Escal. My Lord, I am more amaz'à at his dis honour,

Than at the strangeness of it.

Duke. Come hither, Isabele

Your friar is now your Prince: As I was then
Advertising, and holy to your business,
Not changing heart with habit, I am still
Attorney'd at your service.

Isab. O, give me pardon,

That I, your vassal, have employ'd and pain'd
Your unknown sovereignty.

Duke. 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

Tather

Make rash remonstrance of my hidden power,
Than let him so be lost: 0, 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!

That life is better life, past fearing death,
Than that which lives to fear:

comfort,

So happy is your brother.

make it your

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

Your well-defended honour, you must pardon

For Mariana's sake: but as he adjudg'd your brother,

(Being criminal, in double violation

Of sacred chastity, and of promise breach,
Thereon dependant, for your brother's life,)
The very mercy of the law cries out
Most audible, even from his proper tongue,
An Angelo for Claudio, death for death.
Haste still pays laste, and leisure answers lei-
sure;

بورة

Like doth quit like, and Measure still for
Measure.

Then, Angelo, thy fault's thus manifested;
Which though thou would'st deny,

vantage;

denies thee

We do condemn thee to the very block Where Claudio stoop'd to death, and with like haste;

Away with him.

Mari. O, my most gracious Lord,

I hope you will not mock me with a husband! Duke. It is your husband mock'd you with a husband:

Consenting to the safeguard of your honour,
I thought your marriage fit; else imputation,
For that he knew you, might reproach your
life,

And choke your good to come:

sions,

for his posses.

Although by confiscation they are ours,
We do instate, and widow you withal,
To buy you a better husband.

Mari. O, my dear Lord,

I crave no other, nor no better man.

Duke. Never crave him; we are definitive.
Mari. Gentle, my Liege,

[Kneeling.

Duke. You do but lose your labour;

Away with him to death.

Now, Sir, [To Lu

C10.] to you.

Mari. O, my good Lord!

my part;

Sweet Isabel, take

Tsend me your knees, and all my life to come
I'll lend you, all my life to do you service.
Duke. Against all sense you do importune

her:

Should she kneel down, in mercy of this fact, Her brother's ghost his paved bed would break, And take her hence iu 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.

Isab. Most bounteous Sir,

[Kneeling.

Look, if it please you, on this man

demn'd,

As if my brother liv'd:- I partly think,

A due sincerity govern'd his deeds,

Till he did look on me; since it is so,

Let him not die: My brother had but justice,
In that he did the thing for which he died:

For Angelo,

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 110

subjects;

Intents but merely thoughts.

Mari. Merely,'my Lord.

Duke. Your suit's unprofitable; stand up,

say.

I have bethought me of another fault :
Provost, how came it, Claudio was beheaded
At an unusual hour?

Prov. It was commanded so.

Duke. Had you a special warrant for the

deed?

Prov. No, my good Lord; it was by private message.

Duke. For which I do discharge you of your office:

Give up your keys.

Prov. Pardon me, noble Lord:

I thought it was a fault, but knew it not.
Yet did repent me after more advice:

For testimony whereof, one in the prison,
That should by private order else have died,
I have reserv'd alive.

Duke. What's he?

Prov. His name is Barnardine.

Duke. I would thou had'st done so by Clau

Go, fetch him hither; let me look upon him. [Exit Provost. Escal. I am sorry, one so learned and, so

wise

As you, Lord Angelo, have still appear'd,
Should slip so grossly, both in the heat of
blood,

And lack of temper'd judgement afterward.
Ang. I

am sorry, that such sorrow I pro

cure:

And so deep sticks it in my penitent heart, That I crave death more willingly than mercy; 'Tis my deserving, and I do entreat it.

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 máu:

Sirrah, thou art said to have a stubborn soul,
That apprehends no further than this world,
And squar'st thy life according. Thou'rt con-

demn'd;

But, for those earthly faults, I quit them all;
And pray thee, take this mercy to provide
For better times to come:
I leave him to your hand.

--

Friar, advise him;

What muffled fel

low's that?

Prov. This is another prisoner, that I sav'd, T 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,
Give me your hand, and say you will be mine,
He is my brother too: But fitter time for that,
By this, Lord Angelo perceives he's safe;

Methinks,

see a quick'ning in his eye: Well, Angelo, your evil quits you well.

Look that you love your wife; her worth, worth

find an apt remission in myself:

And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon; You, sirrah, [To Lucro.] that knew me for a fool, a coward,

One all of luxury, an ass, a madman;