directory
home contact

Measure for Measure

Please see the bottom of the page for related resources.

ACT V SCENE I The city gate. 
 MARIANA veiled, ISABELLA, and FRIAR PETER, at their stand. Enter DUKE VINCENTIO, VARRIUS, Lords, ANGELO, ESCALUS, LUCIO, Provost, Officers, and Citizens, at several doors. 
DUKE VINCENTIO My very worthy cousin, fairly met! 
 Our old and faithful friend, we are glad to see you. 
ANGELO | 
 | Happy return be to your royal grace! 5
ESCALUS | 
DUKE VINCENTIO Many and hearty thankings to you both. 
 We have made inquiry of you; and we hear 
 Such goodness of your justice, that our soul 
 Cannot but yield you forth to public thanks, 10
 Forerunning more requital. 
ANGELO You make my bonds still greater. 
DUKE VINCENTIO O, your desert speaks loud; and I should wrong it, 
 To lock it in the wards of covert bosom, 
 When it deserves, with characters of brass, 15
 A forted residence 'gainst the tooth of time 
 And razure of oblivion. Give me your hand, 
 And let the subject see, to make them know 
 That outward courtesies would fain proclaim 
 Favours that keep within. Come, Escalus, 20
 You must walk by us on our other hand; 
 And good supporters are you. 
 FRIAR PETER and ISABELLA come forward. 
FRIAR PETER Now is your time: speak loud and kneel before him. 
ISABELLA Justice, O royal duke! Vail your regard 
 Upon a wrong'd, I would fain have said, a maid! 25
 O worthy prince, dishonour not your eye 
 By throwing it on any other object 
 Till you have heard me in my true complaint 
 And given me justice, justice, justice, justice! 
DUKE VINCENTIO Relate your wrongs; in what? by whom? be brief. 30
 Here is Lord Angelo shall give you justice: 
 Reveal yourself to him. 
ISABELLA O worthy duke, 
 You bid me seek redemption of the devil: 
 Hear me yourself; for that which I must speak 35
 Must either punish me, not being believed, 
 Or wring redress from you. Hear me, O hear me, here! 
ANGELO My lord, her wits, I fear me, are not firm: 
 She hath been a suitor to me for her brother 
 Cut off by course of justice,-- 40
ISABELLA By course of justice! 
ANGELO And she will speak most bitterly and strange. 
ISABELLA Most strange, but yet most truly, will I speak: 
 That Angelo's forsworn; is it not strange? 
 That Angelo's a murderer; is 't not strange? 45
 That Angelo is an adulterous thief, 
 An hypocrite, a virgin-violator; 
 Is it not strange and strange? 
DUKE VINCENTIO Nay, it is ten times strange. 
ISABELLA It is not truer he is Angelo 50
 Than this is all as true as it is strange: 
 Nay, it is ten times true; for truth is truth 
 To the end of reckoning. 
DUKE VINCENTIO Away with her! Poor soul, 
 She speaks this in the infirmity of sense. 55
ISABELLA O prince, I conjure thee, as thou believest 
 There is another comfort than this world, 
 That thou neglect me not, with that opinion 
 That I am touch'd with madness! Make not impossible 
 That which but seems unlike: 'tis not impossible 60
 But one, the wicked'st caitiff on the ground, 
 May seem as shy, as grave, as just, as absolute 
 As Angelo; even so may Angelo, 
 In all his dressings, characts, titles, forms, 
 Be an arch-villain; believe it, royal prince: 65
 If he be less, he's nothing; but he's more, 
 Had I more name for badness. 
DUKE VINCENTIO By mine honesty, 
 If she be mad,--as I believe no other,-- 
 Her madness hath the oddest frame of sense, 70
 Such a dependency of thing on thing, 
 As e'er I heard in madness. 
ISABELLA O gracious duke, 
 Harp not on that, nor do not banish reason 
 For inequality; but let your reason serve 75
 To make the truth appear where it seems hid, 
 And hide the false seems true. 
DUKE VINCENTIO Many that are not mad 
 Have, sure, more lack of reason. What would you say? 
ISABELLA I am the sister of one Claudio, 80
 Condemn'd upon the act of fornication 
 To lose his head; condemn'd by Angelo: 
 I, in probation of a sisterhood, 
 Was sent to by my brother; one Lucio 
 As then the messenger,-- 85
LUCIO That's I, an't like your grace: 
 I came to her from Claudio, and desired her 
 To try her gracious fortune with Lord Angelo 
 For her poor brother's pardon. 
ISABELLA That's he indeed. 90
DUKE VINCENTIO You were not bid to speak. 
LUCIO No, my good lord; 
 Nor wish'd to hold my peace. 
DUKE VINCENTIO I wish you now, then; 
 Pray you, take note of it: and when you have 95
 A business for yourself, pray heaven you then 
 Be perfect. 
LUCIO I warrant your honour. 
DUKE VINCENTIO The warrants for yourself; take heed to't. 
ISABELLA This gentleman told somewhat of my tale,-- 100
LUCIO Right. 
DUKE VINCENTIO It may be right; but you are i' the wrong 
 To speak before your time. Proceed. 
ISABELLA I went 
 To this pernicious caitiff deputy,-- 105
DUKE VINCENTIO That's somewhat madly spoken. 
ISABELLA Pardon it; 
 The phrase is to the matter. 
DUKE VINCENTIO Mended again. The matter; proceed. 
ISABELLA In brief, to set the needless process by, 110
 How I persuaded, how I pray'd, and kneel'd, 
 How he refell'd me, and how I replied,-- 
 For this was of much length,--the vile conclusion 
 I now begin with grief and shame to utter: 
 He would not, but by gift of my chaste body 115
 To his concupiscible intemperate lust, 
 Release my brother; and, after much debatement, 
 My sisterly remorse confutes mine honour, 
 And I did yield to him: but the next morn betimes, 
 His purpose surfeiting, he sends a warrant 120
 For my poor brother's head. 
DUKE VINCENTIO This is most likely! 
ISABELLA O, that it were as like as it is true! 
DUKE VINCENTIO By heaven, fond wretch, thou knowist not what thou speak'st, 
 Or else thou art suborn'd against his honour 125
 In hateful practise. First, his integrity 
 Stands without blemish. Next, it imports no reason 
 That with such vehemency he should pursue 
 Faults proper to himself: if he had so offended, 
 He would have weigh'd thy brother by himself 130
 And not have cut him off. Some one hath set you on: 
 Confess the truth, and say by whose advice 
 Thou camest here to complain. 
ISABELLA And is this all? 
 Then, O you blessed ministers above, 135
 Keep me in patience, and with ripen'd time 
 Unfold the evil which is here wrapt up 
 In countenance! Heaven shield your grace from woe, 
 As I, thus wrong'd, hence unbelieved go! 
DUKE VINCENTIO I know you'ld fain be gone. An officer! 140
 To prison with her! Shall we thus permit 
 A blasting and a scandalous breath to fall 
 On him so near us? This needs must be a practise. 
 Who knew of Your intent and coming hither? 
ISABELLA One that I would were here, Friar Lodowick. 145
DUKE VINCENTIO A ghostly father, belike. Who knows that Lodowick? 
LUCIO My lord, I know him; 'tis a meddling friar; 
 I do not like the man: had he been lay, my lord 
 For certain words he spake against your grace 
 In your retirement, I had swinged him soundly. 150
DUKE VINCENTIO Words against me? this is a good friar, belike! 
 And to set on this wretched woman here 
 Against our substitute! Let this friar be found. 
LUCIO But yesternight, my lord, she and that friar, 
 I saw them at the prison: a saucy friar, 155
 A very scurvy fellow. 
FRIAR PETER Blessed be your royal grace! 
 I have stood by, my lord, and I have heard 
 Your royal ear abused. First, hath this woman 
 Most wrongfully accused your substitute, 160
 Who is as free from touch or soil with her 
 As she from one ungot. 
DUKE VINCENTIO We did believe no less. 
 Know you that Friar Lodowick that she speaks of? 
FRIAR PETER I know him for a man divine and holy; 165
 Not scurvy, nor a temporary meddler, 
 As he's reported by this gentleman; 
 And, on my trust, a man that never yet 
 Did, as he vouches, misreport your grace. 
LUCIO My lord, most villanously; believe it. 170
FRIAR PETER Well, he in time may come to clear himself; 
 But at this instant he is sick my lord, 
 Of a strange fever. Upon his mere request, 
 Being come to knowledge that there was complaint 
 Intended 'gainst Lord Angelo, came I hither, 175
 To speak, as from his mouth, what he doth know 
 Is true and false; and what he with his oath 
 And all probation will make up full clear, 
 Whensoever he's convented. First, for this woman. 
 To justify this worthy nobleman, 180
 So vulgarly and personally accused, 
 Her shall you hear disproved to her eyes, 
 Till she herself confess it. 
DUKE VINCENTIO Good friar, let's hear it. 
 ISABELLA is carried off guarded; and MARIANA comes forward. 
 Do you not smile at this, Lord Angelo? 185
 O heaven, the vanity of wretched fools! 
 Give us some seats. Come, cousin Angelo; 
 In this I'll be impartial; be you judge 
 Of your own cause. Is this the witness, friar? 
 First, let her show her face, and after speak. 190
MARIANA Pardon, my lord; I will not show my face 
 Until my husband bid me. 
DUKE VINCENTIO What, are you married? 
MARIANA No, my lord. 
DUKE VINCENTIO Are you a maid? 195
MARIANA No, my lord. 
DUKE VINCENTIO A widow, then? 
MARIANA Neither, my lord. 
DUKE VINCENTIO Why, you are nothing then: neither maid, widow, nor wife? 
LUCIO My lord, she may be a punk; for many of them are 200
 neither maid, widow, nor wife. 
DUKE VINCENTIO Silence that fellow: I would he had some cause 
 To prattle for himself. 
LUCIO Well, my lord. 
MARIANA My lord; I do confess I ne'er was married; 205
 And I confess besides I am no maid: 
 I have known my husband; yet my husband 
 Knows not that ever he knew me. 
LUCIO He was drunk then, my lord: it can be no better. 
DUKE VINCENTIO For the benefit of silence, would thou wert so too! 210
LUCIO Well, my lord. 
DUKE VINCENTIO This is no witness for Lord Angelo. 
MARIANA Now I come to't my lord 
 She that accuses him of fornication, 
 In self-same manner doth accuse my husband, 215
 And charges him my lord, with such a time 
 When I'll depose I had him in mine arms 
 With all the effect of love. 
ANGELO Charges she more than me? 
MARIANA Not that I know. 220
DUKE VINCENTIO No? you say your husband. 
MARIANA Why, just, my lord, and that is Angelo, 
 Who thinks he knows that he ne'er knew my body, 
 But knows he thinks that he knows Isabel's. 
ANGELO This is a strange abuse. Let's see thy face. 225
MARIANA My husband bids me; now I will unmask. 
 Unveiling. 
 This is that face, thou cruel Angelo, 
 Which once thou sworest was worth the looking on; 
 This is the hand which, with a vow'd contract, 
 Was fast belock'd in thine; this is the body 230
 That took away the match from Isabel, 
 And did supply thee at thy garden-house 
 In her imagined person. 
DUKE VINCENTIO Know you this woman? 
LUCIO Carnally, she says. 235
DUKE VINCENTIO Sirrah, no more! 
LUCIO Enough, my lord. 
ANGELO My lord, I must confess I know this woman: 
 And five years since there was some speech of marriage 
 Betwixt myself and her; which was broke off, 240
 Partly for that her promised proportions 
 Came short of composition, but in chief 
 For that her reputation was disvalued 
 In levity: since which time of five years 
 I never spake with her, saw her, nor heard from her, 245
 Upon my faith and honour. 
MARIANA Noble prince, 
 As there comes light from heaven and words from breath, 
 As there is sense in truth and truth in virtue, 
 I am affianced this man's wife as strongly 250
 As words could make up vows: and, my good lord, 
 But Tuesday night last gone in's garden-house 
 He knew me as a wife. As this is true, 
 Let me in safety raise me from my knees 
 Or else for ever be confixed here, 255
 A marble monument! 
ANGELO I did but smile till now: 
 Now, good my lord, give me the scope of justice 
 My patience here is touch'd. I do perceive 
 These poor informal women are no more 260
 But instruments of some more mightier member 
 That sets them on: let me have way, my lord, 
 To find this practise out. 
DUKE VINCENTIO Ay, with my heart 
 And punish them to your height of pleasure. 265
 Thou foolish friar, and thou pernicious woman, 
 Compact with her that's gone, think'st thou thy oaths, 
 Though they would swear down each particular saint, 
 Were testimonies against his worth and credit 
 That's seal'd in approbation? You, Lord Escalus, 270
 Sit with my cousin; lend him your kind pains 
 To find out this abuse, whence 'tis derived. 
 There is another friar that set them on; 
 Let him be sent for. 
FRIAR PETER Would he were here, my lord! for he indeed 275
 Hath set the women on to this complaint: 
 Your provost knows the place where he abides 
 And he may fetch him. 
DUKE VINCENTIO Go do it instantly. 
 Exit Provost. 
 And you, my noble and well-warranted cousin, 280
 Whom it concerns to hear this matter forth, 
 Do with your injuries as seems you best, 
 In any chastisement: I for a while will leave you; 
 But stir not you till you have well determined 
 Upon these slanderers. 285
ESCALUS My lord, we'll do it throughly. 
 Exit DUKE. 
 Signior Lucio, did not you say you knew that 
 Friar Lodowick to be a dishonest person? 
LUCIO 'Cucullus non facit monachum:' honest in nothing 
 but in his clothes; and one that hath spoke most 290
 villanous speeches of the duke. 
ESCALUS We shall entreat you to abide here till he come and 
 enforce them against him: we shall find this friar a 
 notable fellow. 
LUCIO As any in Vienna, on my word. 295
ESCALUS Call that same Isabel here once again; I would speak with her. 
 Exit an Attendant. 
 Pray you, my lord, give me leave to question; you 
 shall see how I'll handle her. 
LUCIO Not better than he, by her own report. 
ESCALUS Say you? 300
LUCIO Marry, sir, I think, if you handled her privately, 
 she would sooner confess: perchance, publicly, 
 she'll be ashamed. 
ESCALUS I will go darkly to work with her. 
LUCIO That's the way; for women are light at midnight. 305
 Re-enter Officers with ISABELLA; and Provost with DUKE VINCENTIO in his friar's habit. 
ESCALUS Come on, mistress: here's a gentlewoman denies all 
 that you have said. 
LUCIO My lord, here comes the rascal I spoke of; here with 
 the provost. 
ESCALUS In very good time: speak not you to him till we 310
 call upon you. 
LUCIO Mum. 
ESCALUS Come, sir: did you set these women on to slander 
 Lord Angelo? they have confessed you did. 
DUKE VINCENTIO 'Tis false. 315
ESCALUS How! know you where you are? 
DUKE VINCENTIO Respect to your great place! and let the devil 
 Be sometime honour'd for his burning throne! 
 Where is the duke? 'tis he should hear me speak. 
ESCALUS The duke's in us; and we will hear you speak: 320
 Look you speak justly. 
DUKE VINCENTIO Boldly, at least. But, O, poor souls, 
 Come you to seek the lamb here of the fox? 
 Good night to your redress! Is the duke gone? 
 Then is your cause gone too. The duke's unjust, 325
 Thus to retort your manifest appeal, 
 And put your trial in the villain's mouth 
 Which here you come to accuse. 
LUCIO This is the rascal; this is he I spoke of. 
ESCALUS Why, thou unreverend and unhallow'd friar, 330
 Is't not enough thou hast suborn'd these women 
 To accuse this worthy man, but, in foul mouth 
 And in the witness of his proper ear, 
 To call him villain? and then to glance from him 
 To the duke himself, to tax him with injustice? 335
 Take him hence; to the rack with him! We'll touse you 
 Joint by joint, but we will know his purpose. 
 What 'unjust'! 
DUKE VINCENTIO Be not so hot; the duke 
 Dare no more stretch this finger of mine than he 340
 Dare rack his own: his subject am I not, 
 Nor here provincial. My business in this state 
 Made me a looker on here in Vienna, 
 Where I have seen corruption boil and bubble 
 Till it o'er-run the stew; laws for all faults, 345
 But faults so countenanced, that the strong statutes 
 Stand like the forfeits in a barber's shop, 
 As much in mock as mark. 
ESCALUS Slander to the state! Away with him to prison! 
ANGELO What can you vouch against him, Signior Lucio? 350
 Is this the man that you did tell us of? 
LUCIO 'Tis he, my lord. Come hither, goodman baldpate: 
 do you know me? 
DUKE VINCENTIO I remember you, sir, by the sound of your voice: I 
 met you at the prison, in the absence of the duke. 355
LUCIO O, did you so? And do you remember what you said of the duke? 
DUKE VINCENTIO Most notedly, sir. 
LUCIO Do you so, sir? And was the duke a fleshmonger, a 
 fool, and a coward, as you then reported him to be? 
DUKE VINCENTIO You must, sir, change persons with me, ere you make 360
 that my report: you, indeed, spoke so of him; and 
 much more, much worse. 
LUCIO O thou damnable fellow! Did not I pluck thee by the 
 nose for thy speeches? 
DUKE VINCENTIO I protest I love the duke as I love myself. 365
ANGELO Hark, how the villain would close now, after his 
 treasonable abuses! 
ESCALUS Such a fellow is not to be talked withal. Away with 
 him to prison! Where is the provost? Away with him 
 to prison! lay bolts enough upon him: let him 370
 speak no more. Away with those giglots too, and 
 with the other confederate companion! 
DUKE VINCENTIO To Provost 
ANGELO What, resists he? Help him, Lucio. 
LUCIO Come, sir; come, sir; come, sir; foh, sir! Why, you 
 bald-pated, lying rascal, you must be hooded, must 375
 you? Show your knave's visage, with a pox to you! 
 show your sheep-biting face, and be hanged an hour! 
 Will't not off? 
 Pulls off the friar's hood, and discovers DUKEVINCENTIO 
DUKE VINCENTIO Thou art the first knave that e'er madest a duke. 
 First, provost, let me bail these gentle three. 380
 To LUCIO. 
 Sneak not away, sir; for the friar and you 
 Must have a word anon. Lay hold on him. 
LUCIO This may prove worse than hanging. 
DUKE VINCENTIO To ESCALUS. 
 We'll borrow place of him. 
 To ANGELO. 
 Sir, by your leave. 385
 Hast thou or word, or wit, or impudence, 
 That yet can do thee office? If thou hast, 
 Rely upon it till my tale be heard, 
 And hold no longer out. 
ANGELO O my dread lord, 390
 I should be guiltier than my guiltiness, 
 To think I can be undiscernible, 
 When I perceive your grace, like power divine, 
 Hath look'd upon my passes. Then, good prince, 
 No longer session hold upon my shame, 395
 But let my trial be mine own confession: 
 Immediate sentence then and sequent death 
 Is all the grace I beg. 
DUKE VINCENTIO Come hither, Mariana. 
 Say, wast thou e'er contracted to this woman? 400
ANGELO I was, my lord. 
DUKE VINCENTIO Go take her hence, and marry her instantly. 
 Do you the office, friar; which consummate, 
 Return him here again. Go with him, provost. 
 Exeunt ANGELO, MARIANA, FRIAR PETER and Provost. 
ESCALUS My lord, I am more amazed at his dishonour 405
 Than at the strangeness of it. 
DUKE VINCENTIO Come hither, Isabel. 
 Your friar is now your prince: as I was then 
 Advertising and holy to your business, 
 Not changing heart with habit, I am still 410
 Attorney'd at your service. 
ISABELLA O, give me pardon, 
 That I, your vassal, have employ'd and pain'd 
 Your unknown sovereignty! 
DUKE VINCENTIO You are pardon'd, Isabel: 415
 And now, dear maid, be you as free to us. 
 Your brother's death, I know, sits at your heart; 
 And you may marvel why I obscured myself, 
 Labouring to save his life, and would not rather 
 Make rash remonstrance of my hidden power 420
 Than let him so be lost. O most kind maid, 
 It was the swift celerity of his death, 
 Which I did think with slower foot came on, 
 That brain'd my purpose. But, peace be with him! 
 That life is better life, past fearing death, 425
 Than that which lives to fear: make it your comfort, 
 So happy is your brother. 
ISABELLA I do, my lord. 
 Re-enter ANGELO, MARIANA, FRIAR PETER, and Provost. 
DUKE VINCENTIO For this new-married man approaching here, 
 Whose salt imagination yet hath wrong'd 430
 Your well defended honour, you must pardon 
 For Mariana's sake: but as he adjudged your brother,-- 
 Being criminal, in double violation 
 Of sacred chastity and of promise-breach 
 Thereon dependent, for your brother's life,-- 435
 The very mercy of the law cries out 
 Most audible, even from his proper tongue, 
 'An Angelo for Claudio, death for death!' 
 Haste still pays haste, and leisure answers leisure; 
 Like doth quit like, and MEASURE still FOR MEASURE. 440
 Then, Angelo, thy fault's thus manifested; 
 Which, though thou wouldst deny, denies thee vantage. 
 We do condemn thee to the very block 
 Where Claudio stoop'd to death, and with like haste. 
 Away with him! 445
MARIANA O my most gracious lord, 
 I hope you will not mock me with a husband. 
DUKE VINCENTIO It is your husband mock'd you with a husband. 
 Consenting to the safeguard of your honour, 
 I thought your marriage fit; else imputation, 450
 For that he knew you, might reproach your life 
 And choke your good to come; for his possessions, 
 Although by confiscation they are ours, 
 We do instate and widow you withal, 
 To buy you a better husband. 455
MARIANA O my dear lord, 
 I crave no other, nor no better man. 
DUKE VINCENTIO Never crave him; we are definitive. 
MARIANA Gentle my liege,-- 
 Kneeling 
DUKE VINCENTIO You do but lose your labour. 460
 Away with him to death! 
 To LUCIO 
 Now, sir, to you. 
MARIANA O my good lord! Sweet Isabel, take my part; 
 Lend me your knees, and all my life to come 
 I'll lend you all my life to do you service. 465
DUKE VINCENTIO Against all sense you do importune her: 
 Should she kneel down in mercy of this fact, 
 Her brother's ghost his paved bed would break, 
 And take her hence in horror. 
MARIANA Isabel, 470
 Sweet Isabel, do yet but kneel by me; 
 Hold up your hands, say nothing; I'll speak all. 
 They say, best men are moulded out of faults; 
 And, for the most, become much more the better 
 For being a little bad: so may my husband. 475
 O Isabel, will you not lend a knee? 
DUKE VINCENTIO He dies for Claudio's death. 
ISABELLA Most bounteous sir, 
 Kneeling 
 Look, if it please you, on this man condemn'd, 
 As if my brother lived: I partly think 480
 A due sincerity govern'd his deeds, 
 Till he did look on me: since it is so, 
 Let him not die. My brother had but justice, 
 In that he did the thing for which he died: 
 For Angelo, 485
 His act did not o'ertake his bad intent, 
 And must be buried but as an intent 
 That perish'd by the way: thoughts are no subjects; 
 Intents but merely thoughts. 
MARIANA Merely, my lord. 490
DUKE VINCENTIO Your suit's unprofitable; stand up, I say. 
 I have bethought me of another fault. 
 Provost, how came it Claudio was beheaded 
 At an unusual hour? 
Provost It was commanded so. 495
DUKE VINCENTIO Had you a special warrant for the deed? 
Provost No, my good lord; it was by private message. 
DUKE VINCENTIO For which I do discharge you of your office: 
 Give up your keys. 
Provost Pardon me, noble lord: 500
 I thought it was a fault, but knew it not; 
 Yet did repent me, after more advice; 
 For testimony whereof, one in the prison, 
 That should by private order else have died, 
 I have reserved alive. 505
DUKE VINCENTIO What's he? 
Provost His name is Barnardine. 
DUKE VINCENTIO I would thou hadst done so by Claudio. 
 Go fetch him hither; let me look upon him. 
 Exit Provost 
ESCALUS I am sorry, one so learned and so wise 510
 As you, Lord Angelo, have still appear'd, 
 Should slip so grossly, both in the heat of blood. 
 And lack of temper'd judgment afterward. 
ANGELO I am sorry that such sorrow I procure: 
 And so deep sticks it in my penitent heart 515
 That I crave death more willingly than mercy; 
 'Tis my deserving, and I do entreat it. 
 Re-enter Provost, with BARNARDINE, CLAUDIO muffled,and JULIET 
DUKE VINCENTIO Which is that Barnardine? 
Provost This, my lord. 
DUKE VINCENTIO There was a friar told me of this man. 520
 Sirrah, thou art said to have a stubborn soul. 
 That apprehends no further than this world, 
 And squarest thy life according. Thou'rt condemn'd: 
 But, for those earthly faults, I quit them all; 
 And pray thee take this mercy to provide 525
 For better times to come. Friar, advise him; 
 I leave him to your hand. What muffled fellow's that? 
Provost This is another prisoner that I saved. 
 Who should have died when Claudio lost his head; 
 As like almost to Claudio as himself. 530
 Unmuffles CLAUDIO. 
DUKE VINCENTIO To ISABELLA. 
 Is he pardon'd; and, for your lovely sake, 
 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 quickening in his eye. 535
 Well, Angelo, your evil quits you well: 
 Look that you love your wife; her worth worth yours. 
 I find an apt remission in myself; 
 And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon. 
 To LUCIO. 
 You, sirrah, that knew me for a fool, a coward, 540
 One all of luxury, an ass, a madman; 
 Wherein have I so deserved of you, 
 That you extol me thus? 
LUCIO 'Faith, my lord. I spoke it but according to the 
 trick. If you will hang me for it, you may; but I 545
 had rather it would please you I might be whipt. 
DUKE VINCENTIO Whipt first, sir, and hanged after. 
 Proclaim it, provost, round about the city. 
 Is any woman wrong'd by this lewd fellow, 
 As I have heard him swear himself there's one 550
 Whom he begot with child, let her appear, 
 And he shall marry her: the nuptial finish'd, 
 Let him be whipt and hang'd. 
LUCIO I beseech your highness, do not marry me to a whore. 
 Your highness said even now, I made you a duke: 555
 good my lord, do not recompense me in making me a cuckold. 
DUKE VINCENTIO Upon mine honour, thou shalt marry her. 
 Thy slanders I forgive; and therewithal 
 Remit thy other forfeits. Take him to prison; 
 And see our pleasure herein executed. 560
LUCIO Marrying a punk, my lord, is pressing to death, 
 whipping, and hanging. 
DUKE VINCENTIO Slandering a prince deserves it. 
 Exit Officers with LUCIO. 
 She, Claudio, that you wrong'd, look you restore. 
 Joy to you, Mariana! Love her, Angelo: 565
 I have confess'd her and I know her virtue. 
 Thanks, good friend Escalus, for thy much goodness: 
 There's more behind that is more gratulate. 
 Thanks, provost, for thy care and secrecy: 
 We shill employ thee in a worthier place. 570
 Forgive him, Angelo, that brought you home 
 The head of Ragozine for Claudio's: 
 The offence pardons itself. Dear Isabel, 
 I have a motion much imports your good; 
 Whereto if you'll a willing ear incline, 575
 What's mine is yours and what is yours is mine. 
 So, bring us to our palace; where we'll show 
 What's yet behind, that's meet you all should know. 
 Exeunt. 

Measure for Measure, Scenes

________

Related Articles

 How to Pronounce the Names in Measure for Measure
 Measure for Measure: Detailed Plot Summary
 Shakespeare on Lawyers and the Law
 Introduction to Isabella from Measure for Measure
 Introduction to Angelo from Measure for Measure
 Introduction to the Duke from Measure for Measure
 Shakespeare's Sources for Measure for Measure
 Famous Quotations from Measure for Measure
 Shakespeare Quotations (by Play and Theme)
 Quotations About William Shakespeare

 Shakespeare's Language
 Exploring the Nature of Shakespearean Comedy
 Shakespeare's Boss: The Master of Revels