Against the thing I say. Answer to this;— Isab. Please you to do't, I'll take it as a peril to my soul, It is no sin at all, but charity. Ang. Pleas'd you to do't, at peril of your soul, Isab. That I do beg his life, if it be sin, To have it added to the faults of mine, Ang. Nay, but hear me: Your sense pursues not mine: either you are ignorant Or seem so, craftily; and that's not good. Isab. Let me be ignorant, and in nothing good, But graciously to know I am no better. Ang. Thus wisdom wishes to appear most bright; When it doth tax itself: as these black masks Isab. So. Ang. And his offence is so, as it appears Ang. Admit no other way to save his life, Whose credit with the judge, or own great place, 100 Isab. As much for my poor brother, as myself: That longing I have been sick for, ere I'd yield Ang. Then must your brother die. Isab. And 'twere the cheaper way: Better it were, a brother died at once, Than that a sister, by redeeming him, Should die for ever. Ang. Were not you then as cruel as the sentence That you have slandered so? Isab. Ignomy in ransom, and free pardon, Are of two houses: lawful mercy is Nothing akin to foul redemption. Ang. You seem'd of late to make the law a tyrant ; And rather prov'd the sliding of your brother A merriment than a vice. Isab. O, pardon me, my lord; it oft falls out, To have what we'd have, we speak not what we mean : I something do excuse the thing I hate, For his advantage that I dearly love. Ang. We are all frail. Isab. Else let my brother die, If not a feodary, but only he, 73 Ang. Nay, women are frail too Isab. Ay, as the glasses where they view themselves; Which are as easy broke as they make forms. Women!-Help heaven! men their creation mar In profiting by them. Nay, call us ten times frail; For we are soft as our complexions are, And credulous to false prints. Ang. I think it well: And from this testimony of your own sex, (Since, I suppose, we are made to be no stronger Isab. I have no tongue but one: gentle my lord, Isab. My brother did love Juliet ; and you That he shall die for it. tell me, Ang. He shall not, Isabel, if you give me love. Isab. I know, your virtue hath a licence in't, Which seems a little fouler than it is, To pluck on others. Ang. Believe me, on mine honour, My words express my purpose. Isab. Ha! little honour to be much believ'd, And most pernicious purpose !-Seeming, seeming! I will proclaim thee, Angelo; look for't: Sign me a present pardon for my brother, Or, with an outstretch'd throat, I'll tell the world Ang. Who will believe thee, Isabel ? My unsoil'd name, th' austereness of my life, That you shall stifle in your own report, That banish what they sue for; redeem thy brother Or else he must not only die the death, 177 But thy unkindness shall his death draw out Say what you can, my false o'erweighs your true. [Exit. Bidding the law make court'sy to their will; To such abhorr'd pollution. Then Isabel, live chaste, and, brother, die : And fit his mind to death, for his soul's rest. ACT III. SCENE I-A room in the prison. Enter Duke, CLAUDIO, and Provost. Duke. So, then you hope of pardon from lord Angelo ? Claud. The miserable have no other medicine, 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, And yet run'st toward him still: Thou art not noble; Of a poor worm: Thy best of rest is sleep, Thy death, which is no more. Thou art not thyself; That issue out of dust: Happy thou art not : After the moon: If thou art rich, thou art poor; 1 |