Overview

Vincentio, the Duke of Vienna, makes it known that he intends to leave the city on a diplomatic mission. He leaves the government in the hands of a strict judge, Angelo.In the next scene, we find a group of soldiers on a Vienna street, expressing their hopes, in irreverent banter, that a war with Hungary is afoot, and that they will be able to take part. Mistress Overdone, the operator of a brothel frequented by these same soldiers, appears and tells them there's one yonder arrested and carried to prison was worth five thousand of you all . She tells them that it is Signor Claudio , and that within these three days his head to be chopped off as punishment for getting Madam Julietta with child . Lucio, one of the soldiers who is later revealed to be Claudio's friend, is astonished at this news and rushes off. Then comes Pompey Bum, who works for Mistress Overdone as a pimp, but disguises his profession by describing himself as a mere 'tapster' (the equivalent of a modern bartender), avers to the imprisonment of Claudio and outrageously explains his crime as Groping for trouts in a peculiar river . He then informs Mistress Overdone of Angelo's new proclamation, that All houses [of prostitution] in the suburbs of Vienna must be plucked down . The brothels in the city shall stand for seed: they had gone down too, but that a wise burgher put in for them . Mistress Overdone is distraught, as her business is in the suburbs. What shall become of me? she asks. Pompey replies with a characteristic mixture of bawdy humor and folk-wisdom, fear you not: good counselors lack no clients: though you change your place, you need not change your trade... Courage! there will be pity taken on you: you that have worn your eyes almost out in the service, you will be considered .

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