University of Virginia Library

ACT V.

SCENE I.

Enter Duke and Isabel.
Duke.
You told me, Daughter, that the Marshal has
Your Brother's pardon seal'd, and I shall watch
All means to keep him safe, lest Angelo
Should turn his clemency into revenge.
Do not th'assurance of his freedom buy
With hazard of a Virgins liberty.

Isab.
I shall with patience follow your instruction.

Duke.
Night's shady Curtains are already drawn;
And you shall hear strange news before the dawn.
[Exit Duke.

Enter Francisca.
Franc.
Is the good Father gone?

Isab.
Yes, Sister, and has left my breast in peace.

[A Bell rings.
Franc.
This Bell does nightly warn us e're we sleep,
T'appease offended Heaven. Let us go pray,
That the worlds crimes may vanish with the day.

[Exeunt.
Enter Benedick, Eschalus, Beatrice, Viola, Lucio, singing a Chorus within.
Esch.
Your Brother, Sir, has an unquiet mind:
'Tis late, and he would take his rest.

Viol.
We'll sing him asleep.

Ben.
Shall he who should
Live lean with care of the whole Common-wealth,
Grow fat with sleep like a Groenland-Bear?

Esch.
Rulers are but mortal; and should have rest.

Ben.
A States-man should take a nap in his Chair,
And only dream of sleep.

Beat.
These great tame Lions of the Law
(Who make Offenders of the weak)
Should still seem watchful, and like wild Lions
Sleep with their eyes open.

Esch.
Is night a season for singing?

Viol.
We'll sing like Nightingales, and they sing at night.

Esch.
Take heed; for the Grand-Watch does walk the Round.

Beat.
Signior, when did you hear of Nightingales
Taken by the Watch?

Luc.
Madam, we'll sing. The Governour
May come (if he please) and sigh to the Chorus.

Esch.
I'll bear no part, Sir, in your Song,
Nor in your punishment.
[Exit Eschalus.

The SONG.
Luc.

Cho.

Beat.

Cho.

Ben.

Cho.

Viol.

Cho.

Enter Balthazar.
Balt.
Behind the Garden of the Augustines
Your friends attend. You must be sudden if
You'll be successful.

Ben.
I come. Bid Lucio in a whisper to
Retire, and to expect my Orders at
Saint Laurence Gate. Lady, though you deny
Sleep to my Brother, yet, you may do well
Y'allow a little of it to your self.
It grows late; and Viola, methinks, begins
To lose an eye with watching in your service.

Viol.
I love watching and dancing too in Moon-shine nights,
Like any Fairy.

Beat.
Can whispers hide your bus'ness, Benedick,
When you are such a Weather-Cock, that with
But looking on you I can quickly find
Where the wind sits. Well, I wish you some danger,
That you may get the more honour.

[Exeunt several ways.
Enter Angelo, Eschalus.
Ang.
It is not just I should rebuke them for
Their harmony of mind; that were to shew
The rage, and envious malice of the Devil,
Who quarrels with the good, because they have
That happiness, which he can ne'er enjoy.

Esch.
My Lord, I find you sick for want of rest;
And grieve to heare you say, the cause of your
Disease is in your self.

Ang.
No sickness, Eschalus,
Can be more dangerous than mine, of which
The cause is known to that Physician, who
Enjoins me to dispair of cure.

Esch.
Your words amaze me.

[Enter 1. Servant.
1. Serv.
To Arms, my Lord, to Arms!
The ancient Citizens are wakt in terrour
By the insulting youth; who in loud throngs
March through the Streets to the Parade.

Ang.
Hence Coward! thou art frighted by thy dream.

[Ex. Serv.
Enter 2. Servant.
2. Serv.
Arm, arm, my Lord! your Brother is revolted,
Heading a Body of disbanded Officers.
He is in skirmish with your Guards,
To rescue Claudio from the Law.

Ang.
My Brother grown my publick Enemy?
This iteration sounds like truth. I was
Just now sending to declare Claudio's Pardon,
And to hasten his and Juliet's liberty.

Esch.
You purpos'd well, but your performance was
Too slow.

[Enter 1. Servant.
1. Serv.
'Tis said the Marshal of your Guards is slain.

Ang.
That's a surprise of fortune; for he had
Claudio's Pardon, and, had he shewn it, might
Perhaps have quencht the mutiny.
My Armour! and command my Guard of Switzs
To march, and to make good the Pass, which leads
To Saint Jago's Port. Haste, Eschalus,
And bid Montano make a sally from
The Citadel.

[Exeunt several ways.
Enter Duke, Provost.
Duk.
Lock up your Pris'ners, and secure the Gates.

Prov.
I did suspect by Lucio's menacings,
That Benedick would Claudio's liberty
Attempt by force; and therefore did provide
For opposition to attend th'assault.
Forty selected from the Guards without,
I have drawn in.

Duke.
Are they enter'd?

Prov.
They are, and bold Ursinoa does command 'em.

Duke.
Th'expedient which, in haste, I have prescrib'd,
Will in extremity be fit to use;
Though when you threaten't men may think you cruel.

Prov.
Father, I'll strictly follow your advice.

Duke.
Offer a parly from the Battlements.
Be careful, valiant Provost, of your charge,
And Heaven take care of you.

Prov.
I'll through the Postern lead you out:
Your function will protect you.

[Exeunt.
Enter Benedick, Balthazar, Officers.
Ben.
Remove the Martial straight where Surgeons may
Attend his wound, which is not mortal, though
His loss of blood deprive him of his speech.

Balt.
A Squadron of the Guards at our approach,
Retir'd into the Prison, to make good
The Gates against assault.

Ben.
Their sudden fear begot that policy,
Rather to make conditions for themselves,
Than for the place.

Balt.
The Provost will be obstinate.

Ben.
It may be safer for him to preserve
His courage for some other use.

Enter Lucio, Duke.
Luc.
Father Fox the Fryer, is stoln out of his hole;
And is going to make a visit to
The Geese of his Parish.

Ben.
Lucio, let him pass.

Luc.
If you give quarter to the Enemies
Of Lovers, you will be follow'd in your
Next War, by none but decrepid old Souldiers;
The youth will all forsake you.

Ben.
Unhand him straight: we must in rev'rence to
His function make him free.

Duke.
Peace be with your Lordship.

Luc.
Take care of Lovers in your Orizons,
And the rather, because praying for them,
You pray for the Duke. Remember that Fryer.

Duke.
If e're I see the Duke, Sir, he shall know
How much he is oblig'd to you.

Ben.
Lucio, be stedfast in your station.

[Exeunt Duke, Lucio.
Provost from the Battlements.
Ben.
Look up! the Provost does relent: he seems
Inclin'd to parly.

Prov.
May Fortune serve the valiant Benedick
In all attempts, but when he does invade
The Forts of Law, where Justice would secure
The Trophies of her Victories.

Ben.
Provost, I take your greeting well, and wish
Your courage more success, than you in your
Resistance now are like to find. You are
Too wise to talk of Law to those who mean
To justifie their actions by their Swords.

Prov.
My Lord, some honour I have gotten in
The face of Enemies; and will not lose
It in the sight of friends.

Ben.
You must give Claudio and Julietta liberty;
And then your other Pris'ners, and your self,
Shall, undisturb'd, be at your own dispose.

Prov.
Claudio by sentence is condemn'd; and sure
My Office does engage my honour to
Make good the sentence of the Law.

Balt.
Provost, we come not here to make a War,
Like Women, with vain words.

Ben.
Accept of peace by yielding that which I
Would gain by a request, or else expect
The worst event of force.

Prov.
Your force I will
Oppose; and when my temper is too much
Provokt, perhaps the extremity may make
Me shew you such an object, as will hurt
Your eyes.

[Enter Lucio.
Luc.
My Lord retire to face your Brother's pow'r,
Which now is doubled by a sally from
The Citadel.

Ben.
Make good the passage at Saint Laurence Gate:
And, whilst my Squadron does advance,
You, Balthazar, must march at distance with
The Reer.

Prov.
Ursino! range your Partizans!
'Tis now our time to make a sally too.

[Exeunt.
[Clashing of Arms within.
Enter Beatrice, Viola, Lacquay.
Viol.
Sister! Sister! can we not hide our selves?

Beat.
Fear nothing, Viola, till you are in love.
But then our Faces we like Wood-Cocks hide;
Whilst foolish fear (which is in women shame)
Makes us but tempt the Fowler to give aim.

Enter 1. Page.
1. Page.
Madam, all's our own.

Beat.
Well, speak! you are one of those Messengers
Who lost his Wages by his diligence;
Running so fast to bring good news, that he
Wanted breath to utter it.

1. Page.
Count Benedick's a most substantial man.
Would the Sun were up, that his friends might see
How he stands to't, whilst his Enemies flye from him.

Beat.
He is a substance fit to stand i'th' Sun
To make a shadow. And being the substance,
Lucio must be the shadow? if Benedick
Flye first, Lucio will not fail to follow him.

1. Page.
There is no end of Count Benedicks valour.

Beat.
Valiant without end; that is, stout to no purpose.

Enter 2. Page.
2. Page.
Oh Madam! Count Benedick is lost.

Beat.
How? this foolish Boy was ever given to lying.
Lacquay, go out, and bring me truth; such truth
As I shall like, or else return no more.

2. Page.
Madam, all the Maids—

Beat.
Peace! your Intelligence comes from the Laundry.

Viol.
Well, I fear the news may be too true then;
They know what they say. Carlo, tell it me.

[Page and Viola whisper.
Beat.
My eyes are not prophetical; perhaps
They melt too soon. Lost, valiant Benedick,
Lost by thy noble kindness for my sake;
Who whilst I pity'd Claudio in his danger,
Had of thy safety no indulgent care.

Enter Balthazar.
Balt.
Madam, pardon my haste, which is as rude
As my unseasonable visit.

Beat.
Tell me, I pray, the business of this night?

Balt.
Count Benedick began it with success;
Who to redeem unhappy Claudio from
The arms of death, and Juliet from the shame
Of publick penance, did assault the Guards
Attending near the Prison Gate; and at
The first encounter did disperse that force.

Beat.
This is no wonder; for in Honours Game
(Where many throw at the last great stake, life,
As if 'twere but light Gold) young Gamesters oft
Are lucky.

Balt.
The Provost offer'd parly, but deny'd
To yield the Pris'ners, and the cause which made
Him obstinate grew quickly evident;
By old Montano's sally from the Citadel,
And Angelo's advance with all his Zwits.
These were by valiant Benedick repulst.

Beat.
I'm not sorry now that I have his Picture:
For the vain Gentleman will quickly grow
So alter'd by success, that without his
Image I should hardly know him.

Balt.
Lord Angelo would have retir'd into the Citadel;
But in the strife of that retreat
Brave Benedick receiv'd a wound.

Beat.
A wound—Excuse me, Balthazar, if I
Assume the feeling of your friendship to him,
And pity him for your sake.

Balt.
The wound was slight;
And rather serv'd t'augment his courage, than
To waste his strength.

Beat.
Well, I'll allow him courage. Pray proceed.

Balt.
With many shouts saluted, he again
Summon'd the Provost; who enraged at our
Resistance of his sally from the Prison,
Licens'd his anger even to cruelty;
For, as a dire expedient to prevent
Th'occasion of a new assault, he doom'd
Young Claudio to endure the bloody Axe;
And from the Battlements shew'd us his head.

Beat.
Enough! your story grows too dismal to
Be heard. Dead Claudio, yet more happy is
Than living Juliet. Pray be brief, if you
Have any other sorrows to reveal!

Balt.
The cruel Provost having thus provokt
Count Benedick; he straight prepares to storm
The Prison; and th'assault was scarce begun,
When suddenly our Sov'raign Duke breaks forth,
From the dark Cloud of that disguise, in which,
It seems, he hath remain'd conceal'd in Turin.

Beat.
The Duke in Town?

Balt.
Most visibly in person, and in pow'r.
For by his high command victorious Benedick,
Is now with conquer'd Angelo, and both
Are Pris'ners to the Provost.

Beat.
Sudden and strange.

Balt.
Lord Angelo is kept from Visitants,
To make him ignorant of what is past;
And by the strictness of the Guards to Benedick,
'Tis whisper'd and suspected, that he will
Be sentenc'd for Rebellion.

Beat.
I'll to the Duke. He's full of clemency:
A Prince who by forgiving does reclaim,
And tenderly preserve for noble use,
Many whom rigid Justice, by exemplar death,
Would make for ever useless to the world.

Balt.
'Tis fit you hasten to him.

Beat.
In his own arms he bred my infancy.
He ever yielded to me when I su'd
For men who had no other plea to get
Their pardon but their misery; and sure
He'll not deny me when in tears I kneel,
For valiant Benedick.

[Exeunt.
Enter Duke in his own Habit, Eschalus, Provost, Fryer Thomas, Attendants.
Duke.
In favour of that pow'r, which I did leave
In Angelo's possession, as my Substitute,
I have reliev'd him from his Brother's fury.
But Angelo in his short Government,
Disfigur'd and disgrac'd that fair
Resemblance which he wore of me,
By many blemishes.

Esch.
Though your accustom'd clemency should give
Him leave to use his eloquence, in's own
Defence, yet he would silence it, and hope
For no relief, but from your gracious mercy.

Duke.
Provost, he is your Pris'ner now,
With Benedick. Take care they do not meet.

Prov.
Sir, they are sever'd under watchful Guards.

Duke.
'Tis well. Go do what further I enjoin'd you.

Prov.
I humbly beg your Highness pardon, for my
Ignorance of what you were when you
Were pleas'd to make your visits in disguise.

Duke.
You need no pardon, but have merited
My thanks and favour.

[Exit Provost.
Fry. Tho.
Is it your Highness will that I attend you?

Duke.
I've left your habit, but will ne'er forsake
Your company nor counsel. Father now
You must make haste, and do as I directed.

Fry. Tho.
I shall be diligent in both of your
Commands.
[Exit Fryer Thomas.

Duke.
You, Eschalus, complain of being wrong'd
By having been made ignorant of all
These evils past. I left you not to sleep
Away your time.

Esch.
If you vouchsafe me not your pardon,
I shall with shame receive my punishment;
Though it is better to be ignorant,
Than to be guilty.

Enter Beatrice, Viola, 2 Pages, Lacquay.
Beat.
As virtuous Virgins, by their vows to Heaven,
Have brought you here, so may their Prayers
Preserve you long amongst us.

Duke.
I thank you, beauteous Maid. But I perceive
Affliction in your Eyes. Whence does it come?

Beat.
I am a lowly Sutor to your Highness.

Duke.
I hope you are not so unfortunate,
As to desire a benefit, which I
Unwillingly shall grant.

Beat.
If no offenders were, then Sov'raign Pow'r
Would have no use of mercy:
Though Benedick has much offended, yet
Forgive that valour which by yours was bred;
And let him not be lost who was misled.

Duke.
Your heart is alter'd since I saw you last.
Can Benedick in his affliction now
Prevail; and be petition'd for by you
Who scorn'd him when he did in triumph sue?
This riddle I will leave to Eschalus.
Give me a quick account of it. I shall
Consider and take care of your request.

[Exeunt several ways.
Enter Angelo, Fryer Thomas.
Ang.
In the perplexity of Fight, when I
Was forc'd to a retreat, I did suppose
My Brother (to procure the people to
His side) had publish'd but in artifice
The Dukes return.

Fry. Tho.
The Duke is certainly in Town, and has,
During the time of your Vicegerency,
Remain'd here in disguise, he did converse,
With Isabella, and continually
Receiv'd from her, true knowledge of her griefs,
And by what art you have afflicted her.

Ang.
Oh, Father, I am lost.

Fryer Tho.
Could you suppose
You were your Brother's Prisoner here?

Ang.
In the dark mist of our encounter,
I was led to that mistake.

Fryer Tho.
'Twas a mistake indeed;
For Benedick's your fellow prisoner now,
And under strict command.

Ang.
I know him noble, though by passion urg'd
To this outragious violence, against
My ill dispos'd authority: and had
He now been free, I easily should have hop'd
His favour with the Duke, might have procur'd
My peace and pardon too. But, in my strickt
Restraint, how, Father, did you get this visit?

Fryer Tho.
By an especial leave to comfort you.
[Enter Provost.
The Provost has perhaps occasion of concernment
With you. I'll take leave a while.
[Exit Fryer.

Prov.
My Lord, with blushes I appear
I'th' presence of your most unhappy fortune,
Asham'd of my authority; but 'tis
His Highness will, that you should now
Be subject to my pow'r, who have been long
Govern'd by yours.

Ang.
You will be civil to me, Provost, if
You think I am contented with this change.

Prov.
You are so well prepar'd for grief,
That I may now ask leave, to tell you, he, whom
You did hastily condemn, was with dispatch,
As fatal as your sentence, executed.

Ang.
who can you mean?

Prov.
Th'unhappy Claudio.

Ang.
Is he executed? The Marshal had his Pardon seal'd.

Prov.
The Marshal (who is now in hope of cure)
Was by his wound last night in the first charge
Depriv'd of speech; so by the Law of destiny,
Your purpos'd remedy against your Law
Was known too late: for (to divert
The fury of th'assault, by taking from
His friends that hope which was the cause of strife)
I did appoint him for the Ax; and from
Our Battlements shew'd them his head.

Ang.
All my sinister Stars, have met at once,
In consultation how to ruine me.

Prov.
A moment e're his death, a Fryer who was
Official here, did marry him to Juliet:
And therefore now I come to know, how far
You by your plentiful Estate, will please
To give subsistance to his mourning Widow?
You know that his Possessions, and her Dowry,
(He dying guilty by the sentence of
The Law) are both confiscate to the Duke.

Ang.
My bosom is too narrow for this grief;
I give her all I have.

Enter Eschalus.
Esch.
My Lord, I grieve to tell you, that the Duke
As a reward to Isabella's vertue for
Her suff'rings, has already by his promise,
Given her th'intended confiscation of
Your Lands and Treasure.

Ang.
'Tis righteously bestow'd. But where alas,
She having all, is Juliet's recompence?

Prov.
Let's leave him, Signior, to his thoughts.
[Ex. Provost.

Ang.
How wisely Fate ordain'd for humane kind
Calamity, which is the perfect Glass
Wherein we truly see and know our selves.
How justly it created life but short;
For being incident to many griefs,
Had it been destin'd to continue long,
Fate, to please Fools, had done the Wise great wrong.

Enter Isabella.
Isab.
I come, my Lord, to see you in eclipse:
You did too hurtful to mine eyes appear,
When with your glory you did fill your Sphear.

Ang.
Is it revenge that hath this visit bred;
Or are you hither by compassion led?

Isab.
With no revenge nor pity I comply;
But come, perhaps, in curiosity;
As in a great Eclipse the curious run
T'inform themselves exactly of the Sun:
For when his light is lessen'd, they see more
Of his unevenness, than they saw before.

Ang.
The spots in him only imagin'd be;
But all reported stains are true in me.

Isab.
As your confession of the worst of you
Seems now to utter more than does seem true,
So of the best of you, which is your love,
Perhaps you told much more than you could prove.

Ang.
In an ill season you require a test,
T'assure you of that love which I profest;
When I can offer nothing that is fit,
To be a pledge to make you credit it;
Since all I had is by the Duke (as due
To injur'd virtue) freely given to you.

Isab.
Take back your wealth; improperly consign'd
To me, who prize no wealth, but of the mind.

Ang.
How Isabell? would you a present make
Of such a gift, as you disdain to take.
It would more worthy of your bounty prove,
To keep such trifles, and to give me love.
But I would have what you can never give;
Claudio is dead, whose life should make me live.

Isab.
I shall redeem you now from half your fear;
I must be gone, but Claudio shall appear.

[Exit.
Ang.
What may this mean? Virgins so soft as she
Can never pleasure take in cruelty.
Heav'n oft in wonders does propitious grow,
Fortune no faster ebbs than it can flow.

Enter Claudio, Julietta.
Claud.
Let those who lost their youth retire to Graves,
Deaths Closets, where, though there be privacy,
Yet there is never use of thoughts. Let us thank
Heaven that we have life, since we together
May enjoy it.

Jul.
From a wild Tempest, where we both were lost,
Heaven lands us strangely on a Floury coast.

Claud.
Since none could thus recover'd be by Heaven,
Were not the crimes which lost them quite forgiven,
Let us express a kind forgiveness too;

Jul.
Honour would that without Religion do.

Ang.
Are you the mortal substances of forms
Which you resemble, Claudio and Julietta;
Yet, like immortal Angels, can so much
Of good forgiveness speak?

Claud.
What act hath Angelo severely done,
For which his Brother Benedick hath not
By kindness ample satisfaction given?

Ang.
How is this wonder to be understood?

[Enter Benedick.
Ben.
The Provost, Brother, has to happy purpose
Deceiv'd us by the death of Bernardine.
Let us embrace and mutually exchange
Forgiveness.

Ang.
Sure our offences to each other will
Admit excuse, since the authority of mighty love
Did sway us both. This meeting has much comfort
In it though it be in Prison.

[Enter Beatrice, Viola.
Beat.
Where is the Rebel?

Ben.
No Rebel, Lady, to your pow'r.

Beat.
If you had err'd that way, y'had never been
Forgiven; but you may offend your Prince
As often as you please. There's your Pardon—

[Gives him a Paper seal'd.
Ben.
I hope you will not undo me.

Beat.
How so, Sir?

Ben.
I am afraid 'tis a Licence for Marriage.

Beat.
No, Sir, Plays that end so, begin to be
Out of fashion.

Ben.
Do you not see your Cousin Juliet?
She has been advis'd by a bauld Dramatick Poet
Of the next Cloister, to end her Tragy-Comedy
With Hymen the old way.

[Beatrice salutes Juliet.
Beat.
Alas poor Cousin! Love has led thee a Dance
Through a Brake of Thorns and Briers.

Jul.
Madam, take heed; though he be blind
He may find the way to lead you too.

Viol.
'Warrant ye I'll run from that foolish Boy,
And then let him try to overtake me.

[A shout within.
Within.
The Duke! the Duke!

Enter Duke, Isabella, Eschalus, Provost, Fryar Thomas, Guards, Attendants, Balthazar, Lucio, behind the rest.
Duke.
The motive which last caus'd my visits
To this Prison, was to give good counsel and to
Reclaim the ill advis'd. But now I come
To count'nance the Reclaim'd. I can relate
Your latter Story, Angelo; and am
Not ignorant, Benedick, of yours; but in
Remembrance of your former merits I
Forget your late attempts.

Ang.
Your Highness makes
An hourly conquest of our hearts, and we
Most humbly bow in thankfulness for your
Continual clemency.

Duke.
The eye of Pow'r does not alone observe
The heights, but lower Regions of the world.
I have a Convert here, whom I would see.

Prov.
Call Bernardine.

Ben.
Is he alive?

Duke.
I am more willingly appeas'd, because
The fury of the last encounter has
Not lost me any of my Subjects lives.
The Martial's free from danger of his wound;
And as the military Sword has not
Prevail'd so far as life, so Justice, with
Contrition satisfy'd, did sheath up hers.

[Enter Jaylor, Fool, Bernardine.
Balt.
There's no harm yet.

Luc.
I hope we shall all scape.

Duke.
The Provost (whose fidelity I shall
Reward) did in the storm preserve from wrack
This Penitent: and from the Battlements
Deceiv'd you with a Head of one, who of
A natural sickness dy'd i'th' Prison.

Luc.
Under your Highness favour I suspected
Afar off, that 'twas not Bernardine's, by
A small Wart upon his left eye-lid.

Duke.
You were not bid to speak.

Luc.
No an't please your Highness,
Nor wisht to hold my peace.

Balt.
Lucio, you will be talking.

Duke.
Remember, Bernardine, your Vows to Heaven;
And so behave your self in future life,
That I shall ne'er repent my mercy.

Bern.
I am your Highness Debtor for this life,
And for th'occasion of that happiness,
Which may succeed it after death.

Duke.
Is there not, Father, in this Company
One too much troubled with a lib'ral tongue,
Who hath traduc'd me to a Brother of
Your Cloister?

Fry. Tho.
Yes, Sir, and here behold the man.

Luc.
Who I, Father? I know you not.

Fry. Tho.
No, Sir, but I know you.

Luc.
I shall be glad, Sir, of your acquaintance,
For my Confessor is lately dead.

Duke.
But, Lucio, you perhaps, would know me too,
Should I again put on the Habit which
I wore, when boldly to my face you did
Traduce me in this Prison.

Luc.
If your Highness, forgiving now so many,
Will pardon me too, I'll hereafter hang
A Padlock at my lips, and this good Father
Shall keep the Key of it.

Duke.
Your slanders, Lucio, cannot do me harm.
Be sorrowful, and be forgiven.

Balt.
Thy Mother hath bewitcht thee the right way,
For no Sword can pierce thee.

Duke.
Think me not singular, because
I did my self a while depose;
For many Monarchs have their Thrones
Forsaken for a Cloistral life; and I,
Perhaps, may really that Habit take,
Which I have worn but in disguise.

Ang.
That were t'undo the world by leaving it.

Ben.
Whilst so you seek imagin'd happiness,
We all shall find essential misery.

Duke.
My resolutions are not soon remov'd:
I'm old and weary of authority.
But, e're I leave it quite (since I have no
Successors of my own) let me dispose
Of best advantages to those whom I
Esteem, who may enjoy my pow'r. Lend me,
Chast Isabella, your fair hand; which with
Your heart I dedicate to Angelo;
He now sufficiently that virtue knows,
Which he too much, too curiously has try'd.

Isab.
I have so long your counsel follow'd with
Success, as I am taught not to suspect
Much happiness will still attend
Th'obedience which does yield
To your command.

Ang.
I fear my joys are grown too great to last.

Duke.
I have a good occasion, Benedick,
To thank you now for your successful toils
And Victory in the Millain War; for which,
In ample recompence, I give you but
The heart, which I perceive you had before.
The witty war which you so long have had
With virtuous Be'trice, now must gently end,
In joyful triumphs of a nuptial peace.

Beat.
Take heed! our quarrel will begin again;
And th'end of this long Treaty will but bring
The war home to your own doors.

Ben.
I'll venture. 'Tis but providing good store of
Cradles for Barracadoes to line my Chamber.

Duke.
Be happy, Claudio, in your faithful Juliet,
The persecutions of your loves are past.

Claud.
They feel not joy who have not sorrow felt.
We through afflictions make our way to Heaven.

Luc.
Fool, I've a mind to marry your Grandmother.

Fool.
She stays for you in the Church, and will prove
A sweet Bed-fellow, for she has not been
Bury'd above a Month.

Duke.
Provost, open your Prison Gates, and make
Your Pris'ners free. The story of this day,
When 'tis to future Ages told, will seem
A moral drawn from a poetick Dream.