1    If the duke with the other dukes come not to
2    composition with the King of Hungary, why then all
3    the dukes fall upon the king.

4    Heaven grant us its peace, but not the King of
5    Hungary's!

6    Amen.

7    Thou concludest like the sanctimonious pirate, that
8    went to sea with the Ten Commandments, but scraped
9    one out of the table.

10   'Thou shalt not steal'?

11   Ay, that he razed.

12   Why, 'twas a commandment to command the captain and
13   all the rest from their functions: they put forth
14   to steal. There's not a soldier of us all, that, in
15   the thanksgiving before meat, do relish the petition
16   well that prays for peace.

17   I never heard any soldier dislike it.

18   I believe thee; for I think thou never wast where
19   grace was said.

20   No? a dozen times at least.

21   What, in metre?

22   In any proportion or in any language.

23   I think, or in any religion.

24   Ay, why not? Grace is grace, despite of all
25   controversy: as, for example, thou thyself art a
26   wicked villain, despite of all grace.

27   Well, there went but a pair of shears between us.

28   I grant; as there may between the lists and the
29   velvet. Thou art the list.

30   And thou the velvet: thou art good velvet; thou'rt
31   a three-piled piece, I warrant thee: I had as lief
32   be a list of an English kersey as be piled, as thou
33   art piled, for a French velvet. Do I speak
34   feelingly now?

35   I think thou dost; and, indeed, with most painful
36   feeling of thy speech: I will, out of thine own
37   confession, learn to begin thy health; but, whilst I
38   live, forget to drink after thee.

39   I think I have done myself wrong, have I not?

40   Yes, that thou hast, whether thou art tainted or free.

41   Behold, behold. where Madam Mitigation comes! I
42   have purchased as many diseases under her roof as come to--

43   To what, I pray?

44   Judge.

45   To three thousand dolours a year.

46   Ay, and more.

47   A French crown more.

48   Thou art always figuring diseases in me; but thou
49   art full of error; I am sound.

50   Nay, not as one would say, healthy; but so sound as
51   things that are hollow: thy bones are hollow;
52   impiety has made a feast of thee.

53   How now! which of your hips has the most profound sciatica?

54   Well, well; there's one yonder arrested and carried
55   to prison was worth five thousand of you all.

56   Who's that, I pray thee?

57   Marry, sir, that's Claudio, Signior Claudio.

58   Claudio to prison? 'tis not so.

59   Nay, but I know 'tis so: I saw him arrested, saw
60   him carried away; and, which is more, within these
61   three days his head to be chopped off.

62   But, after all this fooling, I would not have it so.
63   Art thou sure of this?

64   I am too sure of it: and it is for getting Madam
65   Julietta with child.

66   Believe me, this may be: he promised to meet me two
67   hours since, and he was ever precise in
68   promise-keeping.

69   Besides, you know, it draws something near to the
70   speech we had to such a purpose.

71   But, most of all, agreeing with the proclamation.

72   Away! let's go learn the truth of it.

73   Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat, what
74   with the gallows and what with poverty, I am
75   custom-shrunk.
Enter POMPEY
76   How now! what's the news with you?

77   Yonder man is carried to prison.

78   Well; what has he done?

79   A woman.

80   But what's his offence?

81   Groping for trouts in a peculiar river.

82   What, is there a maid with child by him?

83   No, but there's a woman with maid by him. You have
84   not heard of the proclamation, have you?

85   What proclamation, man?

86   All houses in the suburbs of Vienna must be plucked down.

87   And what shall become of those in the city?

88   They shall stand for seed: they had gone down too,
89   but that a wise burgher put in for them.

90   But shall all our houses of resort in the suburbs be
91   pulled down?

92   To the ground, mistress.

93   Why, here's a change indeed in the commonwealth!
94   What shall become of me?

95   Come; fear you not: good counsellors lack no
96   clients: though you change your place, you need not
97   change your trade; I'll be your tapster still.
98   Courage! there will be pity taken on you: you that
99   have worn your eyes almost out in the service, you
100  will be considered.

101  What's to do here, Thomas tapster? let's withdraw.

102  Here comes Signior Claudio, led by the provost to
103  prison; and there's Madam Juliet.

104  Fellow, why dost thou show me thus to the world?
105  Bear me to prison, where I am committed.

106  I do it not in evil disposition,
107  But from Lord Angelo by special charge.

108  Thus can the demigod Authority
109  Make us pay down for our offence by weight
110  The words of heaven; on whom it will, it will;
111  On whom it will not, so; yet still 'tis just.

112  Why, how now, Claudio! whence comes this restraint?

113  From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty:
114  As surfeit is the father of much fast,
115  So every scope by the immoderate use
116  Turns to restraint. Our natures do pursue,
117  Like rats that ravin down their proper bane,
118  A thirsty evil; and when we drink we die.

119  If could speak so wisely under an arrest, I would
120  send for certain of my creditors: and yet, to say
121  the truth, I had as lief have the foppery of freedom
122  as the morality of imprisonment. What's thy
123  offence, Claudio?

124  What but to speak of would offend again.

125  What, is't murder?

126  No.

127  Lechery?

128  Call it so.

129  Away, sir! you must go.

130  One word, good friend. Lucio, a word with you.

131  A hundred, if they'll do you any good.
132  Is lechery so look'd after?

133  Thus stands it with me: upon a true contract
134  I got possession of Julietta's bed:
135  You know the lady; she is fast my wife,
136  Save that we do the denunciation lack
137  Of outward order: this we came not to,
138  Only for propagation of a dower
139  Remaining in the coffer of her friends,
140  From whom we thought it meet to hide our love
141  Till time had made them for us. But it chances
142  The stealth of our most mutual entertainment
143  With character too gross is writ on Juliet.

144  With child, perhaps?

145  Unhappily, even so.
146  And the new deputy now for the duke--
147  Whether it be the fault and glimpse of newness,
148  Or whether that the body public be
149  A horse whereon the governor doth ride,
150  Who, newly in the seat, that it may know
151  He can command, lets it straight feel the spur;
152  Whether the tyranny be in his place,
153  Or in his emmence that fills it up,
154  I stagger in:--but this new governor
155  Awakes me all the enrolled penalties
156  Which have, like unscour'd armour, hung by the wall
157  So long that nineteen zodiacs have gone round
158  And none of them been worn; and, for a name,
159  Now puts the drowsy and neglected act
160  Freshly on me: 'tis surely for a name.

161  I warrant it is: and thy head stands so tickle on
162  thy shoulders that a milkmaid, if she be in love,
163  may sigh it off. Send after the duke and appeal to
164  him.

165  I have done so, but he's not to be found.
166  I prithee, Lucio, do me this kind service:
167  This day my sister should the cloister enter
168  And there receive her approbation:
169  Acquaint her with the danger of my state:
170  Implore her, in my voice, that she make friends
171  To the strict deputy; bid herself assay him:
172  I have great hope in that; for in her youth
173  There is a prone and speechless dialect,
174  Such as move men; beside, she hath prosperous art
175  When she will play with reason and discourse,
176  And well she can persuade.

177  I pray she may; as well for the encouragement of the
178  like, which else would stand under grievous
179  imposition, as for the enjoying of thy life, who I
180  would be sorry should be thus foolishly lost at a
181  game of tick-tack. I'll to her.

182  I thank you, good friend Lucio.

183  Within two hours.

184  Come, officer, away!