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Act 1, Scene 3

The same.

  1. [Enter PROVOST, CLAUDIO, JULIET, and Officers; LUCIO and two Gentlemen.]
  2. Claudio
  3. 186 Fellow, why dost thou show me thus to the world?
  4. 187 Bear me to prison, where I am committed.
  5. Provost
  6. 188 I do it not in evil disposition,
  7. 189 But from Lord Angelo by special charge.
  8. Claudio
  9. 190 Thus can the demi-god Authority
  10. 191 Make us pay down for our offence by weight.—
  11. 192 The words of heaven;—on whom it will, it will;
  12. 193 On whom it will not, so; yet still 'tis just.
  13. Lucio
  14. 194 Why, how now, Claudio, whence comes this restraint?
  15. Claudio
  16. 195 From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty:
  17. 196 As surfeit is the father of much fast,
  18. 197 So every scope by the immoderate use
  19. 198 Turns to restraint. Our natures do pursue,—
  20. 199 Like rats that ravin down their proper bane,—
  21. 200 A thirsty evil; and when we drink we die.
  22. Lucio
  23. 201 If I could speak so wisely under an arrest, I would send for
  24. 202 certain of my creditors; and yet, to say the truth, I had as
  25. 203 lief have the foppery of freedom as the morality of
  26. 204 imprisonment.—What's thy offence, Claudio?
  27. Claudio
  28. 205 What but to speak of would offend again.
  29. Lucio
  30. 206 What, is't murder?
  31. Claudio
  32. 207 No.
  33. Lucio
  34. 208 Lechery?
  35. Claudio
  36. 209 Call it so.
  37. Provost
  38. 210 Away, sir; you must go.
  39. Claudio
  40. 211 One word, good friend.—Lucio, a word with you.
  41. [Takes him aside.]
  42. Lucio
  43. 212 A hundred, if they'll do you any good. Is lechery so lookeed
  44. 213 after?
  45. Claudio
  46. 214 Thus stands it with me:—Upon a true contract
  47. 215 I got possession of Julietta's bed:
  48. 216 You know the lady; she is fast my wife,
  49. 217 Save that we do the denunciation lack
  50. 218 Of outward order;: this we came not to
  51. 219 Only for propagation of a dower
  52. 220 Remaining in the coffer of her friends;
  53. 221 From whom we thought it meet to hide our love
  54. 222 Till time had made them for us. But it chances
  55. 223 The stealth of our most mutual entertainment,
  56. 224 With character too gross, is writ on Juliet.
  57. Lucio
  58. 225 With child, perhaps?
  59. Claudio
  60. 226 Unhappily, even so.
  61. 227 And the new deputy now for the duke,—
  62. 228 Whether it be the fault and glimpse of newness,
  63. 229 Or whether that the body public be
  64. 230 A horse whereon the governor doth ride,
  65. 231 Who, newly in the seat, that it may know
  66. 232 He can command, lets it straight feel the spur:
  67. 233 Whether the tyranny be in his place,
  68. 234 Or in his eminence that fills it up,
  69. 235 I stagger in.—But this new governor
  70. 236 Awakes me all the enrolled penalties
  71. 237 Which have, like unscour'd armour, hung by the wall
  72. 238 So long that nineteen zodiacs have gone round
  73. 239 And none of them been worn; and, for a name,
  74. 240 Now puts the drowsy and neglected act
  75. 241 Freshly on me; 'tis surely for a name.
  76. Lucio
  77. 242 I warrant it is: and thy head stands so tickle on thy shoulders
  78. 243 that a milkmaid, if she be in love, may sigh it off. Send after the
  79. 244 duke, and appeal to him.
  80. Claudio
  81. 245 I have done so, but he's not to be found.
  82. 246 I pr'ythee, Lucio, do me this kind service:
  83. 247 This day my sister should the cloister enter,
  84. 248 And there receive her approbation:
  85. 249 Acquaint her with the danger of my state;
  86. 250 Implore her, in my voice, that she make friends
  87. 251 To the strict deputy; bid herself assay him;
  88. 252 I have great hope in that: for in her youth
  89. 253 There is a prone and speechless dialect
  90. 254 Such as moves men; beside, she hath prosperous art
  91. 255 When she will play with reason and discourse,
  92. 256 And well she can persuade.
  93. Lucio
  94. 257 I pray she may; as well for the encouragement of the like, which
  95. 258 else would stand under grievous imposition, as for the enjoying
  96. 259 of thy life, who I would be sorry should be thus foolishly lost
  97. 260 at a game of tick-tack. I'll to her.
  98. Claudio
  99. 261 I thank you, good friend Lucio.
  100. Lucio
  101. 262 Within two hours,—
  102. Claudio
  103. 263 Come, officer, away.
  104. [Exeunt.]