Act IV.
Scene IV.
Scene IV.—A Room in ANGELO'S House.
Enter ANGELO and ESCALUS.
Escal. Every letter he hath writ hath dis-
vouched other.
Ang. 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 au-
thorities there?
Escal. I guess not.
Ang. 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?
Escal. 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.
Ang. Well, I beseech you, let it be proclaim'd:
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.
Escal. I shall, sir: fare you well.
Ang. Good night.— [Exit ESCALUS.
This deed unshapes me quite, makes me un-
pregnant
And dull to all proceedings. A deflowered 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 so credent bulk,
That no particular scandal once can touch:
But it confounds the breather. He should have
liv'd,
Save that his riotous youth, with dangerous
sense,
Might in the times to come have ta'en revenge,
By so receiving a dishonoured life
With ransom of such shame. Would yet he had
liv'd!
Alack! when once our grace we have forgot,
Nothing goes right: we would, and we would
not [Exit.
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