I come to visit the afflicted spirits Look, here comes one; a gentlewoman of mine, Than die for this. Duke. When must he die? Prov. As I do think, to-morrow.I have provided for you; stay a while. And 170 JULIET. you shall be conducted. [carry? Duke. Repent you, fair one, of the sin you Juliet. I do; and bear the shame most patiently. [your conscience, Duke. I'll teach you how you shall arraign And try your penitence, if it be sound, Or hollowly put on. Juliet. I'll gladly learn. Duke. Love you the man that wrong'd you? Juliet. Yes, as I love the woman that wrong'd him. [ful act Duke. So then, it seems, your most offencemutually committed? Was Juliet. Mutually. Duke. Then was your sin of heavier kind than his. Juliet. I do confess it and repent it, father. Duke. 'Tis meet so, daughter: But lest you do repent, At that the sin hath brought you to this shame,- Duke. Grace go with you! Benedicite! [Exit, Juliet. Must die to-morrow! O, injurious That respites me a life, whose very comfort[rove, Is still a Prov. dying horror! 'Tis pity of him. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. A Room in Angelo's House. Enter ANGELO. Which the air beats for vain. O place! O form! Ang. When I would pray and think, think and pray [words; To several subjects: heaven hath my empty Whilst my invention, hearing not my tongue, Anchors on Isabel: Heaven in my mouth, As if I did but only chew his name; And in my heart, the strong and swelling evil my conception: The state, whereon I Is like a good thing, being o often read, [studied, Grown fear'd and tedious; yea, my gravity, Wherein (let no man hear me) I take pride, Could I, with boot †, change for an idle plume, Of • Spare to offend heaven. Desires access to you. Ang. O heavens! One Isabel, a sister, Teach her the way. [Exit Serv. Why does my blood thus muster to my heart; And dispossessing all the other parts [swoons; ness How now, fair maid? Isab I am come to know your pleasure. Ang. That you might know it, would much better please me, Than to demand what 'tis. Your brother cannot live. Isab. Even so?Heaven keep your honour! [Retiring. "Ang. Yet may he live a while; and, it may As long as you, or I: Yet he must die. [be, Isab. Under your sentence? Ang. Yea. [reprieve, Isab. When, I beseech you? that in his Longer, or shorter, he may be so fitted, That his soul sicken not. [as good Ang. Ha! Fye, these filthy vices! It were To pardon him, that hath from nature stolen A man already made, as to remit [image, Their saucy sweetness, that do coin heaven's In stamps that are forbid: 'tis all as easy Falsely to take away a life true made, As to put mettle in restrained means, To make a false one. [in earth. Isab. "Tis set down so in heaven, but not Ang. Say you so? then I shall pose you Isab. Might there not be a charity in sin,, [soul, Please you to do't, I'll take it as a peril to my soul, It is no sin at all, but charity. Ang. Pleas'd you to do't, at peril of your were equal poise 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, If that be sin, I'll make it my morn prayer 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, craftily; and that's not good. Isab. Let me be ignorant, and in nothing But graciously to know I am no better. [good, Ang. Thus wisdom wishes to appear most bright, When it doth tax itself: as these black masks Proclaim an enshield beauty ten times louder Than beauty could displayed,-But mark me; To be received plain, I'll speak more gross: Your brother is to die. Isab. So. Ang. And his offence is so, as it appears Accountant to the law upon that paint. 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, Finding yourself desir'd of such a person, Whose credit with the judge,or own great place, Could fetch your brother from the manacles Of the all-binding law; and that there were No earthly mean to save him, but that either You must lay down the treasures of your body To this supposed, or else let him suffer; What would you do? [myself: Isab. As much for my poor brother, as That is, Were I under the terms of death, The impression of keen whips I'd wear as And strip myself to death, as to a bed [rubies, That longing I have been sick for, ere I'd yield My body up to shame. Ang. Then must your brother die. 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 That you have slander'd so? [sentence Isab. Ignomy in ransom, and free pardon, Are of two houses: lawful mercy is Nothing akin to foul redemption. [a tyrant; Ang. You seem'd of late to make the law And rather prov'd the sliding of your brother A merriment than a vice. Isab. O, pardon me, my lord; it oft falls , out, [we mean : To have what we'd have, we speak not what I something do excuse the thing I hate, For his advantage that I dearly love. Ang. We are all frail. Else let my brother die, If not a feodary T, but only he, mar Which are as easy broke as they make forms. [lord, I do arrest your words; Be that you are, [in't, Prod Ang. He shall not, Isabel, if you give me love. Isab. I know, your virtue hath a licence 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 tt! I will proclaim thee, Angelo; look for't: true. Isab. To whom shall I complain? Did I tell this, Who would believe me? O perilous mouths, Agree to. Conversation. ་ ་་་ Il_Ignominy. Reluctant. SCENE I. A Room in the Prison. I have hope to live, and am prepar'd to die. For all the accommodations that thou bear'st, For thou dost fear the soft and tender fork For thou exist'st on many a thousand grains For thy complexion shifts to strange effects +, But, as it were, an after dinner's sleep, • Determined. + Affects, affections. To sue to live, I find, I seek to die': Isab. What, ho! Peace here; grace and good company! [serves a welcome. Prov. Who's there? come in: the wish de- Isab. My business is a word or two with Prov. And very welcome. here's your sister. Look, signior, Duke. Provost, a word with you. be conceal'd, Yet hear them. [Exeunt DUKE and Provost. Isab. Why, as all comforts are; most good Isab. Yes, brother, you may live; Perpetual durance? Claud. Why give you me this shame? * Leprous eruptions Old age. li Resident. L I think? Heaven shield, my mother play'd my father And hug it in mine arms. [father's grave | From thine own sister's shame? What should Claud. The princely Angelo ? Claud So to offend him still: This night's the time Claud. Thou shalt not do't. Claud. morrow. Claud. Yes. Has he affections in him, That thus can make him bite the law by the nose, When he would force it? Sure it is no sin; Death is a fearful thing. Isab. Alas! alas! Isab 40, you, beast! O, faithless coward! O, dishonest wretch 1 Die; perish might but my bending down Claud. Nay, hear me, Isabel. Re-enter DUKE. Duke. Vouchsafe a word, young sister, but one word. Isab. What is your will? Duke. Might you dispense with your leisure, I would by and by have some speech with you: the satisfaction I would require, is likewise your own benefit. Isab. Is have no superfluous leisure; my stay must be stolen out of other affairs; but I will attend you a while. Duke. [To CLAUDIO, aside.] Son, I have overheard what hath past between you and your sister. Angelo had never the purpose to corrupt her; only he hath made an essay of her virtue, to practise his judgment with the disposition of natures: she, having the truth of honour in her, hath made him that gracious dénial which he is most glad to receive: I am confessor to Angelo, and I know this to be true; therefore prepare yourself to death: Do not satisfy your resolution with hopes that ̧ are fallible: to-morrow you must die; go to your knees, and make ready. Claud. Let me ask my sister pardon. I am so out of dove with life, that I will sue to be rid of it. Duke. Holdt you there: Farewell. Provost, a word with you. Prov. What's your will, father? Duke. That now you are come, you will be gone: Leave me a while with the maid; my mind promises with my habit, no loss shall touch her, by my company. Prov. In good time. [Exit Provost. Duke. The hand that hath made you fair, hath made you good: the goodness, that is cheap in beauty, makes beauty brief in goodness; but grace, being the soul of your complexion, should keep the body of it ever fair. The assault, that Angelo hath made to you, fortune hath convey'd to my understanding; and, but that frailty hath examples for his falling, I should wonder at Angelo. How would you do to content this substitute, and to save your brother. a at Is't not a kind of incest, to take lifes Ity Ilov Isu. I am now going to resolve him I had oot Laced rohes Freely, Lastinglys * Shut up. Invisible....Wildness. **Refusal. . tt An established habit. pt Continue in that resolution. rather my brother die by the law, than my son should be unlawfully born, But O, how much is the good duke deceived in Angelo! If ever he return, and I can speak to him, I will open my lips in vain, or discover his go vernment. Duke. That shall not be much amiss: Yet, as the matter now stands, he will avoid your accusation; he made trial of you only. Therefore, fasten your ear on my advisings; to the love I have in doing good, a remedy presents itself. I do make myself believe, that you may most uprighteously do a poor wronged lady a merited benefit; redeem your brother from the angry law; do no stain to your own gracious person; and much please the absent duke, if, peradventure, he shall ever return to have hearing of this business. Isab. Let me hear you speak further; I have spirit to do any thing that appears not foul in the truth of my spirit. Duke, Virtue is bold, and, goodness never fearful. Have you not heard speak of Mariana the sister of Frederick, the great soldier, who miscarried at sea? Isab. I have heard of the lady, and good words went with her name. yourself to this advantage,-first, that your stay with him may not be long; that the time may have all shadow and silence in it; and the place answer to convenience: this being granted in course, now follows all. We shall advise this wronged maid to stead up your appointment, go in your place; if the encounter acknowledge itself hereafter, it may compel him to her recompense: and here, by this, is your brother saved, your honour untainted, the poor Mariana advantaged, and the corrupt deputy scaled. The maid will I frame, and make fit for his attempt. If you think well to carry this as you may, the doubleness of the benefit defends the deceit from reproof. What think you of it? Isab. The image of it gives me content al ready; and, I trust, it will grow to a most prosperous perfection. Duke. It lies much in your holding up: Haste you speedily to Angelo; if for this night he entreat you to his bed, give him promise of satisfaction. I will presently to St. Luke's; there, at the moated grange, resides this dejected Mariana: At that place call up on me; and despatch with Angelo, that it may be quickly. Isab. I thank you for this comfort: Fare you well, good father. [Exeunt severally. SCENE II. The Street before the Prison. Enter DUKE, as a Friar; to him ELBOW, Clown, and Officers. Duke. Her should this Angelo have married; was affianced to her by oath, and the nuptial appointed: between which time of the contract, and limit of the solemnity, her brother Frederick was wrecked at sea, having in that perish'd vessel the dowry of his sister. But mark, how heavily this befel to the poor Elb. Nay, if there be no remedy for it, gentlewoman: there she lost a noble and re-but that you will needs buy and sell men and nowned brother, in his love toward her ever most kind and natural; with him the portion and sinew of her fortune, her marriage-dowry; with both, her combinate husband, this wellseeming Angelo. Isab. Can this be so? DidAngelo so leave her? Duke. Left her in her tears, and dry'd not one of them with his comfort; swallowed his Vows whole, pretending, in her, discoveries of dishonour: in few, bestowed † her on her own lamentation, which she yet wears for his sake; and he, a marble to her tears, is washed with them, but relents not. Isab, What a merit were it in death, to take this poor maid from the world! What Corruption in this life, that it will let this man live! But how out of this can she avail? Duke. It is a rupture that you may easily heal: and the cure of it not only saves your brother, but keeps you from dishonour in doing it. Isub. Show me how, good father. Duke. This fore-named maid hath yet in her the continuance of her first affection; his unjust unkindness, that in all reason should have quenched her love, hath, like an impediment in the current, made it more violent and unruly. Go you to Angelo; answer his requiring with a plausible obedience; agree with his demands to the point: only refer women like beasts, we shall have all the world drink brown and white bastard T. Duke. O, heavens! what stuff is here? Clo. 'Twas never merry world, since, of two usuries, the merriest was put down, and the worser allow'd by order of law a furr'd gown to keep him warm; and furr'd with fox and lamb-skins too, to signify, that craft, being richer than innocency, stands for the facing. Elb. Come your way,sir-Bless you, good father friar. Duke. And you, good brother father: What offence hath this man made you, sir? Elb. Marry, sir, he hath offended the law; and, sir, we take him to be a thief too, sir; for we have found upon him, sir, a strange pick lock**, which we have sent to the deputy. Duke, Fye, sirrah ; a bawd, a wicked bawd! Duke. Nay, if the devil have given thee • Betrothed. + Gave her up to her sorrows, |