Measure for Measure | Page 5

FIRST GENTLEMAN. Claudio to prison! 'tis not so.
BAWD. Nay, but I know 'tis so: I saw him arrested; saw him carried

away; and, which is more, within these three days his head to be
chopped off.
LUCIO. But, after all this fooling, I would not have it so. Art thou sure
of this?
BAWD. I am too sure of it: and it is for getting Madam Julietta with
child.
LUCIO. Believe me, this may be: he promised to meet me two hours
since, and he was ever precise in promise-keeping.
SECOND GENTLEMAN. Besides, you know, it draws something near
to the speech we had to such a purpose.
FIRST GENTLEMAN. But most of all agreeing with the proclamation.
LUCIO. Away; let's go learn the truth of it.
[Exeunt Lucio and Gentlemen.]
BAWD. Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat, what with the
gallows, and what with poverty, I am custom-shrunk. How now! what's
the news with you?
[Enter CLOWN.]
CLOWN. Yonder man is carried to prison.
BAWD. Well: what has he done?
CLOWN. A woman.
BAWD. But what's his offence?
CLOWN. Groping for trouts in a peculiar river.
BAWD. What! is there a maid with child by him?
CLOWN. No; but there's a woman with maid by him. You have not
heard of the proclamation, have you?
BAWD. What proclamation, man?
CLOWN. All houses in the suburbs of Vienna must be plucked down.
BAWD. And what shall become of those in the city?
CLOWN. 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 pulled
down?
CLOWN. To the ground, mistress.
BAWD. Why, here's a change indeed in the commonwealth! What shall
become of me?
CLOWN. 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.
CLOWN. 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.]
CLAUDIO. Fellow, why dost thou show me thus to the 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 demi-god 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.
[Takes him aside.]
LUCIO. A hundred, if they'll do you any good. Is lechery so lookeed
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 dower 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 the wall
So long that nineteen zodiacs have gone round And none of them been
worn; and, for a