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MISTRESS OVERDONE:
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.
MISTRESS OVERDONE:
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?
POMPEY:
Yonder man is carried to prison.
MISTRESS OVERDONE:
Well; what has he done?
POMPEY:
A woman.
MISTRESS OVERDONE:
But what's his offence?
POMPEY:
Groping for trouts in a peculiar river.
MISTRESS OVERDONE:
What, is there a maid with child by him?
POMPEY:
No, but there's a woman with maid by him. You have
not heard of the proclamation, have you?
MISTRESS OVERDONE:
What proclamation, man?
POMPEY:
All houses in the suburbs of Vienna must be plucked down.
MISTRESS OVERDONE:
And what shall become of those in the city?
POMPEY:
They shall stand for seed: they had gone down too,
but that a wise burgher put in for them.
MISTRESS OVERDONE:
But shall all our houses of resort in the suburbs be
pulled down?
POMPEY:
To the ground, mistress.
MISTRESS OVERDONE:
Why, here's a change indeed in the commonwealth!
What shall become of me?
POMPEY:
Come; fear you not: 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.
MISTRESS OVERDONE:
What's to do here, Thomas tapster? let's withdraw.
POMPEY:
Here comes Signior Claudio, led by the provost to
prison; and there's Madam Juliet.
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 demigod 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.