my most gracious Lord I hope you will not mock me with a Husband Duke It is your Angelo has mock'd you with a Husband For his possession's forfeited by Law VVe give 'em you to buy a better Husband Mar. I crave no other wou'd no better man Duke Speak not you for him my resolve is fixt Mar. Oh! Isabella if you e're knew love Assist my Prayers and kneel with me to beg This boon of the good Duke and all my life Shall be devoted to your constant service Duke Against all sense you do sollicit her Shou'd she but speak her Brothers Ghost would break His deep pav'd bed to take her hence with horror Mar. Oh! Isabella Oh kneel but by me lift but up your hands Say nothing I 'll say all Oh Prince The noblest Nature 's mingled with some faults So may my Husband 's You have known his truth His Judgment Will Ability to serve you Oh Isabella will you then not kneel Duke For Claudio's death he dies Isa. Oh Royal Sir Look on this man as if my Brother liv'd I do believe till he saw me his Virtue Might guide his rigid actions Mar. Most certainly Duke Your suit 's in vain stand up I have bethought me Of another fault Provost how came it That Claudio dy'd at an unusual hour Pro. I was so commanded Duke Had you a special Warrant for so doing Pro. No my good Lord it was a private Message Duke For which I here discharge you of your office Give up your Keys Pro. Oh pardon me Sir I thought it was a fault but knew it not And yet repented it on more advice For testimony of which one person That shou'd have dy'd by private order I have preserv'd alive Duke VVhat is he Pro. His name is Bernardine Duke I wish thou had'st done so by Claudio too Go fetch him hither let us see him here Ex. Pro. Esc. I am sorry one so learn'd and wise As you Lord Angelo have still appear'd Shou'd slip so grossly both in heat of Blood And want of Judgment afterwards Ang. My sorrow equals yours I crave not pity I merit death and that I only beg for Enter Provost Claudio and Julietta Duke Is this that Bernardine that you have sav'd Pro. It is my Liege as like to Claudio as himself Duke If he be like your Brother he is safe Isa. My Brother Clau. My Sister They embrace Duke 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 quickning in his eye Well Angelo let not this success To your ill deeds encourage your misdoing Cherish your Wife she 's worthy of your love I have confess'd her and I know her Vertue Thanks my good Escalus for thy faithful services Honest Provost thy care and secresie Shall meet a good reward we shall employ thee In a worthier place Forgive him Angelo Who shew'd the head of Rangozine for Claudio's Th' offence remits itself Dismiss the company Esca My Liege before you do retire I beg of you To share the joy we have for your return The sudden notice crampt our zeal to this Duke If Isabella please we all will share it Come fit by me I know thy Vertue Royal Thy House as ancient as thy Beauty 's young They all sit The last Musick The Fourth Entertainment Phaebus Rises in his Chariot over the Sea The Nercides out of the Sea Phoe. FRom Aurora's Spicy Bed Phoebus rears his Sacred Head His Coursers advancing Curvetting and Prancing 1 Ner. Phoebus strives in vain to tame 'em With Ambrosia fed too high 2 Ner. Phoebus ought not now to blame 'em Wild and eager to survey The fairest Pageant of the Sea Phoe. Tritons and Nereids come pay your devotion Cho. To the new rising Star of the Ocean Venus descends in her Chariot the Tritons rise out of the Sea The Tritons dance Ner. Look down ye Orbs and see A New Divinity Phoe. Whose Lustre does outshine Your fainter Beams and half Eclipses mine Give Phoebus leave to Prophesie Phoebus all events can see Ten thousand thousand harms From such prevailing Charms To Gods and Men must instantly ensue Cho. And if the Deities above Are victims of the Powers of Love What must Wretched Mortals do Venus Fear not Phoebus fear not me A harmless deity These are all my Guards ye view What can these Blind Archers do Phoe. Blind they are but strike the Heart Ven. What Phoebus says is always true They wound indeed but 't is a pleasing smart Phoe. Earth and Skies address their duty To the Soveraign Queen of Beauty All Resigning None Repining At her undisputed soâ—ay Cho. To Phoebus and Venus our Homage we 'll pay Her Charms bless the night as his Beams bless the day The Nereids Dance The Scene changes to a Grove The Spring appears in an Arbour with her Nymphs about her Ven. See the Spring in all her Glory Cho. Welcomes Venus to the shore Ven. Smiling hours are now before you Hours that may return no more Soft Musick Exit Phoe. Ven. Enter the Country Shepherds and Shepherdesses A DIALOGUE He. Tell me tell me prithee Dolly And leave thy Melancholy Why on the Plains the Nymphs and Swains This morning are so jolly She. By Zephir â—s gentle blowing And Grace of Venus flowing The Sun has been to Court our Queen And tir'd the Spring with wooing He. The Sun does guild our Bowers She. The Spring does yield us Flowers She sends the Vine He. He makes the Wine To charm our happy Hours She. She gives our Flocks their feeding He. He makes them fit for breeding She. She decks the Plain He. He fills the Grain And makes it worth the weeding Cho. But the Jolly Nymph Thetis that long his Love sought Has fluster'd him now with a large Mornings draught Let 's go and divert him then whilst he is mellow You know in his Cups he 's a Hot-beaded Fellow Enter Morris Dancers Enter the Spring and Nymphs Spring Our Youth and Form declare For what we were design'd 'T was Nature made us fair And you must make us kind He that fails of addressing 'T is but just he should fail of possessing The Spring and Nymphs dance Enter Shepherds She. Jolly Shepherds come away To celebrate this Genial day And take the friendly hours your vows to pay Now make Trial And take no denial Now carry your Game or for ever give o're Cho. Let us Love and happy live Possess those smiling Hours The more auspicious Powers And gentle Planets give Prepare those soft returns to meet That makes Love torments sweet Enter Mars and his Attendants on one side Peace and her Train on the other Mar. Bid the Warlike Trumpet sound Conquest waits with Lawrel crown'd Conquest is the Hero 's due Glorious Triumph will ensue Peace 'T is time for War's alarms to cease And Heroes Crown'd with spoils Enjoy the Harvest of their toils And reap the happy Fruits of Peace Mar. his Train Cho. No no! tho love would have it so Fame and Honour answer No. Beace Wherefore must the Warriour be To restless Tasks assign'd Give others those delights which he Must never hope to find Shall he whose valour gain'd The Prize in rough alarms Be still condemn'd to arms And from a Victors share detain'd Mar. Cho. Yes yes Peace Cho. No no. Mar. Cho. Fame Fame will have it so Peace Cho. Love and Reason answer no. Peace Must he with endless toils be prest Nor with repose himself be blest Who gives the weary Nations rest Mar. Cho. Yes yes Peace Cho. No no All. Love Reason Honour all will have it so Cho. Since it is decreed that Wars should cease Let 's all agree to welcome Peace The grand Dance Duke I am the last of my great race and wou'd not Leave my dear Country when I dye to strife But that I may secure so great a blessing With equal hand to all I 'll Justice do Favour shan't blind my Reason but Reward And punishment shall wait on Guilt and Merit Impartial Justice Kings shou'd mind alone For that 't is still perpetuates best a Throne FINIS
themselves Conspire And shun the Cure they most desire Dido Thy Hand Belinda Darkness shades me On thy Bosom let me Rest More I would but Death invades me Death is now a welcome Guest When I am laid in Earth may wrongs create No Trouble in thy Breast Remember me but ah forget my Fate Cho. With drooping Wings you Cupids come Soft and Gentle as her Heart Keep here your Watch and never part Ange. I see my Ev'ning Star of Love appear This is no place to try my last Effort I so desire that Force if fair means fail Must give me ease Wou'd you ought with me Isa. I come my Lord on the same humble Suit Ange. This is no place to hear you follow me Now my kind Stars assist my fierce Desires I ask no other Influence from your fires O! Love how much thy borrow'd shapes disguise Ev'n to themselves the Valiant and the Wise. Exeunt Omnes The End of the Third ACT. ACT IV. SCENE I. A Room in Angelo's Apartment Enter Angelo and Isabella Ange. HAd you not fear'd your Brothers fate I had Not seen you now fair Isabel which shews That you can pity him tho' you slight me He may that pity thank but I your fear Isa. My Lord I hardly can my self forgive That I still sue to you to save my Brother But that I hope to wake your Virtue To spare his Life and to Reform your own Ang. How desp'rate all your hopeful Visits are You bring me Counsel still instead of Love And wou'd in storms of Passion make me Wise Pilots as well may preach to stormy Winds Isa. And yet as Tempests are allay'd by showr's So may your Anger by my Tears be calm'd Ang. You must by yielding teach me to Relent Make hast Night's fleeting progress will be done And then your Brothers gloomy Race begins Isa. Then he 'l convey your unjust doom on high Before that Judge whose pow'r you use so ill As if 't were subject to your Will like Love Where you will tremble to approach My Lord. The cruel here shall wish they just had been And that their seeming Love had not been Lust. Ang. These useless Sayings you from Cloisters bring But cannot teach so soon as you were taught You must example to my Mercy give Claudio shall live if you first save my Life Isa. Have you no words but what are good alone Because their ill is quickly understood Let Claudio dye while cruel you seem dead By being deaf to all that ask your pity Till by long custom of forgiving none To all forgiveness you are grown Averse That in your own behalf you shall refuse To hear of Absolution when you dye Ang. How can you rise to such outragious Storms From such a modest calm of Bashfulness That suppliant Saints to Heaven did emulate Sure you have other Passions which provok'd You can as ill repel Oh! for the pow'r The Charms of Youth and of a graceful Person To stir your Blood and rouse up your Desires Isa. This my Lord is from our purpose Going Ang. Stay He takes a Cabinet off the Table Here take in this what still supplies Defects The Wealth of many Parents heap'd this Treasure In these behold Natures Reserves of Light Bright as the starry Spangles of the Skye When Night dress'd finest in her frost appears Isa. They areindeed most rich and most surprizing Looking at ' em Ang. Be in this World like other People Wise And take this Treasure as your Beauty 's due Wealth draws a Curtain o're the face of shame Restores lost Beauty and recovers Fame Isa. Aside To him These I will take as Mariana's due And as a proof he cannot sure deny These sparkling Diamonds do please me strangely Ang. Why take 'em Madam they are freely yours Isa. But what can I return for such a Gift Ang. What will not make thee poorer yet me rich I will not tell thee more to save thy blushes I 'll be as cautious of thy Fame as thou Here take this Key and two hours hence return For now thou art known to be here with me This will convey thee to the Royal Grotto Where we in welcome darkness will discover What I require for this Noble Present Isa. But my Brother shall he too live Ang. He shall No more of Doubts he shall Isa. Oh ' Heaven Sir here take your Gifts again There 's Poison in 'em sure that they infect me Ang. No no away my Love and when you come I will convince you that they bear no Poison Isa. Well I will come if only to restore them For Oh! I fear the Guilt will like a Murder Haunt my sick Mind till I restore 'em to you Ang. Never fear it go Isa. But let there be no Light For if there be I swear by all that 's good Hah how dare I name or think of what is Good With such a purpose Ang. Forget these Scruples Isa. I shall do much to keep these glorious Jewels But let there be no Light Ang. I swear there shall not Isa. Two hours hence Sir Ang. And in the Royal Grotto Isa. Aside I will not fail you Oh! deluded Man To think my Virtue can be bought by Trifles That Fancy only values thy Wife shall have 'em And thou shalt havethy Wife Exit Ang. O! Danae Danae comprehensive Image Of all thy Sex all spread their laps for Gold Yes the whole Venal Sex is bought and sold. And she that with severest Virtue flies Youth Form and Merit obstinately denies Will yield to worthless Age if Age will give her Price SCENE II. A Garden Enter Mariana and a Maid Mar. O! Mariana Sleep has fled thy Eyes And broken slumbers scarce refresh thy Spirits Since Angelo is false I wonder what Affairs My holy Confessor can have with me Thus late at Night yet I with ease may wait him To amuse my Sorrows let me hear that Song The Maid Sings SONG Take Oh! take those Lips away That so sweetly were forsworn And those Eyes the break of day Lights that do mislead the Morn But my kisses bring again bring again Seals of Love but seal'd in vain Enter Duke and Fryer Mar. Break off thy Song and hast thee quick away Here comes a Man of Comfort whose Advice Has often still'd my brawling discontents I cry you Mercy and cou'd wish you had not Found me here so Musical it sooth'd my Griefs But bred no Mirth Duke Musick my good Daughter Has power to soften Woe refresh the Mind And make it fit for its more strenuous Duties Has any yet since Night enquir'd for us Mar. None my holy Father Enter Isabella Duke Oh here she comes This Virtuous Maid fair Mariana brings Such wholesom means to cure your wounded Mind That will secure your sickle Angelo Mar. What happy Sounds are these they Embrace Duke Inform her Isabella of the Matter They seem to Whisper O! Place and Greatness Millions of false Eyes Are stuck upon thee Volums of Report Run with their false
his Presence Enter Duke Lords and Attendants Happy return to your Royal Highness Duke Thanks good Lord Angelo on enquiry I hear such fame of your great Justice that My Soul must as fore runner of more just reward Now give you publick thanks Ang. You make my Bonds still greater Duke Oh! as I wou'd severely punish him That shou'd betray my trust and turn it To base unworthy ends of Pride or Malice Of guilty Vengeance Favour Cruelty So must my people know how I esteem The man that does the contrary Enter Father Thomas and Isabella Fry Now 's your time speak loud and kneel before him Isa. Justice Royal Duke Oh! pray regard An injur'd I fain alas would say a Maid Oh! hear me Prince Oh! hear and give me Justice Justice Justice Justice Duke Declare your wrongs Here is Lord Angelo shall give you Justice Apply your self to him Isa. Oh! Royal Duke Hear me yourself for oh he has no Justice 'T is against him I claim it Ang. My Lord her Brain Is now infirm having su'd to me in vain For her dead Brother cut off by course of Justice Isa. By course of Justice Ang. And she 'll speak bitterly Isa. I will speak truth however strange it seem That Angelo s forsworn is it not strange That Angelo's a Murtherer is it not strange That Angelo's an Adulterous Robber A violater of unhappy Virgins A most deceitful dangerous Hypocrite Is it not strange Duke All all most wondrous strange Isa. Yet Royal Sir 't is all as true as strange Duke Away with her poor Soul she 's mad Isa. Oh! Prince I do conjure you as you do believe A Heav'n to come as well as Hell hereafter That you 'll not slight my Cause as madness All that 's unlikely is not sure impossible Hypocrisy were nothing cou'd we see through it A Hypocrite may seem as grave austere As holy and as just as Angelo Then he may be a Hypocrite a Villain If he 's not he 's nothing but he is more Duke If she be mad as I believe no other Her Madness has the oddest frame of sense Such a dependancy of thing on thing As ne're was heard in madness Isa. Oh! Gracious Duke Believe not that I 'm mad but do me Justice Duke Many that are not mad have sure less reason What wou'd you say come to your complaint Isa. I am the Sister of unhappy Claudio Who in your service had receiv'd some Wounds But falsly accus'd of breach of a blind Law Was doom'd to death by him in hopes to save him I begg'd and pray'd entreated wept These tho they mov'd not pity mov'd his Love Which he confess'd and urg'd nay promis'd marriage Which with assurance of my Brothers life Prevail'd with me as to my certain Husband To yield what he commanded weeps Duke Go on Isa. But while his vows were warm yet on his Lips He takes my Brothers life a fatal proof How ill he meant to keep his other vows And finding by your Royal Proclamation I must complain or now or never I could not Resist the impulse of my injur'd honour Duke By heav'n fond Maid thou know'st not what thou say'st Or art suborn'd against his well known honour First his Integrity stands without blemish Next how cou'd he punish what himself durst act Confess the truth and say by whose advice Thou comst here to complain Isa. And is this all Then oh you blessed Ministers above Then oh you blessed Ministers above Do me instant Justice Going Duke You wou'd be gone But Guards secure her I will know the Spring That set you thus in motion Isa. One that I wish were here one Fryer Lodwick Duke I know him well a man of truth and justice Fr. May 't please your Highness I am here for him Who being detain'd by illness from this place Has sent me hither to oppose this Maid And you shall hear her so disprov'd that she Shall her own self confess it Duke Let 's hear this proof VVhy look you so concern'd Lord Angelo Do you doubt my Justice or my Love or think I 'll suffer calumny to thrive come sit your self Be your own Judge Fryer proceed Enter Mariana veil'd and Maid with the Cabinet Fry Here comes the proof my Lord. Duke First let her shew her face and after speak Mar. Pardon my Lord I dare not shew my Face Till my own Husband bid me Duke Are you then marry'd Mar. My Lord I am and come to justify my Husband She that accuses her Lord Angelo Does of that very crime accuse my Husband And charges him when I my Lord did hold him Within these Arms my self Ang. Charges she more than me Mar. Not that I know of Duke No you say your Husband Mar. I do my Lord but that is Angelo Ang. This is a strange Abuse let 's see thy face Mar. My Husband bids me now I will unmask This is that face thou cruel Angelo Which you once swore was worthy of your eyes This is the hand you took with solemn vows And this the body that supply'd her place This morning in the Royal Grotto Duke Know you this woman Angelo Ang. My Lord I must confess I know this woman And some years since there was some speech of Marriage Betwixt my self and her which was broke off Partly for that her Portion prov'd less than promise But more especially for her ill name Since which I 've neither seen nor spoke with her Upon my Faith and Honour Mar. Noble Prince So may I meet the Blessings of hereafter As this man knew me as his wife this morning Ang. I did but smile till now Good my Lord Give me the scope of Justice I do perceive These poor informing women are set on By some more powerful to blast my vertue Duke No more Base Angelo I know thee guilty Angelo starts up I was my self contriver of this Scene As I had been to do Mariana justice Produce that Casket Know you Sir those Jewels They were 't is true design'd the price of Virgins But brought by that bright Maid to thy good Wife Who in her place deceiv'd thee in the Grotto This this good Father that was my companion Whilst I disguis'd my self in their habit Can witness for me I waited all this while To see if thy Remorse wou'd shew thy Guilt But thou art hardned in thy guileful Arts. Have you ought yet to say Ang. Oh! my dread Lord I shou'd be guiltier than I am to think I can be undiscover'd when your Highness Like power divine has thus observ'd my actions Oh! hold no longer Sessions on my shame But let my Sentence past on Claudio's Life Be now my doom I only beg for death Duke And that 's your due Come hither Mariana Say was you ever marry'd to this woman Ang. My good Lord I was Duk. Come hither Isabella Your Fryer's now your Prince Isa. Oh! give me pardon That I your Vassal have employ'd and pain'd Your unknown Soveraignty Duke It needs no
Musick and 't is Shakespears Play The Epilogue Shakespeares GHOST Spoken by Mr. Verbruggen By the Same ENough ' your Cruelty Alive I knew And must I Dead be Persecuted too Injur'd so much of late upon the Stage My Ghost can bear no more but comes to Rage My Plays by Scriblers Mangl'd I have seen By Lifeless Actors Murder'd on the Scene Fat Falstaff here with Pleasure I beheld Toss off his Bottle and his Truncheon weild Such as I meant him such the Knight appear'd He Bragg'd like Falstaff and like Falstaff fear'd But when on yonder Stage the Knave was shewn Ev'n by my Self the Picture scarce was known Themselves and not the Man I drew they Play'd And Five Dull Sots of One poor Coxcomb made Hell that on you such Tricks as these shou'd pass Or I be made the Burden of an Ass Oh! if Machbeth or Hamlet ever pleas'd Or Desdemona e'r your Passions rais'd If Brutus or the Bleeding Caesar e'r Inspir'd your Pity or provok'd your Fear Let me no more endure such Mighty VVrongs By Scriblers Folly or by Actors Lungs So late may Betterton for sake the Stage And long may Barry Live to Charm the Age. May a New Otway Rise and Learn to Move The Men with Terror and the Fair with Love Again may Congreve try the Commic Strain And Wycherly Revive his Ancient Vein Else may your Pleasure prove your greatest Curse And those who now Write dully still Write worse Measure for Measure c. ACT. I. SCENE I. A Large HALL in the Palace On one Side Enter Lucio On the other Balthazar Lucio WHat Balthazar Return'd from the Wars Bal. Ev'n as you see Friend Lucio spight of Bullets Now Mars is gon to take a Nap till Spring I that hate Idleness seek other Warfare Love Love my Lucio Love this Winter Season Will find me Work and if there are in Turin But Eyes of any Colour Blew Gray Black My Courage will Attack ' em Luc. Hold my Friend You that go a Volunteering to the Wars And rather than not Fight seek Forraign Quarrels When your own Prince has none must go seek Love In other Countrys too if you 'd be safe Balth. Safe sure there are yet some Sound in Turin Luc. Oh! you mistake me Sir but were there none You might Compound that Mischief for some Pain At worst but pay a Limb but as things go Your Neck or nothing Segnior now will do Balth. Prithee be plain Luc. Why thus it is then mind me Our Duke is gon Incognito to Travel Bal. That I have heard And that Lord Angelo Is left his Deputy Luc. Right Sir And whether The Novelty of Pow'r thus turns his Brain Or that the Body-Politic's a Horse Rid by the Governour who newly seated Lets it strait feel the Spur that it may know He can Command I 'll not decide but he Awakes those Drowsy and Neglected Laws Whose Grinding Penaltys has made 'em Sleep These Nineteen years to get himself a Name Balth. What 's that to Love Friend Lucio Luc. Be Patient And know Lord Angelo's a Man whose Blood Is very Snow-Broth one who never feels The wanton Stings and Motions of the Senses He from those Laws has now pick'd out an Act That Dooms Unlicens'd Love t'immediate Death Bal. Death there 's a Law sure 't was made by Eunuchs Luc. No no by Old State-Cuckolds formal Hypocrites And Unperforming Husbands Bal. Sure 't is for Terror And empty Threats alone that he has rous'd it He has made no New Examples has he yet Duc. I cannot say there yet is one dispach'd But every Prison in the Town is full Of Bauds Pimps and VVhoring Soldiers like your self Sir And Claudio so fam'd for every Noble Virtue That proves him worthy his Illustrious Race Young Brave and Learned tho' he is a Noble Man This Claudio I say stands now Condemn'd Upon this Act and must to Morrow Dye Balth. You sure but Rally Pray be Serious Luc. Why this is known to all the City How cou'd it miss your Ears Balth. I just Alighted and came to Pay my Court to the Deputy Luc. This is a certain Truth and all his Friends Have been Repuls'd nay the Lord Escalus The next in Dignity to himself has Su'd In vain for Claudio's Pardon Bal. If 't is so How can this Sow'r Governour be pleas'd With Musick Shew and Opera's those Seldom please where Cruelty presides And yet since I have come into the Palace I 've heard the Tuning of various Instruments And the trolling of soft Melodious Voices Luc. Those the Good Escalus prepar'd In hopes to Melt and sweeten his Sour Temper That when the Power of Harmony prevails His Soul may relish Mercy more than Justice For so he calls th' Extreams of this Wild Law But that he may not tire him with this Musick He devides the Entertainment into Four But see they come Enter Angelo Escalus and Attendants Ang. We must not make a Scare-crow of the Law Setting it up to Fright the Birds of Prey Till Custom make it their Pearch and not their Terror Esca Let it be Keen and rather Cut a little Than fall and bruise to death Alas this Gentleman Whom I wou'd Save had a most Noble Father And has himself perform'd most Noble Deeds To serve his Country and declares he 's Marry'd Ang. He that contemns his Countrys Laws Sir loses His fairest best Pretence of serving her For Passions more than Virtue oft Inspire Hot Youth to signalize themselves in War Then for his vain Pretence of Marriage 't is An Old a Common Trick t'evade the Laws Or if 't were true it was so Clandestine That it deserves the Fate He now shall meet What shall I say to Julietta's Friends Whos 's Injur'd Honour calls upon my Justice Esca Whose base Hypocrisie conceals their Malice Under that Name They wou'd not press you thus Did they not hope by Claudio's Death to save Julietta's Wealthy Fortune for themselves Since the same Law that Dooms the Man to Death Condemns the Woman after Publick Pennance To end her Life within a Monastry Ang. No more good Escalus nor let your Friendship Betray you to abuse the Pious Pedro. Esca Set but your self then in Claudio's Place Love Opportunity Consent and Boyling Youth Have they not in your Time at least Alarm'd you If not Compell'd you to the like Transgression Ang. 'T is one thing to be tempted Escalus Another thing to fall 't is no Excuse For his Transgression that I have my Failings Yet when I fail so so let me be Sentenc'd Ha! Belthazar I saw you not How long Arriv'd Bal. But just alighted Sir for my Duty To kiss your Hands forbid Delays of Dress Ang. 'T is well no Flattery Enter Servant Serv. My Lord here is Count Claudio's Sister designs Access Ang. Admit her his Sister Escalus if I mistake not left without a Fortune Tho' Beautiful and Young designs to spend Her Life in the Bless'd Refuge of a Cloister Esca She does my
No my Sister I have no thoughts of living on your Ruin My Honour 's not so shrunk with my low Fortune And what I had to add was for my Iuliet That if you e'er did love your hapless Brother Have any share in our dead Mother's Pity You 'd take the tender Mourner to your Bosome And comfort her sad Soul for my Misfortunes Isa. First I must ask your Pardon injur'd Claudio For this Offence of Jealousie of Honour And now I do most solemnly assure thee I will invite her to my Breast within A Cloyster'd Shade where we with mutual Grief Will mourn in sad Remembrance your Loss Claud. O! rather teach her to forget that Loss Remembrance will keep her Griefs still waking Bear her this fatal Pledge of our first Vows Gives a Ring Tell her how hard I think the Tyrant's Will That will not let us take our last Farewel Tell her I have no Pang to leave this World But that of leaving her That fond Desire Of her so heavy sits upon my Soul It cloggs its Pinions and retards its Flight Tell her But oh I never shou'd have done Shou'd I pursue the Dictates of my Heart Which oh is full of tender faithful Love Farewel to happy Cloysters both retire And there O may you ever live above The Rage of Pow'r and Injuries of Love Exit Enter Duke and Frier Isa. Farewel my Brother noble Youth farewel And with thee all my Cares of earthly Things is going Duke Vouchsafe a Word with you good Sister but one Word Isa. What is your Will Duke What I hope will be yours too Isa. My Sorrows Father hasten me from hence I beg you wou'd be brief Duke The Hand that made you fair has made you good Th' Assault that Angelo has giv'n your Vertue Chance to my Knowledge brings I have o'er-heard you And am amaz'd at Angelo's Hypocrisie Isa. How is the noble Duke deceiv'd in him If he return my Injuries shall speak To him I will discover the Impostor Duke That may do well but he 'll evade the Charge By vouching it a Trial or denying all But hearken to me will propose a way Shall save your Brother and not injure you And get a Proof that will confound his Cunning If you will join and do what I propose Isa. O let me hear you speak I will do all That Virtue will permit Good Father speak Duke Vertue is bold and Goodness never fearful You 've heard of Mariana Frederick's Sister Who with her Brother lost her Hopes and Fortune Isa. Both sunk at Sea or I mistake Duke Ev'n so This Angelo then but low in Fortune In Frederick's Absence won this Maid to love him And fearing Frederick's Aversion to the Match Shou'd hinder him from doing what he 'd promis'd Marry'd her in private none being by But his own Creatures but that same Day News came of Frederick's Ship being cast away And with it him and all her Hopes of Wealth Isa. Thus far how like my Brother's State Duke But no farther This sordid Man convey'd Away all proof of what was done And thus has left her a poor mournful Widow Maid and Wife Isa. O base ungrateful Villain Duke She loves him still ungrateful as he is Go you again then to Lord Angelo Seem as if won and make the dark Appointment She shall supply your Place the Act is just And innocent and must save your Brother Isa. But is she marry'd Fryer We both assure you that You sure may trust us Isa. I dare not doubt you It grows near the time That he appointed me to come again Duke Hasts you to him and from him to us You 'll find us at St. Luke's at th' Moated Grange With poor dejected Mariana Isa. Your Blessings and I 'm gone Exit Duke I have not patience of Concealment longer Yet I must stay to see the black Event But I have sent him Letters of my coming And that at Noon to morrow I reach Turin Now my Good Father let us haste to Mariana Exeunt ambo Scene changes to the Hall in the Palace Enter Angelo Escalus and Attendants Ese All the Duke's Letters are contradictory Ang. In most unev'n and distracted manner His Letters show much like to Madness Pray Heav'n my Fears prove vain Esc. To morrow Noon will shew it My Lord if we have not tir'd you to day With our harmonious and officious Love I hope you will partake this last Effort That may compose your Thoughts for pleasing Slumbers Ang. I am not so unjust Lord Escalus To slight my Friends Endeavours to delight me Besides it is my Royal Master's Birth-day And that excuses this gay Loose of Pleasure Let them begin No Isabella yet They all sit and the Third Musick Before 't is quite done Isabella enters The Third Entertainment SCENE The Ships Enter Sorceress and VVitches Enter Saylors Sorc COme away Fellow-Saylors your Anchors be weighing Time and Tide will admit no delaying Take a Bouze short leave your Nymphs on the Shore And silence their Mourning With Vows of returning But never intending to visit them more The Saylors dance Sorc See the Flags and the Streamers curling Anchors weighing Sails unfurling Phoebus pale deluding Beams Gilding more deceitful Streams Our Plot has took The Queen forsook Ho ho ho. Elisa's ruin'd ho ho ho. Next Motion Must be to storm her Lover on the Ocean From the Ruins of others our Pleasure we borrow Elisa bleeds to Night and Carthage flames to morrow Chor. Destruction's our Delight Delight our greatest Sorrow Elisa dies to Night and Carthage flames to morrow A Dance of Wizards and VVitches Exeunt Enter Queen Dido Belinda and Train Dido Your Council all is urg'd in vain To Earth and Heaven I will complain To Earth and Heaven why do I call Earth and Heaven conspire my Fall To Fate I sue of other means bereft The only Refuge for the Wretched left Enter AEneas Bel. See Madam where the Prince appears Such Sorrow in his Looks he bears As wou'd convince you still he 's true AEn What shall lost AEneas do How Royal Fair shall I impart The Gods decree and tell you we must part Dido Thus on the Fatal Bank of Nile Weeps the deceitful Crocodile Thus Hypocrites that Murder act Make Heav'n and Gods the Authors of the Fact AEn By all that 's Good Dido By all that 's Good no more All that 's Good you have forswore To your promis'd Empire fly And let forsaken Dido dye AEn In spight of Jove's Command I stay Offend the Gods and Love obey Dido No faithless Man thy Course pursue I 'm now resolv'd as well as you No Repentance shall reclaim The injur'd Dido's slighted Flame For 't is enough whate'er you now decree That you had once a Thought of leaving me AEn Let Jove say what he will I 'll stay Exit AEn Dido Away To Death I 'll fly if longer you delay But Death alas I cannot shun Death must come when he is gone Cho. Great minds against
and most contrarious Censures Upon thy Actions thousand games of Wit Make thee the Father of their idle Dreams And rack thee in their Fancies Fryer True my Lord But seldom reach or ought affect this Greatness Men bark at Grandeur but 't is at a distance As Dogs do at the Moon she hears it not Goes on her Round and peaceful Race of Glory Untouch'd by all their little Malice Duke Well! Mariana how do you tast these means Mar. With Joy if you advise it Duke 'T is not only My Counsel but Intreaty but kind Isabel What have you here within this Cabinet Isa. This Cabinet with all it holds is yours To Mariana For you are his and tho'he gave it me With foul intent yet I as yours receiv'd it And as a proof most certain of his Guilt Duke But as to time and place Isa. Within this Hour and in the Royal Grotto This Key conducts you Madam 't will be dark Let not your stay be long but say your Maid Waits for you at the Gate who does believe You come about your Brother remember that Mar. I shall fear not your Brother Duke And gentle Daughter be not you affraid He is your Husband and it is no Sin To bring you thus together the deceit In that is Justify'd then quickly go And reap the Harvest that your Friends have sow'd Exeunt Omnes SCENE III. The Prison Enter Provost and Claudio Pro. HEre is the Warrant Claudio for thy Death 'T is now past four and before eight this Morning You must be made Immortal I pity you Clau. Art thou then so capable of pity For that small pang of Death I then must feel Sure thou canst never just Compassion want For the extreamest Torture of the Mind 'T is true I know the Brutal Deputy Forbids my sight of my unhappy Wife But sure thou hast more soft humanity Than not to let me see her e're I dye Pro. I have the Will but dare not disobey Or break my Oath which does oblige obedience Clau. Such blind implicit Oaths suppose a Justice In what shall be commanded else thou must If he command destroy thy Father break All the Laws both Humane and Divine Pro. But in obeying here I shall break none Clau. Thou break'st the Laws of pity and compassion Pro. So does the Judge that sits upon the Criminal If with his Pray'rs unmov'd he gives his Sentence Clau. That 's with the Law but sure no Law denies Us liberty to take a parting look Before we seperate for ever Oh! by thy hopes By all that thou hold'st dear by Heav'n I beg thee Grant me this last request thou shalt be by Hear all that 's said see all that we shall do Pro. Well let me think a while Enter Duke and Fryer Duke The best and wholsom`st spirits of the night Surround thee Provost Pro. Thanks my holy Father Duke What Comfort is for Claudio Pro. He is a Judge inexorable Duke He walks himself so straitly by the line Of the severest Justice that he thinks All men might do the same This is a gentle Provost 't is seldom seen That the harsh Goaler is the Friend of men Have you no countermand for Claudio yet Pro. None Sir none Duke As near the dawning as it is You shall hear more e're morning Pro. I wish I may Enter Messenger Duke This is that Lord's man And here comes Claudio's pardon Mess. My Lord has sent you here this Note And by me too this further charge That you presume not in the least to swerve Ev'n from the smallest Article of it In time or matter or in any circumstance Good morrow as I take it 't is almost day Exit Pro. I shall obey him I told you Sir my fear Lord Angelo perhaps thinking me remiss In the performance of my Office wakes me With this and that most strangely too methinks Duke Pray let us hear it The Letter Pro. reads Whatever you may hear to the contrary let Claudio be executed by six this morning and Bernardine by twelve for my better satisfaction let me have Claudio's Head sent me by seven Let this be duly executed with a thought that more depends on 't than yet you know Thus fail not to do your Office as you will answer it at your peril Pro. What say you to this Sir Claud. You see how short a time I have to live Oh! let me Fathers beg you by your order By the blest Saint that was your holy Founder That you prevail with him to let me see My Wife before I dye 't is all I ask Duke Gentle Provost you 'll not deny him that Clau. He fears his Oath of strict Obedience ties him To a denial Duke Let me assure you no We will take all the guilt upon us two Prov. I 'll trust to your opinion Sir I 'll fetch her The unlocking of that door admits her to you He unlocks the door Madam you may come out to see your Lord. Enter Julietta They run and embrace one another Jul. My Claudio Clau. My Juliet Duke Let us retire and leave them to themselves We may be near enough to overhear them Besides I have some Business with the Provost Exeunt all but Claudio and Juliet Jul. Oh! my Claudio do I once more behold thee Clau. This once my Juliet but alas no more The galloping minutes fly swiftly on That will for ever bear me from thy sight Jul. Oh! torturing sound Oh! sad Oh! narrow view Of all my Life 's dear happiness at once I cannot teach my heart the hateful truth What no more see thee see my Love no more Clau. No more my Love Jul. Oh! say not thou so for from thee it sounds Unkindly harsh and the least empty shadow Of thy unkindness soon would break my heart Clau. Ah! thou art Love and Tenderness it self Chast humble and obedient to my Will If I had any Will that was not thine Jul. Ah! my dear Lord our Wills were so much one I had no use at all of my Obedience Clau. Thy Virtues as thy Beauties are Divine And Heavenly goodness is in all thou dost Oh! Juliet how happy have we been Within our selves we 'd perfect happiness We built it not on the frail Goods of Fortune But thou alone were 't mine and only I was thine Jul. And yet curs'd fortune too has ruin'd us That stream of Life that fed our mutual joys This shock of Fate has thrown from out his bed And in thy Death choaks up its pleasing source Clau. Like a good Play our first Act promis'd wonders But the false Deputy and Miser Pedro With envious guilty hands pulls down the Curtain And spightfully forbid the rest Oh! Julietta how canst thou forgive me The cursed cause of this thy shameful woe Jul. Oh! rather how can'st thou forgive me Claudio Who thus have brought thee to untimely death To ignominious death Clau. Oh charge not thy dear self with such a guilt 'T was I 't was I alone that caus'd it
all Wretch that I was oh miserable wretch That could seek ought but thee tho it was thine Were not thy vertues and thy wondrous Beauties A Treasure large enough for my desires But I must hazard those for dirt and Counters O! foolish Caution that regarded trifles And left my only Jewel so expos'd Yes yes I do deserve this hateful lot Imprisonment foul Death and every thing That 's ignominious for so vile a Crime Jul. Forbear my Love thou could'st not see This sad event our Innocence could not fear Those Laws it ne're should break Laquinas absent And Father Pierre in France enough to prove Our Marriage had we time Our Enemys Deny me that to rob me of my Dower Oh! let them take it and with it take my life If they would spare but thee 'T is I 't is I That robb'd my Claudio of his noble Life Oh! Heaven I shall grow wild with the sad Thought 'T is Julietta murders her dear Claudio Clau. Oh! do not grieve for what is not thy guilt It is Heaven's Will and we are innocent Then grieve not thus my Love I hardly got This short permission for my last farewel Which I wou'd use to comfort thy sad soul And not t' encrease thy sorrows Grieve no more Jul. Oh! Can'st thou love And yet forbid my grief Thou deal'st not by me with the Rule of Justice Wou'd'st thou not grieve were I to dye like thee Yes yes thou wou'd'st my Claudio for my shame Tho fortify'd with innocence just now Shook thy dear Soul with Agonies of Grief And wilt thou rob me then of the sad Priviledge Of my misfortunes No I will grieve as long as I have life For Life has now no joys t' appease my sorrows What can I see thee leaving me for ever For ever oh dismal cursed sound And part without a pang or tear No I 'll indulge so just a grief and melt Dissolve into a watry Deluge that shall Bear down the damms of Life and drown my Woe Clau. Think of thy Child which is a part of me Thou 'lt murder that with thy excess of sorrow Preserve that Image of th' unhappy Claudio And if thou must be griev'd for thou dost love me And it is just thou grieve a little for me Be moderate in it for mine and thy Child's sake Think me but going a most happy Voyage To a blest Region of Content and Peace Where Innocence and Truth are undisturb'd By cruel envy avarice or pride There to make ready a retreat for thee Who at the night of this short day of life Wilt follow me and stay with me for ever Jul. Oh! oh my heart Weeps and shews great sorrow and impatience Clau. Prethee my Love have patience Jul. Indeed I cannot help it Clau. Good Heaven assist thee for thy grief unmans me And I dissolve in tears too like a woman Enter Provost Duke and Fryar Pro. You have enough convinc'd me Duke Fear not but do as I advise Pro. Time forces now your parting To Claud. and Jul. Jul. Alas my Claudio must we part for ever Clau. Oh! think not so in Heav'n we sure must meet O kind Provost allow a little time A little more that we may gently part Not as if torn by force from one another Pro. A little and a little will be much And the Deputy in less than half an hour Expects your head these holy men attend you Jul. Oh! Faints away and they carry her off Clau. Oh! take care of her her sorrows fall With an oppressing weight upon her head Oh! holy Father apply your Sacred Comforts To her sad soul diseas'd with love and grief Oh! Julietta Oh! most wretched Claudio Duke Go after him and mind my last direction Exit We 'll follow you Pro. I shall Exit Isabella within Peace hoa be here Duke The Tongue of Isabella She comes to know if Claudio yet be pardon'd And will be strangely startled at the contrary I 'll send these Letters just now to Lord Angelo And let him know that I am now near home And that he attend me in the publick Hall Enter Isabella Isa. By your leave Duke Good morrow Gracious Daughter Isab. The better giv'n me by so holy a man Has yet the Deputy sent my Brothers pardon Duke He has releas'd him from this wicked world His head is off and sent to Angelo Is. This cannot be Duke 'T is so indeed good Daughter But shew your wisdom in your patience now Isa. No I will to him and pull his eyes out Duke You will not be admitted to his presence Isa. Unhappy Claudio wretched Isabella Injurious World accursed Angelo Duke This hurts not him nor profits you a jot Forbear it therefore give your Cause to Heavn Mark what I say which you shall find In every syllable a faithful truth The Duke comes home this morning dry your eyes One of our Convent and his Confessor Gives us this News he has already carry'd Notice to Escalus and Angelo This Holy Father shall bring you and Mariana Before the Duke to the head of Angelo Accuse him home and home nor be dismaid At what the Duke may say to search the bottom Be rul'd by this good Father and you're safe Isa. I 'll be directed by you Fryer Let Mariana and your self then meet me Near the Palace e're the Duke arrive Isa. I go to fetch her and will not fail you Exit Duke This day again I will appear at helm For Angelo I find would weed the vices Of others while he lets his own still grow But I will soon let his false Reason know That he that wou'd the Sword of Justice bear Shou'd be as holy as he is severe The end of the Fourth Act. ACT 5. SCENE 1. The Great Hall in the Palace Enter Angelo and Escalus Ang. T Is now the time the Duke 's expected home Why has he order'd we shan't meet his highness But wait him here to give up our Authorities Esc. I cannot guess the reason Ang. And why should we proclaim an hour before His entry that if any claim Redress Against Injustice in my Government They shou'd at his first entrance here declare it Esc. He shews you why that none hereafter may Trump up devices or complaints against you Ang. Well I 've obey'd him proclamation's made Good Escalus see all attend in order Esc. I will Exit Ang. This deed unshapes me quite dulls all my judgment A Maid of Quality deflower'd and by one Of my high Post against the Law express That Law that I enforc'd against her Brother Her shame indeed aw'd by my Pow'r secures me From her reproaches 't is true he should have liv'd But that his honour might have ta'n revenge When he had known the Price his Life had cost Yet would that he had liv'd in me 't was murder Tho done by Law Within Room for the Duke room for the Duke longlive Vincentio Duke of Savoy Ha! he comes my guilt Tho safe hid from him makes me dread