Even like an o'ergrown lion in a cave,
That goes not out to prey: Now, as fond fathers

Having bound up the threat'ning twigs of birch,

Only to stick it in their children's sight,

For terror, not to use; in time the rod

Becomes more mock'd, than feared: so our decrees,

Dead to infliction, to themselves are dead;

And liberty plucks justice by the nose;
The baby beats the nurse, and quite athwart
Goes all decorum.

Fri. It rested in your grace

313

To unloose this ty'd-up justice, when you pleas'd':
And it in you more dreadful would have seem'd,
Than in lord Angelo.

Duke. I do fear, too dreadful :

392

Sith 'twas my fault to give the people scope,
'Twould be my tyranny to strike, and gall them,
For what I bid them do: For we bid this be done,
When evil deeds have their permissive pass,
And not the punishment. Therefore, indeed, my

father,

I have on Angelo impos'd the office;

Who may, in the ambush of my name, strike home,

"And yet, my nature never in the sight

"To do it slander:" And to behold his sway,

I will, as 'twere a brother of your order,

331

Visit both prince and people: therefore, I pr'ythee, Supply me with the habit, and instruct me

How I may formally in person bear me

Like a true friar More reasons for this action,

At our more leisure shall I render you;
Only, this one: -Lord Angelo is precise;
Stands at a guard with envy; scarce confesses
That his blood flows, or that his appetite
Is more to bread than stone: Hence shall we see,
If power change purpose, what our seemers be.

SCENE V.

A Nunnery. Enter ISABELLA and FRANCISCA.
Isab. And have you nuns no farther privileges ?
Nun. Are not these large enough?

Isab. Yes, truly: I speak not as desiring more;
But rather wishing a more strict restraint
Upon the sister-hood, the votarists of saint Clare.
Lucio. [Within] Ho! Peace be in this place!
Isab. Who's that which calls ?

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Nun. It is a man's voice: Gentle Isabella,
Turn you the key, and know his business of him;
You may, I may not; you are yet unsworn:
When you have vow'd, you must not speak with men,
But in the presence of the prioress :

Then, if you speak, you must not shew your face;
Or, if you shew your face, you must not speak.
He calls again; I pray you answer him.

353

[Exit FRANCISCĄ.

Isab. Peace and prosperity! Who is't that calls?"

Enter

Enter LUCIO.

Lucio. Hail, virgin, if you be; as those cheek-roses

Proclaim you are no less! Can you so stead me,
As bring me to the sight of Isabella,

A novice of this place, and the fair sister

To her unhappy brother Claudio?

Isab. Why her unhappy brother? let me ask ;

The rather, for I now must make you know

I am that Isabella, and his sister.

362

Lucio. Gentle and fair, your brother kindly greets

you:

Not to be weary with you, he's in prison,

Isab. Woe me! For what?

Lucio. For that, which, if myself might be his

judge,

He should receive his punishment in thanks :
He hath got his friend with child.

Isab. Sir, make me not your story.

372

Lucio. Tis true:-I would not (though 'tis my

familiar sin

With maids to seem the lapwing, and to jest,
Tongue far from heart) play with all virgins so:
I hold you as a thing ensky'd, and sainted:
" By your renouncement, an immortal spirit;"
And to be talked with in sincerity,

As with a saint.

"Isab. You do blaspheme the good, in mocking me. "Lucio. Do not believe it. Fewness and truth,

'tis thus:

"Your brother and his lover have embrac'd: 382 "As

Ciij

"As those that feed grow full; as blossoming time "That from the seedness the bare fallow brings "To teeming foyson; so her plenteous womb " Expresseth his full tilth and husbandry."

Isab. Some one with child by him?-My cousin

Juliet ?

Lucio. Is she your cousin ?

Isab. Adoptedly; as school-maids change their

names,

By vain though apt affection.
Lucio. She it is.

Isab. O, let him marry her!

Lucio. This is the point.

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The duke is very strangely gone from hence;
"Bore many gentlemen, myself being one,
" In hand, and hope of action: but we do learn
"By those that know the very nerves of state,
"His givings-out were of an infinite distance
"From his true-meant design," Upon his place,

And with full line of his authority,
Governs lord Angelo; A man whose blood
Is very snow-broth; " one who never feels
"The wanton stings and motions of the sense;
"But doth rebate and blunt his natural edge

403

"With profits of the mind, study and fast." He " (to give fear to use and liberty,

"Which have, for long, run by the hideous law,
"As mice by lions)" hath pick'd out an act,
Under whose heavy sense your brother's life
Falls into forfeit: he arrests him on it;

And

And follows close the rigour of the statute,
To make him an example: all hope is gone,
Unless you have the grace by your fair prayer
To soften Angelo: and that's my pith
Of business 'twixt you and your poor brother.
Isab. Doth he so seek his life?

Lucio. Has censur'd him

Already; and, as I hear, the provost hath
A warrant for his execution.

Isab. Alas! what poor ability's in me
To do him good?

Lucio. Assay the power you have.
Isab. My power! Alas! I doubt, -
Lucio. Our doubts are traitors,

412

492

And make us lose the good we oft might win,
By fearing to attempt: Go to lord Angelo,
And let him learn to know, when maidens sue,
Men give like gods; but when they weep and kneel,

All their petitions are as truly theirs

As they themselves would owe them.

Isab. I'll see what I can do.

Lucio. But, speedily.

Isab. I will about it strait;

No longer staying but to give the mother

affair. I humbly thank you:

Notice of my affa

Commend me to my brother: soon at night
I'll send him certain word of my success.
Lucio. I take my leave of you.
Isab. Good sir, adieu.

432

ACT