_Enter ANGELO and ESCALUS._
_Escal._ Every letter he hath writ hath disvouched 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 authorities there? 5
_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 10
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 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. 15
_Escal._ I shall, sir. Fare you well.
_Ang._ 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 20
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 25
But it confounds the breather. He should have lived,
Save that his 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! 30
Alack, when once our grace we have forgot,
Nothing goes right: we would, and we would not. [_Exit._
NOTES: IV, 4.