Enter Clown. Clo. Yonder man is carried to prison. Clo. A woman. Bawd. But what's his offence? Clo. Groping for trouts in a peculiar river. Bawd. What, is there a maid with child by him? Clo. No; but there's a woman with maid by him: You have not heard of the proclamation, have you? Bawd. What proclamation, man? Clo. All houses in the suburbs of Vienna must be pluck'd down. Bawd. And what shall become of those in the city? Clo. They shall stand for seed: they had gone down too, but that a wise burgher put in for them. Bawd. But shall all our houses of resort in the suburbs be pull'd down? Clo. To the ground, mistress. Bawd. Why, here's a change, indeed, in the commonwealth! What shall become of me? Clo. Come, fear not you; good counsellors lack .no clients: though you change your place, you need not change your trade; I'll be your tapster still. Courage; there will be pity taken on you : you that have worn your eyes almost out in the service, you will be considered. Bawd. What's to do here, Thomas Tapster? Let's withdraw. Clo. Here comes signior Claudio, led by the provost to prison: and there's madam Juliet.. [Exeunt. SCENE III. The same. Enter Provost, CLAUDIO, JULIET, and Officers; LUCIO and two Gentlemen. Claud. Fellow, why dost thou show me thus to the world? Bear me to prison, where I am committed. Lucio. Why, how now, Claudio? whence comes this restraint? Claud. From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty: As surfeit is the father of much fast, Lucio. If I could speak so wisely under an arrest, I would send for certain of my creditors: And yet, to say the truth, I had as lief have the foppery of freedom, as the morality of imprisonment.—What's thy offence, Claudio ? Claud. What, but to 4 Gaoler. speak of would offend again. murder? 5 Voraciously devour. Prov. Away, sir; you must go. Claud. One word, good friend:-Lucio, a word with you. [Takes him aside. Lucio. A hundred if they'll do you any good.— Is lechery so look'd after? Claud. Thus stands it with me:-Upon a true contract, I got possession of Julietta's bed; Remaining in the coffer of her friends; From whom we thought it meet to hide our love, Till time had made them for us. But it chances, The stealth of our most mutual entertainment, With character too gross is writ on Juliet. Claud. Unhappily, even so. And the new deputy now for the duke,- A horse whereon the governor doth ride, Which have, like unscour'd armour, hung by the wall 6 So long, that nineteen zodiacs have gone round, 6 Yearly circles, Lucio. I warrant, it is: and thy head stands so tickle? on thy shoulders, that a milk-maid, if she be in love, may sigh it off. Send after the duke, and appeal to him. Claud. I have done so, but he's not to be found. Such as moves men; beside, she hath prosperous art Lucio. I she pray, may as well for the encouragement of the like, which else would stand under grievous imposition; as for the enjoying of thy life, who I would be sorry should be thus foolishly lost at a game of tick-tack. I'll to her. Claud. I thank you, good friend Lucio. Claud. Come, officer, away. SCENE IV. A Monastery. Enter DUKE and Friar Thomas. [Exeunt. Duke. No; holy father, throw away that thought; Believe not that the dribbling dart of love 7 Ticklish. 8 Enter on her probation. 9 Prompt. Can pierce a complete bosom1: why I desire thee To give me secret harbour, hath a purpose More grave and wrinkled than the aims and ends Of burning youth. Fri. May your grace speak of it? Duke. My holy sir, none better knows than you How I have ever lov'd the life remov'd2; And held in idle price to haunt assemblies, Where youth, and cost, and witless bravery keeps.3 (A man of stricture4 and firm abstinence,) You will demand of me, why I do this? Duke. We have strict statutes, and most biting laws, (The needful bits and curbs for headstrong steeds,) Which for these fourteen years we have let sleep; Even like an o'er-grown lion in a cave, That goes not out to prey: Now, as fond fathers Becomes more mock'd, than fear'd: so our de crees, Dead to infliction, to themselves are dead; The baby beats the nurse, and quite athwart Fri. It rested in your grace 1 Completely armed. VOL. II. C 2 Retired. 4 Strictness. |