He shall not pass you; Twice have the trumpets sounded; The generous and gravest citizens Have hent the gates, and very near upon The duke is ent'ring; therefore hence, away. [Exeunt. ACT V. SCENE I-A public Place near the City Gate. MARIANA, (veil'd) ISABELLA, and PETER, at a distance. Enter at opposite doors, Duke, VARRIUS, Lords; AnGELO, ESCALUS, LUCIO, Provost, Officers, and Citi zens. Duke. My very worthy cousin, fairly met:— We have made inquiry of you; and we hear Ang. You make my bonds still greater. Duke. O, your desert speaks loud; and I should wrong it, To lock it in the wards of covert bosom, You must walk by us on our other hand;— PETER and ISABELLA come forward. F. Peter. Now is your time; speak loud, and kneel before him. Isab. Justice, O royal duke! Vail your regard O worthy prince, dishonour not your eye Till you have heard me in my true complaint, And given me, justice, justice, justice, justice! Duke. Relate your wrongs: In what? By whom? Be brief: Here is lord Angelo shall give you justice; Reveal yourself to him. Isab. O, worthy duke, You bid me seek redemption of the devil: Hear me yourself; for that which I must speak Must either punish me, not being believ'd, Or wring redress from you: hear me, O, hear me, here. Cut off by course of justice. Isab. By course of justice! Ang. And she will speak most bitterly and strange. Isab. Most strange, but yet most truly, will I speak : That Angelo's forsworn; is it not strange? That Angelo's a murderer; is't not strange? That Angelo is an adulterous thief, An hypocrite, a virgin violator; Is it not strange, and strange? Duke. Nay, ten times strange. Than this is all as true as it is strange: Nay, it is ten times true; for truth is truth Duke. Away with her :-Poor soul, She speaks this in the infirmity of sense. Isab. O prince, I conjure thee, as thou believ'st There is another comfort than this world, That thou neglect me not, with that opinion That I am touch'd with madness: make not impossible In all his dressings, characts, titles, forms, Duke. By mine honesty, If she be mad, (as I believe no other,) Isab. O, gracious duke, Harp not on that; nor do not banish reason For inequality but let your reason serve To make the truth appear, where it seems hid; And hide the false, seems true. Duke. Many, that are not mad, Have, sure, more lack of reason.-What would you say? Isab. I am the sister of one Claudio, Condemn'd upon the act of fornication To lose his head; condemn'd by Angelo: Was sent to by my brother: One Lucio As then the messenger ; Lucio. That's I, an't like your grace: I came to her from Claudio, and desir'd her Isab. That's he, indeed. Duke. You were not bid to speak. Lucio. No, my good lord; Nor wish'd to hold my peace. Duke. I wish you now then; Pray you, take note of it: and when you have Be perfect. Lucio. I warrant your honour. Duke. The warrant's for yourself; take heed to it. Isab. This gentleman told somewhat of my tale. Lucio. Right. Duke. It may be right; but you are in the wrong To speak before your time.-Proceed. Isab. I went To this pernicious caitiff deputy. Duke. That's somewhat madly spoken. Isab. Pardon it; The phrase is to the matter. Duke. Mended again: the matter;-Proceed. Isab. In brief,-to set the needless process by, How I persuaded, how I pray'd, and kneel'd, How he refell'd me, and how I reply'd ; |