DUKE. Come hither, Isabel. Your friar is now your prince: as I was then ISABELLA. Oh, 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, ISABELLA. DUKE. I do, my lord. (Re-enter Angelo, Mariana, Friar Peter, ← Provost.) For this new-married man, approaching here, Of sacred chastity, and of promise-breach Most audible, even from his proper tongue, Haste still pays haste, and leisure answers leisure; Like doth quit like, and Measure still for Measure. Which, though thou wouldst deny, denies thee vantage. Where Claudio stoop'd to death, and with like haste,— O my most gracious lord, It is your husband mock'd you with a husband. We do instate and widow you withal, MARIANA. O my dear lord, I crave no other, nor no better man. DUKE. Never crave him; we are definitive. MARIANA. Gentle my liege,... DUKE. (Kneeling.) You do but lose your labour. Away with him to death!(To Lucio.) Now, sir, to you. MARIANA. O my good lord!-Sweet Isabel, take my part; DUKE. Against all sense you do importune her: MARIANA. Isabel, Sweet Isabel, do yet but kneel by me; Hold up your hands, say nothing, I'll speak all. DUKE. He dies for Claudio's death. ISABELLA.(Kneeling.) Most bounteous sir, Look, if it please you, on this man condemn'd, Let him not die. My brother had but justice, 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 no subjects; MARIANA. DUKE. Merely, my lord. Your suit's unprofitable; stand up, I say. PROVOST. It was commanded so. DUKE. Had you a special warrant for the deed? PROVOST. No, my good lord; it was by private message. For which I do discharge you of your office: PROVOST. Pardon me, noble lord: DUKE. What's he? PROVOST. His name is Barnardine. DUKE. I would thou hadst done so by Claudio. (Exit Provost.) ESCALUS. I am sorry, one so learned and so wise I am sorry that such sorrow I procure: DUKE. (Re-enter Provost, with Barnardine, Claudio Which is that Barnardine? PROVOST. DUKE. This, my lord. There was a friar told me of this man. Sirrah, thou art said to have a stubborn soul, And squar'st thy life according. Thou 'rt condemn'd: What muffled fellow's that? PROVOST. This is another prisoner that I sav'd, Who should have died when Claudio lost his head; DUKE.(To Isabella.) Unmuffles Claudio.) If he be like your brother, for his sake Is he pardon'd; and, for your lovely sake, But fitter time for that. By this Lord Angelo perceives he's safe; Methinks I see a quickening in his eye. Well, Angelo, your evil quits you well: Look that you love your wife; her worth worth yours. And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon. To Lucio.) You, sirrah, that knew me for a fool, a coward, Wherein have I so well deserv'd 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 hang'd after. Proclaim it, provost, round about the city, If any woman wrong'd by this lewd fellow, 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. (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 goodness: |