He's not prepar'd for death. Even for our kitchens To our gross selves? Good, good my lord, bethink you? Lucio. [Aside.] Ay, well said. Ang. The law hath not been dead, though it hath slept : Those many had not dar'd to do that evil, Isab. Yet show some pity. Ang. I show it most of all, when I show justice; And do him right, that, answering one foul wrong, Isab. So you must be the first that gives this sen- And he that suffers. O! it is excellent. Lucio. [Aside.] That's well said. Would use his heaven for thunder; Thou rather with thy sharp and sulphurous bolt Isab. That in the captain's but a choleric word, Which in the soldier is flat blasphemy. Lucio. [Aside.] Art avis'd o' that? more on 't. That skins the vice o' the top. Go to your bosom; A natural guiltiness, such as is his, [Aside.] She speaks, and 't is Such sense, that my sense breeds with it. [To her.] Fare you well. Isab. Gentle my lord, turn back. Ang. I will bethink me.-Come again to-morrow. Isab. Hark, how I'll bribe you. Good my lord, turn back. Ang. How! bribe me? [with you. For I am that way going to temptation, Isab. [Aside.] Amen: At what hour to-morrow Shall I attend your lordship? Isab. Save your honour! Ang. At any time 'fore noon. [Exeunt LUCIO, ISABELLA, and Provost. That modesty may more betray our sense What is 't I dream on? And feast upon her eyes? What is 't O cunning enemy, that, to catch a saint, ་ SCENE III.-A Room in a Prison. [Exit. 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 bless'd order, Here in the prison: do me the common right 1 Not in f. e. 2 f.e. here. Knight reads-where. 3 shekels in f. e. 4 Not in f. e. 5 evils: in f. e. Mutually. Duke. Then was your sin of heavier kind than his. Duke. 'Tis meet so, daughter: but least you do As that the sin hath brought you to this shame; Juliet. I do repent me, as it is an evil, Duke. There rest. pray To several subjects: heaven hath my empty words, Of my conception. The state, whereon I studied, Enter Servant. Desires access to you. Ang. One Isabel, a sister, Why does my blood thus muster to my heart, And dispossessing all my other part Of necessary fitness? So play the foolish throngs with one that swoons; By which he should revive: and even so How now, fair maid? 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. [Going.* Ang. Yet may he live a while; and, it may be, Ang. Yea. Isab. When, I beseech you? that in his reprieve, Ang. Ha! Fie, these filthy vices! It were as good Their saucy sweetness, that do coin heaven's image Isab. 'T is set down so in heaven, but not in earth. Isab. Sir, believe this, I, now the voice of the recorded law, I'll take it as a peril to my soul: It is no sin at all, but charity. Ang. Pleas'd you to do 't, at peril of your soul, Were equal poize of sin and charity. Isab. That I do beg his life, if it be sin, Heaven, let me bear it! you granting of my suit, And nothing of your answer. Nay, but hear me. Ang. Isab. Let me be ignorant, and in nothing good, 1 Knight, with the old eds., reads: flaws. 2 Most modern eds. read: lest. spare in f. e. 4 Retiring: in f. e. Proclaim an inshell'd' beauty ten times louder Than beauty could displayed.—But mark me : To be received plain, I'll speak more gross. Your brother is to die. Isab. So. Ang. And his offence is so, as it appears Accountant to the law upon that pain. Isab. True. Ang. Admit no other way to save his life, (As I subscribe not that, nor any other, But in the force of question) that you, his sister, Finding yourself desir'd of such a person, Whose credit with the judge, or own great place, Could fetch your brother from the manacles Of the all-binding 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 suppos'd, or else to let him suffer, What would you do? Isab. As much for my poor brother, as myself : That longing I've been sick for, ere I'd yield Isab. And 't were the cheaper way. Better it were, a brother died at once, Than that a sister, by redeeming him, Should die for ever. Ang. Were not you, then, as cruel, as the sentence That you have slander'd so? Isab. Ignomy in ransom, and free pardon, Are of two houses: lawful mercy is Nothing akin to foul redemption. Ang. You seem'd of late to make the law a tyrant Isab. O, pardon me, my lord! it oft falls out, To have what we would have, we speak not what we If not a feodary, but only he, Than faults may shake our frames,) let me be bold : I do arrest your words. Be that you are, That is, a woman; if you be more, you 're none; If you be one, (as you are well express'd By putting on the destin'd livery. Isab. I have no tongue but one: gentle my lord, Let me intreat you speak the former language. Ang. Plainly, conceive I love you. Isab. My brother did love Juliet; and you tell me, That he shall die for it. Ang. He shall not, Isabel, if you give me love. Isab. I know, your virtue hath a licence in 't, Which seems a little fouler than it is, Ang. Who will believe thee, Isabel? That you shall stifle in your own report, That banish what they sue for; redeem thy brother Or else he must not only die the death, ; To lingering sufferance. Answer me to-morrow, [Exit. Isab. To whom should I complain? Did I tell this, Who would believe me? O perilous mouths! That bear in them one and the self-same tongue, Either of condemnation or approof, Bidding the law make court'sy to their will, Hooking both right and wrong to th' appetite, To follow as it draws. I'll to my brother: Though he hath fallen by prompture of the blood, Yet hath he in him such a mind of honour, That had he twenty heads to tender down On twenty bloody blocks, he'd yield them up, Before his sister should her body stoop To such abhorr'd pollution. ACT III. Claud. The miserable have SCENE I.-A Room in the Prison. No other medicine, but only hope. I have hope to live, and am prepar'd to die. 1 enshield: in f. e. 2 loss in f. e. : 3 Knight thy. The old copies: by. The word in the text was taken from a copy of the first folio, with MS. emendations, belonging to Lord Francis Egerton. |