Corrupt with virtuous season. Can it be, That modesty may more betray our sense As that the sin hath brought you to this shame, Which sorrow is always toward ourselves, not heaven; Showing, we'd not spare heaven, as we love it, Juliet. I do repent me, as it is an evil; There rest, Your partner, as I hear, must die to-morrow, Than woman's lightness? Having waste ground Grace go with you! Benedicite! enough, Shall we desire to raze the sanctuary, And pitch our evils there? O, fye, fye, fye! Thieves for their robbery have authority, And feast upon her eyes? What is't I dream on? When men were fond, I smil'd, and wonder'd how. [Exit. SCENE III. A Room in a Prison. Enter DUKE, habited like a Friar, and Provost. Duke. Hail to you, provost! so I think you are. Prov. I am the provost: What's your will, good friar? Duke. Bound by my charity, and my bless'd order, I come to visit the afflicted spirits Here in the prison: do me the common right Prov. I would do more than that, if more were needful. [Eril. Juliet. Must die to-morrow! O, injurious love, That respites me a life, whose very comfort Is still a dying horror! Prov. 'Tis pity of him. [Exeunt. · A Room in Angelo's House. Enter ANGELO. Ang. When I would pray and think, I think and pray To several subjects: heaven hath my empty words; 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 Why does my blood thus muster to my heart; Making both it unable for itself, And dispossessing all the other parts Of necessary fitness? So play the foolish throngs with one that swoons; Enter ISABELLA. How now, fair maid? Than to demand what'tis. Your brother cannot live. Isab. When, I beseech you? that in his reprieve, This his soul sicken not. Ang. Ha! fye, these filthy vices! It were as good Whose credit with the judge, or own great place, Isab. As much for my poor brother as myself: That longing I have been sick for, ere I'd yield Ang. Then must your brother die Ang. Were not you then as cruel as the sentence Their saucy sweetness, that do coin heaven's image, That you have slander'd so? Isab. 'Tis set down so in heaven, but not in earth. Isab. Sir, believe this, I had rather give my body than my soul. How say you? To save this brother's life? Isab. Please you to do't, Ang. Pleas'd you to do't, at peril of your soul, Isab. That I do beg his life, if it be sin, Nay, but hear me : Ang. rant, Or seem so, craftily; and that's 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, 3 Covered. If not a feodary, but only he, Ang. I think it well: Isab. I have no tongue but one: gentle my lord, Isab. My brother did love Juliet; and you tell me, Ang. He shall not, Isabel, if you give me love. My vouch against you, and my place i'the state [Exit. Isab. To whom shall I complain? Did I tell this, Who would believe me? O perilous mouths, That bear in them one and the self-same tongue, To such abhorr'd pollution. Then, Isabel, live chaste, and, brother, die: [Exit. Enter Duke, CLAUDIO, and Provost. Duke. So, then you hope of pardon from lord Angelo? Claud. The miserable have no other medicine, But only hope: I have hope to live, and am prepar'd to die. Duke. Be absolute for death: either death, or life, Shall thereby be the sweeter. Reason thus with life,If I do lose thee, I do lose a thing That none but fools would keep a breath thou art, (Servile to all the skiey influences,) That dost this habitation, where thou keep'st, Claud. I humbly thank you. Perpetual durance? Isab. Ay, just, perpetual durance; a restraint, Though all the world's fastidity you had, To a determined scope. Claud. But in what nature? Isab. In such a one as (you consenting to't) Would bark your honour from that trunk you bear, And leave you naked. Claud. Let me know the point. Isab. O, I do fear thee, Claudio; and I quake, Lest thou a feverous life should'st entertain, And six or seven winters more respect ? Resident. Nips youth i'the head, and follies doth enmew, Claud. O, heavens! it cannot be. Isab. Yes, he would give it thee, from this rank offence, From thine own sister's shame? Die; perish! might but my bending down Claud. Nay, hear me, Isabel. 95 O, fye, fye, fye: [Going. Isabella. Thy sin's not accidental, but a trade: Isab. I have no superfluous leisure; my stay must be stolen out of other affairs; but I will attend you awhile. Duke. [To CLAUDIO, aside.] Son, I have over. heard 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 denial which he is most glad to receive: Thou shalt not do't. I am confessor to Angelo, and I know this to be So to offend him still: This night's the time, Or else thou diest to-morrow. Claud. Isab. O, were it but my life, Thanks, dear Isabel. Claud. Isab. Which is the least? Claud. If it were damnable, he, being so wise, 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 love with life, that I will sue to be rid of it. Duke. Hold you there: Farewell. [Exit CLAUDIO. Re-enter Provost. 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 Death is a fearful thing. company. Isab. And shamed life a hateful. To what we fear of death. 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? Isab. I am now going to resolve him: I had 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 government. 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. 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. Virtue is bold, and goodness never fear- Elb. Nay, if there be no remedy of it, but that ful. Have you not heard speak of Mariana the you will needs buy and sell men and women like sister of Frederick, the great soldier, who miscar-beasts, we shall have all the world drink brown and ried at sea? white bastard. 3 Isab. I have heard of the lady, and good words went with her name. 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 gentlewoman: there she lost a noble and renowned 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 well seeming Angelo. Isab. Can this be so? Did Angelo 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. Isab. 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 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. 2 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 already; 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 upon me; and despatch with Angelo, that may be quickly. it 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. |