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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
ESCALUS。 Go； away with her to prison。 MRS。 OVERDONE。 Good
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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 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 des