Act IV, Scene 4 A room in ANGELO's house.

Enter ANGELO and ESCALUS

 

ESCALUS Every letter he hath writ hath disvouched other.
ANGELO In most uneven and distracted manner. His actions
show much like to madness: pray heaven his wisdom be
not tainted! And why meet him at the gates, and
redeliver our authorities there
ESCALUS I guess not.
ANGELO And why should we proclaim it in an hour before his
entering, that if any crave redress of injustice,
they should exhibit their petitions in the street?
ESCALUS He shows his reason for that: to have a dispatch of
complaints, and to deliver us from devices
hereafter, which shall then have no power to stand
against us.
ANGELO Well, I beseech you, let it be proclaimed betimes
i' the morn; I'll call you at your house: give
notice to such men of sort and suit as are to meet
him.
ESCALUS I shall, sir. Fare you well.
ANGELO Good night.
  [Exit ESCALUS]
  This deed unshapes me quite, makes me unpregnant
And dull to all proceedings. A deflower'd maid!
And by an eminent body that enforced
The law against it! But that her tender shame
Will not proclaim against her maiden loss,
How might she tongue me! Yet reason dares her no;
For my authority bears of a credent bulk,
That no particular scandal once can touch
But it confounds the breather. He should have lived,
Save that riotous youth, with dangerous sense,
Might in the times to come have ta'en revenge,
By so receiving a dishonour'd life
With ransom of such shame. Would yet he had lived!
A lack, when once our grace we have forgot,
Nothing goes right: we would, and we would not.
  [Exit]

 

Act IV, Scene 5 Fields without the town.

Enter DUKE VINCENTIO in his own habit, and FRIAR PETER

 

DUKE VINCENTIO These letters at fit time deliver me
  [Giving letters]
  The provost knows our purpose and our plot.
The matter being afoot, keep your instruction,
And hold you ever to our special drift;
Though sometimes you do blench from this to that,
As cause doth minister. Go call at Flavius' house,
And tell him where I stay: give the like notice
To Valentinus, Rowland, and to Crassus,
And bid them bring the trumpets to the gate;
But send me Flavius first.
FRIAR PETER It shall be speeded well.
  [Exit]
  [Enter VARRIUS]
DUKE VINCENTIO I thank thee, Varrius; thou hast made good haste:
Come, we will walk. There's other of our friends
Will greet us here anon, my gentle Varrius.
  [Exeunt]

 

Act IV, Scene 6 Street near the city gate. 

Enter ISABELLA and MARIANA

 

ISABELLA To speak so indirectly I am loath:
I would say the truth; but to accuse him so,
That is your part: yet I am advised to do it;
He says, to veil full purpose.
MARIANA Be ruled by him.
ISABELLA Besides, he tells me that, if peradventure
He speak against me on the adverse side,
I should not think it strange; for 'tis a physic
That's bitter to sweet end.
MARIANA I would Friar Peter--
ISABELLA O, peace! the friar is come.
  [Enter FRIAR PETER]
FRIAR PETER Come, I have found you out a stand most fit,
Where you may have such vantage on the duke,
He shall not pass you. Twice have the trumpets sounded;
The generous and gravest citizens
Have hent the gates, and very near upon
The duke is entering: therefore, hence, away!
  [Exeunt]

 

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Full Text

Act II, Scene 4 A room in Angelo's house.

Act I, Scene 1 An apartment in the Duke's palace.

Act III, Scene 1 A room in the prison.

Act I, Scene 2 A Street

Act III, Scene 2 The street before the prison.

Act I, Scene 3 A monastery

Act IV, Scene 1 The moated grange at St. Luke's.

Act I, Scene 4 A nunnery. Act IV, Scene 2 A room in the prison.

Act II, Scene 1 A hall In Angelo's house.

Act IV, Scene 3 Another room in the same.

Act II, Scene 2 Another room in the same.

Act IV, Scene 4 A room in Angelo's house./Act IV, Scene 5 Fields without the town./Act IV, Scene 6 Street near the city gate.
Act II, Scene 3 A room in a prison. Act V Scene 1 The city gate.

 

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