Haste still pays haste, and leisure answers leisure; Which, though thou wouldst deny, denies thee vantage: Where Claudio stoop'd to death, and with like haste; Mari. O, my most gracious lord, I hope you will not mock me with a husband! Duke. It is your husband mock'd you with a husband: I thought your marriage fit; else imputation, We do instate and widow you withal, To buy you a better husband. You do but lose your labour; Away with him to death.-Now, sir, [to LUCIO] to you. I'll lend you all my life to do you service. Duke. Against all sense you do importune her: Sweet Isabel, do yet but kneel by me; Hold up your hands, say nothing, I'll speak all. Most bounteous sir, Look, if it please you, on this man condemn'd, A due sincerity govern'd his deeds, Till he did look on me; since it is so, Let him not die: My brother had but justice In that he did the thing for which he died: For Angelo, His act did not o'ertake his bad intent; And must be buried but as an intent That perish'd by the way: thoughts are no subjects; Mari. Merely, my lord. [Kneeling. Duke. Your suit's unprofitable; stand up, I say.I have bethought me of another fault : - Provost, how came it Claudio was beheaded At an unusual hour? Prov. It was commanded so. Duke. Had you a special warrant for the deed? Duke. Prov. Pardon me, noble lord: I thought it was a fault, but knew it not; What's he? His name is Barnardine. Duke. Ang. I am sorry that such sorrow I procure : That I crave death more willingly than mercy; 'T is my deserving, and I do entreat it. [Exit Provost. Re-enter Provost, BARNARDINE, CLAUDIO, and JULIET. Duke. Prov. This, my lord. Duke. There was a friar told me of this man: Sirrah, thou art said to have a stubborn soul, That apprehends no further than this world, And squar'st thy life according. Thou'rt condemn'd; And pray thee, take this mercy to provide For better times to come:-Friar, advise him; I leave him to your hand.—What muffled fellow's that? That should have died when Claudio lost his head; As like almost to Claudio, as himself. [Unmuffles CLAUDIO. Duke. If he be like your brother, [to ISABELLA] for his sake Is he pardon'd: And, for your lovely sake, Give me your hand, and say you will be mine; He is my brother too: But fitter time for that. By this, lord Angelo perceives he's safe; Look that you love your wife; her worth worth yours. I find an apt remission in myself: And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon : You, sirrah, [to LUCIO] that knew me for a fool, a coward, That you extol me thus ? Lucio. 'Faith, my lord, I spoke it but according to the trick: If you will hang me for it, you may, but I had rather it would please you I might be whipped. Duke. Whipp'd first, sir, and hang'd after. Let him be whipp'd and hang'd. Lucio. I beseech your highness, do not marry me to a whore ! Your highness said even now, I made you a duke; good my lord, do not recompense me in making me a cuckold. Duke. Upon mine honour, thou shalt marry her. Thy slanders I forgive; and therewithal Remit thy other forfeits :-Take him to prison : And see our pleasure herein executed. Lucio. Marrying a punk, my lord, is pressing to death, whipping, and hanging. Duke. Slandering a prince deserves it.— She, Claudio, that you wrong'd, look you restore. Joy to you, Mariana !-love her, Angelo; I have confess'd her, and I know her virtue. Thanks, good friend Escalus, for thy much goodness: What's mine is yours and what is yours is mine: [Exeunt. SCENE I.-A Hall in the Duke's Palace. Enter DUKE, ÆGEON, Gaoler, Officers, and other Attendants. Ege. Proceed, Solinus, to procure my fall, And, by the doom of death, end woes and all. Duke. Merchant of Syracusa, plead no more; I am not partial, to infringe our laws; The enmity and discord, which of late Sprung from the rancorous outrage of your duke Have sealed his rigorous statutes with their bloods,- Come to the bay of Ephesus, he dies, Unless a thousand marks be levied, Ege. Yet this my comfort,-when your words are done, My woes end likewise with the evening sun. Duke. Well, Syracusan, say, in brief, the cause Ege. A heavier task could not have been impos'd, Yet, that the world may witness that my end And by me, too, had not our hap been bad. To Epidamnum, till my factor's death, The pleasing punishment that women bear,) And soon, and safe, arrived where I was. There had she not been long, but she became A joyful mother of two goodly sons; And, which was strange, the one so like the other A poor mean woman was delivered Of such a burden, male twins, both alike: A league from Epidamnum had we sail'd, Gave any tragic instance of our harm: For what obscured light the heavens did grant Did but convey unto our fearful minds A doubtful warrant of immediate death; Which, though myself would gladly have embrac'd, Yet the incessant weepings of my wife, Weeping before for what she saw must come, And piteous plainings of the pretty babes, |