We must not make a scarecrow of the law,
Setting it up to fear the birds of prey,
And let it keep one shape till custom make it
Their perch, and not their terror.
We cannot simply display the law to frighten criminals, leaving it unchanged until people become so accustomed to it that it becomes merely a roosting place rather than something that frightens them.
We can't just put the law on display to scare people and then leave it alone forever. Once it sits there long enough, people stop being afraid of it—it just becomes background noise.
laws need to be enforced or people ignore them
Ay, but yet
Let us be keen, and rather cut a little
Than fall and bruise to death. Alas, this gentleman,
Whom I would save, had a most noble father.
Let but your honour know,
Whom I believe to be most strait in virtue,
That, in the working of your own affections,
Had time cohered with place, or place with wishing,
Or that the resolute acting of your blood
Could have attained th’ effect of your own purpose,
Whether you had not sometime in your life
Erred in this point which now you censure him,
And pulled the law upon you.
Yes, but let's be disciplined and cut slightly rather than inflict severe harm. This gentleman, whom I wish to protect, came from a noble family. I know you believe yourself to be strictly virtuous, but if circumstances and timing had been right, or if your own desires had achieved their aim, might you not at some point have made the same error that you now condemn him for and brought the law upon yourself?
I agree we should be tough, but let's be measured about it. This guy has a good family and I want to help him. Look, I know you think you're virtuous, but if things had lined up differently—if the timing had worked out or you'd gotten what you wanted—wouldn't you have made the same mistake and ended up in his position?
be firm but fair he's from a good family if you'd been tempted would you be different?
’Tis one thing to be tempted, Escalus,
Another thing to fall. I not deny
The jury passing on the prisoner’s life
May in the sworn twelve have a thief or two
Guiltier than him they try. What’s open made to justice,
That justice seizes. What knows the laws
That thieves do pass on thieves? ’Tis very pregnant,
The jewel that we find, we stoop and take ’t,
Because we see it; but what we do not see,
We tread upon, and never think of it.
You may not so extenuate his offence
For I have had such faults; but rather tell me,
When I that censure him do so offend,
Let mine own judgement pattern out my death,
And nothing come in partial. Sir, he must die.
Being tempted is different from giving in, Escalus. I won't deny that the jury judging his life might include two thieves worse than him, but justice only deals with what's visible. How would the law even know about crimes it never sees? It's quite telling: we find a jewel and bend to take it because we see it, but we step on and ignore things hidden from sight. Don't excuse his wrongdoing just because I've struggled with similar temptations. Rather, understand this: if I who judge him should commit the same offense, let my judgment alone determine my death, with nothing softened by favor. He must die.
Being tempted is one thing, giving in is another, Escalus. Yeah, the jury might include people just as bad or worse, but justice only handles what it sees. You can't punish crimes you don't know about. We pick up the jewel we spot but walk right over the stuff we don't notice. Don't excuse his crime because I'm not perfect. If I ever do the same thing, judge me by the same rule with no mercy. He has to pay the price.
tempted ≠ guilty justice only sees what's obvious he broke the law publicly he has to pay
Be it as your wisdom will.
It will be as you decide.
Whatever you say.
ur call
Where is the Provost?
Where is the person in charge of the prison?
Is the prison keeper here?
where's the provost?
Here, if it like your honour.
I'm here, if it's acceptable to you.
I'm right here if you need me.
here
See that Claudio
Be executed by nine tomorrow morning.
Bring him his confessor, let him be prepared,
For that’s the utmost of his pilgrimage.
Make sure Claudio is executed by nine tomorrow morning. Bring him a priest to hear his confession, so he can be prepared. That will be the end of his journey.
I want Claudio executed by nine in the morning. Get him a priest to confess to—let him get ready for what's coming. That's the end of it.
claudio dies tomorrow 9am get him a priest that's it
Well, heaven forgive him; and forgive us all.
Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall.
Some run from brakes of vice, and answer none,
And some condemned for a fault alone.
Well, may heaven forgive him and forgive us all. Some people rise to power through sin, and some fall into ruin through virtue. Some escape punishment for their vices and answer for nothing, while others are condemned for a single mistake.
God forgive him and all of us. Some people get ahead by doing wrong, and some good people get ruined. Some get away with everything, and some get destroyed for one mistake.
god help us all some rise by doing wrong some fall for being good it's not fair
Elbow speaks in malapropisms — he consistently uses the opposite of the word he means. 'Benefactors' for malefactors, 'detest' for attest or respect, 'precise' for vile. He doesn't know he's doing it, which is what makes it funny and slightly heartbreaking. Watch for how his word errors accidentally reveal truths: when he says Pompey is a 'precise villain,' he's more right than he knows.
Come, bring them away. If these be good people in a commonweal that do
nothing but use their abuses in common houses, I know no law. Bring
them away.
Come on, bring them away. If these are respectable people in the community who do nothing but practice their abuses in common houses, I know no law. Bring them along.
Come on, let's go. If people in town can just use these places for their illegal activities and nothing gets done, then I don't understand the law anymore. Let's take them in.
if respected ppl can do whatever they want where's the justice?
How now, sir, what’s your name? And what’s the matter?
How are you, sir? What is your name and what brings you here?
Hey, who are you and what's this about?
who r u?
If it please your honour, I am the poor Duke’s constable, and my name
is Elbow. I do lean upon justice, sir, and do bring in here before your
good honour two notorious benefactors.
If it please your honor, I am the Duke's constable and my name is Elbow. I rely on justice, sir, and I bring before your honor two notorious criminals.
If you don't mind, I'm the Duke's cop and my name's Elbow. I believe in justice, and I'm bringing you two bad characters.
i'm elbow i'm a cop these two are criminals
Benefactors? Well, what benefactors are they? Are they not malefactors?
Criminals? Well, what kind of criminals are they? Are they not doers of harmful acts rather than helpful ones?
Criminals? What exactly did they do? They cause trouble rather than help people, don't they?
criminals how? they cause problems?
If it please your honour, I know not well what they are, but precise
villains they are, that I am sure of, and void of all profanation in
the world that good Christians ought to have.
If it please your honor, I don't know exactly what they are, but they are definitely villains, and they lack all the goodness that Christians should have.
To be honest sir, I'm not sure exactly what they are, but they're definitely bad people and they don't have any of the morality that good Christians should.
theyre bad no morals at all
This comes off well. Here’s a wise officer.
This works out well. Here is a wise officer.
Well, this is going great. Here's one smart cop right here.
very wise indeed
Go to. What quality are they of? Elbow is your name? Why dost thou not
speak, Elbow?
All right. What type of people are they? Is your name Elbow? Why do you not speak, Elbow?
OK, what kind of people are they? Your name's Elbow, right? So why aren't you talking?
elbow why u quiet?
He cannot, sir. He’s out at elbow.
He cannot, sir. He's financially struggling.
He can't, sir. He's having money troubles.
he's broke
What are you, sir?
Who are you?
And who are you?
who r u
He, sir? A tapster, sir; parcel bawd; one that serves a bad woman;
whose house, sir, was, as they say, plucked down in the suburbs; and
now she professes a hot-house, which, I think is a very ill house too.
Him, sir? A bartender, sir; someone who works with a brothel keeper; someone who works for an immoral woman whose house was, they say, demolished in the outer districts; and now she runs a bathhouse, which I think is also a disreputable place.
Him? He's a bartender, works with prostitutes, works for this bad woman whose place got torn down outside the city. Now she runs a bathhouse, which is basically the same kind of place.
he's a bartender works in brothels for a bad woman
How know you that?
How do you know this?
What makes you so sure?
how u know?
My wife, sir, whom I detest before heaven and your honour—
My wife, sir, whom I disown before heaven and your honor—
My wife, sir, and I swear to God and you—
my wife told me
How? Thy wife?
What? Your wife?
Wait, your wife?
ur wife?
Elbow isn't just comic relief — he's a documentary portrait of how low-level law enforcement functioned in Elizabethan England. Parish constables served in rotation, chosen from local householders. The wealthy regularly paid poorer neighbors to take their turns, which is exactly what Elbow describes: 'As they are chosen, they are glad to choose me for them; I do it for some piece of money.' The result was a constabulary composed of men who wanted the small fee, not the job — which meant the system was both underpaid and undermotivated. Elbow has served seven and a half years because nobody competent will take the role. His malapropisms aren't simply personal stupidity — they're the product of a semi-literate man trying to speak the register of a court he doesn't belong to. When Escalus asks him to bring the names of 'the most sufficient of your parish,' he's tacitly acknowledging the systemic problem. The comedy is real and the institutional critique is real simultaneously.
Ay, sir, whom I thank heaven is an honest woman—
Yes, sir, whom I thank heaven is a respectable woman—
Yes, sir, and thank God she's a good woman—
yeah she's good
Dost thou detest her therefore?
Then why do you disown her for it?
Then why are you against her?
so y u hate her?
I say, sir, I will detest myself also, as well as she, that this house,
if it be not a bawd’s house, it is pity of her life, for it is a
naughty house.
I mean, sir, I will disown myself as well as her, so that if this house is not a brothel, it would be a shame for her to live, because it is an immoral place.
I mean, I'll condemn myself too, because if this house isn't a brothel, it's still a terrible place and she shouldn't have to live near it.
even if not a brothel it's still a bad place
How dost thou know that, constable?
How do you know that as constable?
How would you know that as a cop?
how d u know?
Marry, sir, by my wife, who, if she had been a woman cardinally given,
might have been accused in fornication, adultery, and all uncleanliness
there.
Well, sir, through my wife, who, if she had been morally loose, could have been accused of adultery and all kinds of sexual misconduct there.
Well, through my wife, sir. If she wasn't a good woman, she could have gotten caught up in all the sexual stuff going on there.
my wife saw the problems there
By the woman’s means?
Through what the woman was doing?
The woman's behind this?
the woman's involved?
Ay, sir, by Mistress Overdone’s means; but as she spit in his face, so
she defied him.
Yes, sir, through Mistress Overdone's actions, but when my wife saw what was happening, she rejected him.
Yes, through Mistress Overdone, but my wife spat in his face and told him to get lost.
mistress overdone's behind it but wife shut it down
Sir, if it please your honour, this is not so.
Sir, if it please your honor, this is not true.
Sir, with all respect, that's not what happened.
that's not true
Prove it before these varlets here, thou honourable man, prove it.
Prove it in front of these men here, you honorable person, prove it.
Show me in front of everyone, you supposedly honorable guy, prove it.
prove it then
[_To Angelo_.] Do you hear how he misplaces?
Do you hear how he misuses his words?
Do you hear how badly he's using words?
u hear how he's saying everything wrong?
Sir, she came in great with child; and longing, saving your honour’s
reverence, for stewed prunes; sir, we had but two in the house, which
at that very distant time stood, as it were, in a fruit dish, a dish of
some threepence; your honours have seen such dishes; they are not china
dishes, but very good dishes—
Sir, she came in heavily pregnant; and craving, with all respect for your honor, for stewed prunes; sir, we had only two in the house, which at that very moment sat, so to speak, in a fruit dish, a dish worth about threepence; you gentlemen have seen such dishes; they are not fine china dishes, but very good dishes—
Sir, she came in very pregnant and craving stewed prunes—no offense sir—and we only had two in the house. They were sitting in a cheap little dish, maybe worth a few pence. You know the kind of cheap dishes I mean? Not fancy china but decent enough—
she came pregnant craving prunes we only had two in a cheap dish
Go to, go to. No matter for the dish, sir.
All right, forget about the dish, sir.
OK, never mind about the dish.
forget the dish
No, indeed, sir, not of a pin; you are therein in the right. But to the
point. As I say, this Mistress Elbow, being, as I say, with child, and
being great-bellied, and longing, as I said, for prunes; and having but
two in the dish, as I said, Master Froth here, this very man, having
eaten the rest, as I said, and, as I say, paying for them very
honestly; for, as you know, Master Froth, I could not give you
threepence again—
No, absolutely not, sir, the dish doesn't matter at all; you're right about that. But to the point: this Mistress Elbow, being, as I say, pregnant and having a large belly, craving prunes as I said, and having only two in the dish as I said, Master Froth here, this very man, having eaten all the rest, as I said, and as I say, paying for them honestly; because, you know, Master Froth, I couldn't give you back three pence—
Not at all, sir, the dish is nothing; you're absolutely right. But here's what happened: Mistress Elbow, pregnant and big-bellied, craving those prunes like I said, had only two left in the dish. Master Froth here ate all the rest, and he paid for them like an honest man. I mean, I couldn't have given him the money back anyway—
she had two prunes left froth ate the rest paid honestly for them
Froth speaks almost nothing — he is presence rather than voice, an upper-class idler who stumbles through the scene agreeing with whatever was last said. His only substantial line ('I have so, because it is an open room, and good for winter') is a perfect comic non-sequitur: asked about a tavern seat, he explains it like a man reviewing a property listing. Watch for how his silence makes him funnier than his speech.
No, indeed.
No, indeed.
No, indeed.
No, indeed.
Very well. You being then, if you be remembered, cracking the stones of
the foresaid prunes—
Indeed. You being then, if you remember, cracking open the pits of the prunes in question—
Right. So you were cracking the pits of those prunes, remember?
u were breaking the pits
Ay, so I did indeed.
Yes, I did that indeed.
Yeah, I did that.
yep
Why, very well. I telling you then, if you be remembered, that such a
one and such a one were past cure of the thing you wot of, unless they
kept very good diet, as I told you—
Well, indeed. I telling you then, if you remember, that certain people were incurable in that matter unless they followed a strict diet, as I told you—
Well right. I told you back then that people with that condition couldn't get better unless they ate right, remember?
i told u they needed to eat healthy
All this is true.
All of that is true.
Yeah, all true.
true
Why, very well then—
Well then—
So then—
so
Come, you are a tedious fool. To the purpose. What was done to Elbow’s
wife that he hath cause to complain of? Come me to what was done to
her.
Come now, you're being tedious and foolish. Tell me what actually happened to Elbow's wife that gives him reason to complain. Tell me specifically what was done to her.
Enough, you're wasting everyone's time. Just tell me what this guy did to Elbow's wife that's the problem.
cut to the chase what'd u do to her?
Sir, your honour cannot come to that yet.
Sir, you can't get there yet.
Sir, I'm not there yet.
not there yet
No, sir, nor I mean it not.
No, sir, and I don't intend to.
No, and I don't plan to.
neither do i
Sir, but you shall come to it, by your honour’s leave. And I beseech
you, look into Master Froth here, sir, a man of fourscore pound a year;
whose father died at Hallowmas—was’t not at Hallowmas, Master Froth?
Sir, but you shall reach it, with your honor's permission. And I ask you, look at Master Froth here, sir, a man with eighty pounds a year; whose father died at All Saints' Day—wasn't it at All Saints' Day, Master Froth?
Sir, but you'll get there eventually, if you'll let me. Look, I want you to pay attention to Master Froth here—he makes eighty pounds a year. His father died on All Saints' Day, didn't he, Froth?
froth's from money father died all saints day
All-hallond Eve.
All Hallows' Eve.
Halloween.
halloween
Why, very well. I hope here be truths. He, sir, sitting, as I say, in a
lower chair, sir—’twas in the Bunch of Grapes, where, indeed, you have
a delight to sit, have you not?
I believe here we speak truth. He, sir, sitting, as I say, in a lower-ranking seat, sir—'twas in the Bunch of Grapes, where indeed you enjoy sitting, isn't it?
OK, I'm telling the truth here. He was sitting in a regular seat at the Bunch of Grapes—you know the place, you like to go there, don't you?
he was at the bunch of grapes u go there too right?
The scene's asymmetric structure is the argument. A man's execution is decided in twelve lines — Escalus objects, Angelo shuts it down, Claudio's death warrant is issued. Then the play spends eighty lines on prunes, fruit dishes, and Pompey Bum. This is not careless dramaturgy. The contrast is the point. Angelo's speed is part of his character — he dispatched Claudio's case the way he dispatches everything, with maximum efficiency and minimum human consideration. The comedy that follows is simultaneously a relief (we laugh to survive the execution order) and an indictment (the machinery of justice is this). The scene ends with Escalus privately grieving, which is the emotional note that the comedy almost — but doesn't quite — cover. Watch how the ratio of serious-to-comic shifts across the play: the first half is roughly balanced; by Act 4, the comedy has turned dark.
I have so, because it is an open room, and good for winter.
I go there because it's an open room and good during winter.
Yeah I do, because it's open and warm in the cold months.
it's open and warm
Why, very well then. I hope here be truths.
Well, very well then. I hope what I'm telling you are facts.
Good, well then. I'm telling you the truth here.
this is facts
This will last out a night in Russia
When nights are longest there. I’ll take my leave,
And leave you to the hearing of the cause;
Hoping you’ll find good cause to whip them all.
This conversation will take all night like winter in Russia when the nights are longest. I'm going to leave now and let you handle the case. I hope you'll find good reason to punish them all.
This could go on all night—like those super long Russian winter nights. I'm getting out of here and leaving this to you. I hope you beat some sense into all of them.
this will take forever im leaving beat some sense into them
I think no less. Good morrow to your lordship.
I think you're right about that. Good morning to you, my lord.
I think so too. Good day to you, sir.
agreed goodbye
Now, sir, come on. What was done to Elbow’s wife, once more?
Right then, what was done to Elbow's wife again?
Look, just tell me again - what did this man do to Elbow's wife?
ok what happened to his wife
Once, sir? There was nothing done to her once.
Once? There was nothing done to her even one time.
Once? Nothing happened to her at all.
nothing happened period
I beseech you, sir, ask him what this man did to my wife.
Please, your honor, ask this man what exactly he did to my wife.
Sir, get him to tell you what happened to my wife.
ask him what he did to her
I beseech your honour, ask me.
I ask your honor, question me.
Ask me, your honor.
ask me
Well, sir, what did this gentleman to her?
So tell me exactly what you did to her.
All right, so what did you do to her?
what'd u do?
I beseech you, sir, look in this gentleman’s face. Good Master Froth,
look upon his honour; ’tis for a good purpose.—Doth your honour mark
his face?
I ask you, sir, look carefully at this gentleman's face. Master Froth, look at his honor; it's for a good reason.—Do you notice his face, your honor?
Sir, I want you to really look at this man's face. Froth, look at him. This matters.—Do you see anything wrong with his face, sir?
look at his face do u see anything wrong?
Ay, sir, very well.
Yes, sir, I see it very well.
Yeah, I'm looking.
yep
Nay, I beseech you, mark it well.
No, I ask you, mark it carefully.
No, really pay attention.
really look
Well, I do so.
Well, I am watching.
I am looking.
looking
Doth your honour see any harm in his face?
Do you see any harm in his face?
Do you see anything wrong with his face?
anything wrong with it?
Why, no.
Why, no.
Why, no.
Why, no.
I’ll be supposed upon a book, his face is the worst thing about him.
Good, then, if his face be the worst thing about him, how could Master
Froth do the constable’s wife any harm? I would know that of your
honour.
I'll stake my reputation, his face is the worst thing about him. So then, if his face is the worst thing about him, how could Master Froth possibly harm Elbow's wife? I ask you, how could he?
I'll bet money his face is the ugliest thing about him. So if that's the worst of him, how could he have done anything to Elbow's wife? Tell me that.
his face is his worst feature how could he hurt anyone?
He’s in the right. Constable. What say you to it?
He's right about that. Constable, what do you say to it?
He makes a point. Officer, what do you say?
he's got a point what u say?
First, an it like you, the house is a respected house; next, this is a
respected fellow; and his mistress is a respected woman.
First, if you don't mind, the house is a respectable establishment; next, this is a respectable man; and his boss is a respectable woman.
First, if you ask me, the house is respectable; second, he's a respectable guy; and his boss is a respectable woman.
the house is legit he's good his boss is good
By this hand, sir, his wife is a more respected person than any of us
all.
By my honor, sir, his wife is a more respectable person than any of us.
By God, sir, his wife has more respect than anyone here.
his wife is more respectable than all of us
Varlet, thou liest; thou liest, wicked varlet! The time is yet to come
that she was ever respected with man, woman, or child.
Liar, you lie; you lie, wicked liar! There was never a time when she was respected with anyone, man, woman, or child.
You're lying! She's never been respected by anyone—not a man, woman, or child.
liar she's never been respected by anyone
Sir, she was respected with him before he married with her.
Sir, they were intimate before the marriage took place.
Sir, she got together with him before marrying him.
they were together befo the wedding
Which is the wiser here, Justice or Iniquity? Is this true?
Which of us is wiser, Justice or Wickedness? Is what he says true?
So who's the wise one here, Justice or this corruption?
who's right here? him or justice?
O thou caitiff! O thou varlet! O thou wicked Hannibal! I respected with
her before I was married to her? If ever I was respected with her, or
she with me, let not your worship think me the poor Duke’s officer.
Prove this, thou wicked Hannibal, or I’ll have mine action of battery
on thee.
You miserable person! You wicked scoundrel! You evil criminal! Respected with her before I was married to her? If I was ever respected with her, or she with me, don't let your honor think me the Duke's officer. Prove this, you wicked scoundrel, or I'll sue you for assault.
You coward! You crook! You're a villain! Respected before I married her? If anything like that ever happened between us, then I'm not a cop. Prove it, you lying scoundrel, or I'm taking you to court for slander.
ur lying prove it or i'll sue
If he took you a box o’ th’ ear, you might have your action of slander
too.
If he hit you in the face, you might also have a case for slander.
If he punched you, you could also sue him for that.
if he hit u sue for that too
Pompey Bum is one of Shakespeare's great minor characters. In this scene alone he delivers three genuinely sharp arguments: that it would take castration to actually suppress desire ('Does your worship mean to geld and splay all the youth of the city?'); that if you executed everyone who offended the statute, the city would depopulate ('I'll rent the fairest house in it after threepence a bay'); and that the law against sex work only works if you regulate demand, not just supply ('If you will take order for the drabs and the knaves, you need not to fear the bawds'). These are not the arguments of a fool. They're the arguments of a man who understands his industry better than the magistrates policing it. His parting couplet — 'The valiant heart's not whipped out of his trade' — is genuine self-respect. Pompey will reappear in the prison, still working, and will eventually become an assistant executioner. He adapts. He survives. He may be the most resilient character in the play.
Marry, I thank your good worship for it. What is’t your worship’s
pleasure I shall do with this wicked caitiff?
Well, I thank your good honor for that. What would you like me to do with this wicked scoundrel?
Well, thanks for the tip. So what do you want me to do with this guy?
so what should i do with him?
Truly, officer, because he hath some offences in him that thou wouldst
discover if thou couldst, let him continue in his courses till thou
know’st what they are.
Honestly, officer, because he has some crimes in him that you would expose if you could, let him continue in his behavior until you discover what they are.
Truthfully officer, since he's probably got crimes you'd love to expose, just let him keep doing what he's doing until you catch him at something real.
let him keep going he'll slip up eventually
Marry, I thank your worship for it.—Thou seest, thou wicked varlet,
now, what’s come upon thee. Thou art to continue now, thou varlet, thou
art to continue.
Well, I thank you for the advice.—You see, you wicked scoundrel, what's happened to you now? You're free to continue, scoundrel, you're free to continue.
Well thanks.—See, you got away with it this time, you criminal. You're still free, go ahead and keep doing what you're doing.
u got lucky but we're watching
[_To Froth_.] Where were you born, friend?
Where were you born, friend?
So tell me, where are you from?
where u from?
Here in Vienna, sir.
In this city, Vienna.
Vienna, sir.
vienna
Are you of fourscore pounds a year?
Are you a person of eighty pounds a year?
You make eighty pounds a year?
u make 80 pounds?
Yes, an’t please you, sir.
Yes, if it pleases you, sir.
Yeah, if that's what you want to hear, sir.
yep
So. [_To Pompey_.] What trade are you of, sir?
Well. [To Pompey] What's your trade, sir?
So. [To Pompey] What do you do for work, sir?
what do u do?
A tapster, a poor widow’s tapster.
A bartender, a poor widow's bartender.
I'm a bartender, work for a poor widow.
i'm a bartender
Your mistress’ name?
Your mistress’ name?
Your mistress’ name?
Your mistress’ name?
Mistress Overdone.
Mistress Overdone.
Mistress Overdone.
Mistress Overdone.
Hath she had any more than one husband?
Has she had more than one husband?
She been married more than once?
how many husbands?
Nine, sir; Overdone by the last.
Nine, sir; worn out by the last one.
Nine, sir. The last one did her in.
9 the last one killed her
Nine?—Come hither to me, Master Froth. Master Froth, I would not have
you acquainted with tapsters; they will draw you, Master Froth, and you
will hang them. Get you gone, and let me hear no more of you.
Nine?—Come here, Master Froth. Master Froth, I don't want you spending time with bartenders; they will seduce you, and you will end up ruined. Get going, and don't let me hear about you again.
Nine?—Come over here, Froth. Look, I don't want you hanging around bars and bartenders; they'll get you in trouble and you'll be destroyed. Go on, get out of here.
9?? get away from bartenders they'll ruin u
I thank your worship. For mine own part, I never come into any room in
a taphouse but I am drawn in.
I thank your honor. For my part, I never enter a taphouse room without being pulled in.
Thanks. Honestly, I can't walk into a bar without getting drawn in.
i always get drawn in
Well, no more of it, Master Froth. Farewell.
Well, no more of it, Master Froth. Goodbye.
That's enough. Get out of here.
bye
Come you hither to me, Master tapster. What’s your name, Master
tapster?
Come here to me. What's your name?
Over here - tell me your name.
come here what's ur name
Pompey.
Pompey.
Pompey.
Pompey.
What else?
What else?
What else?
What else?
Bum, sir.
Bum, sir.
Bum, sir.
Bum, sir.
Troth, and your bum is the greatest thing about you; so that, in the
beastliest sense, you are Pompey the great. Pompey, you are partly a
bawd, Pompey, howsoever you colour it in being a tapster, are you not?
Come, tell me true, it shall be the better for you.
True, and your rear end is your largest feature; so that, in the most crude sense, you are Pompey the great. Pompey, you are partly a pimp, Pompey, however you disguise it by being a bartender, aren't you? Come on, tell me the truth, it will be better for you.
True, and your butt is your biggest part; so in that gross sense, you're Pompey the great. Pompey, you're a pimp, aren't you, no matter how you hide it by bartending? Come on, just tell me the truth. It'll be better for you.
ur a pimp just admit it it'll help
Truly, sir, I am a poor fellow that would live.
Honestly, sir, I'm just a poor fellow trying to make a living.
Sir, I'm just a poor guy trying to get by.
just trying to survive
How would you live, Pompey? By being a bawd? What do you think of the
trade, Pompey? Is it a lawful trade?
How would you make your living, Pompey? By pimping? What do you think about the trade, Pompey? Is it a legal profession?
So how do you plan to make money, Pompey? By pimping? What do you think of that line of work? Is it even legal?
how u gonna make money? pimping? is it legal?
If the law would allow it, sir.
If the law permitted such a profession, sir.
If it were actually legal.
if it was ok legally
Escalus functions throughout as the voice of proportionate mercy — the man who makes the right argument every time and is overruled every time. Here, he makes the best possible case for sparing Claudio (nobility of father, universal human frailty, danger of hypocrisy in the judge), and Angelo dismisses it in a sentence. He sits through the farcical Elbow/Pompey trial because Angelo left it to him. He dismisses both defendants on the most lenient possible terms. And he ends the scene privately grieving: 'It grieves me for the death of Claudio, but there's no remedy.' His final line — 'Pardon is still the nurse of second woe. But yet, Poor Claudio! There's no remedy' — shows a man talking himself into accepting a position he doesn't believe. Escalus is the moral center of the scene, and his grief at the end is the scene's real weight. Keep watching him: he will be the only senior figure in the play who never compromises his basic decency.
But the law will not allow it, Pompey; nor it shall not be allowed in
Vienna.
But the law won't allow it, Pompey; and it won't be allowed in Vienna.
But the law won't allow it, Pompey, and it's not going to be legal in Vienna.
its not legal. wont be allowed in vienna
Does your worship mean to geld and splay all the youth of the city?
Does your honor intend to castrate and disable all the young men in the city?
So you're going to castrate and cripple all the young guys in town?
ur gonna castrate all the young guys?
No, Pompey.
No, Pompey.
No, Pompey.
No, Pompey.
Truly, sir, in my poor opinion, they will to’t then. If your worship
will take order for the drabs and the knaves, you need not to fear the
bawds.
Truly, sir, in my humble opinion, they will do it anyway. If your honor will take action against the prostitutes and the criminals, you won't need to worry about the pimps.
Look, honestly, people will do it anyway. If you crack down on the prostitutes and the criminals, you don't need to fear the pimps.
ppl will do it anyway. crack down on prostitutes & criminals, no need 2 fear pimps
There is pretty orders beginning, I can tell you. It is but heading and
hanging.
There are serious measures beginning, I can tell you. It's just executions and hangings.
Let me tell you, we're implementing serious punishment. It's all executions and hangings.
serious punishments starting - executions and hangings
If you head and hang all that offend that way but for ten year
together, you’ll be glad to give out a commission for more heads. If
this law hold in Vienna ten year, I’ll rent the fairest house in it
after threepence a bay. If you live to see this come to pass, say
Pompey told you so.
If you execute and hang everyone who commits these crimes for just ten years straight, you'll be eager to order more executions. If this law remains in force in Vienna for ten years, I'll rent the finest house in it for almost nothing. If you live to see this happen, remember Pompey predicted it.
If you keep executing and hanging people for ten years straight, you'll run out of people and need more executions. If this law stays in place for a decade, I'll rent the nicest house in Vienna for cheap. If you live to see that, remember I told you so.
if u execute ppl for 10 yrs straight youll run out & need more. ill rent the best house cheap. told u so
Thank you, good Pompey; and, in requital of your prophecy, hark you: I
advise you, let me not find you before me again upon any complaint
whatsoever; no, not for dwelling where you do. If I do, Pompey, I shall
beat you to your tent, and prove a shrewd Caesar to you. In plain
dealing, Pompey, I shall have you whipped. So for this time, Pompey,
fare you well.
Thank you, good Pompey; and in return for your prediction, listen to me: I advise you not to come before me again on any complaint of any kind; not even for where you live. If I find you again, Pompey, I'll beat you and act like a harsh military commander to you. To speak plainly, Pompey, I'll have you whipped. So for now, Pompey, goodbye.
Thanks, Pompey. In return for your prediction, take my advice: don't come before me again for any reason, not even just for living where you do. If I catch you again, I'll hit you and come down hard like a strict general. To be plain about it, I'll have you whipped. For now, stay away.
stay away from me. if i find u again im beating u & having u whipped. goodbye
I thank your worship for your good counsel. [_Aside_.] But I shall
follow it as the flesh and fortune shall better determine.
Whip me? No, no; let carman whip his jade;
The valiant heart’s not whipped out of his trade.
I thank your honor for your good advice. [Aside] But I'll follow it as my desires and fortune will better direct. Whip me? No, no; let a cart driver whip his horse. A brave man's heart isn't scared out of his profession.
Thanks for the advice, sir. [Aside] But I'll do whatever I want and what luck brings. Whip me? No way. A cart driver can whip his horse. You can't scare a tough guy out of his job.
thx for advice. nah. u cant whip the courage outta my work
Come hither to me, Master Elbow. Come hither, Master Constable. How
long have you been in this place of constable?
Come here to me, Master Elbow. Come here, Master Constable. How long have you been serving as constable?
Come over here, Master Elbow. So, how long have you been working as the constable?
how long u been constable?
Seven year and a half, sir.
Seven and a half years, sir.
I've been doing it for seven years now, plus another half year.
7.5 years
I thought, by the readiness in the office, you had continued in it
sometime. You say seven years together?
I thought, based on how efficiently you handle the office, you had held the position for quite some time. You're saying seven years straight?
By the way you handle things, I thought you'd been doing this job longer. So seven years straight?
thought u been here longer. 7 yrs?
And a half, sir.
Plus another half year, sir.
An extra six months on top of that.
6 more months
Alas, it hath been great pains to you. They do you wrong to put you so
oft upon’t. Are there not men in your ward sufficient to serve it?
Unfortunately, it must have been a great burden to you. It's wrong of them to keep putting you in this position so often. Aren't there enough capable men in your ward to do it?
That's a lot of hard work they've dumped on you. It's unfair how much they rely on you. Aren't there other qualified guys in your district who could help?
thats rough they keep using u. arent there other guys?
Faith, sir, few of any wit in such matters. As they are chosen, they
are glad to choose me for them; I do it for some piece of money, and go
through with all.
Honestly, sir, there are few with any skill in these matters. As they are appointed, they are glad to have me do it for them; I do it for some money and see it through completely.
Honestly, most people don't have the skill for this work. When they pick someone, they're happy to pick me instead. I do it for some cash and get it done.
most ppl dont have skill for this. they pick me, i do it for money
Look you bring me in the names of some six or seven, the most
sufficient of your parish.
Make sure you bring me the names of six or seven of the most capable men from your parish.
I need you to bring me the names of six or seven of the best qualified men in your area.
bring me names of 6-7 best guys in ur parish
To your worship’s house, sir?
To your honor's house, sir?
Do you mean at your place, sir?
ur house?
To my house. Fare you well.
To my house. Goodbye.
To my place. Take care.
my place. bye
What’s o’clock, think you?
What time would you say it is?
Do you know what time it is?
what time is it
The Justice has two lines in the whole play — he's essentially a named silence, a witness to Escalus's rueful coda. When he says 'Lord Angelo is severe,' he's saying what everyone thinks and nobody says directly. His brevity is the joke.
Eleven, sir.
Eleven, sir.
Eleven, sir.
Eleven, sir.
I pray you home to dinner with me.
I'm inviting you home to have dinner with me.
Come have dinner with me at my place.
come 2 dinner at mine
I humbly thank you.
I'm very grateful to you.
Thank you, sir.
thx
It grieves me for the death of Claudio,
But there’s no remedy.
Claudio's death saddens me, but there's nothing that can be done about it.
I'm sorry Claudio's dead, but there's nothing we can do about it.
sad about claudio but nothing we can do
Lord Angelo is severe.
Lord Angelo is strict.
Angelo doesn't show mercy.
angelo is harsh
It is but needful.
Mercy is not itself that oft looks so;
Pardon is still the nurse of second woe.
But yet, Poor Claudio! There’s no remedy.
Come, sir.
It's simply necessary. Mercy doesn't always appear as what it really is; forgiving wrongdoing often leads to future problems. And yet, poor Claudio! There's no remedy. Come, sir.
It had to happen. Sometimes what looks like cruelty is actually necessary; being too forgiving just causes more suffering later. But poor Claudio anyway. There's nothing to be done. Let's go.
had to happen. mercy doesnt always look right. forgiving = more problems later. but poor claudio
The Reckoning
The scene snaps between two registers so sharply it's almost uncomfortable. In eleven lines, a man's death is confirmed — Escalus makes the best possible argument and Angelo shuts it down with chilling efficiency. Then for eighty lines, the play tumbles into a world of prunes, fruit dishes, Hallowmas Eve, and Pompey's magnificent circular testimony. Escalus, left alone to deal with the case Angelo abandoned with contempt, ends up almost liking Pompey — the only honest person in the room. The scene closes with Escalus privately grieving for Claudio. You leave it unsure whether to laugh or be sick about it.
If this happened today…
Picture the morning of a startup's brutal round of layoffs. The founders spend seven minutes in a conference room deciding to cut thirty percent of the team — 'the data is clear, there's no other option' — and then walk into the open-plan office and spend the next three hours dealing with a complaint from the office manager about whether the catering vendor's invoice was properly submitted, while the person being accused brings up unrelated invoices from 2019. Meanwhile, the HR director who tried to argue for an alternative restructuring is left fielding the whole absurd complaint because the founder got bored and left. That's 2-1: life-or-death decision made in minutes, then the system grinds slowly through the trivial.