Here in the prison: do me the common right
To let me fee them; and to make me know
The nature of their crimes, that I may minister
To them accordingly.

Prov. I would do more than that, if more were needful.

Enter JULIET.

Look, here comes one; a gentlewoman of mine,
Who falling in the flaws of her own youth,
Hath blifter'd her report: She is with child;
And he hath got it, fentenc'd: a young man
More fit to do another fuch offence,
Than die for this.

Duke. When must he die?

Prov. As I do think, to-morrow.

I have provided for you; stay a while, [To JULIET. And you fhall be conducted.

Duke. Repent you, fair one, of the fin you carry? Juliet. I do; and bear the shame moft patiently. Duke. I'll teach you how you shall arraign your

confcience,

And try your penitence, if it be found,
Or hollowly put on.

Juliet. I'll gladly learn.

Duke. Love you the man that wrong'd you? Juliet. Yes, as I love the woman that wrong'd him.

Duke. So then, it feems, your most offenceful act Was mutually committed?

Juliet. Mutually.

Duke. Then was your fin of heavier kind than his. Juliet. I do confess it, and repent it, father.

Duke.

Duke. 'Tis meet fo, daughter: But left you do

repent,

As that the fin hath brought you to this shameWhich forrow is always towards ourfelves, not hea

ven;

Shewing, we would not fpare heaven, as we love it, But as we ftand in fear.

Juliet. I do repent me, as it is an evil; And take the fhame with joy.

Duke. There rest.

Your partner, as I hear, muft die to-morrow, And I am going with inftruction to him : with you! benedicite!

Grace go

[Exit. Juliet. Mult die to-morrow! Oh, injurious love, That refpites me a life, whofe very comfort

Is still a dying horror!

Prov. 'Tis pity of him.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV. ANGELO's Houfe.

Enter ANGELO.

Ang. When I would pray and think, I think and

pray

To feveral fubjects: heaven hath my empty words;
Whilft my intention, hearing not my tongue,
Anchors on Ifabel: Heaven is in my mouth,
As if I did but only chew its name;

And in my heart, the ftrong and fwelling evil
Of my conception: The ftate, whereon I ftudied,
Is like a good thing, being often read,
Grown fear'd and tedious; yea, my gravity,
Wherein (let no man hear me) I take pride,
Could I, with boot, change for an idle plume
Which the air beats for vain. Oh place! oh form!

How

Aa 11 How often doft thou with thy cafe, thy habit, Wrench awe from fools, and tie the wifer fouls To thy falfe feeming? Blood, thou art but blood Let's write good angel on the devil's horn, 'Tis not the devil's creft.

Enter Servant.

How now, who's there?

Serv. One Ifabel, a fifter, defires accefs to you. Ang. Teach her the way. [Solus.] Oh heavens! Why does my blood thus muffer to my heart, Making both it unable for itself,

And difpoffelling all my other parts

Of neceifary fitnefs?

So play the foolish throngs with one that fwoons;
Come all to help him and fo ftop the air
By which he fhould revive: and even fo
The general, fubject to a well-wifh'd king,
Quit their own part, and in obfequious fondness
Crowd to his prefence, where their untaught love
Must needs appear offence.

Enter ISABELLA.

How now, fair maid?

Ifab. 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.

Ifab. Even fo-Heaven keep your honour!

[Going. Ang. Yet may he live a while; and, it may be, As long as you, or I: Yet he must die. Ifab. Under your fentence?

Ang

Ang. Yea.

Ifab. When, I beseech you? that in this reprieve, Longer, or fhorter, he may be fo fitted,

That his foul ficken not.

Ang. Ha! Fie, thefe filthy vices! It were as good
To pardon him, that hath from nature stolen
A man already made, as to remit

Their fawcy fweetness, that do coin heaven's image
In ftamps that are forbid: 'tis all as eafy
Falfely to take away a life true made,

As to put metal in restrained means,
To make a falfe one.

Ifab. 'Tis fet down fo in heaven, but not on earth.
Ang. Say you fo? then I fhall poze 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 fuch fweet uncleanness,
As fhe that he hath ftain'd?

Ifab. Sir, believe this,

I had rather give my body than my foul.
Ang. I talk not of your foul; Our compell'd fins
Stand more for number than for accompt.
Ifab. How fay you?

Ang. Nay, I'll not warrant that; for I can speak Against the thing I fay. Answer to this

I, now the voice of the recorded law,

Pronounce a sentence on your brother's life:
Might there not be a charity in fin,

To fave this brother's life?

Ifab. Pleafe you to do't,

I'll take it as a peril to my foul,

It is no fin at all, but charity.

Ang. Pleas'd you to do't, at peril of your foul, Were equal poize of fin and charity. D

Jab.

Ifab. That I do beg his life, if it be fin,

Heaven, let me bear it! you granting of my fuit,
If that be fin, 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:

Yourfenfe purfuesnotmine: either you are ignorant;
Or feem fo, craftily; and that's not good.

Ifab. Let me be ignorant, and in nothing good, But gracioufly to know I am no better.

Ang. Thus wifdom wishes to appear moft bright,

When it doth tax itself: as these black masks Proclaim an enfhield beauty ten times louder Than beauty could, difplayed.-—But mark me; To be received plain, I'll speak more grofs:

Your brother is to die.

Ifab. So!

Ang. And his offence is fo, as it appears
Accountant to the law upon that pain.
Ifab. True.

Ang. Admit no other way to fave his life,
(As I fubfcribe not that, nor any other,
But in the lofs of queftion) that you, his fifter,
Finding yourself defir'd of such a person,
Whofe credit with the judge, or own great place,
Could fetch your brother from the manacles
Of the all-binding law; and that there were
No earthly mean to fave him, but that either
You must lay down the treasure of your body
To this fuppofed, or elfe let him fuffer;
What would you do?

Ifab. As much for my poor brother, as myself: That is, were I under the terms of death, The impreffion of keen whips I'd wear as rubies,

And