[To JULIET.

And you shall be conducted. Duke. Repent you, fair one, of the sin you carry?

Juliet. I do; and bear the shame most patiently.

Duke. I'll teach you how you shall arraign your conscience,

And try your penitence, if it be sound,
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 seems, your most offenceful Was mutually committed? [act Juliet. Mutually.

Duke. Then was your sin of heavier kind

heaven;

Showing, we'd not spare* heaven, as we love [it,

But as we stand in fear,

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

Duke. There rest.

Prov. 'Tis pity of him. SCENE IV-A Room in ANGELO'S House. Enter ANGELO.

Ang. When I would pray and think, I think [words;

and pray

To several subjects: heaven hath my empty
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
Of my conception: the state, whereon I studied,
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. O place! O form!
How often dost thou with thy case, thy habit,
Wrench awe from fools, and tie the wiser souls
To thy false seeming? Blood, thou still art
blood:

Let's write good angel on the devil's horn,
"Tis not the devil's crest.

In stamps that are forbid: 'tis all as easy

Falsely to take away a life true made,
As to put mettle in restrained means,
To make a false one.

Isab. "Tis set down so in heaven, but not in earth.

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,

Against the thing I say. Answer to this ;-
I, now the voice of the recorded law,
Pronounce a sentence on your brother's life:
To save this brother's life?
Might there not be charity in sin,

Isab. Please you to do't,
I'll take it as a peril to my soul,
It is no sin at all, but charity.

Were equal poise of sin and charity.
Ang. Pleas'd you to do't, at peril of your soul.

Heaven, let me bear it! you granting of my
Isab. That I do beg his life, if it be sin,
suit,

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 :

[ignorant,

Your sense pursues not mine: either you are Or seem so, craftily: and that's not good.

Isab. Let me be ignorant, and in nothing But graciously to know I am no better, [good, Ang. Thus wisdom wishes to appear most When it doth tax itself: as these black masks Proclaim an enshieldt beauty ten times louder * People. fEnshielded, covered.

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, (As I subscribet not that, nor any other, But in the loss of question,‡) that you, his sister, Finding yourself desir'd of such a person, Whose 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 save him, but that either
You must lay down the treasures of your body
To this supposed, or else let him suffer;
What would you do?

Isab. As much for my poor brother, as myself:
That is, Were I under the terms of death,
The impression of keen whips I'd wear as
And strip myself to death, as to a bed [rubies,
That longing I have been sick for, ere I'd yield
My body up to shame.

Ang. Then must your brother die. Isab. And 'twere the cheaper way: 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 senThat you have slander'd so? [tence

Isab. Ignomy in ransom, and free pardon, Are of two houses: lawful mercy is Nothing akin to foul redemption.

Ang. You seem'd of late to make the law a tyrant;

And rather prov'd the sliding of your brother A merriment than a vice.

Isab. O, pardon me, my lord; it oft falls out, To have what we'd have, we speak not what

I do arrest your words; Be that you are,
That is, a woman; if you be more, you're none;
If you be one, (as you are well express'd
By all external warrants,) show it now,
By putting on the destin❜d livery.

[lord, Isab. I have no tongue but one: gentle my Let me entreat you speak the former language. Ang. Plainly conceive, I love you. Isab. My brother did love Juliet; and you That he shall die for it. [tell me, Ang. He shall not, Isabel, if you give me love. Isab. I know, your virtue hath a licence in't, * Penalty. † Agree to. Iguominy. Associate. T Own. ** Impressions.

Conversation.

To pluck on others.

Ang. Believe me, on mine honour,

My words express my purpose.

Isab. Ha! little honour to be much believ'd, And most pernicious purpose!-Seeming, seeming

I will proclaim thee, Angelo; look for't:
Sign me a present pardon for my brother,
Or, with an outstretch'd throat, I'll tell the
Aloud, what man thou art.
[world

Ang. Who will believe thee, Isabel?
My unsoil'd name, the austereness of my life,
My voucht against you, and my place i' the
Will so your accusation overweigh, [state,
That you shall stifle in your own report,
And smell of calumny. I have begun;
And now I give my sensual race the rein:
Fit thy consent to my sharp appetite;
Lay by all nicety, and prolixiousį blushes,
That banish what they sue for; redeem thy
By yielding up thy body to my will; [brother
Or else he must not only die the death,
But thy unkindness shall his death draw out
To lingering sufferance: answer me to-morrow,
Or, by the affection that now guides me most,
I'll prove a tyrant to him: As for you,
Say what you can, my false o'erweighs your
true.
[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, Either of condemnation or approof!

Bidding the law make court'sy to their will;
Hooking both right and wrong to the appetite,
To follow as it draws! I'll to my brother:
Though he hath fallen by prompture of the
blood,

Yet hath he in him such a mind of honour,
That had he twenty heads to tender down
On twenty bloody blocks, he'd yield them up,
Before his sister should her body stoop
To such abhorr'd pollution.

Then, Isabel, live chaste, and, brother, die :
More than our brother is our chastity.
I'll tell him yet of Angelo's request,

And fit his mind to death, for his soul's rest.

ACT III.

[Exit.

SCENE I-A Room in the Prison. 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,
[life,-

Shall thereby be the sweeter. Reason thus with
If I do lose thee, I do lose a thing
That none but fools would keep: a breath thou
(Servile to all the skiey influences,) [art,
That dost this habitation, where thou keep'st,
Hourly afflict: merely, thou art death's fool;
For him thou labour'st by thy flight to shun,
And yet run'st toward him still: Thou art not
noble ;

For all the accommodations that thou bear'st, Are nurs'd by baseness: Thou art by no means valiant ;

For thou dost fear the soft and tender fork
Of a poor worm: Thy best of rest is sleep,
* Hypocrisy.
Reluctant

† Attestation. Determined

And that thou oft provok'st; yet grossly fear'st | Thy death, which is no more. Thou art not thyself;

For thou exist'st on many a thousand grains
That issue out of dust: Happy thou art not;
For what thou hast not, still thou striv'st to get;
And what thou hast, forget'st: Thou art not
certain ;

For thy complexion shifts to strange effects,*
After the moon: if thou art rich, thou art poor;
For, like an ass, whose back with ingots bows,
Thou bear'st thy heavy riches but a journey,
And death unloads thee: Friend hast thou none;
For thine own bowels, which do call thee sire,
The mere effusion of thy proper loins,
Do curse the gout, serpigo,t and the rheum,
For ending thee no sooner: Thou hast nor youth,
nor age;

But, as it were, an after-dinner's sleep,
Dreaming on both for all thy blessed youth
Becomes as aged, and doth beg the alms

Of palsied eld; and when thou art old, and rich,

Thou hast neither heat, affection, limb, nor beauty,

To make thy riches pleasant.

[fear,

[this, What's yet in That bears the name of life? Yet in this life Lie hid more thousand deaths: yet death we That makes these odds all even. Claud. I humbly thank you, To sue to live, I find, I seek to die: And, seeking death, find life: Let it come on. Enter ISABELLA.

Isab. What, ho! Peace here; grace and good company!

Prov. Who's there? come in the wish deserves a welcome,

Duke. Dear Sir, ere long I'll visit you again,
Claud. Most holy Sir, I thank you.
Isab. My business is a word or two with
Claudio.

Prov. And very welcome. Look, signior,
here's your sister.

Duke. Provost, a word with you.
Prov. As many as you please.
Duke. Bring them to speak, where I may be

conceal'd,

Yet hear them. [Exeunt DUKE and PROVOST. Claud. Now, sister, what's the comfort?

Isab. Why, as all comforts are; most good

in deed:

Isab. None, but such remedy, as to save a

To cleave a heart in twain.

Claud. But is there any?

[head,

Isab. Yes, brother, you may live;
There is a devilish mercy in the judge,
If you'll implore it, that will free your life,
But fetter you till death.

Claud. Perpetual durance?

Isab. Ay, just, perpetual durance; a restraint, Though all the world's vastidity¶ you had, To a determin'd scope.

Claud. But in what nature!

Isab. In such a one as (you consenting to't) Would bark your honour from that trunk you And leave you naked.

Claud. Let me know the point.

*Affects, affections.

[bear,

† Leprous eruptions.

Resident. [ Preparation.

Old age.
Vastness of extent.

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
Than a perpetual honour. Dar'st thou die?
The sense of death is most in apprehension;
And the poor beetle, that we tread upon,
In corporal sufferance finds a pang as great
As when a giant dies.

Claud. Why give you me this shame?
Think you I can a resolution fetch
From flowery tenderness? If I must die,
I will encounter darkness as a bride,
And hug it in mine arms.

Isab. There spake my brother; there my
father's grave

Did utter forth a voice! Yes, thou must die:
Thou art too noble to conserve a life
In base appliances. This outward-sainted de-
puty,-

Whose settled visage and deliberate word
Nips youth i'the head, and follies doth enmew,*
As falcon doth the fowl,-is yet a devil;
His filth within being cast, he would appear
A pond as deep as hell.

Claud. The princely Angelo ?

Isab. O, 'tis the cunning livery of hell, The damned'st body to invest and cover In princely guards !t Dost thou think, Claudio, If I would yield him my virginity, Thou might'st be freed.

Claud. O, heavens! it cannot be.

Isab. Yes, he would give it thee, from this
rank offence,

That I should do what I abhor to name,
So to offend him still: This night's the time
Or else thou diest to-morrow.

Claud. Thou shalt not do't.
I'd throw it down for your deliverance
Isab. O, were it but my life,
As frankly as a pin.

Claud. Thanks, dear Isabel.

Isab. Be ready, Claudio, for your death to

morrow.

Claud. Yes. Has he affections in him, [nose, That thus can make him bite the law by the When he would force it? Sure it is no sin;

Or of the deadly seven it is the least.

Isab. Which is the least?

Claud. If it were damnable, he, being so wise, Be perdurably|| fin'd?—O Isabel ! Why, would he for the momentary trick

[where;

Isab. What says my brother? Claud. Death is a fearful thing. Isab. And shamed life a hateful. Claud. Ay, but to die, and go we know not To lie in cold obstruction, and to rot: This sensible warm motion to become To bathe in fiery floods, or to reside A kneaded clod; and the delighted spirit In thrilling regions of thick-ribbed ice; To be imprison'd in the viewless¶ winds, And blown with restless violence round about The pendent world; or to be worse than worst Of those, that lawless and incertain thoughts Imagine, howling!-'tis too horrible! That age, ach, penury, and imprisonment The weariest and most loathed worldly life, Can lay on nature, is a paradise To what we fear of death.

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 it may be quickly.

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.

Elb. Nay, if there be no remedy for it, but that you will needs buy and sell men and women like beasts, we shall have all the world drink brown and white bastard.t

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. Duke. Fie, sirrah; a bawd, a wicked bawd! The evil that thou causest to be done, That is thy means to live: Do thou but think What 'tis to cram a maw, or clothe a back, From such a filthy vice: say to thyself,— From their abominable and beastly touches I drink, I eat, array myself, and live. Canst thou believe thy living is a life, So stinkingly depending? Go, mend, go, mend. Clo. Indeed, it does stink in some sort, Sir; but yet, Sir, I would prove

Duke. Nay, if the devil have given thee proofs for sin. [cer; Thou wilt prove his. Take him to prison, offiCorrection and instruction must both work, Ere this rude beast will profit.

Elb. He must before the deputy, Sir; he has given him warning: the deputy cannot abide a whoremaster: if he be a whoremonger, and comes before him, he were as good go a mile on his errand.

Duke. That we were all, as some would seem to be, [free! Free from our faults, as faults from seeming,

Enter LUCIO.

Elb. His neck will come to your waist, a cord, Sir.

Clo. I spy comfort; I cry, bail: Here's a gentleman, and a friend of mine.

Lucio. How now, noble Pompey? What, at the heels of Cæsar? Art thou led in triumph? What is there none of Pygmalion's images, newly made woman, to be had now, for putting the hand in the pocket and extracting it clutch'd? What reply? Ha? What say'st thou to this tune, matter, and method? Is't not drown'd i'the last rain? Ha? What say'st thou, trot? Is the world as it was, man? Which is the † A sweet wine.

A solitary farm house.

a spanish padlock. Tied like your waist with a rope.

way? Is it sad, and few words? Or how? The

trick of it?

Duke. Still thus, and thus! still worse! Lucio. How doth my dear morsel, thy mistress? Procures she still? Ha?

Clo. Troth, Sir, she hath eaten up all her beef, and she is herself in the tub.*

Lucio. Why, 'tis good; it is the right of it; it must be so: Ever your fresh whore, and your powder'd bawd: An unshunn'd consequence; it must be so: Art going to prison, Pompey! Clo. Yes, faith. Sir.

Lucio. Why 'tis not amiss, Pompey: FarePompey? Or how? well: Go; say, I sent thee thither. For debt,

Elb. For being a bawd, for being a bawd. Lucio. Well, then imprison him: If imprisonment be the due of a bawd, why, 'tis his right: Bawd is he, doubtless, and of antiquity too; bawd-born. Farewell, good Pompey : Commend me to the prison, Pompey: You will turn good husband now, Pompey; you will keep the house.†

Clo. I hope, Sir, your good worship will be my bail.

Lucio. No, indeed will I not, Pompey; it is not the wear. I will pray, Pompey, to increase your bondage: if you take it not patiently, why, your mettle is the more; Adieu, trusty Pompey.-Bless you, friar. Duke. And you.

Lucio. Does Bridget paint still, Pompey? Ha? Elb. Come your ways, Sir; come, Clo. You will not bail me, then, Sir? Lucio. Then, Pompey? nor now.-What news abroad, friar? What news? Elb. Come your ways, Sir; come. Lucio. Go,-to kennel, Pompey, go:

[Exeunt ELBOW, CLOWN, and Officers. What news, friar, of the duke?

Duke. I know none: Can you tell me of any? Lucio. Some say, he is with the emperor of Russia; other some, he is in Rome : But where is he, think you?

Duke. I know not where: But wheresoever, I wish him well.

Lucio. It was a mad fantastical trick of him, to steal from the state, and usurp the beggary he was never born to. Lord Angelo dukes it well in his absence; he puts transgression to't. Duke He does well in't.

Lucio. A little more lenity to lechery would do no harm in him: something too crabbed that way, friar.

Duke. It is too general a vice, and severity must cure it.

Lucio. Yes, in good sooth, the vice is of a great kindred; it is well allied: but it is impossible to extirp it quite, friar, till eating and drinking be put down. They say, this Angelo was not made by man and woman, after the downright way of creation: Is it true, think you? Duke. How should he be made then?

Lucio. Some report, a sea-maid spawn'd him: -Some, that he was begot between two stockfishes:-But it is certain, that when he makes water, his urine is congeal'd ice; that I know to be true: and he is a motion ungenerative, that's infallible.

Duke. You are pleasant, Sir; and speak apace. Lucio. Why, what a ruthless thing is this in him, for the rebellion of a cod-piece, to take away the life of a man? Would the duke, that is absent, have done this? Ere he would have *Powdering tub. † Stay at home. Puppet.

+ Fashion,