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A room in the prison.
[Enter DUKE VINCENTIO disguised as before, CLAUDIO, and Provost]
DUKE VINCENTIO
, ,
x ,
,
So then | you hope | of pardon | from Lord
| Angelo*?
CLAUDIO
,
, ,
, , , ->
The mis|era|ble have | no^oth|er med||icine
, ,
But on|ly hope: \\
,
, ,
, ,
I've hope | to live,| and am | prepared | to die.
DUKE VINCENTIO
, , ,
, , __
Be abs|olute | for death:| either | death or |
life
, ,
, , ,
,
Shall there|by be | the sweet|er. reas|on thus |
with life: (hex with prev)
,
, , ,
,
If I | do lose | thee, I | do lose | a thing
, ,
, ,
,
That none | but fools | would keep:| a breath |
thou art,
, 2
, ,
, ,
Servile to | all the | skyey | influ|ences,
, , ,
, ,
That dost | this hab|ita|tion where | thou keepst
, ,
, , ,
Hourly | afflict:| merely,| thou art /
death's fool,
, ,
, ,
,
For him | thou lab|orst by | thy flight | to
shun,
, ,
, ,
x
And yet | runst^toward | him still.| Thou art |
not^noble,
, 2 ,
, ,
,
For all | the accom|moda|tions that | thou
bearst,
, , , 2 , ,
2
Are nursed | by base|ness: thou'rt | by no means
| valiant, ??
, ,
, ,
,
For thou | dost fear | the soft | and tend|er
fork
, , ,
, ,
Of a / poor worm.| Thy best | of rest | is sleep,
, ,
, ,
,
And that | thou oft | provokst,| yet gross|ly
fearst
, ,
, 2 ,
,
Thy death,| which is | no more.| Thou art not | thyself,
, , , 2 ,
,
For thou | exists | on man|y a thous|and grains
, ,
, ,
2 ,
That is|sue out | of dust.| Happy | thou art not,
, ,
, ,
,
For what | thou hast | not, still | thou strivst
| to get,
, ,
, ,
x
And what | thou hast | forgetst.| Thou art | not
certain,
, ,
, ,
,
For thy | complex|ion shifts | to strange |
effects,
, ,
, , ,
After | the moon:| if thou | art rich,| thou'rt poor,
,
, , ,
,
For like | an ass,| whose^back | with ing|ots
bows;
,
, x
, ,
Thou bearst | thy hea|vy riches | but a
| journey, ??
, ,
, T T
T
And death | unloads | thee; friend | hast thou
none.
, ,
, , ,
For thine / own bow|els which | do call | thee,
sire
,
, , , ,
The mere | effu|sion of | thy prop|er loins
, ,
, , 2 ,
Do curse | the gout,| serpi|go, and the | rheum
<- ,
2 , ,
2 ,
,
For || ending | thee no* soon|er. Thou | hast
nor youth,| nor age
,
, ,
, ,
But as | it were | an aft|er-din|ner's sleep
,
, ,
, ,
Dreaming | on both,| for all | thy bles|sed youth
,
, , ,
,
Becomes | as ag|ed, and | doth beg | the alms
,
, ,
2 ,
,
Of pals|ied el:| and when | thou art old,| and
rich
,
, ,
, ,
,
Thou hast | neither | heat, af|fection,| limb,
nor | beauty
, , ,
o ,
,
To make | thy rich|es pleas|ant: | what's yet |
in this (hex with prev)
,
, , ,
,
That bears | the name | of life?| Yet in | this
life
, ,
, ,
,
Lie* hid | moe* thous|and deaths;| yet death | we fear
,
, x
That makes | these odds,| all^even. \\
CLAUDIO
,
,
I humb|ly thank | you. \\
, ,
, ,
,
To sue | to live,| I find | I seek | to die,
,
, T T T
2 ,
And seek|ing death,| find life: let | it come^on.
ISABELLA [Within]
What ho? Peace here; grace, and good company.
PROVOST
Who's there? Come in, the wish deserves a welcome.
DUKE VINCENTIO
Dear sir, ere long I'll visit you again.
CLAUDIO
Most holy sir, I thank you.
[Enter ISABELLA]
ISABELLA
My business is a word or two with Claudio.
PROVOST
And very welcome: Look signior, here's your sister.
DUKE VINCENTIO
Provost, a word with you.
PROVOST
As many as you please.
DUKE VINCENTIO
Bring me to hear them speak, where I may be concealed.
[Exeunt DUKE VINCENTIO and Provost]
CLAUDIO
, ,
,
Now sis|ter, what's | the com|fort?
ISABELLA
,
Why,
<- , ,
T T T ,
,
As all || comforts | are: most good,| most good
| indeed,
, , ,
, x
Lord^Ang|elo | having | affairs | to heaven
, , ,
, ,
Intends | you for | his swift | ambas|sador,
, ,
, , ,
->
Where you | shall be | an ev|erlast|ing lei||ger;
,
2 , ,
, ,
There|fore your best | appoint|ment make | with speed,
, ,
,
Tomor|row you | set^on.
CLAUDIO
, ,
,
Is there | no rem|edy? (tri with prev)
ISABELLA
,
, , 2 ,
,
None, but | such^rem|edy,| as to save | a head
,
, ,
To cleave | a heart | in twain.
CLAUDIO
, ,
->
But is | there an||y?
ISABELLA
, ,
, __ oo
Yes | brother,| you may | live;|
, ,
2 , ,
,
There is | a dev|ilish mer|cy in | the judge,
,
, , ,
,
If you'll | implore | it, that | will free | your
life,
, ,
,
But fet|ter you | till death.
CLAUDIO
, 2 ,
->
Perpe|tual dur||ance?
ISABELLA
, ,
, 2 ,
2 ,
Aye | just; per|petual | durance,| a restraint
, , , , ,
Though all | the world's | vastid|ity | you had
,
, ,
To a | deter|mined scope.
CLAUDIO
2 , ,
But in what | nature?
ISABELLA
, ,
, , x
In such | a one,| as you | consent|ing to it,
, ,
, , ,
Would bark | your hon|or from | that trunk | you
bear,
, ,
And leave | you nak|ed.
CLAUDIO
,
, ,
Let | me know | the point.
ISABELLA
, ,
, 2 ,
,
Oh, I | do fear | thee Claud|io, and | I quake,
,
, , ,
,
Lest thou | a feve|rous life | shouldst^ent|ertain,
,
, , , ,
And six | or sev|en wint|ers more | respect
, ,
2 , ,
,
Than a | perpe|tual hon|or. Darst | thou die?
, ,
, , ,
->
The sense | of death | is most | in
ap|prehen||sion;
, ,
, 2 ,
,
And | the poor | beetle | that we tread | upon
, 2 ,
2 , ,
,
In cor|poral suf|ferance, finds | a pang | as great,
,
, ,
As when | a gi|ant dies.
CLAUDIO
,
, ,
Why give | you me | this shame? (tri with
prev)
,
, , ,
,
Think^you | I can | a res|olu|tion fetch
x
, ,
, ,
From flower|y tend|erness?| If I | must die,
,
, ,
, ,
I will | encount|er dark|ness as | a bride,
, ,
,
And hug | it in | mine arms. \\
ISABELLA
,
, , ,
,
There spake | my broth|er: there | my fath|er's
grave
, , ,
, ,
Did ut|ter forth | a voice.| Yes, thou |
must^die:
, ,
, ,
,
Thou art | too nob|le, to | conserve | a life
,
, , ,
, , ,
In base appliances. This outward-sainted
deputy, ????
, ,
, , 2
,
Whose set|tled vis|age, and | deli|berate word
,
2 , ,
, ,
Nips^youth | in the head,| and fol|lies doth | emmew
,
, , ,
x
As falc|on doth | the fowl,| is yet | a devil
, ,
2 , ,
,
His filth | within | being cast,| he would |
appear
, ,
,
A pond,| as deep | as hell.
CLAUDIO
, , 2 ->
The prenz|ie, An||gelo?
ISABELLA
, 2
, , , ,
Oh |'tis the cun|ning liv|ery | of hell,
,
, , ,
, 2->
The damned|est bo|dy to | invest,| and cov||er
, ,
, ,
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In prenz|ie guards:| Dost thou | think Claud/io,
, ,
, , ,
If I | would yield | him my | virgi|nity,
,
,
Thou mightst | be freed?
CLAUDIO
x , ,
O heavens,| it can|not be.
ISABELLA
,
x , ,
,
Yes, he | would give it | thee; from | this rank
| offense
, ,
, ,
,
So to | offend | him still.| This^night's | the
time
, ,
, ,
,
That I | should do | what I | abhor | to name,
, ,
,
Or else | thou diest | tomor|row. \\
CLAUDIO
,
x
Thou shalt | not do it.
ISABELLA
, ,
,
O, were | it but | my life,
, ,
, , ,
I'd throw | it down | for your | deliv|erance
,
, ,
As frank|ly as | a pin.
CLAUDIO
, , 2
Thanks dear^|Isabel.
ISABELLA
, , , ,
, , ->
Be read|y, Claud|io,| for your | death
to||morrow.
CLAUDIO
, ,
2 , ,
Yes.| Has he af|fections | in him,
, ,
, ,
2 ,
That thus | can make | him bite | the law | by
the nose,
, ,
, ,
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When he | would force | it? Sure | it is / no sin,
, 2 ,
, , ,
Or of the | deadly | seven | it is | the least.
ISABELLA
,
,
Which is | the least? \\
CLAUDIO
, , , , 2
,
If it | were damn|able,| he being | so wise,
,
, , , ,
Why would | he for | the mom|entar|y trick
, , ,
, ,
Be per|dura|bly fined?| Oh Is|abel. ??
ISABELLA
,
,
What says | my broth|er?
CLAUDIO
, 2 , ,
Death | is a fear|ful thing.
ISABELLA
, ,
,
And shamed | life, a | hateful. \\
CLAUDIO
,
, ,
, ,
Aye, but | to die,| and go | we know | not where,
,
, , ,
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To lie | in cold | obstruc|tion, and | to rot,
,
, , ,
,
This sens|ible / warm mo|tion, to | become
,
, ,
, x
A knead|ed clod;| and the | delight|ed spirit
, ,
, , ,
To bathe | in fie|ry floods,| or to | reside
,
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, ___
In thril|ling re|gion of / thick-ribbed | ice,
, ,
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To be | impris|oned in | the view|less winds
,
, , 2
, ,
And blown | with rest|less vi|olence round |
about
,
, , ,
,
The pen|dant world:| or to | be worse | than
worst
, ,
, ,
,
Of those,| that law|less and | incert|ain
thought,
,
, , ,
,
Ima|gine how|ling, 'tis | too hor/rible.
, 2
, ,
, ,
The wear|iest, and | most^loath|ed world|ly life
, ,
, 2 2 ,
,
That age,| ache,| penury,| and impris|onment
,
, , , ,
Can lay | on na|ture, is | a par|adise
,
, ,
To what | we fear | of death.
ISABELLA
, ,
Alas,| alas.
CLAUDIO
___ ,
T T T oo
Sweet | sister,| let me live.|
, ,
, , ,
What sin | you do,| to save | a broth|er's life,
, ,
, , ,
Nature | dispen|ses with | the deed | so far,
,
, ,
That it | becomes | a vir|tue.
ISABELLA
, ,
Oh | you beast,
,
, , ,
,
Oh faith|less cow|ard, oh | dishon|est wretch,
,
, ,
, ,
Wilt thou | be made | a man,| out of / my vice?
2 ,
, , T .
T T
Is it not | a kind | of in|cest, to take life
, ,
, , ,
From thine^/own sis|ter's shame?| What should | I
think,
, ,
, ,
, ,
Heaven shield my mother played my father
fair: ????
, , , , ,
For such | a warp|ed slip | of wild|erness
, ,
, , 2
,
Nere^is|sued from | his blood.| Take my
de|fiance,
T T T
, ,
,
Die, perish:| might^but | my bend|ing down
, ,
, ,
,
Reprieve | thee from | thy fate,| it should |
proceed.
,
, , ,
,
I'll pray | a thous|and pray|ers for | thy death,
, ,
No word | to save | thee.
CLAUDIO
, ,
, , ->
Nay | hear me | Isa||bel.
ISABELLA
T T
T oo
Oh | fie, fie, fie:|
, ,
, ,
,
Thy sin's | not ac|ciden|tal, but | a trade;
, ,
, ,
,
Mercy | to thee | would prove | itself | a bawd,
, ,
, o
'Tis best | thou die|st quick|ly.
CLAUDIO
, , , o
O hear | me Is|abel|la. (tetra with
prev)
[Enter DUKE VINCENTIO]
DUKE VINCENTIO
Vouchsafe a word, young sister, but one word.
ISABELLA
What is your will.
DUKE VINCENTIO
Might you dispense with your leisure, I would by and by have some speech
with you: the satisfaction I would require, is likewise your own benefit.
ISABELLA
I have no superfluous leisure, my stay must be stolen out of other affairs;
but I will attend you awhile.
[Walks apart]
DUKE VINCENTIO
Son, I have overheard what hath passed between you and your sister. Angelo
had never the purpose to corrupt her; only he hath made an essay of her
virtue, to practise his judgment with the disposition of natures. She (having
the truth of honor in her) hath made him that gracious denial, which he is
most glad to receive: I am confessor to Angelo, and I know this to be true,
therefore prepare yourself to death: do not satisfy your resolution with
hopes that are fallible, tomorrow you must die, go to your knees, and make
ready.
CLAUDIO
Let me ask my sister pardon. I am so out of love with life, that I will sue
to be rid of it.
DUKE VINCENTIO
Hold you there: farewell: Provost, a word with you.
[Exit CLAUDIO. Enter Provost]
PROVOST
What's your will (father)?
DUKE VINCENTIO
That now you are come, you will be gone: Leave me awhile with the maid, my
mind promises with my habit, no loss shall touch her by my company.
PROVOST
In good time.
[Exit Provost. ISABELLA comes forward]
DUKE VINCENTIO
The hand that hath made you fair, hath made you good: the goodness that is
cheap in beauty, makes beauty brief in goodness; but grace being the soul of
your complexion, shall keep the body of it ever fair: the assault that
Angelo hath made to you, fortune hath conveyed to my understanding; and but
that frailty hath examples for his falling, I should wonder at Angelo: how
will you do to content this substitute, and to save your brother?
ISABELLA
I am now going to resolve him: I had rather my brother die by the law, than
my son should be unlawfully born. But (oh) how much is the good duke deceived
in Angelo: If ever he return, and I can speak to him, I will open my lips in
vain, or discover his government.
DUKE VINCENTIO
That shall not be much amiss: Yet, as the matter now stands, he will avoid
your accusation: he made trial of you only. Therefore fasten your ear on my
advisings, to the love I have in doing good; a remedy presents itself. I do
make myself believe that you may most uprighteously do a poor wronged lady a
merited benefit; redeem your brother from the angry law; do no stain to your
own gracious person, and much please the absent duke, if peradventure he
shall ever return to have hearing of this business.
ISABELLA
Let me hear you speak farther; I have spirit to do anything that appears not
foul in the truth of my spirit.
DUKE VINCENTIO
Virtue is bold, and goodness never fearful: Have you not heard speak of
Mariana the sister of Frederick the great soldier, who miscarried at sea?
ISABELLA
I have heard of the lady, and good words went with her name.
DUKE VINCENTIO
She should this Angelo have married: was affianced to her by oath, and the
nuptial appointed: between which time of the contract, and limit of the
solemnity, her brother Frederick was wrecked at sea, having in that perished
vessel, the dowry of his sister: But mark how heavily this befell to the poor
gentlewoman, there she lost a noble and renowned brother, in his love toward
her, ever most kind and natural: with him the portion and sinew of her
fortune, her marriage-dowry: with both, her combinate husband, this
well-seeming Angelo.
ISABELLA
Can this be so? did Angelo so leave her?
DUKE VINCENTIO
Left her in her tears, and dried not one of them with his comfort: swallowed
his vows whole, pretending in her, discoveries of dishonor: in few, bestowed
her on her own lamentation, which she yet wears for his sake: and he, a
marble to her tears, is washed with them, but relents not.
ISABELLA
What a merit were it in death to take this poor maid from the world? What
corruption in this life, that it will let this man live? But how out of this
can she avail?
DUKE VINCENTIO
It is a rupture that you may easily heal: and the cure of it not only saves
your brother, but keeps you from dishonor in doing it.
ISABELLA
Show me how (good father).
DUKE VINCENTIO
This forenamed maid hath yet in her the continuance of her first affection:
his unjust unkindness (that in all reason should have quenched her love)
hath (like an impediment in the current) made it more violent and unruly: Go
you to Angelo, answer his requiring with a plausible obedience, agree with
his demands to the point: only refer yourself to this advantage; first, that
your stay with him may not be long: that the time may have all shadow, and
silence in it: and the place answer to convenience: This being granted in
course, and now follows all: we shall advise this wronged maid to stead up
your appointment, go in your place: if the encounter acknowledge itself
hereafter, it may compel him to her recompense; and here, by this is your
brother saved, your honor untainted, the poor Mariana advantaged, and the
corrupt deputy scaled. The maid will I frame, and make fit for his attempt:
If you think well to carry this as you may, the doubleness of the benefit
defends the deceit from reproof. What think you of it?
ISABELLA
The image of it gives me content already; and I trust it will grow to a most
prosperous perfection.
DUKE VINCENTIO
It lies much in your holding up: Haste you speedily to Angelo, if for this
night he entreat you to his bed, give him promise of satisfaction: I will
presently to Saint Luke's, there at the moated grange resides this
dejected Mariana; at that place call upon me, and dispatch with Angelo, that
it may be quickly.
ISABELLA
I thank you for this comfort: Fare you well good father.
[Exeunt severally]