For terror, not to use, in time the rod Dead to infliction, to themselves are dead; The baby beats the nurse, and quite athwart Fri. It rested in your grace our To unloose this tied-up justice when you pleased: And it in you more dreadful would have seem'd Than in lord Angelo. Duke. I do fear, too dreadful : Sith 'twas my fault to give the people scope, 'Twould be my tyranny to strike and gall them For what I bid them do: for we bid this be done, When evil deeds have their permissive pass, And not the punishment. Therefore, indeed, my father, I have on Angelo imposed the office; Who may, in the ambush of my name, strike home, And yet my nature never in the fight, To do, in slander. And, to behold his sway, Supply me with the habit, and instruct me SCENE V.-A Nunnery. Enter ISABELLA and FRANCISCA. Isab. And have you nuns no further privileges? Fran. Are not these large enough? Isab. Yes, truly: I speak not as desiring more; But rather wishing a more strict restraint Upon the sisterhood, the votarists of saint Clare. Lucio. [within.] Ho! Peace be in this place! Who's that which calls? Isab. Fran. It is a man's voice. Gentle Isabella, Turn you the key, and know his business of him; You may, I may not; you are yet unsworn: When you have vow'd, you must not speak with men, But in the presence of the prioress : Then, if you speak, you must not show your face; Or, if you show your face, you must not speak. He calls again; I pray you, answer him. [Exit FRANCISCA. Isab. Peace and prosperity! Whois't that calls? Enter LUCIO. Lucio. Hail, virgin, if you be; as those cheek roses Proclaim you are no less! Can you so stead me, A novice of this place, and the fair sister Isab. Why her unhappy brother? let me ask; Lucio. Gentle and fair, your brother kindly greets you: Not to be weary with you, he's in prison. Isab. Woe me! For what? Lucio. For that, which if myself might be his judge, He should receive his punishment in thanks: Isab. Sir, make me not your story. Lucio. 'Tis true. I would not-though 'tis my familiar sin With maids to seem the lapwing, and to jest, As with a saint. Isab. You do blaspheme the good, in mocking me. Lucio. Do not believe it. Fewness and truth, 'tis thus: Your brother and his lover have embraced : time, That from the seedness the bare fallow brings To teeming foison; even so her plenteous womb Expresseth his full tilth and husbandry. İsab. Some one with child by him?- My cousin Juliet? Lucio. Is she your cousin? Isab. Adoptedly; as school-maids change their names, By vain though apt affection. Lucio. She it is. This is the point. Isab. O, let him marry her! In hand, and hope of action: but we do learn, By those that know the very nerves of state, Governs lord Angelo: a man whose blood Which have, for long, run by the hideous law, Isab. Seek his life? Doth he so Lucio. 'H'as censured him already, And, as hear, the provost hath a warrant For his execution. Isab. Alas! what poor Ability's in me to do him good? Lucio. Assay the power you have. My power! Alas! I doubt- Lucio. Our doubts are traitors, And make us lose the good we oft might win, All their petitions are as freely theirs As they themselves would owe them. Isab. I'll see what I can do. But speedily. Isab. I will about it straight; Isab. Good sir, adieu. [Exeunt severally. ACT II. SCENE I.-A Hall in Angelo's House. Enter ANGELO, ESCALUS, a Justice, Provost, Officers, and other Attendants. Angelo. E must not make a scarecrow of the Setting it up to fear the birds of prey, make it Their perch, and not their terror. Escal. Ay, but yet Let us be keen, and rather cut a little, Than fall, and bruise to death. Alas! this gen tleman, Whom I would save, had a most noble father. Let but your honour know, Whom I believe to be most straight in virtue, That, in the working of your own affections, |