Corrupt with virtuous season. Can it be Shall we desire to raze the sanctuary And pitch our evils there? O, fie, fie, fie! 170 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? To sin in loving virtue: never could the strumpet, When men were fond, I smiled and wonder' how. [Exit. SCENE III. A room in a prison. Enter, severally, DUKE disguised as 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 blest order, I come to visit the afflicted spirits Here in the prison. Do me the common right Prov. I would do more than that, if more were needful. Enter JULIET. Look, here comes one: a gentlewoman of mine, 10 And he that got it, sentenced; a young man Than die for this. Duke. Prov. When must he die? As I do think, to-morrow. I have provided for you: stay awhile, [To Juliet. And you shall be conducted. Duke. Repent you, fair one, of the sin you carry? Jul. I do; and bear the shame most patiently. 20 Duke. I'll teach you how you shall arraign your conscience, And try your penitence, if it be sound, Or hollowly put on. Jul. I'll gladly learn. Duke. Love you the man that wrong'd you? Jul. Yes, as I love the woman that wrong'd him. Duke. act So then it seems your most offenceful Was mutually committed? Jul. Mutually. Duke. Then was your sin of heavier kind than his. Jul. I do confess it, and repent it, father. Duke. 'Tis meet so, daughter: but lest you do repent, 30 As that the sin hath brought you to this shame, Which sorrow is always towards ourselves, not heaven, Showing we would not spare heaven as we love it, But as we stand in fear, Jul. 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 to-morrow, Grace go with you, Benedicite! [Exit. Jul. Must die to-morrow! O injurious love, 40 That respites me a life, whose very comfort Is still a dying horror! Prov. 'Tis pity of him. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. A room in ANGELO's house. 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, As if I did but only chew his name; ΙΟ And in my heart the strong and swelling evil Enter a Servant. †Falsehood. How now! who's there? Serv. One Isabel, a sister, desires access to you. Ang. Teach her the way. [Exit Serv.] O heavens! Why does my blood thus muster to my heart, 20 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, Enter ISABELLA. *Common people. How now, fair maid? 30 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! Ang. Yet may he live awhile; and, it may be, As long as you or I: yet he must die. Isab. Under your sentence? Ang. Yea. Isab. When, I beseech you? that in his reprieve, Longer or shorter, he may be so fitted That his soul sicken not. 40 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 saucy sweetness that do coin heaven's image As to put metal in restrained means To make a false one. Isab. 'Tis set down so in heaven, but not in earth. 50 Ang. Say you so? then I shall pose 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 uncleanness As she that he hath stain'd? Isab. Sir, believe this, I had rather give my body than my soul. Ang. I talk not of your soul: our compell'd sins Stand more for number than for accompt. How say you? Isab. 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: 60 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. Pleased you to do't at peril of your soul Were equal poise* of sin and charity. *Balance Isab. That I do beg his life, if it be sin, Heaven let me bear it! you 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. Ang. 71 Nay, but hear me. Your sense pursues not mine: either you are ignorant, Or seem so craftily; and that's not good. Isab. Let me be ignorant, and in nothing good, But graciously to know I am no better. Ang. Thus wisdom wishes to appear most bright When it doth tax itself; as these black masks Isab. So. *Hidden. Ang. And his offence is so, as it appears, Accountant to the law upon that pain. Isab. True. *Penalty. 91 Ang. Admit no other way to save his life,— As I subscribe not that, nor any other, But in the loss of question,-that you, his sister, Finding yourself desired of such a person, Whose credit with the judge, or own great place, Could fetch your brother from the manacles Of the all-building law; and that there were No earthly mean to save him, but that either You must lay down the treasures of your body To this supposed, or else to let him suffer; What would you do? Isab. As much for my poor brother as myself: That is, were I under the terms of death, 100 The impression of keen whips I'ld wear as rubies, And strip myself to death, as to a bed |