As bring me to the sight of Isabella,

A novice of this place, and the fair sister
To her unhappy brother Claudio?

Isa. Why, her unhappy brother? let me ask;
The rather, for I now must make you know
I am that Isabella, and his sister.

Lucio. Gentle and fair, your brother kindly greets you:

Not to be weary with you, he's in prison.
Isa. Woe me! For what?

Lucio. For that, which, if myself might be his

judge,

He should receive his punishment in thanks:

He hath got his friend with child.

Isa.

Lucio. Is she your cousin?

My cousin Juliet?

Isa. Adoptedly; as school-maids change their

Upon his place,

And, with full line of his authority,

Governs lord Angelo; a man, whose blood
Is very snow-broth :

He hath pick'd out an act,

Under whose heavy sense your brother's life
Falls into forfeit: he arrests him on it;
And follows close the rigour of the statute,
To make him an example: all hope is gone,
Unless you have the grace, by your fair prayer,
To soften Angelo:- And that's my pith
Of business 'twixt you and your poor brother.

Isa. Doth he so seek his life?

Lucio.

Has censur'd3 him

3 Sentenced.

Already; and, as I hear, the provost hath
A warrant for his execution.

Isa. Alas! what poor ability's in me

To do him good?

Lucio.

Assay the power you have.

Isa. My power! Alas! I doubt, — Lucio. Our doubts are traitors, And make us lose the good we oft might win, By fearing to attempt: Go to lord Angelo, And let him learn to know, when maidens sue, Men give like gods; but when they weep and kneel, All their petitions are as freely theirs

As they themselves would owe them.

Isa. I'll see what I can do.

Lucio.

But, speedily.
Isa. I will about it straight;

No longer staying but to give the mother
Notice of my affair. I humbly thank you:
Commend me to my brother: soon at night
I'll send him certain word of my success.
Lucio. I take my leave of you.

Isa.

Good sir, adieu. [Exeunt ISABELLA and LUCIO.

ACT THE SECOND.

SCENE I.

A Hall in Angelo's House.

Enter ESCALUS, ANGELO, and Provost.

Ang. We must not make a scarecrow of the law, Setting it up to fear the birds of prey,

4 Have.

And let it keep one shape, till custom make it
Their perch, and not their terror.

Esca.

Ay, but yet

Let us be keen, and rather cut a little,

Than fall, and bruise to death: Alas! this gentle

man,

Whom I would save, had a most noble father.
Let but your honour know

(Whom I believe to be most strait in virtue,)
Had time coher'd with place, or place with wishing,
Whether you had not, some time in your life,
Err'd in this point, which now you censure him,
And pull'd the law upon you?

Ang. 'Tis one thing to be tempted, Escalus,
Another thing to fall.

You may not so extenuate his offence,

For I have had such faults; but rather tell me,
When I, that censure him, do so offend,

Let mine own judgment pattern out my death,
And nothing come in partial. - Sir, he must die.
Esca. Be it as your wisdom will.

Ang.

Where is the provost ?

Prov. Here, if it like your honour.
Ang.

See that Claudio

Be executed by nine to-morrow morning :
Bring him his confessor, let him be prepared:
For that's the utmost of his pilgrimage.

Esca. Well, Heaven forgive him! and forgive us [Exit ESCALUS.

all!

Prov. Is it your will, Claudio shall die to-mor

row?

Ang. Did not I tell thee, yea? Hadst thou not

When, after execution, judgment hath
Repented o'er his doom.

Ang.

Go to; let that be mine:

Do you your office, or give up your place,
And you shall well be spar'd.

Prov.

I crave your honour's pardon.

What shall be done, sir, with the groaning Juliet ? She's very near her hour.

Ang.

Dispose of her

To some more fitting place; and that with speed.

Enter THOMAS.

Tho. Here is the sister of the man condemn'd Desires access to you.

Ang.

Hath he a sister?

Prov. Ay, my good lord; a very virtuous maid, And to be shortly of a sisterhood,

If not already.

Ang.

Well, let her be admitted.

[Exit THOMAS.

See you, the fornicatress be removed;

Let her have needful, but not lavish, means;

There shall be order for it.

Enter ISABELLA and LUCIO.

Prov. Save your honour!

[Exit Provost.

Ang. You are welcome: what's your will? Isa. I am a woeful suitor to your honour, Please but your honour hear me. Ang. Well; what's your suit? Isa. There is a vice, that most I do abhor, And most desire should meet the blow of justice; For which I would not plead, but that I must; For which I must not plead, but that I am

At war, 'twixt will and will not.

Ang.

Well; the matter?

Isa. I have a brother is condemn'd to die:

I do beseech you, let it be his fault,

And not my brother.

:

Ang. Condemn the fault, and not the actor of it! Why, every fault's condemn'd, ere it be done Mine were the very cypher of a function, To fine the faults, whose fine stands in record, And let go by the actor.

Isa. O just, but severe law! I had a brother then.-Heaven keep your honour !

[Retiring. Lucio. [To ISAB.] Give't not o'er so: to him again, entreat him;

Kneel down before him, hang upon his gown:

You are too cold.

Isa. Must he needs die?

Ang. Maiden, no remedy. Isa. Yes; I do think that you might pardon him, And neither Heaven, nor man, grieve at the mercy. Ang. I will not do't.

Isa.

But can you, if you would?

Ang. Look, what I will not, that I cannot do. Isa. But might you do't, and do the world no

wrong,

If so your heart were touch'd with that remorse
As mine is to him?

Ang.
He's sentenc'd; 'tis too late.
Isa. Too late! why, no; I, that do speak a word,
May call it back again: Well, believe this,
No ceremony that to great ones 'longs,

Not the king's crown, nor the deputed sword,
The marshal's truncheon, nor the judge's robe,
Become them with one half so good a grace,
As mercy does.

If he had been as you, and you as he,

You would have slipp'd, like him; but he like you, Would not have been so stern.

Ang. Pray you, begone.

Isa. I would to heaven I had your potency,