Isab. When, I beseech you? that in his reprieve, Longer or shorter, he may be so fitted, That his soul sicken not. Ang. Ha! Fye, these filthy vices! It were as good To pardon him, that hath from nature stolen A man already made, as to remit Their saucy sweetness, that do coin heaven's image Isab. "Tis set down so in heaven, but not in earth. Isab. I had rather give my body than Sir, believe this, ? Ang. I talk not of your soul. Stand more for number than for Isab. Ang. Nay, I'll not warrant that; for I can speak Against the thing I say. Answer to this: How say you I, now the voice of the recorded law, To save this brother's life? Isab. I'll take it as a peril to my soul: It is no sin at all, but charity. Please you to do't, Ang. Pleas'd you to do't, at peril of your soul, Were equal poize of sin and charity. Isab. That I do beg his life, if it be sin, Heaven, let me bear it! you granting of my suit, To have it added to the faults of mine, And nothing of your answer. Ang. Nay, but hear me. Your sense pursues not mine: either you are ignorant, Or seem so, crafty; and that is not good. Isab. Let me be ignorant, and in nothing good, Ang. Thus wisdom wishes to appear most bright, Isab. So. Ang. And his offence is so, as it appears Accountant to the law upon that pain. Isab. True. Ang. Admit no other way to save his life, (As I subscribe not that, nor any other, But in the loss of question ") that you, his sister, Isab. As much for my poor brother, as myself: 4 Or seem so, CRAFTY; and that is not good.] This is the old reading, and not craftily, as it has been modernized-" or seem so, being crafty," is the meaning. 5 Let ME be ignorant,] "Me," added in the folio 1632. 6 But in the loss of question] This may mean, but for the sake of the question which must otherwise be lost, or could not be put. 7 Of the ALL-BUILDING law ;] Since the time of Theobald this compound epithet has been changed to "all-binding." Shakespeare seems to use "all-building" in reference to the constructive and constantly repairing power of the law. The modern editors have given no other reason for changing so important and emphatic a word, but that Theobald had done so before them. Th' impression of keen whips I'd wear as rubies, That longing I have been sick for3, ere I'd yield Ang. Your brother die. Then must Isab. And 'twere the cheaper way. Better it were, a brother died at once, Than that a sister, by redeeming him, Should die for ever. Ang. Were not you, then, as cruel, as the sentence That you have slander'd so? Isab. Ignomy in ransom, and free pardon, Are of two houses: lawful mercy is Nothing akin to foul redemption 10. Ang. You seem'd of late to make the law a tyrant ; And rather prov'd the sliding of your brother A merriment, than a vice. Isab. O, pardon me, my lord! it oft falls out, To have what we would have, we speak not what we mean. I something do excuse the thing I hate, For his advantage that I dearly love. Ang. We are all frail. * IGNOMY in ransom,] The second folio reads, ignominy for "ignomy;" the word ignomy occurs again in Troilus and Cressida, A. v. sc. 3. 10 Nothing AKIN to foul redemption.] The folios have kin for "akin ;" but then they regulate the passage differently :— "lawful mercy Is nothing kin to foul redemption." 1 If not a feodary, but only he, Owe, and succeed THIS weakness.] The word this (instead of thy, as it stands in the old copies) is from an old MS. note in the margin of Lord Francis Egerton's first folio: it is probably right, and the meaning of the whole passage seems to be, "If we are not all frail, let my brother die, if he alone offend, and have no feodary (companion or accomplice) in this weakness." To "owe" is here, as in many other instances, to own. Ang. Nay, women are frail too. Isab. Ay, as the glasses where they view themselves, Which are as easy broke as they make forms. Women!-Help heaven! men their creation mar In profiting by them. Nay, call us ten times frail, For we are soft as our complexions are, And credulous to false prints. Ang. I think it well; And from this testimony of your own sex, (Since, I suppose, we are made to be no stronger, That is, a woman; if you be more, you're none; By all external warrants,) show it now, By putting on the destin❜d livery. Isab. I have no tongue but one: gentle my lord, Isab. My brother did love Juliet; and That he shall die for't. you tell me, Ang. He shall not, Isabel, if you give me love. Which seems a little fouler than it is, To pluck on others. Ang. Believe me, on mine honour, My words express my purpose. Isab. Ha! little honour to be much believ'd, And most pernicious purpose!-Seeming, seeming!— I will proclaim thee, Angelo; look for't: Sign me a present pardon for my brother, Or with an outstretch'd throat I'll tell the world Ang. Who will believe thee, Isabel? My unsoil'd name, the austereness of my life, Will so your accusation overweigh, That you shall stifle in your own report, And smell of calumny. I have begun, That banish what they sue for; redeem thy brother Or else he must not only die the death, Say what you can, my false o'erweighs your true. [Exit. Bidding the law make court'sy to their will, Then, Isabel, live chaste, and, brother, die: And fit his mind to death, for his soul's rest. [Exit. 2 To whom SHOULD I complain?] So the folio of 1623, and all the others. Why Malone and Steevens altered "should" to shall is no where stated. They did precisely the reverse in a former scene of this play, A. ii. sc. 1. |