Isab. Yet shew some pity.

Ang. I shew it most of all, when I shew justice;

For then I pity those I do not know,

Which a dismiss'd offence would after gall;

And do him right, that, answering one foul wrong,

Lives not to act another. Be satisfy'd;

Your brother dies to-morrow; be content.

420

Isab. So you must be the first, that gives this sen

tence;

And he, that suffers: Oh, it is excellent

To have a giant's strength; but it is tyrannous,

To use it like a giant.

Lucio. That's well said.

Isab. Could great men thunder

As Jove himself does, Jove would ne'er be quiet,

For every pelting, petty officer,

Would use his heaven for thunder; nothing but thun

der.

Merciful heaven!

430

Thou rather with thy sharp and sulphurous bolt

Split'st the unwedgeable and gnarled oak,

Than the soft myrtle: O, but man, proud man,

(Drest in a little brief authority;

Most ignorant of what he's most assur'd,

His glassy essence) like an angry ape,

Plays such fantastick tricks before high heaven,.. As make the angels weep; "who, with our spleens, "Would all themselves laugh mortal.

439

"Lucio. Oh, to him, to him, wench: he will relent, "He's coming; I perceiv't."

Prov. Pray heaven she win him!

Isab. We cannot weigh our brother with ourself; Great men may jest with saints: 'tis wit in them; But, in the less, foul profanation.

"Lucio. Thou'rt in the right, girl; more o' that. "Isab. That in the captain's but a cholerick word, "Which in the soldier is flat blasphemy. "Lucio. Art advis'd o' that? more on't."

Ang. Why do you put these sayings upon me? 450 Isab. Because authority, though it err like others, Hath yet a kind of medicine in itself,

That skins the vice o' the top: Go to your bosom; Knock there; and ask your heart, what it doth know That's like my brother's fault: if it confess

A natural guiltiness such as is his,

Let it not sound a thought upon your tongue
Against my brother's life.

Ang. [Aside.] She speaks, and 'tis

Such sense, that my sense breeds with it. [To ISAB.]

Fare you well.

Isab. Gentle, my lord, turn back.

460

Ang. I will bethink me:-Come again to-morrow. Isab. Hark, how I'll bribe you : "Good my lord,

turn back."

Ang. How! bribe me?

Isab. Ay, with such gifts, that heaven shall share

with you.

Lucio. You had marr'd all, else.

Isab. Not with fond shekels of the tested gold,

Or stones, whose rates are either rich, or poor,

As

As fancy values them: but with true prayers,
That shall be up at heaven, and enter there,

470

Ere sun-rise; prayers from preserved souls,
From fasting maids, whose minds are dedicate
To nothing temporal.

Ang. Well, come to me to-morrow.

"Lucio. Go to; 'tis well; [Aside to ISAB.] away."

Isab. Save your honour! [Exeunt Lucio and ISAB. Ang. From thee; even from thy virtue!What's this? what's this? Is this her fault, or mine? The tempter, or the tempted, who sins most? Ha! Not she; nor doth she tempt: but it is I, That lying, by the violet, in the sun, Do, as the carrion does, not as the flower, Corrupt with virtuous season. Can it be, That modesty may more betray our sense Than woman's lightness? having waste ground

enough,

Shall we desire to raze the sanctuary,
And pitch our evils there? Oh, fie, fie, fie!

What dost thou? or what art thou, Angelo?

Dost thou desire her foully, for those things

That make her good? Oh, let her brother live:

E

490

Thieves

Thieves for their robbery have authority,
When judges steal themselves. What? do I love her,
That I desire to hear her speak again,

500

And feast upon her eyes? "what is't I dream on?"
Oh, cunning enemy, that, to catch a saint,
With saints dost bait thy hook! most dangerous
Is that temptation, that doth goad us on
To sin in loving virtue: never could the strumpet,
With all her double vigour, art and nature,
Once stir my temper; but this virtuous maid
Subdues me quite :- Ever, till now,

When men were fond, I smil'd, and wonder'd how.

[Exit.

SCENE III.

A Prison. Enter Duke, habited like a Friar, and Provost.

Duke. Hail to you, provost! so, I think, you are. Prov. I am the provost: What's your will, good

friar?

Duke. Bound by my charity, and my bless'd order, I come to visit the afflicted spirits

Here in the prison: do me the common right
To let me see 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

Enter JULIET.

Look, here comes one; a gentlewoman " of mine, " Who falling in the flaws of her own youth, " Hath blister'd her report:" She is with child; And he that got it, sentenc'd: a young man More fit to do another such offence,

520

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 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 ?

531

Juliet. Yes, as I love the woman that wrong'd

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

Juliet. Mutually.

Duke. Then was your sin of heavier kind than his. Juliet. I do confess it, and repent it, father, 541 Duke. 'Tis meet so daughter: But lest you do re

pent,

As that the sin hath brought you to this shame,