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MA.

O, my dear lord,

I cre no other, nor no better man.
Tke. Never crave him; we are definitive.
Jari. Gentle, my liege,-

[Kneeling. puke. You do but lose your labour;" Avay with him to death.-Now, sir, [To Lucio.]

to you.

Mari. O, my good lord!-Sweet Isabel, take my part;

Lend me your knees, and, all my life to come, I'll lend you all my life to do you service.

Duke. Against all sense you do importune her: Should she kneel down, in mercy of this fact, Her brother's ghost his paved bed would break, And take her hence in horror.

Mari. Isabel, Sweet Isabel, do yet but kneel by me; Hold up your hands, say nothing, I'll speak all. They say, best men are moulded out of faults; And, for the most, become much more the better For being a little bad: so may my husband. O, Isabel! will you not lend a knee? Duke. He dies for Claudio's death. Isab.

Most bounteous sir,
[Kneeling.
Look, if it please you, on this man condemn'd,
As if my brother liv'd: I partly think,
A due sincerity govern'd his deeds,
Till he did look on me: since it is so,
Let him not die: My brother had but justice,
In that he did the thing for which he died:
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 sub-
Intents but merely thoughts.

Mari.

[jects;

Merely, my lord. Duke. Your suit's unprofitable; stand up, I

say.

I have bethought me of another fault :-
Provost, how came it Claudio was beheaded
At an unusual hour?

Prov.
It was commanded so.
Duke. Had you a special warrant for the deed?
Prov. No, my good lord; it was by private
message.

Duke. For which I do discharge you e

office :

Give up your keys.

your

Prov.
Pardon me, noble lor ;
I thought it was a fault, but knew it not;
Yet did repent me, after more advice:
For testimony whereof, one in the prison
That should by private order else have died,
I have reserv'd alive.

Duke.

Prov.

What's he?

His name is Barnardine. Duke. I would, thou had'st done so by Clau

dio.Go, fetch him hither; let me look upon him. [Exit Provost. Escal. I am sorry, one so learned and so wise As you, lord Angelo, have still appear'd, Should slip so grossly, both in the heat of blood, And lack of temper'd judgment afterward.

Ang. I am sorry, that such sorrow I procure: And so deep sticks it in my penitent heart, That I crave death more willingly than mercy; 'Tis my deserving, and I do entreat it.

Re-enter Provost, BARNARDINE, CLAUDIO, and JULIET.

Duke. Which is that Barnardine?

Prov.
This, my lord.
Duke. There was a friar told me of this man:-
Sirrah, thou art said to have a stubborn soul,
That apprehends no further than this world,
And squar'st thy life according. Thou'rt con-
demn'd;

But, for those earthly faults, I quit them all;
And pray thee, take this mercy to provide
For better times to come:-Friar advise him;
I leave him to your hand.-What muffled fel.
low's that?

Prov. This is another prisoner, that I sav'd, That should have died when Claudio lost his

head;

As like almost to Claudio, as himself.

[Unmuffles CLAUDIC Duke. If he be like your brother, [To ISABE

LA.] for his sake

Is he pardoned; And, for your lovely sake,

Give me your hand, and say you will be mine,
He is my brother too: But fitter time for that.
By this, lord Angelo perceives he's safe ;
Methinks, I see a quick'ning in his eye:-
Well, Angelo, your evil quits you well:
Look that you love your wife; her worth, worth

yours.

I find an apt remission in myself:

And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon ;You, sirrah, [To LUCIO.] that knew me for a fool, a coward,

One all of luxury, an ass, a madman;
Wherein have I so deserved 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 whipp'd.

Duke. Whipp'd first, sir, and hang'd after.Proclaim it, provost, round about the city; If any woman's wrong'd by this lewd fellow, (As I have heard him swear himself, there's one Whom he begot with child), let her appear, And he shall marry her: the nuptial finish'd, Let him be whipp'd and hang'd.

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, Sland'ring a prince deserves it.She, Claudio, that you wrong'd, look you re

store.

Joy to you, Mariana!-love her, Angelo;

I have confess'd her, and I know her virtue.Thanks, good friend Escalus, for thy much good

ness:

There's more behind, that is more gratulate.
Thanks Provost, for thy care and secrecy;
We shall employ thee in a worthier place :-

Forgive him, Angelo, that brought you home
The head of Ragozine for Claudio's;
The offence pardons itself.-Dear Isabel,
I have a motion much imports your good;
Whereto if you'll a willing ear incline,
What's mine is yours, and what is yours is
mine :-

So, bring us to our palace; where we'll show What's yet behind, that's meet you all should know.

[Exeunt.

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