Than woman's lightness ? Having waste ground

enough, Shall we desire to raze the sanctuary, And pitch our evils there? O, fie, fie, fie! What dost thou? or what art thou, Angelo? Dost, thou desire her foully, for those things That make her good ? ¡0, let her brother live: Thieves for their robbery have authority, When judges steal themselves. What? do I love her, That I desire to hear her speak again, And feast upon her eyes ? What is't I dream on ? () cunning enemy, that, to catch a saint. With saints dost bait thy hook! Most dangerous Is that temptation, that doth goad us ou To sin in loving virtue : never could the strumpet, With all her double vigour, art, and nature, Once stir my temper; but this virtuous maià Subdues me quite; Ever, till now, When men were fond, I smil'd, and wonder'd how.

[Exit.

SCEN E III.

A Room in a Prison.

Enter DUĶE, 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 thè afflicted spirits Here in the prisoni 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 JULIET, Look, here comes one; a gentlewoman of mine, Who falling in the fames of her own youth, Hath blister'd her report: She is with child ; And he that got it, senteuc'd: a young man More fit to do another such offence, Than die for this.

Duke. When must he die?

Prov. As 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

1

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

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

Julièt. Mutilally.,
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 has 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 tomorrow,
And I am going with instruction to him.
Grace go with you! Benedicite!

Juliet. Muist die to-morrow! O, injurious, love,
That respites me a life, whose very comfort
Is still a dying horror!
Prov. "Tis pity of him.

I [Exeunt.

Enter ANGELO.
Ang. When I would pray' and think, I think

and pray

To several subjects: heaven hath my empty words;
Whilst my invention, hearing not my tongue,
Anchors on Isabel: Heaven in my mouih,
As if I did but only chew his name ;
And in my heart, the strong and swelling evil
Of my conception: The state, whereon I studied,
Is like a good thing, being often read,
Grown fear'd and tedious; yea, my gravity,
Wherein (iet no mau hear me) I take pride,
Could I, with boot, change for an idle plume,
Which the air beats for vain. O place! O form!
How often dost thou with thy case, thy habit,
Wrench awe from fools, and tie the wiser souls
To thy false seeming? Blood, thou still art blood:
Let's write good angel on the devil's horn,
"Tis not the devil's crest.

Enter Servant.

How now, who's there?

Serv. One Isabel, a sister,
Desires access to you.
Ang. Teach her the way.

[Exit Serý
O heavens!
Why does my blood thus muster to my heart;
Making both it unable for itself,
And dispossessing all my other parts
Of necessary fitness ?
So play the foolish throngs with one that swoons ;
Come all to help him, and so stop the air
By which he should revive: and even so
The general, subject to a well-wish'd King,
Quit their own part, and in obsequious fondness
Crowd to his presence, where their untaught love
Must needs appear offence.

Enter ISABELLA.
How now, fair maid?

Isab. I am come to know your pleasure.
Ang. That you might know it, would much

better please me, Than to demand what 'tis. Your brother cannot

live. Isab. Even so? Heaven keep your Honour!

[Retiring. Ang. Yet may he live a while; and, it may be, As long as you, or 1: Yet he must die.

Isab. Under your sentence ?
Ang. Yea.
Isab. When, I beseech you? that in his re-

priere,
Longer, or shorter, he may be so fitted,
That his soul sicken not.

Ang. Ha! Fie these filthy'vices ! It were as good To pardon him, that hath from nature stolen A man already made, as to remit Their sawcy sweetness, that do coin heaven's image, In stamps that are forbid : 'tis all as easy Falsely to take away a life true made, As to put mettle in restrained means, To make a false one. Isab. 'Tis set down so in heaven, but not in

earth.
Ang. Say you so ? then I shall poze you quickly.
Which had you rather, That the most just law
Now took your brother's life; or, to redeem him,
Give up your body to such sweet uncleauness,
As she that he hath stain's ?

Isab. Sir, believe this,
I had rather give my body than my, soul.

Ang. I talk not of your soul; Our compellid sins Stand more for number than accompt.

Isab. How say you ?

Ang. Nay, I'll not warrant that; for I can speak
Against the thing I say. Answer to this ;
I, now the voice of the recorded law,
Pronounce a sentence on your brother's life:
Might there not be a charity in sin,
To save this brother's life?

Isab. Please you to do't,
I'll take it as a peril to my soul,
It is no sin at all, but charity.

Ang. Pleas'd you to do't, at peril of your soul, Were equal poize of sin and charity.

Isab. That I do beg his life, if it be sin, Heaven, let me bear it! yon granting of my suit, If that be sin, I'll make it my morn prayer To have it added to the faults of mine, And nothing of your, answer.