[Exeunt. Lucio. Within two hours,- Claud. Come, officer, away. SCENE IV-A Monastery. Enter DUKE and FRIAR THOMAS. Duke. No, holy father; throw away that thought Believe not that the dribbling dart of love Can pierce a cómplete bosom: why I desire thee To give me secret harbour, hath a purpose More grave and wrinkled than the aims and ends Of burning youth. Fri. May your grace speak of it? Duke. My holy Sir, none better knows than you How I have ever loved the life removed +; And held in idle price to haunt assemblies, Where youth, and cost, and witless bravery keeps f. I have deliver'd to lord Angelo (A man of stricture and firm abstinence,) You will demand of me, why I do this? Duke. We have strict statutes, and most biting laws, (The needful bits and curbs for headstrong steeds,) Which for these fourteen years we have let sleep; Even like an o'ergrown lion in a cave, That goes not out to prey: now, as fond fathers Having bound up the threat'ning twigs of birch, Only to stick it in their children's sight, For terror, not to use; in time the rod Becomes more mock'd than fear'd: so our decrees, Dead to infliction, to themselves are dead; And liberty plucks justice by the nose; The baby beats the nurse, and quite athwart Fri. It rested in your grace To unloose this tied up justice, when you pleased: And it in you more dreadful would have seem'd, Than in lord Angelo. Duke. I do fear, too dreadful: Sith 'twas my fault to give the people scope, Completely armed. Showy dress resides. + Retired. Strictness. Since. FOR 'Twould be my tyranny to strike, and gall them, For what I bid them do: for we bid this be done, When evil deeds have their permissive pass, And not the punishment. Therefore, indeed, my father, I have on Angelo imposed the office; Who may, in the ambush of my name, strike home, To do it slander: and to behold his sway, Visit both prince and people: therefore, I pr'ythee, Is more to bread than stone: hence shall we see, SCENE V.-A Nunnery. Enter ISABELLA and FRANCISCA. Isab. And have you nuns no further privileges! Fran. Are not these large enough? Isab. Yes, truly: I speak not as desiring more; But rather wishing a more strict restraint Upon the sister-hood, the votarists of saint Clare. Lucio. Ho! Peace be in this place! [Within. Isab. Who's that which calls? Fran. It is a man's voice: gentle Isabella, Turn you the key, and know his business of him; You may, I may not; you are yet unsworn: When you have vow'd, you must not speak with men, But in the presence of the prioress: Then, if you speak, you must not shew your face; [Exit Francisca. Isab. Peace and prosperity! Who is't that calls! Enter LUCIO. Lucio. Hail, virgin, if you be; as those cheek roses Proclaim you are no less! Can you so stead me, On his defence. VOL. I. M m As bring me to the sight of Isabella, A novice of this place, and the fair sister Isab. Why her unhappy brother? Let me ask; The rather, for I now must make you know I am that Isabella, and his sister." Lucio. Gentle and fair, your brother kindly greets you: Not to be weary with you, he's in prison. Lucio. For that, which if myself might be his judge, He should receive his punishment in thanks: Isab. Sir, make me not your story. I would not-though 'tis my familiar sin As with a saint. Isab. You do blaspheme the good, in mocking me. Lucio. Do not believe it. Fewness and truth +, 'tis thus: Your brother and his lover have embraced : İsab. Some one with child by him?-My cousin Lucio. Is she your cousin? Isab. Adoptedly; as school-maids change their names, By vain though apt affection. Isab. O, let him marry her! The duke is very strangely gone from hence; Do not make a jest of me. +In few and true words. Tilling. Breeding plenty. From his true-meant design. Upon his place, Governs lord Angelo; a man, whose blood Of business 'twixt you and your poor brother. Lucio. Has censured him Already; and as I hear, the Provost hath Isab. Alas! What poor ability's in me To do him good? Lucio. Assay the power you have. And make us lose the good we oft might win, And let him learn to know, when maidens sue, As they themselves would owe them. Isab. I will about it straight; No longer staying but to give the mother || • Extent. + Sentenced. [Exeunt. + Power of gaining favour. ACT II. SCENE I-A Hall in ANGELO's House. Enter ANGELO, ESCALUS, a JUSTICE, PROVOST, OFFICERS, and other Attendants. Ang. We must not make a scare-crow of the law, Setting it up to fear the birds of prey, And let it keep one shape, till custom make it Their perch, and not their terror. Escal. Ay, but yet Let us be keen, and rather cut a little, Than fall, and bruise to death: Alas! this gentleman, Whom I would save, had a most noble father. Let but your honour know t (Whom I believe to be most straight in virtue,) That, in the working of your own affections, Had time cohered with place, or place with wishing, Or that the resolute acting of your blood Could have attain'd the effect of your own purpose, And pull'd the law upon you. Ang. 'Tis one thing to be tempted, Escalus, Another thing to fall. I not deny, The jury passing on the prisoner's life, May, in the sworn twelve, have a thief or two Guiltier than him they try: what's open made to justice, That justice seizes. What know the laws, That thieves do pass on thieves? Tis very preg nant, The jewel that we find we stoop and take it, You may not so extenuate his offence, For I have had such faults; but rather tell me, Ang. Where is the Provost ? Prov. Here, if it like your honour. |