When I perceive, your grace, like power divine, Duke. Come hither, Mariana : Say, wast thou e'er contracted to this woman? Duke. Go take her hence, and marry her instantly.Do you the office, friar; which consummate, Return him here again :-Go with him, Provost. [Exe. ANGELO, MARIANA, PETER, and Provost. Escal. My lord, I am more amaz'd at his dishonour, Than at the strangeness of it. Duke. Come hither, Isabel : Your friar is now your prince: As I was then Not changing heart with habit, I am still Isab. O, give me pardon, That I, your vassal, have employ'd and pain'd Duke. You are pardon'd, Isabel : And now, dear maid, be you as free to us. Than that which lives to fear: make it your comfort, Re-enter ANGELO, MARIANA, PETER, and Provost. 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 dependent, for your brother's life,) Haste still pays haste, and leisure answers leisure ; Which though thou wouldst deny, denies thee vantage: 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, We do instate and widow you withal, Mari. O, my dear lord, I crave no other, nor no better man. Duke. Never crave, him: we are definitive. Away with him to death.-Now, sir, to you. [To LUCIO. Mari. O, my good lord!-Sweet Isabel, take my part ; Lend 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 impórtune her: Mari. Isabel, Sweet Isabel, do yet but kneel by me ; Duke. He dies for Claudio's death.. Isab. Most bounteous sir, [Kneeling. D2 Look, if it please you, on this man condemn'd, Till he did look on me ; since it is so, 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 subjects; Mari. 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? 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; Duke. What's he? Prov. His name is Barnardine. [7] The Duke has justly observed, that Isabel is importuned against all sense to solicit for Angelo, yet here against all sense she solicits for him. Her argument is extraordinary: A due sincerity govern'd his deeds Till he did look on me: since it is so, Let him not die. That Angelo had committed all the crimes charged against him, as far as he could commit them, is evident. The only intent which his act did not overtake, was the defilement of Isabel. Of this Angelo was only intentionally guilty. Angelo's crimes were such as must sufficiently justify punishment, whether its end be to secure the innocent from wrong, or to deter guilt by example; and I believe every reader feels some indignation when he finds him spared. From what extenuation of his crime can Isabel, who yet supposes her brother dead, form any plea in his favour? Since he was good till he looked on me, let him not die. I am afraid our varlet poet intended to inculcate, that women think ill of nothing that raises the credit of their beauty, and are ready, however virtuous, to pardon any act which they think incited by their own charms. JOHNSON. It is evident that Isabel condescends to Mariana's importunate solicitation with great reluctance. Bad as her argument might be, it is the best that the guilt of Angelo would admit. The sacrifice that she makes of her revenge to her friendship scarcely merits to be considered in so harsh a light. RITSON. Duke. I would, thou hadst done so by Claudio.— Ang. I am sorry, that such sorrow I procure : Re-enter Provost, BARNARDINE, CLAUDIO, and JULIET. 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; That should have died when Claudio lost his head; [Unmuffles CLAUDIO Duke. If he be like your brother, for his sake [To ISAB. Is he pardon'd; And, for your lovely sake, worth And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon ;~ yours. You, sirrah, that knew me for a fool, a coward, [To Luc One all of luxury, an ass, a madman; Wherein have I so deserved of you, That you extol me thus ? Lucio. 'Faith, my lord, I spoke it but according to the trick if you will hang me for it, you may; but I had rather it would please you I might be whipp'd. Duke. Whipp'd first, sir, and hang'd after.- Lucio. I beseech your highness, do not marry me to a whore! Your highness said even now, I made you a duke; good my lord, do not recompense me, in making me a cuckold. Duke. Upon mine honour, thou shalt Thy slanders I forgive; and therewithal marry her. Remit thy other forfeits :-Take him to prison : Lucio. Marrying a punk, my lord, is pressing to death, whipping, and hanging. Duke. Sland'ring a prince deserves it.— She, Claudio, that you wrong'd, look you restore.- I have confess'd her, and I know her virtue.- [Exeunt |