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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 undertaking。 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
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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 His old betrothed but despised； So disguise shall；
by th' disguised； Pay with falsehood false exacting； And perform an old
contracting。 Exit
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Act IV。
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Scene I。 The moated grange at Saint Duke's
Enter MARIANA； and BOY singing
SONG
Take； O； 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； seal'd in
vain。
Enter DUKE； disguised as before
MARIANA。 Break off thy song； and haste thee quick away； Here
comes a man of comfort； whose advice Hath often still'd my brawling
discontent。 Exit BOY I cry you mercy； sir； and well could wish You had
not found me here so musical。 Let me excuse me； and believe me so； My
mirth it much displeas'd； but pleas'd my woe。 DUKE。 'Tis good； though
music oft hath such a charm To make bad good and good provoke to harm。
I pray you tell me hath anybody inquir'd for me here to…day。 Much upon
this time have I promis'd here to meet。 MARIANA。 You have not been
inquir'd after； I have sat here all day。
Enter ISABELLA
DUKE。 I do constantly believe you。 The time is come even now。 I
shall crave your forbearance a little。 May be I will call upon you anon； for
some advantage to yourself。 MARIANA。 I am always bound to you。 Exit
DUKE。 Very well met； and well come。 What is the news from this good
deputy？ ISABELLA。 He hath a garden circummur'd with brick； Whose
western side is with a vineyard back'd； And to that vineyard is a planched
gate That makes his opening with this bigger key； This other doth
command a little door Which from the vineyard to the garden leads。 There
have I made my promise Upon the heavy middle of the night To call upon
him。 DUKE。 But shall you on your knowledge find this way？ ISABELLA。
I have ta'en a due and wary note upon't； With whispering and most guilty
diligence； In action all of precept； he did show me The way twice o'er。
DUKE。 Are there no other tokens Between you 'greed concerning her
observance？ ISABELLA。 No； none； but only a repair i' th' dark； And that I
have possess'd him my most stay Can be but brief； for I have made him
know I have a servant comes with me along； That stays upon me； whose
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persuasion is I come about my brother。 DUKE。 'Tis well borne up。 I have
not yet made known to Mariana A word of this。 What ho； within！ come
forth。
Re…enter MARIANA
I pray you be acquainted with this maid； She comes to do you good。
ISABELLA。 I do desire the like。 DUKE。 Do you persuade yourself that I
respect you？ MARIANA。 Good friar； I know you do； and have found it。
DUKE。 Take； then； this your companion by the hand； Who hath a story
ready for your ear。 I shall attend your leisure； but make haste； The
vaporous night approaches。 MARIANA。 Will't please you walk aside？
Exeunt MARIANA and ISABELLA DUKE。 O place and greatness！
Millions of false eyes Are stuck upon thee。 Volumes of report Run with
these false； and most contrarious quest Upon thy doings。 Thousand
escapes of wit Make thee the father of their idle dream； And rack thee in
their fancies。
Re…enter MARIANA and ISABELLA
Welcome； how agreed？ ISABELLA。 She'll take the enterprise upon
her； father； If you advise it。 DUKE。 It is not my consent； But my entreaty
too。 ISABELLA。 Little have you to say； When you depart from him； but；
soft and low； 'Remember now my brother。' MARIANA。 Fear me not。
DUKE。 Nor； gentle daughter； fear you not at all。 He is your husband on a
pre…contract。 To bring you thus together 'tis no sin； Sith that the justice of
your title to him Doth flourish the deceit。 Come； let us go； Our corn's to
reap； for yet our tithe's to sow。 Exeunt
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SCENE II。 The prison
Enter PROVOST and POMPEY
PROVOST。 Come hither； sirrah。 Can you cut off a man's head？
POMPEY。 If the man be a bachelor； sir； I can； but if he be a married man；
he's his wife's head； and I can never cut of a woman's head。 PROVOST。
Come； sir； leave me your snatches and yield me a direct answer。 To…
morrow morning are to die Claudio and Barnardine。 Here is in our prison a
common executioner； who in his office lacks a helper； if you will take it
on you to assist him； it shall redeem you from your gyves； if not； you shall
have your full time of imprisonment； and your deliverance with an
unpitied whipping； for you have been a notorious bawd。 POMPEY。 Sir； I
have been an unlawful bawd time out of mind； but yet I will be content to
be a lawful hangman。 I would be glad to receive some instructions from
my fellow partner。 PROVOST。 What ho； Abhorson！ Where's Abhorson
there？
Enter ABHORSON
ABHORSON。 Do you call； sir？ PROVOST。 Sirrah； here's a fellow
will help you to…morrow in your execution。 If you think it meet； compound
with him by the year； and let him abide here with you； if not； use him for
the present； and dismiss him。 He cannot plead his estimation with you； he
hath been a bawd。 ABHORSON。 A b