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An apartment in the DUKE’S palace.
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[Enter DUKE VINCENTIO, ESCALUS, Lords and] [p]Attendants]
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Of government the properties to unfold,
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Would seem in me to affect speech and discourse;
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Since I am put to know that your own science
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Exceeds, in that, the lists of all advice
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My strength can give you: then no more remains,
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But that to your sufficiency[—]
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[—] as your Worth is able,]
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And let them work. The nature of our people,
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Our city's institutions, and the terms
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For common justice, you're as pregnant in
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As art and practise hath enriched any
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That we remember. There is our commission,
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From which we would not have you warp. Call hither,
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I say, bid come before us Angelo.
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What figure of us Think you he will bear?
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For you must know, we have with special soul
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Elected him our absence to supply,
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Lent him our terror, dress'd him with our love,
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And given his deputation all the organs
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Of our own power: what think you of it?
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If any in Vienna be of worth
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To undergo such ample grace and honour,
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Always obedient to your grace's will,
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I come to know your pleasure.
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There is a kind of character in thy life,
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That to the observer doth thy history
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Fully unfold. Thyself and thy belongings
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Are not thine own so proper as to waste
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Thyself upon thy virtues, they on thee.
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Heaven doth with us as we with torches do,
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Not light them for themselves; for if our virtues
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Did not go forth of us, 'twere all alike
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As if we had them not. Spirits are not finely touch'd
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But to fine issues, nor Nature never lends
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The smallest scruple of her excellence
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But, like a thrifty goddess, she determines
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Herself the glory of a creditor,
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Both thanks and use. But I do bend my speech
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To one that can my part in him advertise;
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Hold therefore, Angelo:—
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In our remove be thou at full ourself;
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Mortality and mercy in Vienna
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Live in thy tongue and heart: old Escalus,
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Though first in question, is thy secondary.
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Let there be some more test made of my metal,
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Before so noble and so great a figure
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We have with a leaven'd and prepared choice
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Proceeded to you; therefore take your honours.
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Our haste from hence is of so quick condition
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That it prefers itself and leaves unquestion'd
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Matters of needful value. We shall write to you,
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As time and our concernings shall importune,
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How it goes with us, and do look to know
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What doth befall you here. So, fare you well;
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To the hopeful execution do I leave you
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Yet give leave, my lord,
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That we may bring you something on the way.
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My haste may not admit it;
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Nor need you, on mine honour, have to do
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With any scruple; your scope is as mine own
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So to enforce or qualify the laws
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As to your soul seems good. Give me your hand:
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I'll privily away. I love the people,
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But do not like to stage me to their eyes:
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Through it do well, I do not relish well
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Their loud applause and Aves vehement;
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Nor do I think the man of safe discretion
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That does affect it. Once more, fare you well.
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The heavens give safety to your purposes!
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Lead forth and bring you back in happiness!
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I thank you. Fare you well.
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I shall desire you, sir, to give me leave
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To have free speech with you; and it concerns me
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To look into the bottom of my place:
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A power I have, but of what strength and nature
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I am not yet instructed.
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'Tis so with me. Let us withdraw together,
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And we may soon our satisfaction have
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I'll wait upon your honour.
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[Enter LUCIO and two Gentlemen]
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If the duke with the other dukes come not to
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composition with the King of Hungary, why then all
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the dukes fall upon the king.
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Heaven grant us its peace, but not the King of
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Thou concludest like the sanctimonious pirate, that
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went to sea with the Ten Commandments, but scraped
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'Thou shalt not steal'?
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Why, 'twas a commandment to command the captain and
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all the rest from their functions: they put forth
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to steal. There's not a soldier of us all, that, in
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the thanksgiving before meat, do relish the petition
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well that prays for peace.
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I never heard any soldier dislike it.
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I believe thee; for I think thou never wast where
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No? a dozen times at least.
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In any proportion or in any language.
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I think, or in any religion.
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Ay, why not? Grace is grace, despite of all
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controversy: as, for example, thou thyself art a
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wicked villain, despite of all grace.
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Well, there went but a pair of shears between us.
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I grant; as there may between the lists and the
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velvet. Thou art the list.
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And thou the velvet: thou art good velvet; thou'rt
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a three-piled piece, I warrant thee: I had as lief
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be a list of an English kersey as be piled, as thou
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art piled, for a French velvet. Do I speak
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I think thou dost; and, indeed, with most painful
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feeling of thy speech: I will, out of thine own
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confession, learn to begin thy health; but, whilst I
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live, forget to drink after thee.
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I think I have done myself wrong, have I not?
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Yes, that thou hast, whether thou art tainted or free.
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Behold, behold. where Madam Mitigation comes! I
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have purchased as many diseases under her roof as come to—
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To three thousand dolours a year.
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Thou art always figuring diseases in me; but thou
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art full of error; I am sound.
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Nay, not as one would say, healthy; but so sound as
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things that are hollow: thy bones are hollow;
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impiety has made a feast of thee.
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[Enter MISTRESS OVERDONE]
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How now! which of your hips has the most profound sciatica?
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Well, well; there's one yonder arrested and carried
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to prison was worth five thousand of you all.
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Who's that, I pray thee?
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Marry, sir, that's Claudio, Signior Claudio.
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Claudio to prison? 'tis not so.
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Nay, but I know 'tis so: I saw him arrested, saw
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him carried away; and, which is more, within these
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three days his head to be chopped off.
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But, after all this fooling, I would not have it so.
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Art thou sure of this?
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I am too sure of it: and it is for getting Madam
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Believe me, this may be: he promised to meet me two
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hours since, and he was ever precise in
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Besides, you know, it draws something near to the
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speech we had to such a purpose.
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But, most of all, agreeing with the proclamation.
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Away! let's go learn the truth of it.
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[Exeunt LUCIO and Gentlemen]
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Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat, what
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with the gallows and what with poverty, I am
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How now! what's the news with you?
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Yonder man is carried to prison.
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Well; what has he done?
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But what's his offence?
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Groping for trouts in a peculiar river.
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What, is there a maid with child by him?
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No, but there's a woman with maid by him. You have
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not heard of the proclamation, have you?
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What proclamation, man?
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All houses in the suburbs of Vienna must be plucked down.
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And what shall become of those in the city?
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They shall stand for seed: they had gone down too,
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but that a wise burgher put in for them.
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But shall all our houses of resort in the suburbs be
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To the ground, mistress.
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Why, here's a change indeed in the commonwealth!
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What shall become of me?
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Come; fear you not: good counsellors lack no
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clients: though you change your place, you need not
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change your trade; I'll be your tapster still.
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Courage! there will be pity taken on you: you that
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have worn your eyes almost out in the service, you
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What's to do here, Thomas tapster? let's withdraw.
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Here comes Signior Claudio, led by the provost to
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prison; and there's Madam Juliet.
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[Enter Provost, CLAUDIO, JULIET, and Officers]
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Fellow, why dost thou show me thus to the world?
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Bear me to prison, where I am committed.
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I do it not in evil disposition,
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But from Lord Angelo by special charge.
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Thus can the demigod Authority
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Make us pay down for our offence by weight
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The words of heaven; on whom it will, it will;
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On whom it will not, so; yet still 'tis just.
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[Re-enter LUCIO and two Gentlemen]
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Why, how now, Claudio! whence comes this restraint?
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From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty:
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As surfeit is the father of much fast,
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So every scope by the immoderate use
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Turns to restraint. Our natures do pursue,
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Like rats that ravin down their proper bane,
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A thirsty evil; and when we drink we die.
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If could speak so wisely under an arrest, I would
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send for certain of my creditors: and yet, to say
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the truth, I had as lief have the foppery of freedom
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as the morality of imprisonment. What's thy
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What but to speak of would offend again.
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Away, sir! you must go.
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One word, good friend. Lucio, a word with you.
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A hundred, if they'll do you any good.
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Is lechery so look'd after?
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Thus stands it with me: upon a true contract
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I got possession of Julietta's bed:
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You know the lady; she is fast my wife,
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Save that we do the denunciation lack
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Of outward order: this we came not to,
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Only for propagation of a dower
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Remaining in the coffer of her friends,
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From whom we thought it meet to hide our love
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Till time had made them for us. But it chances
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The stealth of our most mutual entertainment
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With character too gross is writ on Juliet.
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And the new deputy now for the duke—
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Whether it be the fault and glimpse of newness,
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Or whether that the body public be
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A horse whereon the governor doth ride,
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Who, newly in the seat, that it may know
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He can command, lets it straight feel the spur;
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Whether the tyranny be in his place,
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Or in his emmence that fills it up,
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I stagger in:—but this new governor
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Awakes me all the enrolled penalties
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Which have, like unscour'd armour, hung by the wall
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So long that nineteen zodiacs have gone round
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And none of them been worn; and, for a name,
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Now puts the drowsy and neglected act
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Freshly on me: 'tis surely for a name.
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I warrant it is: and thy head stands so tickle on
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thy shoulders that a milkmaid, if she be in love,
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may sigh it off. Send after the duke and appeal to
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I have done so, but he's not to be found.
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I prithee, Lucio, do me this kind service:
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This day my sister should the cloister enter
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And there receive her approbation:
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Acquaint her with the danger of my state:
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Implore her, in my voice, that she make friends
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To the strict deputy; bid herself assay him:
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I have great hope in that; for in her youth
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There is a prone and speechless dialect,
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Such as move men; beside, she hath prosperous art
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When she will play with reason and discourse,
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And well she can persuade.
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I pray she may; as well for the encouragement of the
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like, which else would stand under grievous
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imposition, as for the enjoying of thy life, who I
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would be sorry should be thus foolishly lost at a
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game of tick-tack. I'll to her.
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I thank you, good friend Lucio.
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[Enter DUKE VINCENTIO and FRIAR THOMAS]
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No, holy father; throw away that thought;
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Believe not that the dribbling dart of love
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Can pierce a complete bosom. Why I desire thee
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To give me secret harbour, hath a purpose
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More grave and wrinkled than the aims and ends
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May your grace speak of it?
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My holy sir, none better knows than you
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How I have ever loved the life removed
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And held in idle price to haunt assemblies
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Where youth, and cost, and witless bravery keeps.
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I have deliver'd to Lord Angelo,
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A man of stricture and firm abstinence,
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My absolute power and place here in Vienna,
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And he supposes me travell'd to Poland;
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For so I have strew'd it in the common ear,
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And so it is received. Now, pious sir,
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You will demand of me why I do this?
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We have strict statutes and most biting laws.
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The needful bits and curbs to headstrong weeds,
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Which for this nineteen years we have let slip;
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Even like an o'ergrown lion in a cave,
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That goes not out to prey. Now, as fond fathers,
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Having bound up the threatening twigs of birch,
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Only to stick it in their children's sight
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For terror, not to use, in time the rod
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Becomes more mock'd than fear'd; so our decrees,
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Dead to infliction, to themselves are dead;
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And liberty plucks justice by the nose;
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The baby beats the nurse, and quite athwart
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It rested in your grace
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To unloose this tied-up justice when you pleased:
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And it in you more dreadful would have seem'd
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I do fear, too dreadful:
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Sith 'twas my fault to give the people scope,
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'Twould be my tyranny to strike and gall them
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For what I bid them do: for we bid this be done,
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When evil deeds have their permissive pass
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And not the punishment. Therefore indeed, my father,
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I have on Angelo imposed the office;
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Who may, in the ambush of my name, strike home,
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And yet my nature never in the fight
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To do in slander. And to behold his sway,
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I will, as 'twere a brother of your order,
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Visit both prince and people: therefore, I prithee,
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Supply me with the habit and instruct me
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How I may formally in person bear me
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Like a true friar. More reasons for this action
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At our more leisure shall I render you;
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Only, this one: Lord Angelo is precise;
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Stands at a guard with envy; scarce confesses
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That his blood flows, or that his appetite
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Is more to bread than stone: hence shall we see,
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If power change purpose, what our seemers be.
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[Enter ISABELLA and FRANCISCA]
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And have you nuns no farther privileges?
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Are not these large enough?
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Yes, truly; I speak not as desiring more;
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But rather wishing a more strict restraint
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Upon the sisterhood, the votarists of Saint Clare.
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[Within]Ho! Peace be in this place!
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Who's that which calls?
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It is a man's voice. Gentle Isabella,
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Turn you the key, and know his business of him;
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You may, I may not; you are yet unsworn.
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When you have vow'd, you must not speak with men
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But in the presence of the prioress:
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Then, if you speak, you must not show your face,
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Or, if you show your face, you must not speak.
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He calls again; I pray you, answer him.
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Peace and prosperity! Who is't that calls
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Hail, virgin, if you be, as those cheek-roses
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Proclaim you are no less! Can you so stead me
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As bring me to the sight of Isabella,
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A novice of this place and the fair sister
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To her unhappy brother Claudio?
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Why 'her unhappy brother'? let me ask,
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The rather for I now must make you know
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I am that Isabella and his sister.
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Gentle and fair, your brother kindly greets you:
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Not to be weary with you, he's in prison.
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For that which, if myself might be his judge,
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He should receive his punishment in thanks:
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He hath got his friend with child.
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Sir, make me not your story.
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I would not—though 'tis my familiar sin
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With maids to seem the lapwing and to jest,
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Tongue far from heart—play with all virgins so:
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I hold you as a thing ensky'd and sainted.
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By your renouncement an immortal spirit,
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And to be talk'd with in sincerity,
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You do blaspheme the good in mocking me.
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Do not believe it. Fewness and truth, 'tis thus:
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Your brother and his lover have embraced:
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As those that feed grow full, as blossoming time
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That from the seedness the bare fallow brings
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To teeming foison, even so her plenteous womb
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Expresseth his full tilth and husbandry.
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Some one with child by him? My cousin Juliet?
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Adoptedly; as school-maids change their names
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By vain though apt affection.
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The duke is very strangely gone from hence;
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Bore many gentlemen, myself being one,
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In hand and hope of action: but we do learn
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By those that know the very nerves of state,
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His givings-out were of an infinite distance
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From his true-meant design. Upon his place,
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And with full line of his authority,
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Governs Lord Angelo; a man whose blood
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Is very snow-broth; one who never feels
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The wanton stings and motions of the sense,
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But doth rebate and blunt his natural edge
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With profits of the mind, study and fast.
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He—to give fear to use and liberty,
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Which have for long run by the hideous law,
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As mice by lions—hath pick'd out an act,
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Under whose heavy sense your brother's life
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Falls into forfeit: he arrests him on it;
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And follows close the rigour of the statute,
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To make him an example. All hope is gone,
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Unless you have the grace by your fair prayer
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To soften Angelo: and that's my pith of business
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'Twixt you and your poor brother.
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Doth he so seek his life?
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Already; and, as I hear, the provost hath
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A warrant for his execution.
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Alas! what poor ability's in me
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Assay the power you have.
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My power? Alas, I doubt—
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Our doubts are traitors
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And make us lose the good we oft might win
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By fearing to attempt. Go to Lord Angelo,
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And let him learn to know, when maidens sue,
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Men give like gods; but when they weep and kneel,
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All their petitions are as freely theirs
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As they themselves would owe them.
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I'll see what I can do.
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I will about it straight;
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No longer staying but to give the mother
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Notice of my affair. I humbly thank you:
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Commend me to my brother: soon at night
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I'll send him certain word of my success.
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I take my leave of you.
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