LITMIR.BIZ

        CLAUDIO. Fellow, why dost thou show me thus to th' world?

          Bear me to prison, where I am committed.

        PROVOST. I do it not in evil disposition,

          But from Lord Angelo by special charge.

        CLAUDIO. Thus can the demigod Authority

          Make us pay down for our offence by weight

          The words of heaven: on whom it will, it will;

          On whom it will not, so; yet still 'tis just.

        LUCIO. Why, how now, Claudio, whence comes this restraint?

        CLAUDIO. From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty;

          As surfeit is the father of much fast,

          So every scope by the immoderate use

          Turns to restraint. Our natures do pursue,

          Like rats that ravin down their proper bane,

          A thirsty evil; and when we drink we die.

        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?

        CLAUDIO. What but to speak of would offend again.

        LUCIO. What, is't murder?

        CLAUDIO. No.

        LUCIO. Lechery?

        CLAUDIO. Call it so.

        PROVOST. Away, sir; you must go.

        CLAUDIO. One word, good friend. Lucio, a word with you.

        LUCIO. A hundred, if they'll do you any good. Is lechery so

      look'd

          after?

        CLAUDIO. Thus stands it with me: upon a true contract

          I got possession of Julietta's bed.

          You know the lady; she is fast my wife,

          Save that we do the denunciation lack

          Of outward order; this we came not to,

          Only for propagation of a dow'r

          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.

        LUCIO. With child, perhaps?

        CLAUDIO. Unhappily, even so.

          And the new deputy now for the Duke-

          Whether it be the fault and glimpse of newness,

          Or whether that the body public be

          A horse whereon the governor doth ride,

          Who, newly in the seat, that it may know

          He can command, lets it straight feel the spur;

          Whether the tyranny be in his place,

          Or in his eminence that fills it up,

          I stagger in. But this new governor

          Awakes me all the enrolled penalties

          Which have, like unscour'd armour, hung by th' wall

          So long that nineteen zodiacs have gone round

          And none of them been worn; and, for a name,

          Now puts the drowsy and neglected act

          Freshly on me. 'Tis surely for a name.

        LUCIO. I warrant it is; and thy head stands so tickle on thy

          shoulders that a milkmaid, if she be in love, may sigh it

      off.

          Send after the Duke, and appeal to him.

        CLAUDIO. I have done so, but he's not to be found.

          I prithee, Lucio, do me this kind service:

          This day my sister should the cloister enter,

          And there receive her approbation;

          Acquaint her with the danger of my state;

          Implore her, in my voice, that she make friends

          To the strict deputy; bid herself assay him.

          I have great hope in that; for in her youth

          There is a prone and speechless dialect

          Such as move men; beside, she hath prosperous art

          When she will play with reason and discourse,

          And well she can persuade.

        LUCIO. I pray she 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.

        CLAUDIO. I thank you, good friend Lucio.

        LUCIO. Within two hours.

        CLAUDIO. Come, officer, away. Exeunt

        DUKE. No, holy father; throw away that thought;

          Believe not that the dribbling dart of love

          Can pierce a complete bosom. Why I desire thee

          To give me secret harbour hath a purpose

          More grave and wrinkled than the aims and ends

          Of burning youth.

        FRIAR. May your Grace speak of it?

        DUKE. My holy sir, none better knows than you

          How I have ever lov'd the life removed,

          And held in idle price to haunt assemblies

          Where youth, and cost, a witless bravery keeps.

          I have deliver'd to Lord Angelo,

          A man of stricture and firm abstinence,

          My

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