No longer session hold upon my shame, Duke. Come hither, Mariana:Say, wast thou e'er contracted to this woman? Ang. I was, my lord. Duke. Go take her hence, and marry her instantly. Do you the office, friar; which consummate, Return him here again:-Go with him, Provost. [Exeunt ANGELO, Mariana, Peter, and Provost. Escal. My lord, I am more amaz'd at his dis honour, Than at the strangeness of it. Duke. Come hither, Isabel: Your friar is now your prince: As I was then Isab. Duke. 4 You are pardon'd, Isabel: And now, dear maid, be you as free to us.* Your brother's death, I know, sits at your heart; And you may marvel, why I obscur'd myself, Labouring to save his life; and would not rather Make rash remonstrance of my hidden power, Than let him so be lost: O, most kind maid, It was the swift celerity of his death, Which I did think with slower foot came on, That brain'd my purpose: But, peace be with him! 3 Advertising, and holy-] Attentive and faithful. 4 be you as free to us.] Be as generous to us. 5 Make rash remonstrance-] i. e. a premature discovery. That life is better life, past fearing death, Than that which lives to fear: make it your comfort, So happy is your brother. Re-enter ANGELO, MARIANA, PETER, and Provost. Isab. I do, my lord. Duke. For this new-married man, approaching here, Whose salt imagination yet hath wrong'd (Being criminal, in double violation Of sacred chastity, and of promise-breach, Most audible, even from his proper tongue, We do condemn thee to the very block Where Claudio stoop'd to death, and with like haste; Away with him. Mari. Consenting to the safeguard of your honour, 6 nothing. denies thee vantage:] The denial of which will avail thee And choke your good to come: for his possessions, To buy you a better husband. Mari. I crave no other, nor no better man. O, my dear lord, [Kneeling. Duke. Never crave him; we are definitive. Duke. You do but lose your labour; Away with him to death.-Now, sir, [To LUCIO.] to you. Mari. O, my good lord!-Sweet Isabel, take my part; Lend me your knees, and all my life to come Duke. Against all sense you do impórtune 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, 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. O, Isabel! will you not lend a knee? Duke. He dies for Claudio's death. Most bounteous sir, [Kneeling. Look, if it please you, on this man condemn'd, A due sincerity govern'd his deeds, His act did not o'ertake his bad intent; And must be buried but as an intent That perish'd by the way: thoughts are no sub Merely, my lord. 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? It was commanded so. Prov. Duke. For which I do discharge you of your office: Give up your keys. Prov. Duke. Prov. What's he? His name is Barnardine. Ang. I am sorry, that such sorrow I procure: after more advice: ] after more consideration. Re-enter Provost, BARNARDINE, CLAUDIO, and JULIET. Duke. Which is that Barnardine? Prov. This, my lord. 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; For better times to come: Friar, advise him; Prov. This is another prisoner, that I sav'd, That should have died when Claudio lost his head; As like almost to Claudio, as himself. [Unmuffles CLAUDIO. Duke. If he be like your brother, [To ISABELLA.] for his sake Is he pardon'd; And, for your lovely sake, I find an apt remission in myself: And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon;— One all of luxury, an ass, a madman; Lucio. 'Faith, my lord, I spoke it but according |