Nay, if there be no remedy for it, but that you will needs buy and sell
men and women like beasts, we shall have all the world drink brown and
white bastard.
Look, if there's no way to stop it, if people insist on buying and selling men and women like animals, then we'll end up with everyone drinking cheap wine.
If you keep treating people like livestock to buy and sell, pretty soon everyone's gonna be wasted on cheap booze.
if ppl keep buying & selling people like animals we're all getting drunk on cheap wine
O heavens, what stuff is here?
Good heavens, what kind of talk is this?
Oh my god, what is he even talking about?
what is this guy even saying
’Twas never merry world since, of two usuries, the merriest was put
down, and the worser allowed by order of law a furred gown to keep him
warm; and furred with fox on lambskins too, to signify that craft,
being richer than innocency, stands for the facing.
Times were never worse since the worse of two illegal money-lenders was shut down and the other one allowed by law to wear fur to keep warm—dressed with fox fur on top of lambskin too, to show that cleverness, being richer than honesty, takes the lead.
Things have been going downhill since they banned one kind of illegal lending but let the other guy stay in business, all dressed up in fancy furs—with fox trim no less—to show how greed beats out goodness.
things got worse when they banned one money-lender but let the other keep his fancy furs shows money beats morals
Come your way, sir.—Bless you, good father friar.
Come along, sir. Bless you, good father friar.
Come on, let's go. Hey, blessings to you, father.
let's go bless you friar
And you, good brother father. What offence hath this man made you, sir?
And blessings to you, good brother father. What crime has this man committed against you, sir?
And blessings on you too, brother. So what's this guy done to upset you?
blessings on u too what'd he do
Marry, sir, he hath offended the law; and, sir, we take him to be a
thief too, sir; for we have found upon him, sir, a strange picklock,
which we have sent to the deputy.
Well, sir, he's broken the law. And, sir, we believe he's a thief too—we found a strange lockpick on him, which we've sent to the deputy.
He broke the law, sir. Plus we think he's a thief—we found this weird lockpick on him and sent it to the deputy.
broke the law found a lockpick on him we sent it to the deputy
Fie, sirrah, a bawd, a wicked bawd;
The evil that thou causest to be done,
That is thy means to live. Do thou but think
What ’tis to cram a maw or clothe a back
From such a filthy vice. Say to thyself,
From their abominable and beastly touches
I drink, I eat, array myself, and live.
Canst thou believe thy living is a life,
So stinkingly depending? Go mend, go mend.
Shame on you, you wicked pimp. You feed and clothe yourself through the filthy vice you create. Think about it: you're making your living by stuffing bellies and dressing backs from such disgusting exploitation. Tell yourself the truth—I drink, I eat, I dress myself, and I live from their horrible, beastly degradation. Can you actually believe your life built on such a stinking foundation is worth living? Go fix yourself, go fix yourself.
You're a scumbag pimp, and you know it. You're literally living off the suffering of people you exploit. Think about where your money comes from—every meal, every piece of clothing, all of it comes from that sickening abuse. Your whole existence is built on someone else's misery. It's disgusting. You need to change.
ur a pimp living off ppl's suffering everything u have comes from exploitation it's disgusting change ur life
Indeed, it does stink in some sort, sir. But yet, sir, I would prove—
True, it does stink in some ways, sir. But I'd like to argue—
Yeah, I'll grant you it's not great, but hear me out—
ok it's bad but listen
Nay, if the devil have given thee proofs for sin,
Thou wilt prove his. Take him to prison, officer.
Correction and instruction must both work
Ere this rude beast will profit.
No, if the devil has given you arguments for your sin, you'll prove his. Take him to prison, officer. Correction and instruction must both work before this crude beast will profit.
No way. If you're gonna argue for your sin, you're just proving you belong to the devil. Lock him up. It's gonna take both punishment and teaching to get through to this animal.
no if devil gave u excuses prove it locked up needs punishment & teaching
He must before the deputy, sir; he has given him warning. The deputy
cannot abide a whoremaster. If he be a whoremonger and comes before
him, he were as good go a mile on his errand.
He has to appear before the deputy, sir. The deputy has warned him. The deputy can't stand a whoremonger. If he's a whoremonger and comes before him, he might as well go a mile on his errand.
He's gotta see the deputy, sir. The deputy already warned him. That guy hates pimps. If this guy shows up in front of him, he's gonna get destroyed.
gotta see the deputy he already warned him deputy hates this guy
That we were all, as some would seem to be,
Free from our faults, as faults from seeming, free!
If only we all were, as some pretend to be, free from our faults as our faults are free from appearing!
I wish we were all as flawless as we pretend to be.
wish we were all perfect like we pretend
His neck will come to your waist—a cord, sir.
He's about to die by the rope—a cord will reach from his neck to your waist, sir.
The hangman's rope will stretch from his neck down to reach your body, sir.
rope from neck to your waist he dies
I spy comfort, I cry bail! Here’s a gentleman, and a friend of mine.
I see a way out, I cry for bail! Here's a gentleman and a friend of mine.
I see a chance! I need bail! Here comes a buddy of mine.
bail time here's my friend
How now, noble Pompey? What, at the wheels of Caesar? Art thou led in
triumph? What, is there none of Pygmalion’s images, newly made woman,
to be had now, for putting the hand in the pocket and extracting it
clutched? What reply, ha? What say’st thou to this tune, matter, and
method? Is’t not drowned i’ th’ last rain, ha? What say’st thou, trot?
Is the world as it was, man? Which is the way? Is it sad and few words?
Or how? The trick of it?
What's up, noble Pompey? What, being dragged in Caesar's triumph? What, is there no one of Pygmalion's images, freshly made alive, who can be had now for putting your hand in your pocket and pulling it out with money? What's your answer, huh? What do you say to this situation, this matter, this way things are? Isn't it ruined by recent rains, huh? What do you say, old-timer? Is the world still the way it was, man? Which way is it going? Is it quiet and reserved? Or what? What's the trick to it?
Pompey! What's happening? You being paraded through town like a prisoner of war? So there's no more girls for sale, huh? You can't just slip a coin in and grab one? Come on, what's the story? How's business? Is it all dried up? What's going on with the world, man? Is it quieter now? Fewer girls working? What's changed? What's the new situation?
pompey! what happened no more girls for sale? how's business what changed
Still thus, and thus; still worse!
Still this, and still worse!
And on and on it gets, just getting worse!
keeps getting worse
How doth my dear morsel, thy mistress? Procures she still, ha?
How is my dear little morsel, your mistress? Is she still in business, huh?
How's your girl doing? Still working, huh?
ur girl still working
Troth, sir, she hath eaten up all her beef, and she is herself in the
tub.
Honestly, sir, she's eaten through all her beef—her money—and she's now in the sweating tub for treatment.
Well, she spent all her money and now she's in the hospital getting treated.
spent all her money now she's in the hospital
Lucio is the play's most dangerous character because he's also its funniest. In this scene he delivers twenty minutes of slander against the Duke — while talking to the Duke — and the comedy is so good that we almost don't notice how systematically he's constructing a false portrait.
But Lucio is not simply wrong. His portrait of the Duke as someone who 'had some feeling for the sport' — who understood desire and therefore showed mercy — is more generous than the Duke deserves. Lucio's argument that the Duke's lenience about sexual offense was rooted in genuine human sympathy is a better defense of the Duke's earlier policy than the Duke himself ever provided.
At the same time, Lucio is making things up. The Duke as a drunk, the Duke as a frequenter of beggar-women — these are inventions. Lucio is the type of person who adds coloring details to anecdotes until the anecdote and the invention are indistinguishable.
His punishment in Act 5 — forced to marry Kate Keepdown, which the Duke calls worse than death — raises a question the play never quite resolves: is the Duke punishing genuine slander, or is he punishing his own wounded vanity? And if it's vanity: is that what a wise ruler looks like?
Why, ’tis good. It is the right of it. It must be so. Ever your fresh
whore and your powdered bawd; an unshunned consequence; it must be so.
Art going to prison, Pompey?
Well, that's good. It's how it should be. It has to happen this way. Always your fresh prostitute and your powdered pimp—an unavoidable consequence. It has to be that way. Are you going to prison, Pompey?
Well, that's the way of things. That's how it works. Fresh girls and painted-up pimps—it's just how the system goes. You heading to prison?
that's how it goes fresh girls & corrupt pimps it's the system u going to jail
Yes, faith, sir.
Yes, faith, sir.
Yes, faith, sir.
Yes, faith, sir.
Why, ’tis not amiss, Pompey. Farewell. Go, say I sent thee thither. For
debt, Pompey? Or how?
Well, it's not the worst thing, Pompey. Goodbye. Say I sent you there. Is it for debt, Pompey? Or what?
Well, it could be worse, Pompey. Good luck. Tell 'em I sent you. It's for debt or something?
it could be worse say i sent u what's it for
For being a bawd, for being a bawd.
He's being locked up because he's a pimp, because he profits off exploitation.
He's in jail because he ran a brothel.
locked up 4 pimping
Well, then, imprison him. If imprisonment be the due of a bawd, why,
’tis his right. Bawd is he doubtless, and of antiquity, too. Bawd born.
Farewell, good Pompey. Commend me to the prison, Pompey. You will turn
good husband now, Pompey; you will keep the house.
Well, then, lock him up. If prison is what a pimp deserves, then that's his right. He's definitely a pimp, and born to it too. Goodbye, Pompey. Send my greetings to the prison. You'll become a homebody now, Pompey; you'll stay in the house.
Well then, throw him in. If that's what pimps get, then so be it. He's a born pimp if I ever saw one. See you later, Pompey. Tell the prisoners I said hi. You're gonna be a house husband now—how does that feel?
lock him up if pimps go to jail that's his fate say hi to the prison u a house husband now
I hope, sir, your good worship will be my bail.
I hope, sir, you'll be my bail.
I'm hoping you'll bail me out, sir.
bail me out?
No, indeed, will I not, Pompey; it is not the wear. I will pray,
Pompey, to increase your bondage. If you take it not patiently, why,
your mettle is the more. Adieu, trusty Pompey.—Bless you, friar.
No, definitely not, Pompey. It's not fashionable. I'll pray, Pompey, to make your imprisonment harder. If you don't take it patiently, well, then you've got real courage. Goodbye, trusty Pompey. Bless you, friar.
No way, Pompey, not happening. I'll pray for you—to make your time worse, actually. If you can't handle it well, then you're tougher than I thought. See you, Pompey. And father, blessings to you.
nope not happening i'll pray for u to make it worse see u pompey bless u friar
And you.
And you.
And you.
And you.
Does Bridget paint still, Pompey, ha?
Does Bridget still put on makeup, Pompey, huh?
Does Bridget still wear makeup, Pompey?
bridget still wearing makeup
Come your ways, sir, come.
Come along, sir, come.
Let's go, come on.
let's go
You will not bail me then, sir?
So you won't bail me out then, sir?
So you're not gonna bail me out?
ur not bailing me out
Then, Pompey, nor now.—What news abroad, friar? What news?
Not now, Pompey, not now. What news from around the world, friar? What news?
Not right now, Pompey. What's going on in the world, friar? Any news?
not now what's happening in the world
Come your ways, sir, come.
Come along, sir, come.
Let's go, come on.
let's go
Go to kennel, Pompey, go.
Get out of here, Pompey—stop bothering me.
Beat it, Pompey.
get out
What news, friar, of the Duke?
Have you heard anything about the Duke lately?
What's the word on the Duke these days?
any news about the duke
I know none. Can you tell me of any?
I haven't heard anything new to report. Do you happen to have any?
I don't have any news to share. You got some?
no news here u got any
Some say he is with the Emperor of Russia; other some, he is in Rome.
But where is he, think you?
Some say he's with the Emperor of Russia; others say he's in Rome. But where do you think he is?
Some people say he's with the Russian Emperor, others say he's in Rome. But where do you think he's at?
some say russia others say rome where u think he is
I know not where, but wheresoever, I wish him well.
I don't know where he is, but wherever he is, I hope he's well.
I don't know where he is, but I hope he's doing okay wherever he is.
dunno where but hope he's ok
The Duke's closing soliloquy (encoded as stage directions 3-2-100 through 3-2-121 in the original text) is one of the stranger formal choices in the play. After more than a hundred lines of prose — comic, conversational, filled with Lucio's slangy energy — the Duke exits in rhyming tetrameter couplets.
The form is almost hymnal: short lines, tight rhymes, regular meter. 'He who the sword of heaven will bear / Should be as holy as severe.' This is the Duke as moralist, pronouncing on Angelo in verse that sounds like a psalm.
But the contrast with what just happened is jarring. The Duke has just endured forty lines of personal slander that he couldn't respond to without blowing his cover. The formal couplets read a little like someone composing themselves after a humiliation — retreating into authority and formality because the actual exchange was bruising.
'Twice treble shame on Angelo / To weed my vice and let his grow' — the Duke is clearly referring to Angelo, but the grammar is interesting: 'my vice' — the Duke's vice, that he handed Angelo the mandate to weed. The soliloquy almost slips into self-condemnation before the rhyme carries it back to judgment of others.
It was a mad fantastical trick of him to steal from the state and usurp
the beggary he was never born to. Lord Angelo dukes it well in his
absence. He puts transgression to’t.
It was a crazy, wild thing for him to disappear from the state and take on the role of a beggar—something he was never born to. Lord Angelo runs things well in his absence. He puts transgression in its place.
It was a crazy idea for him to just disappear and pretend to be a beggar. Lord Angelo's doing a pretty good job running things while he's gone. He's cracking down on crime.
weird move disappearing becoming a beggar angelo's doing well cracking down
He does well in’t.
He does that job well.
Yeah, he does it well.
he's doing it well
A little more lenity to lechery would do no harm in him. Something too
crabbed that way, friar.
A little more leniency toward sexual misconduct would do him no harm. He's a bit too strict about that, friar.
He could ease up on punishing people for sleeping around. He's a little too hard on that stuff, friar.
too harsh on sex stuff needs to chill
It is too general a vice, and severity must cure it.
Sexual misconduct is too common a vice, and severe punishment must cure it.
Sexual misconduct is everywhere, and the only way to fix it is harsh punishment.
sex crime is everywhere need harsh punishment
Yes, in good sooth, the vice is of a great kindred; it is well allied;
but it is impossible to extirp it quite, friar, till eating and
drinking be put down. They say this Angelo was not made by man and
woman after this downright way of creation. Is it true, think you?
Yes, truly, sexual misconduct has a large and well-connected family. It's well-established, but it's impossible to wipe it out completely, friar, until eating and drinking are eliminated. They say Angelo wasn't created by man and woman in the normal way of creation. Is that true, do you think?
Yeah, sexual misconduct is totally ingrained in society—it has deep roots everywhere. But you can't kill it off until you eliminate eating and drinking. People say Angelo wasn't even made by normal man-woman stuff. Is that true?
sex crime's everywhere deep roots u can't kill it till ppl stop eating people say angelo's not normal real
How should he be made, then?
How would he be created then?
So how was he made?
how was he made then
Some report a sea-maid spawned him; some, that he was begot between two
stockfishes. But it is certain that when he makes water, his urine is
congealed ice; that I know to be true. And he is a motion ungenerative;
that’s infallible.
Some report that a mermaid spawned him; some say he was fathered between two dried fish. But it's certain that when he urinates, his urine freezes solid—I know that for a fact. And he's an inanimate puppet incapable of reproduction; that's guaranteed.
Some people say a mermaid had him; others say he was born of two dried fish. But one thing's for sure—when he pees, it turns to ice. And he's basically a mechanical doll with no ability to have sex. That's a fact.
mermaid had him or born of dried fish his pee turns to ice he's a doll no sex drive
You are pleasant, sir, and speak apace.
You're a witty person, sir, and you talk a lot.
You're funny, sir, and you sure like to talk.
ur funny talk alot
Why, what a ruthless thing is this in him, for the rebellion of a
codpiece to take away the life of a man! Would the Duke that is absent
have done this? Ere he would have hanged a man for the getting a
hundred bastards, he would have paid for the nursing a thousand. He had
some feeling of the sport; he knew the service, and that instructed him
to mercy.
Why is it so cruel of him—for a man's sexual passion to be his ruin—to take away someone's life? Would the Duke who is absent have done this? Before he would have hanged a man for fathering a hundred bastards, he would have paid for nursing a thousand. He had some feeling for sexual pleasure; he knew what it was about, and that taught him to be merciful.
It's so harsh of him to kill someone just for giving in to sexual desire. The Duke who's away never would have done this. He would've paid for the care of a thousand bastard children before hanging a man for fathering a hundred. He understood sex; he knew what it was about, and that made him compassionate.
killing him for sexual desire that's cruel the real duke wouldn't do it he understood sex was merciful
I never heard the absent Duke much detected for women; he was not
inclined that way.
I never heard the absent Duke criticized much for his dealings with women; he wasn't inclined that way.
I never heard anyone complain about the absent Duke and women. He wasn't really into that stuff.
never heard duke had woman problems he wasn't into it
O, sir, you are deceived.
Oh, sir, you're mistaken.
Oh, you're wrong about that.
nah ur wrong
’Tis not possible.
That's not possible.
That can't be right.
nope
Who, not the Duke? Yes, your beggar of fifty; and his use was to put a
ducat in her clack-dish. The Duke had crotchets in him. He would be
drunk too, that let me inform you.
What about the Duke? Yes, your beggar of fifty had one—he used to put a coin in her collection bowl. The Duke had his quirks. And he would drink too—let me tell you that.
The Duke? Yeah, he had women. He'd give money to beggars. The Duke had his odd habits. And he'd get drunk too—believe me.
the duke had women gave money to beggars had quirks got drunk
You do him wrong, surely.
You're doing him wrong, definitely.
You're being unfair to him.
ur being unfair
Sir, I was an inward of his. A shy fellow was the Duke; and I believe I
know the cause of his withdrawing.
Sir, I was part of his inner circle. The Duke was a shy fellow, and I believe I know why he withdrew.
Sir, I was close to him. The Duke was shy, and I think I know why he took off.
i knew him well he was shy i know why he left
What, I prithee, might be the cause?
What, I ask you, might be the reason?
So what's the reason?
what's the reason
No, pardon. ’Tis a secret must be locked within the teeth and the lips.
But this I can let you understand: the greater file of the subject held
the Duke to be wise.
No, forgive me. It's a secret that has to stay locked between my teeth and lips. But I can tell you this: most of the people thought the Duke was wise.
No, sorry, I can't tell you. It's gotta stay secret. But I can say this: people generally thought the Duke was smart.
can't tell u it's a secret but ppl thought he was smart
Wise? Why, no question but he was.
Wise? Of course he was.
Smart? Obviously he was.
obviously he was
A very superficial, ignorant, unweighing fellow.
A very shallow, ignorant, thoughtless fellow.
A really shallow, ignorant, thoughtless guy.
shallow & ignorant guy
Pompey's trajectory through this scene — arrested by Elbow, briefly aided by Lucio, abandoned to prison — is a compressed version of what happens to everyone in the play who runs afoul of Angelo's enforcement.
But notice the difference from Act 2's comic trial. There, Escalus gave Pompey a chance — a warning, a reprieve, an implicit deal. Here, there's no Escalus weighing the case. There's only Angelo's mandate, carried by Elbow, validated by the Duke's brief 'correction and instruction must both work,' and closed by Pompey walking off to prison.
Pompey accepts it. He has that Falstaffian quality of being genuinely unshocked by what the world does to people like him. He doesn't protest; he doesn't argue his case (though he tries to start). When Lucio abandons him, he just moves on.
His equanimity is one of the play's moral benchmarks. When Pompey goes to prison with less complaint than any of the nobles, Shakespeare is making a point about who suffers most under Angelo's regime and who bears it with the most grace.
Either this is envy in you, folly, or mistaking. The very stream of his
life, and the business he hath helmed, must upon a warranted need give
him a better proclamation. Let him be but testimonied in his own
bringings-forth, and he shall appear to the envious a scholar, a
statesman, and a soldier. Therefore you speak unskilfully. Or, if your
knowledge be more, it is much darkened in your malice.
Either you're envious, foolish, or mistaken. The very direction of his life and the business he's managed must, by any fair measure, prove him wise. Let him simply be judged by his own actions, and he'll appear to the envious a scholar, a politician, and a soldier. So you're talking without skill. Or, if you know better, your knowledge is much darkened by malice.
Either you're jealous, stupid, or just wrong. Look at his whole life and what he's accomplished—any fair person would say he's wise. Just look at what he's actually done and you'll see he's learned, political, and military-minded. You don't know what you're talking about. Or if you do, you're just hiding it behind anger.
ur jealous or stupid or just wrong look at what he did he's wise smart political military u don't know what ur talking about or ur just angry
Sir, I know him, and I love him.
I'm familiar with him as a person and I have genuine affection for him.
I've known the guy and I genuinely like him.
know him well like him
Love talks with better knowledge, and knowledge with dearer love.
Love speaks with deeper knowledge, and knowledge speaks with deeper love.
Love comes from real understanding, and understanding comes from real love.
love needs understanding understanding needs love
Come, sir, I know what I know.
I know my own opinions about this matter.
Look, I'm confident about what I believe.
i got my opinions
I can hardly believe that, since you know not what you speak. But, if
ever the Duke return, as our prayers are he may, let me desire you to
make your answer before him. If it be honest you have spoke, you have
courage to maintain it. I am bound to call upon you, and I pray you
your name?
I can hardly believe that, since you don't really know what you're saying. But if the Duke ever returns—and that's what we all pray for—I'd like you to repeat all this in front of him. If what you've said is honest, you have the courage to stand by it. I'm going to call on you, and I need to ask your name?
I doubt that, since you don't actually know what you're talking about. But if the Duke comes back—which we all hope for—I want you to say all this to his face. If you're telling the truth, you've got the guts to say it again. I'll be looking you up, and I need your name.
doubt it sdont even know what ur saying if duke comes back repeat it to his face gotta know ur name
Sir, my name is Lucio, well known to the Duke.
My name is Lucio—the Duke is already familiar with me.
I'm Lucio—the Duke knows who I am.
i'm lucio duke knows me
He shall know you better, sir, if I may live to report you.
He'll know you better, sir, if I get to report on you.
He's gonna know you way better if I have anything to say about it.
he'll know u better when i tell him
I fear you not.
I'm not afraid of you.
I'm not scared of you.
not scared
O, you hope the Duke will return no more; or you imagine me too
unhurtful an opposite. But indeed, I can do you little harm. You’ll
forswear this again.
Oh, I suppose you hope the Duke won't return, or you think I'm too harmless an opponent. But in truth, I can do you little harm. You'll deny this again.
Oh, you probably hope the Duke never comes back, or you think I'm too weak to hurt you. But honestly, I can't do much to you anyway. You'll just take it all back later.
hope duke doesn't come back think i'm too weak i probably can't hurt u anyway u'll deny it later
I’ll be hanged first! Thou art deceived in me, friar. But no more of
this. Canst thou tell if Claudio die tomorrow or no?
I'll be hanged first! You're wrong about me, friar. But let's drop it. Can you tell me if Claudio dies tomorrow or not?
I'd rather die! You got me all wrong, friar. But never mind. Do you know if Claudio's gonna be executed tomorrow?
rather die u got me wrong will claudio die tomorrow
Why should he die, sir?
Why should the man face execution, sir?
What's gonna cause his death?
what's he done
Why? For filling a bottle with a tun-dish. I would the Duke we talk of
were returned again. This ungenitured agent will unpeople the province
with continency. Sparrows must not build in his house-eaves because
they are lecherous. The Duke yet would have dark deeds darkly answered.
He would never bring them to light. Would he were returned! Marry, this
Claudio is condemned for untrussing. Farewell, good friar, I prithee
pray for me. The Duke, I say to thee again, would eat mutton on
Fridays. He’s now past it; yet, and, I say to thee, he would mouth with
a beggar though she smelt brown bread and garlic. Say that I said so.
Farewell.
Why? For getting a girl pregnant. I wish the Duke we're talking about would come back. This ruler without a heart will empty the province through enforcing celibacy. Sparrows must not build nests in his house-eaves because they have sex. The Duke we talked about would handle wrongdoing in secret. He'd never bring it to light. I wish he'd come back! But yes, this Claudio was condemned for sexual activity. Goodbye, good friar, I ask you to pray for me. The Duke, I tell you again, would eat meat on Fridays. He's past that now; yet, I tell you, he would have sex with a beggar woman even if she stank of brown bread and garlic. Say I said so. Goodbye.
Why? Because he got a girl pregnant. I wish the real Duke would come back. This one's gonna turn everyone into monks—no sex allowed anywhere. Even sparrows can't have babies. The old Duke would have handled it quietly; he'd never let anyone know. He'd know mercy. I hope he comes back soon! This poor Claudio's gonna die for sleeping with someone. Bye, friar, pray for me. The Duke I knew would eat meat even on Friday—it's against the rules but he did it. And he'd sleep with anyone, even some poor woman who smelled like stale bread. That was the Duke. Say I told you that. Later.
got a girl pregnant wish the real duke'd come back this one's turning everyone into monks no sex old duke was merciful this guy'll kill claudio prayer please
No might nor greatness in mortality
Can censure ’scape. Back-wounding calumny
The whitest virtue strikes. What king so strong
Can tie the gall up in the slanderous tongue?
But who comes here?
No one of power or greatness can escape judgment. Slander that wounds from behind strikes even the purest virtue. What king is strong enough to silence the malicious tongue? But who's coming here?
Nobody's powerful enough to escape being judged. Gossip can destroy even the most virtuous person. What king can shut up people spreading lies? But wait, who's this coming?
nobody escapes judgment slander destroys good ppl who coming here
Go, away with her to prison.
Go, take her to prison.
Go, lock her up.
lock her up
Good my lord, be good to me. Your honour is accounted a merciful man,
good my lord.
Please, my lord, be kind to me. Your honour is considered a merciful man, my lord.
Please, sir, show me some mercy. You've got a reputation for being kind.
please be kind u have a mercy rep
Double and treble admonition, and still forfeit in the same kind? This
would make mercy swear and play the tyrant.
Repeatedly warned, and still committing the same crimes? This would make mercy itself swear and act like a tyrant.
Warned again and again, and you keep doing the same thing? This would make even the most forgiving person turn harsh.
warned over & over still doing it makes mercy angry
A bawd of eleven years’ continuance, may it please your honour.
A pimp working for eleven years, it may please your honour.
She's been a pimp for eleven years, sir.
pimped for 11 years
When the disguised Duke asks Escalus to describe him, Escalus offers two characteristics: he took more pleasure in seeing others happy than in his own entertainment, and he was especially dedicated to self-knowledge.
The first is a picture of a certain kind of disinterested benevolence — the man who finds his pleasure in other people's joy. It sounds like praise. But it also sounds like detachment. Someone who is most interested in watching others be merry is someone who keeps himself at a slight remove from experience.
The second characteristic — the dedication to self-knowledge — is the philosophical key to everything the Duke does in this play. The entire experiment with Angelo, the disguise, the eavesdropping: it can all be read as a form of self-investigation. He wants to know what will happen in Vienna without him. He wants to know what Angelo will do with power. He wants to see himself reflected in the choices his city makes.
But there's a question that Escalus's portrait raises and doesn't answer: does a man who is always watching, always managing, always knowing more than those around him — does such a man actually know himself? Or does he only know himself as the observer, never as the observed?
In this scene, Lucio has seen something in the Duke that the Duke doesn't see in himself: that he is thin-skinned about his reputation, and that his experiment has a personal investment in it that isn't purely philosophical.
My lord, this is one Lucio’s information against me. Mistress Kate
Keepdown was with child by him in the Duke’s time; he promised her
marriage. His child is a year and a quarter old come Philip and Jacob.
I have kept it myself; and see how he goes about to abuse me.
My lord, this is Lucio's accusation against me. Mistress Kate Keepdown was pregnant by him during the Duke's time; he promised to marry her. His child is a year and three months old now. I've raised the child myself, and look how he's trying to destroy me.
Sir, this is Lucio making trouble for me. Kate Keepdown had a baby by him when the Duke was here; he said he'd marry her. The kid's fourteen months old now. I've been taking care of him, and now Lucio's trying to make me the villain.
lucio's lying kate had his baby he promised marriage baby's 14 months i raised the kid he's destroying me
That fellow is a fellow of much license. Let him be called before us.
Away with her to prison. Go to, no more words.
That fellow has a lot of freedom to do as he likes. Let him be brought before us. Take her away to prison. Go on, no more words.
That guy's got way too much freedom. Bring him to me. Lock her up. That's it, we're done talking.
lucio talks too much bring him here lock her up that's it
Provost, my brother Angelo will not be altered; Claudio must die
tomorrow. Let him be furnished with divines, and have all charitable
preparation. If my brother wrought by my pity, it should not be so with
him.
Provost, Angelo won't change his decision. Claudio must die tomorrow. Give him priests and allow him proper spiritual preparation. If Angelo had shown me such severity, I wouldn't treat him this way.
Provost, Angelo's not going to budge. Claudio dies tomorrow. At least give him priests to prepare himself spiritually. If Angelo had been as harsh on me, I'd be harsher back.
claudio dies tomorrow at least get him priests angelo won't change
So please you, this friar hath been with him, and advised him for th’
entertainment of death.
If it pleases you, this friar has been with him and advised him to prepare himself for death.
This friar here has visited him and helped him get ready to die.
friar visited him helped him prepare to die
Good even, good father.
Good evening to you, father.
Evening, father.
good evening
Bliss and goodness on you!
Blessings and goodness upon you!
Blessings on you!
blessings on u
Of whence are you?
Where are you from?
Where do you come from?
where u from?
Not of this country, though my chance is now
To use it for my time. I am a brother
Of gracious order, late come from the See
In special business from his Holiness.
Not from this country, though I happen to be here now. I'm a member of a religious order, recently arrived from the Vatican with a special mission from the Pope.
I'm not from around here, but I'm staying now. I'm a member of a religious community, and I just got here from Rome with a special assignment from the Pope.
not from here religious order just came from rome pope sent me
What news abroad i’ th’ world?
What news from around the world?
What news do you have from out in the world?
what's the news
None, but that there is so great a fever on goodness that the
dissolution of it must cure it. Novelty is only in request, and as it
is as dangerous to be aged in any kind of course as it is virtuous to
be constant in any undertaking. There is scarce truth enough alive to
make societies secure; but security enough to make fellowships
accursed. Much upon this riddle runs the wisdom of the world. This news
is old enough, yet it is every day’s news. I pray you, sir, of what
disposition was the Duke?
Nothing much, except that goodness itself is so infected that healing it will destroy it. Novelty is the only thing people want, and being stuck to any old way is as dangerous as it is good to stay loyal to anything. There's barely enough honesty left to make communities stable, but enough dishonesty to ruin friendships. The world's wisdom mostly runs on this puzzle. This news is old already, yet it's fresh every day. I ask you, sir, what kind of person was the Duke?
Not much, except that moral goodness is so sick that trying to cure it will kill it. People only want what's new, and sticking with any traditional approach is just as risky as it is virtuous to keep your promises. There's hardly any honesty left to keep society working, but plenty of distrust to poison relationships. That's basically the world's wisdom. It's old news but it happens every day. Tell me, what kind of guy was the Duke?
goodness is sick healing it destroys it ppl only want new stuff no honesty left what was duke like
One that, above all other strifes, contended especially to know
himself.
Someone who, above all other desires, was especially focused on understanding himself.
Someone who was really focused on understanding himself above everything else.
focused on knowing himself
What pleasure was he given to?
What pleasures did he enjoy?
What did he like doing for fun?
what did he like
Rather rejoicing to see another merry, than merry at anything which
professed to make him rejoice. A gentleman of all temperance. But leave
we him to his events, with a prayer they may prove prosperous, and let
me desire to know how you find Claudio prepared. I am made to
understand that you have lent him visitation.
He preferred seeing others happy rather than being happy himself from things made to make him happy. A man of complete self-control. But let's leave him to his fate, hoping it works out well, and let me ask how you find Claudio prepared. I understand you've been to see him.
He got more joy from seeing other people happy than from his own pleasures. A guy with total self-control. But let's not worry about him—just hope things go well for him. So tell me, how is Claudio doing? Have you been to see him?
liked making ppl happy no self-interest self-controlled guy how's claudio u visited him
He professes to have received no sinister measure from his judge, but
most willingly humbles himself to the determination of justice. Yet had
he framed to himself, by the instruction of his frailty, many deceiving
promises of life, which I, by my good leisure, have discredited to him,
and now he is resolved to die.
He says he's had a fair trial from his judge, and he willingly accepts the court's sentence. But he had built up many false hopes about living, based on his own weakness and excuses, which I've taken time to show him were lies, and now he's ready to die.
He says his trial was fair and he accepts the verdict. But he'd created a lot of false hope about getting out based on his own excuses, which I showed him were all lies. Now he's ready to accept death.
says trial was fair accepts verdict had false hope showed him it was lies now ready to die
You have paid the heavens your function, and the prisoner the very debt
of your calling. I have laboured for the poor gentleman to the
extremest shore of my modesty, but my brother justice have I found so
severe that he hath forced me to tell him he is indeed Justice.
You have fulfilled heaven's expectation and paid the prisoner what your calling demands. I have worked as hard as I possibly could for this poor man, but I found my fellow judge so unrelenting that his severity forced me to admit he truly is Justice itself.
You've done your duty to heaven and given the prisoner what he's owed. I've done everything I can for this poor man, but my brother judge is so harsh that he's forced me to admit he really is Justice personified.
u did ur duty i tried everything for this guy but my brother judge is SO strict i gotta admit: he IS justice itself
If his own life answer the straitness of his proceeding, it shall
become him well; wherein if he chance to fail, he hath sentenced
himself.
If his own life matches how strictly he judges, it will suit him well. But if he slips up, he's already condemned himself.
If he lives by his own harsh standards, that's perfect for him. But if he ever makes a mistake, he's already signed his own death warrant.
if he lives by his rules all good if he slips up he's done
I am going to visit the prisoner. Fare you well.
I'm heading to see the prisoner now. Take care.
I gotta go visit him. See you later.
going to see claudio bye
Peace be with you.
May peace travel with you.
Take care of yourself.
bye
He who the sword of heaven will bear
Should be as holy as severe,
Pattern in himself to know,
Grace to stand, and virtue go;
More nor less to others paying
Than by self-offences weighing.
Shame to him whose cruel striking
Kills for faults of his own liking!
Twice treble shame on Angelo,
To weed my vice, and let his grow!
O, what may man within him hide,
Though angel on the outward side!
How may likeness, made in crimes,
Make practice on the times,
To draw with idle spiders’ strings
Most ponderous and substantial things!
Craft against vice I must apply.
With Angelo tonight shall lie
His old betrothed but despised.
So disguise shall, by th’ disguised,
Pay with falsehood false exacting,
And perform an old contracting.
Whoever wields the sword of justice should be as holy as they are harsh, modeling self-knowledge and standing firm in grace and virtue. They should judge others no more and no less than their own faults deserve. Shame on those who punish harshly for sins they secretly enjoy! Twice the shame on Angelo, who condemns my sins while letting his own grow! What hidden evils can people conceal though they appear angelic? How can criminals linked by shared guilt trick the world with their schemes, dragging down great things with weak deceptions? I must use cunning against this vice. Tonight Angelo will sleep with his old, despised betrothed. My disguise will defeat his, false payment will repay false demands, and an old marriage contract will be fulfilled.
Anyone with power to judge should be as holy as they are strict, know themselves well, stand firm in what's right, and let virtue guide them. Judge others by the same standard you'd judge yourself. It's shameful to punish someone for doing what you secretly want! Angelo deserves double shame - condemning my sins while his own flourish. People hide terrible things under an angelic face. And those bound by shared guilt can trick everyone with their schemes, pulling down the powerful with thin deceptions. I'll fight vice with cunning. Tonight Angelo will be with his old, rejected fiancée. My fake identity will expose his real nature, lies will answer lies, and an old promise will finally be kept.
justice must be holy not just harsh angelo condemns me while he does worse hides evil behind a fake face i'll trick him tonight make him keep an old promise
The Reckoning
This is the comedy of the play at its most uncomfortable — a ruler listening to his own subjects dismiss, ridicule, and defame him while unable to say a word in his own defense without blowing his cover. The Duke's soliloquy at the end shifts abruptly to verse and righteousness, suggesting he has taken every word personally. He goes away from this encounter not just with a plan, but with a grudge.
If this happened today…
Imagine a CEO who is secretly sitting in on a coffee chat between two junior employees — in disguise as an outside consultant — and hears one of them spend twenty minutes telling the 'consultant' that the CEO is secretly a drunk who sleeps with interns, is probably terrible in bed, and only hired Angela from operations because he had a thing for her. The CEO nods, deflects, attempts gentle pushback ('I think you might be mistaken about him'), while the employee doubles down. Then the CEO goes back to his office and types a very careful email that begins: 'When you have a moment, I'd like to discuss some things.'