University of Virginia Library

ACT 5.

SCENE I.

The Great Hall in the Palace.
Enter Angelo, and Escalus.
Ang.
Tis 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; 'tis 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 'twas 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 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!
'Tis 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, 'tis 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;
I was my self contriver of this Scene,
(Angelo starts up.
As I had been to do Mariana justice
Produce that Casket: Know you, Sir, those Jewels?
They were, 'tis 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 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 sit 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.
Phœbus Rises in his Chariot over the Sea. The Nercides out of the Sea.
Venus descends in her Chariot, the Tritons rise out of the Sea. The Tritons dance.
The Nereids Dance. The Scene changes to a Grove. The Spring appears in an Arbour, with her Nymphs about her.
Soft Musick.
Exit Phœ Ven.
Enter the Country Shepherds and Shepherdesses.
A DIALOGUE
Enter Morris Dancers.
Enter the Spring and Nymphs.
Spring.
Our Youth and Form declare,
For what we were design'd.
'Twas Nature made us fair,
And you must make us kind.
He that fails of addressing,
'Tis 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.
'Tis 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.

Peace.
Wherefore must the Warriour be
To restless Tasks assign'd,
Give others those delights which be
Must never hope to find,
Shall be, 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, King shou'd mind alone,
For that 'tis still perpetuates best a Throne.