SCENE IV. 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 10 15 Enter a Servant. How now! who's there? Serv. One Isabel, a sister, desires access to you. Ang. Teach her the way. -O heavens! Why does my blood thus muster to my heart, 20 Making both it unable for itself, And dispossessing all my other parts So play the foolish throngs with one that swoons; Enter ISABELLA. 25 How now, fair maid? 30 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! Ang. Yet may he live awhile; and, it may be, 35 As long as you or I: yet he must die. Isab. Under your sentence? Ang. Yea. Isab. When, I beseech you? that in his reprieve, Longer or shorter, he may be so fitted That his soul sicken not. Ang. Ha! fie, these filthy vices! good 40 It were as To pardon him that hath from nature stolen A man already made, as to remit Their saucy sweetness that do coin heaven's image In stamps that are forbid: 'tis all as easy Falsely to take away a life true made, 46 As to put metal in restrained means Isab. 'Tis set down so in heaven, but not in earth. 50 Ang. Say you so? then I shall pose you quickly. Which had you rather, that the most just law Now took your brother's life; or, to redeem him, Give up your body to such sweet uncleanness As she that he hath stain'd? Isab. Sir, believe this, 55 I had rather give my body than my soul. Ang. I talk not of your soul: our compell'd sins Stand more for number than for accompt. How say you ? Isab. I, now the voice of the recorded law, To save this brother's life? Isab. Please you to do't, I'll take it as a peril to my soul, It is no sin at all, but charity. Ang. Pleased you to do't at peril of your soul, Were equal poise of sin and charity. Isab. That I do beg his life, if it be sin, 60 65 Heaven let me bear it! you granting of my suit, 70 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 igno rant, Or seem so, craftily; and that's not good. Isab. Let me be ignorant, and in nothing good, But graciously to know I am no better. 75 80 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, display'd. 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 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, Finding yourself desired of such a person, Isab. As much for my poor brother as myself: 85 91 95 100 And strip myself to death, as to a bed That longing have been sick for, ere I'ld yield Ang. Then must your brother die. Isab. And 'twere the cheaper way: 105 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 kin to foul redemption. 110 Ang. You seem'd of late to make the law a tyrant, And rather proved the sliding of your brother 115 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. Isab. Else let my brother die, If not a feodary, but only he Owe and succeed thy weakness. Ang. Nay, women are frail too. 120 Isab. Ay, as the glasses where they view them selves; Which are as easy broke as they make forms. 126 |