:

Re-enter ANGELO, MARIANA, PETER, and Provost.

Isab. I do, my lord.

433

Duke. For this new-marry'd man, approaching here, Whose salt imagination yet hath wrong'd Your well-defended honour, you must pardon him For Mariana's sake: But as he adjudg'd your brother

(Being criminal, in double violation

Of sacred chastity; and of promise-breach,
Thereon dependant, for your brother's life),
The very mercy of the law cries out

Most audible, even from his proper tongue,

An Angelo for Claudio, death for death.

441

Haste still pays haste, and leisure answers leisure; Like doth quit like, and Measure still for Measure.

Then, Angelo, thy fault's thus manifested;

Which though thou would'st deny, denies thee van.

tage:

We do condemn thee to the very block

Where Claudio stoop'd to death, and with like

haste

Away with him.

Mari. Oh, my most gracious lord,

I hope, you will not mock me with a husband!

Duke. It is your husband mock'd you with a hus

band:

Consenting to the safeguard of your honour,
I thought your marriage fit; else imputation,
For that he knew you, might reproach your life,

458

And choak your good to come for his possessions,

Although

Although by confiscation they are ours,
We do enstate and widow you withal,
To buy you a better husband.

Mari. Oh, my dear lord,

:

I crave no other, nor no better man.

Duke. Never crave him; we are definitive.

Mari. Gentle, my liege

:

[Kneeling.

462

Duke. You do but lose your labour;

Away with him to death. -" Now, sir, to you.

[To Lucio."

Mari. Oh, my good lord!-Sweet Isabel, take my

part;

Lend me your knees, and all my life to come
I'll lend you all my life to do you service.

Duke. Against all sense you do importune her:
Should she kneel down, in mercy of this fact,
Her brother's ghost his paved bed would break,
And take her hence in horror.

Mari. Isabel,

472

"Sweet Isabel, do yet but kneel by me;
" Hold up your hands, say nothing, I'll speak all.
"They say, best men are moulded out of faults;
"And, for the most, become much more the better
"For being a little bad; so may my husband."
Oh, Isabel! will you not lend a knee?

Duke. He dies for Claudio's death.
Isab. Most bounteous sir,

:

Look, if it please you, on this man condemn'd,

As if my brother liv'd: I partly think,
A due sincerity govern'd his deeds,

[Kneeling.

482

'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 dy'd:

For Angelo,

His act did not o'ertake his bad intent;

And must be bury'd but as an intent,

That perish'd by the way: thoughts are no subjects; Intents, but merely thoughts.

Mari. Merely, my lord.

492

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?

Prov. No, my good lord; it was by private mes

sage.

Duke. For which I do discharge you of your office: Give up your keys.

Prov. Pardon me, noble lord:

I thought it was a fault, but knew it not;
Yet did repent me, after more advice:

For testimony whereof, one in the prison,
That should by private order else have dy'd,

I have reserv'd alive.

Duke. What's he?

Prov. His name is Barnardine.

502

Duke.. I would, thou had'st done so by Claudio.

Go, fetch him hither; let me look upon him.

Escal. I am sorry, one so learned and so wise
As you, lord Angelo, have still appear'd,
Should slip so grossly, both in the heat of blood,
And lack of temper'd judgment afterward.

Ang. I am sorry, that such sorrow I procure :
And so deep sticks it in my penitent heart,
That I crave death more willingly than mercy;
'Tis my deserving, and I do entreat it.

513

Re-enter Provost, BARNARDINE, CLAUDIO, and

JULIETTA.

Duke. Which is that Barnardine?

Prov. This, my lord.

521

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; But, for those earthly faults, I quit them all;

I 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?

Prov. This is another prisoner, that I sav'd, Who should have dy'd when Claudio lost his head; As like almost to Claudio, as himself.

Duke. If he be like your brother, for his sake

532

[TO ISAB.

- 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

By this, lord Angelo perceives he's safe;
Methinks, I see a quick'ning in his eye :-
Well, Angelo, your evil quits you well:

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, that knew me for a fool, a coward,

One all of luxury, an ass, a mad-man;
Wherein have I deserv'd so of you,
That you extol me thus ?

541

[To Lucio.

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 whip'd. Duke. Whip'd first, sir, and hang'd after.

Proclaim it, provost, round about the city;
If any woman's wrong'd by this lewd fellow
(As I have heard him swear himself, there's one

Whom he begot with child), let her appear,
And he shall marry her; the nuptial finish'd,
Let him be whip'd and hang'd,

552

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 recompence me, in making me a cuckold.

562

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.