Not changing heart with habit, I am still Attorney'd at your service. +Employed as agent. O, give me pardon, 390 Isab. 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. Which I did think with slower foot came on, 400 That brain'd my purpose. But, peace be with him! That life is better life, past fearing death, Than that which lives to fear: make it your comfort, So happy is your brother. Isab. I do, my lord. Re-enter ANGELO, MARIANA, FRIAR 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 adjudged your brother, Being criminal, in double violation *Lascivious. Of sacred chastity and of promise-breach Most audible, even from his proper tongue, leisure; 410 answers Like doth quit like, and MEASURE Still FOR MEASURE. Then, Angelo, thy fault's thus manifested; Which, though thou wouldst deny, denies thee vantage. We do condemn thee to the very block Where Claudio stoop'd to death, and with like haste. Away with him! Mari. 420 O my most gracious lord, Consenting to the safeguard of your honour, Although by confiscation they are ours, To buy you a better husband. *Give a jointure to. Mari. I crave no other, nor no better man. Duke. Never crave him; we are definitive. [Kneeling. Mari. Gentle my liege,Duke. You do but lose your labour. Away with him to death! [To Lucio] Now, sir, to you. Mari. O my good lord! Sweet Isabel, take my part; Lend me your knees, and all my life to come 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 in horror. Mari. Isabel, Sweet Isabel, do yet but kneel by me; 441 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. 450 Look, if it please you, on this man condemn'd, 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, 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; Intents but merely thoughts. Mari. Merely, my lord. Duke. Your suit's unprofitable; stand up, I say. I have bethought me of another fault. Prov. It was commanded so. 460 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. *Thought. Prov. 470 His name is Barnardine. Duke. I would thou hadst done so by Claudio. 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 480 That I crave death more willingly than mercy; 'Tis my deserving, and I do entreat it. Re-enter PROVOST, with BARNARDINE, CLAUDIO muffled, and JULIET. Duke. Which is that Barnardine? Prov. But, for those earthly faults, I quit them all; Friar, advise him; 490 I leave him to your hand. What muffled fellow's that? Prov. This is another prisoner that I saved, Who should have died when Claudio lost his head; As like almost to Claudio as himself. [Unmuffles Claudio. Duke. [To Isabella] If he be like your brother, for his sake Is he pardon'd; and, for your lovely sake, 500 Look that you love your wife; her worth worth yours. I find an apt remission in myself; And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon. [To Lucio] You, sirrah, that knew me for a fool, a coward, 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 whipt. Duke. Whipt first, sir, and hanged after. Proclaim it, provost, round about the city, Is any woman wrong'd by this lewd fellow, one Whom he begot with child, let her appear, 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 marry her. Thy slanders I forgive; and therewithal Remit thy other forfeits. Take him to prison; And see our pleasure herein executed. Lucio. Marrying a punk, my lord, is pressing to death, whipping, and hanging. Duke. Slandering a prince deserves it. 530 [Exeunt Officers with Lucio. She, Claudio, that you wrong'd, look you restore. Joy to you, Mariana! Love her, Angelo: I have confess'd her and I know her virtue. Thanks, good friend Escalus, for thy much good ness: There's more behind that is more gratulate. know. 540 [Exeunt. |