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true； think you？ DUKE。 How should he be made； then？ LUCIO。 Some
report a sea…maid spawn'd him； some； that he was begot between two
stock…fishes。 But it is certain that when he makes water his urine is
congeal'd ice； that I know to be true。 And he is a motion generative； that's
infallible。 DUKE。 You are pleasant； sir； and speak apace。 LUCIO。 Why；
what a ruthless thing is this in him； for the rebellion of a codpiece to take
away the life of a man！ Would the Duke that is absent have done this？ Ere
he would have hang'd a man for the getting a hundred bastards； he would
have paid for the nursing a thousand。 He had some feeling of the sport； he
knew the service； and that instructed him to mercy。 DUKE。 I never heard
the absent Duke much detected for women； he was not inclin'd that way。
LUCIO。 O； sir； you are deceiv'd。 DUKE。 'Tis not possible。 LUCIO。 Who…
not the Duke？ Yes； your beggar of fifty； and his use was to put a ducat in
her clack…dish。 The Duke had crotchets in him。 He would be drunk too；
that let me inform you。 DUKE。 You do him wrong； surely。 LUCIO。 Sir； I
was an inward of his。 A shy fellow was the Duke； and I believe I know the
cause of his withdrawing。 DUKE。 What； I prithee； might be the cause？
LUCIO。 No； pardon； 'tis a secret must be lock'd within the teeth and the
lips； but this I can let you understand： the greater file of the subject held
the Duke to be wise。 DUKE。 Wise？ Why； no question but he was。 LUCIO。
A very superficial； ignorant； unweighing fellow。 DUKE。 Either this is envy
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in you； folly； or mistaking； the very stream of his life； and the business he
hath helmed； must； upon a warranted need； give him a better proclamation。
Let him be but testimonied in his own bringings…forth； and he shall appear
to the envious a scholar； a statesman； and a soldier。 Therefore you speak
unskilfully； or； if your knowledge be more； it is much dark'ned in your
malice。 LUCIO。 Sir； I know him； and I love him。 DUKE。 Love talks with
better knowledge； and knowledge with dearer love。 LUCIO。 Come； sir； I
know what I know。 DUKE。 I can hardly believe that； since you know not
what you speak。 But； if ever the Duke return； as our prayers are he may； let
me desire you to make your answer before him。 If it be honest you have
spoke； you have courage to maintain it； I am bound to call upon you； and I
pray you your name？ LUCIO。 Sir； my name is Lucio； well known to the
Duke。 DUKE。 He shall know you better； sir； if I may live to report you。
LUCIO。 I fear you not。 DUKE。 O； you hope the Duke will return no more；
or you imagine me too unhurtful an opposite。 But； indeed； I can do you
little harm： you'll forswear this again。 LUCIO。 I'll be hang'd first。 Thou art
deceiv'd in me； friar。 But no more of this。 Canst thou tell if Claudio die to…
morrow or no？ DUKE。 Why should he die； sir？ LUCIO。 Why？ For filling
a bottle with a tun…dish。 I would the Duke we talk of were return'd again。
This ungenitur'd agent will unpeople the province with continency；
sparrows must not build in his house…eaves because they are lecherous。
The Duke yet would have dark deeds darkly answered； he would never
bring them to
light。 Would he were return'd！ Marry； this Claudio is condemned for
untrussing。 Farewell； good friar； I prithee pray for me。 The Duke； I say to
thee again； would eat mutton on Fridays。 He's not past it yet； and； I say to
thee； he would mouth with a beggar though she smelt brown bread and
garlic。 Say that I said so。 Farewell。 Exit DUKE。 No might nor greatness in
mortality Can censure scape； back…wounding calumny The whitest virtue
strikes。 What king so strong Can tie the gall up in the slanderous tongue？
But who comes here？
Enter ESCALUS； PROVOST； and OFFICERS with MISTRESS
OVERDONE
ESCALUS。 Go； away with her to prison。 MRS。 OVERDONE。 Good
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my lord； be good to me； your honour is accounted a merciful man； good
my lord。 ESCALUS。 Double and treble admonition； and still forfeit in the
same kind！ This would make mercy swear and play the tyrant。 PROVOST。
A bawd of eleven years' continuance； may it please your honour。 MRS。
OVERDONE。 My lord； this is one Lucio's information against me。
Mistress Kate Keepdown was with child by him in the Duke's time； he
promis'd her marriage。 His child is a year and a quarter old come Philip
and Jacob； I have kept it myself； and see how he goes about to abuse me。
ESCALUS。 That fellow is a fellow of much license。 Let him be call'd
before us。 Away with her to prison。 Go to； no more words。 ＇Exeunt
OFFICERS with MISTRESS OVERDONE＇ Provost； my brother Angelo
will not be alter'd： Claudio must die to…morrow。 Let him be furnish'd with
divines； and have all charitable preparation。 If my brother wrought by my
pity； it should not be so with him。 PROVOST。 So please you； this friar
hath been with him； and advis'd him for th' entertainment of death。
ESCALUS。 Good even； good father。 DUKE。 Bliss and goodness on you！
ESCALUS。 Of whence are you？ DUKE。 Not of this country； though my
chance is now To use it for my time。 I am a brother Of gracious order； late
come from the See In special business from his Holiness。 ESCALUS。
What news abroad i' th' world？ DUKE。 None； but that there is so great a
fever on goodness that the dissolution of it must cure it。 Novelty is only in
request； and； as it is； as dangerous to be aged in any kind of course as it is
virtuous to be constant in any undertaking。 There is scarce truth enough
alive to make societies secure； but security enough to make fellowships
accurst。 Much upon this riddle runs the wisdom of the world。 This news is
old enough； yet it is every day's news。 I pray you； sir； of what disposition
was the Duke？ ESCALUS。 One that； above all other strifes； contended
especially to know himself。 DUKE。 What pleasure was he given to？
ESCALUS。 Rather rejoicing to see another merry than merry at anything
which profess'd to make him rejoice； a gentleman of all temperance。 But
leave we him to his events； with a prayer they may prove prosperous； and
let me desire to know how you find Claudio prepar'd。 I am made to
understand that you have lent him visitation。 DUKE。 He professes to have
re