Drama  |  William Shakespeare  |  Measure For Measure  |  Scene 2.

Measure For Measure — Scene 2. (Part 3 of 7)

LUCIO

A French crown more.

First Gentleman

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.

Enter MISTRESS OVERDONE

First Gentleman

How now! which of your hips has the most profound sciatica?

MISTRESS OVERDONE

Well, well; there's one yonder arrested and carried
to prison was worth five thousand of you all.

Second Gentleman

Who's that, I pray thee?

MISTRESS OVERDONE

Marry, sir, that's Claudio, Signior Claudio.

First Gentleman

Claudio to prison? 'tis not so.

MISTRESS OVERDONE

Nay, but I know 'tis so: I saw him arrested, saw
him carried away; and, which is more, within these
three days his head to be chopped off.

LUCIO

But, after all this fooling, I would not have it so.
Art thou sure of this?

MISTRESS OVERDONE

I am too sure of it: and it is for getting Madam
Julietta with child.

LUCIO

Believe me, this may be: he promised to meet me two
hours since, and he was ever precise in
promise- keeping.

Second Gentleman

Besides, you know, it draws something near to the
speech we had to such a purpose.