c manner before the whole city of Vienna;
but Angelo little thought that it was from such a cause that they thus
differed in their story, and he hoped from their contradictory evidence
to be able to clear himself from the accusation of Isabel, and he said,
assuming the look of offended innocence: 'I did but smile till now;
but, good my lord, my patience here is touched, and I perceive these
poor distracted women are but the instruments of some greater one, who
sets them on. Let me have way, my lord, to find this practice out.'
'Ay, with all my heart,' said the duke, 'and punish them to the height
of your pleasure. You, lord Escalus, sit with lord Angelo, lend him
your pains to discover this abuse; the friar is sent for that set them
on, and when he comes, do with your injuries as may seem best in any
chastisement. I for a while will leave you, but stir not you, lord
Angelo, till you have well determined upon this slander.' The duke then
went away, leaving Angelo well pleased to be deputed judge and umpire
in his own cause. But the duke was absent only while he threw off his
royal robes and put on his friar's habit; and in that disguise again he
presented himself before Angelo and Escalus: and the good old Escalus,
who thought Angelo had been falsely accused, said to the supposed
friar: 'Come, sir, did you set these women on to slander lord Angelo?'
He replied: 'Where is the duke? It is he who should hear me speak.'
Escalus said: 'The duke is in us, and we will hear you. Speak justly.'
'Boldly at least,' retorted the friar; and then he blamed the duke for
leaving the cause of Isabel in the hands of him she had accused, and
spoke so freely of many corrupt practices he had observed, while, as he
said, he had been a looker-on in Vienna, that Escalus threatened him
with the torture for speaking words against the state, and for
censuring the conduct of the duke, and ordered him to be taken away to
prison. Then, to the amazement of all present, and to the utter
confusion of Angelo, the supposed friar threw off his disguise, and
they saw it was the duke himself.

The duke first addressed Isabel. He said to her: 'Come hither, Isabel.
Your friar is now your prince, but with my habit I have not changed my
heart. I am still devoted to your service.' 'O give me pardon,' said
Isabel, 'that I, your vassal, have employed and troubled your unknown
sovereignty.' He answered that he had most need of forgiveness from
her, for not having pr