MEASURE FOR MEASURE MALAYA ACT ONE - Phil Willmott

If the law would allow it, Sweet.
LUCIO
But the law will not allow it, or it shall not be allowed in the district.
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 made up of brown and white bastards. Lord
Angelo woulds’t have you consider what 'tis to cram a maw or clothe a back from
such a filthy vice: say to thyself - from such 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.
PROSTITUTE
Indeed, it’s oft struck me that way too, sir; but yet, does Angelo mean to geld and
splay all the youth of the city? (GRABBING HIS CRUTCH) Here's young Master
Rash; he's in for a commodity of brown paper and old ginger
LUCIO
I have purchased as many diseases under your roof as come to --
PROSTITUTE
To what, I pray?
LUCIO
Judge.
PROSTITUTE
Thou art always figuring diseases in me; but thou
art full of error; I am sound.
LUCIO
Nay, not as one would say, healthy; but so sound as things that are hollow: thy bones
are hollow; impiety has made a feast of thee.
Well, well; there's one yonder arrested and carried to prison was worth five thousand
of you all.
PROSTITUTE
Who's that, I pray thee?
LUCIO
Marry, sir, that's Claudio, Signior Claudio.
PROSTITUTE
Claudio to prison? 'tis not so.
LUCIO
Nay, but I know 'tis so: and, which is more, within these three days his head’s to be
chopped off.
PROSTITUTE
But, after all this fooling, I would not have it