MEASURE FOR MEASURE MALAYA ACT ONE - Phil Willmott

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!
ANGELO STARES, HORRIFIED, AT LUCIO.
ANGELO
That fellow is a fellow of much licence: (TO LUCIO) You will be called before us.
Away with her to prison! Go to; no more words.
LUCIO TAKES THE PROSTITUE OUT TO THE CELLS
THE DUKE [Aside]
This is such sin
For which the pardoner himself is in.
Hence hath offence his quick celerity,
When it is born in high authority:
When vice makes mercy, mercy's so extended,
That for the fault's love is the offender friended.
LUCIO RETURNS SHEEPISHLY TO FACE ANGELO’S FURY.
ANGELO (TO LUCIO)
Come hither, sirrah. Can you cut off a man's head?
LUCIO
I can never cut off a woman's head.
ANGELO
Come, sir, leave me your snatches, and yield me a direct answer! To-morrow
morning is Claudio to die. Here is in our prison a common executioner, who in his
office lacks a helper: if you will take it on you to assist him, it shall redeem you from
your gyves; if not, you shall have your full time of imprisonment and your
deliverance with an unpitied whipping, for you have lain with a notorious bawd.
A SCARED LUCIO SAVES HIS SKIN
LUCIO
Yet I will be content to be a lawful hangman.
I would be glad to receive some instruction from my fellow partner.
ANGELO TELEPHONES THE EXECUTIONER.
(INTO THE PHONE) Sirrah, here's a fellow will help you to-morrow in your
execution. If you think it meet, compound with him by the year, and let him abide
here with you; if not, use him for the present and dismiss him. He cannot plead his
estimation with you; he hath been with a bawd.
HE HANGS UP AND SPEAKS TO LUCIO.