To the strict deputy; bid herself assay him; Such as moves men; besides, she hath prosperous art And well she can persuade. Lucio. I pray, she may; as well for the encouragement of the like, which else would stand under grievous imposition; as for the enjoying of thy life, who I would be sorry should be thus foolishly lost at a game of tick-tack. I'll to her. Claud. I thank you, good friend Lucio. 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 Fri. May your grace speak of it? Duke. My holy sir, none better knows than you Where youth, and cost, and witless bravery keeps. (A man of stricture,§ and firm abstinence), For so I have strew'd it in the common ear, 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 For terror, not to use; in time the rod Becomes more mock'd, than fear'd: so our decrees, The baby beats the nurse, and quite athwart Fri. It rested in your grace * Prompt. + Retired, VOL. I. [Exeunt. Completely armed. P To unloose this tied up justice, when you pleased: Duke. I do fear, too dreadful: Sith 'twas my fault to give the people scope, And not the punishment. Therefore, indeed, my father, Who máy, in the ambush of my name, strike home, To do it slander: And to behold his sway, I will, as 'twere a brother of your order, 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? Isab. Yes, truly: I speak not as desiring more; [Exeunt. Upon the sisterhood, the votarists of saint Clare. [Within. 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, Then, if you speak, you must not show 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 A novice of this place, and the fair sister Isab. Why her unhappy brother ? let me ask; * Since. + On his defence. 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. Isab. Woe me! For what? Lucio. For that, which, if myself might be his judge, He should receive his punishment in thanks: He hath got his friend with child. Isab. Sir, make me not your story.* I would not-though 'tis my familiar sin With maids to seem the lapwing, and to jest, By your renouncement, an immortal spirit; As with a saint. Isab. You do blaspheme the good, in mocking me. As those that feed grow full; as blossoming time, -My cousin Juliet ? Isab. Adoptedly; as school-maids change their names, By vain though apt affection. Lucio. She it is. Isab. O, let him marry her! Lucio. This is the point. The duke is very strangely gone from hence; * Do not make a jest of me. ↑ Breeding plenty. Unless you have the grace* by your fair prayer 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, Isab. I will about it straight; No longer staying but to give the mothers [Exeunt. 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¶ (Whom I believe to be most strait in virtue), Had time cohered** with place, or place with wishing, Could have attain'd the effect of your own purpose, * Power of gaining favour. § Abbess. Scare. + Sentenced. Examine. + Have.. **Suited. 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 thieves do pass on thieves? 'Tis very pregnant,† Fort I have had such faults; but rather tell me, Let mine own judgment pattern out my death, Ang. Where is the provost? Prov. Here, if it like your honour. Be executed by nine to-morrow morning: Bring him his confessor, let him be prepared; For that's the utmost of his pilgrimage. [Exit PROVOST. 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: Enter ELBOW, FROTH, CLOWN, Officers, &c. Elb. Come, bring them away: if these be good people in a common-weal, that do nothing but use their abuses in common houses, I know no law; bring them away. Ang. How now, Sir! What's your name? and what's the matter? Elb. If it please your honour, I am the poor duke's constable, and my name is Elbow; I do lean upon justice, Sir, and do bring in here before your good honour two notorious benefactors. Ang. Benefactors? Well; what benefactors are they? are they not malefactors? Elb. If it please your honour, I know not well what they are: but precise villains they are, that I am sure of; and void of all profanation in the world, that good Christians ought to have. Escal. This comes off well;** here's a wise officer. Ang. Go to: What quality are they of? Elbow is your name? Why dost thou not speak, Elbow? Clo. He cannot, Sir; he's out at elbow. Ang. What are you, Sir? Elb. He, Sir? a tapster, Sir; parcel+t-bawd; one that serves a bad woman; whose house, Sir, was, as they say, pluck'd down in the suburbs; and now she professestt a hot-house, which, I think, is a very ill house too. Escal. How know you that? * Pass judgment. Sentence. ** Well told. + Plain. ++ Partly. |