Mine were the very cipher of a fraction, To find the faults, whose fine stands in record, Isab. O just, but severe law! I had a brother then. Heaven keep your honor! [Retiring.] Lucio. [To Isabella.] Give't not o'er so: to him Kneel down before him; hang upon his gown; You could not with more tame a tongue desire it; Isab. [To Angelo.] Must he needs die? Ang. Maiden, no remedy. Isab. Yes; I do think that you might pardon him, And neither heaven nor man, grieve at the mercy. Ang. I will not do't. Isab. But can you, if you would? Ang. Look; what I will not, that I cannot do. Isab. But might you do't, and do the world no wrong, If so, your heart were touched with that remorse As mine is to him? Ang. He's sentenced; 'tis too late. Isab. Too late? why, no; I, that do speak a word, May call it back again. Well, believe this. No ceremony that to great one 'longs, As mercy does. If he had been as you, Ang. Pray you, begone. Isab. I would to heaven I had your potency, Ang. Your brother is a forfeit of the law, And you but waste your words. Isab. Alas! alas! Why, all the souls that were, were forfeit once; Ang. Be you content, fair maid ; It is the law, not I, condemns your brother: It should be thus with him. He must die to-morrow. Isab. To-morrow? O, that's sudden? Spare him, spare him: He's not prepared for death! Even for our kitchens With less respect than we do minister To our gross selves? Good, good my lord, bethink you, Who is it that hath died for this offence? There's many have committed it. Ang. The law hath not been dead, though it hath slept : Those many had not dar'd to do that evil, If the first man that did the edict infringe, Isab. Yet show some pity. Ang. I show it most of all, when I show justice; Which a dismissed offence would after gall; Your brother dies to-morrow: be content. Isab. So you must be the first that gives this sen tence: And he, that suffers. O, it is excellent To have a giant's strength; but it is tyrannous To use it like a giant. Could great men thunder As Jove himself does, Jove would ne'er be quiet; For every pelting petty officer Would use his heaven for thunder; nothing but thun der. Merciful heaven! Thou rather, with thy sharp and sulphurous bolt, Most ignorant of what he's most assured, As make the angels weep: who, with our spleens, We cannot weigh our brother with ourself: That in the captain's but a choleric word, Which in the soldier is flat blasphemy. Ang. Why do you put these sayings upon me? Isab. Because authority, though it err like others, That skims the vice o' the top. Go to your bosom ; A natural guiltiness, such as is his, Let it not sound a thought upon your tongue, Ang. She speaks, and 'tis Such sense, that my sense breeds with it.-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? Isab. Ay, with such gifts, that heaven shall share with you, Not with fond shekels of the tested gold, Or stones, whose rates are either rich or poor, Ang. Well, come to me To-morrow. Isab. Heaven keep your honor safe. Ang. Amen: for I [Aside] Am that way going to temptation, Isab. At what hour to-morrow, Shall I attend your lordship? Ang. At any time 'fore noon. Isab. Save your honor. [Exit Isabella and Lucio.] Ang. From thee! even from thy virtue! Ha! What's this? what's this? Is this her fault or mine? That modesty may more betray our sense Than woman's lightness? Having waste ground enough, Shall we desire to raze the sanctuary; And pitch our evils there? O, fie! fie! fie! What dost thou or what art thou, Angelo? Thieves, for their robbery, have authority, What! do I love her, That I desire to hear her speak again, And feast upon her eyes? What is't I dream on? With saints dost bait thy hook? Most dangerous Is that temptation, that doth goad us on When men were fond, I smil'd and wondered how. Shakspeare. MUTUAL UPBRAIDINGS OF EDWARD AND WARWICK, Edward. Let me have no intruders; above all, Keep Warwick from my sight [Enter Warwick.] Warwick. Behold him here; |