[Exit Provost. 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 thieves do pass on thieves? 'Tis very pregnant, Let mine own judgment pattern out my death, Ang. Where is the provost ? Prov. Here, if it like your honor. Ang. See that Claudio Be executed by nine to-morrow morning: Escal. Well, heaven forgive him! and forgive us all! Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall: Some run from brakes of vice, and answer none; And some condemned for a fault alone. SCENE.-Another Room in the same. Enter Provost and a Servant. Serv. He's hearing of a cause; he will come straight. I'll tell him of you. Prov. Pray you do.-[Exit Servant.]—I'll know His pleasure; may be, he will relent. Ang. Enter ANGELO. Now, what's the matter, provost ? Prov. Is it your will Claudio shall die to-morrow? Ang. Did I not tell thee, yea? hadst thou not order? Why dost thou ask again? Serv. Here is the sister of the man condemn'd, Desires access to you. Prov. Ay, my good lord; a very virtuous maid, And to be shortly of a sisterhood, Prov. Save your honor! [Exit Servant Ang. Stay a little while.-[To ISAB.]-You are welcome · What's your will? Isab. I am a woful suitor to your honor Ang. At war, 'twixt will, and will not. Ang. Well; the matter? Isab. I have a brother is condemn'd to die : I do beseech you, let it be his fault, And not my brother. Ang. Condemn the fault, and not the actor of it! To find the faults, whose fine stands in record, Isab. O just, but severe law! Ang. Isab. But can you, if you would? As mine is to him? Ang. He's sentenc'd; '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 ones 'longs, Not the king's crown, nor the deputed sword, Isab. I would to heaven I had your potency, And you were Isabel: should it then be thus? No; I would tell what 'twere to be a judge, And what a prisoner. Ang. Your brother is a forfeit of the law, And you but waste your words. Alas! alas! Isab. Ang. To our gross selves? Good, good my lord, bethink you : 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, Had answer'd for his deed: now, 'tis awake; Isab. Yet show some pity. Ang. I show it most of all, when I show justice; For then I pity those I do not know, Which a dismiss'd offence would after gall; And do him right, that, answering one foul wrong, Lives not to act another. Be satisfied; Your brother dies to-morrow; be content. Isab. So you must be the first that gives this sentence; 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. Would use his heaven for thunder: nothing but thunder. Merciful heaven! Thou rather, with thy sharp and sulphurous bolt, Than the soft myrtle ;-But man, proud man ! Most ignorant of what he's most assur'd, Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven, 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, Ang. Why do you put these sayings upon me? Hath yet a kind of medicine in itself, That skins 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. [Aside.] She speaks, and 'tis Such sense, that my sense breeds with it.Fare you well. Ang. I will bethink me :-Come again to-morrow. Isab. Hark, how I'll bribe you: Good my lord, turn back. Isab. Ay, with such gifts, that heaven shall share with you. Or stones, whose rates are either rich, or poor, Well: come to me Isab. Heaven keep your honor safe! At what hour to-morrow Shall I attend your lordshi>? Ang. Isab. Save your honor! At any time 'fore noon. [Exeunt. ACT III. Isabella visits Angelo, at the time appointed, and renews her suit. The apparently stern dispenser of Justice, makes dishonorable proposals to her, as the price of her brother's life; she indignantly repels him; and hastens to the prison where Claudio is confined, to tell him that he must prepare for death. The Duke is made acquainted with Claudio's situation, and visits him in his disguise as a Friar. SCENE.-A Room in the Prison. Enter DUKE, CLAUDIO, and Provost. Duke. So, then you hope of pardon from lord Angelo ? But only hope: I have hope to live, and am prepar'd to die. Duke. Be absolute for death; either death, or life, Shall thereby be the sweeter. Reason thus with life, If I do lose thee, I do lose a thing That none but fools would keep a breath thou art, (Servile to all the skiey influences,) That dost this habitation, where thou keep'st, Hourly afflict: merely, thou art death's fool; And yet run'st toward him still: Thou art not noble, Are nurs❜d by baseness: Thou art by no means valiant; Of a poor worm: Thy best of rest is sleep, And that thou oft provok'st; yet grossly fear'st Thy death, which is no more. Thou art not thyself; Thou hast nor youth, nor age; But, as it were, an after-dinner's sleep, Of palsied eld; and when thou art old, and rich, That bears the name of life? |