Isab. Must he needs die? Ang. Maiden, no remedy. Isab. Yes; I do think that you might pardon him, And neither Heaven, nor man, grieve at the mercy. Ang. I will not do't. Isab. But can you, if you would? Ang. Look, what I will not, that I cannot do. Isab. But might you do't, and do the world no wrong, If so your heart were touched with that remorse As mine is to him? Ang. He's sentenced; 'tis too late. Lucio You are too cold. [To ISABELLA. Isab. Too late? why, no: I, that do speak a word. May call it back again: well, believe this, No ceremony that to great ones 'longs, Isab. I would to Heaven I had your potency, Lucio. Ay, touch him: there's the vein. Ang. Your brother is a forfeit of the law, And you but waste your words. Alas! alas! Isab. Ang. [Aside. It should be thus with him; he must die to-morrow. him! He's not prepared for death! Even for our kitchens Y To our gross selves? Good, good my lord, bethink you: Who is it that hath died for this offence? There's many have committed it. Lucio. Ay, well said. If the first man that did the edict infringe, Isab. Yet show some pity. Ang. I show it most of all, when I show justice; For then I pity those I do not know, Which a dismissed offence would after gall; And do him right, that, answering one foul wrong, Your brother dies to-morrow: be content. Isab. So you must be the first, that gives this sentence; And he, that suffers. O, it is excellent To have a giant's strength; but it is tyrannous 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 thunder.— Merciful Heaven! Thou rather, with thy sharp and sulphurous bolt, Split'st the unwedgeable and gnarled oak, Than the soft myrtle:- But man, proud man! Most ignorant of what he's most assured, Plays such fantastic tricks before high Heaven, As make the angels weep; who, with our spleens, Lucio. O, to him, to him, wench: he will relent; 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 choleric word, Which in the soldier is flat blasphemy. Lucio. Art advised o' that? More on't. Ang. Why do you put these sayings upon me ? That skins the vice o' the top: go to your bosom; A natural guiltiness, such as is his, Let it not sound a thought upon your tongue Ang. She speaks, and 'tis Such sense, that my sense breeds with it. -Fare you well. Isab. Gentle my lord, turn back. 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 marred all else. Isab. Not with fond shekels of the tested gold, Ang. To-morrow. Well; come to me Lucio. Go to; it is well; away. [Aside to ISABEL. Isab. Heaven keep your honor safe! Ang. For I am that way going to temptation, Where prayers cross. Isab. Shall I attend your lordship? Ang. Amen. [Aside. At what hour to-morrow At any time 'fore noon. From thee; even from thy virtue.- [Exeunt LUCIO, ISABELLA, and Provost. Isab. Save your honor! Ang. What's this? What's this? Is this her fault, or mine? The tempter, or the tempted, who sins most? Ha! Do, as the carrion does, not as the flower, Than woman's lightness? Having waste ground enough, And pitch our evils there? O, fie, fie, fie! When judges steal themselves. What? do I love her, And feast upon her eyes? What is't I dream on? To sin in loving virtue: never could the strumpet, When men were fond, I smiled, and wondered how! [Exit. SCENE III. A Room in a Prison. Enter Duke, habited like a friar, and Provost. Here in the prison: do me the common right 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, 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. 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. I'll gladly learn. Duke. Love you the man that wronged you? Juliet. Yes, as I love the woman that wronged him. 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. Duke. 'Tis meet so, daughter: but lest you do repent, As that the sin hath brought you to this shame,Which sorrow is always toward ourselves, not 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. Your partner, as I hear, must die to-morrow, Juliet. Must die to-morrow! O, injurious love, Is still a dying horror! Prov. [Exit. SCENE IV. A Room in Angelo's House. Enter ANGELO. Ang. When I would pray and think, I think and pray And in my heart, the strong and swelling evil Y* |