'Twould be my tyranny to strike, and gall them, For what I bid them do: For we bid this be done, When evil deeds have their permiffive pass, And not the punishment. Therefore, indeed, my father, I have on Angelo impos'd the office; Who may, in the ambush of my name, strike home, To do it flander: And to behold his fway, I will, as 'twere a brother of your order, Vifit both prince and people: therefore, I pr'ythee, Like a true friar. More reasons for this action, Is more to bread than ftone: Hence fhall we fee, SCENE V. A Nunnery. Enter ISABELLA and FRANCISCA. Ifab. And have you nuns no further privileges? Ifab. Yes, truly: I speak not as defiring more; But rather wishing a more strict restraint Upon the fifter-hood, the votarifts of faint Clare. Ifab. [Within.] Who's that which calls? Fran. It is a man's voice: Gentle Isabella, Turn Turn you the key, and know his business of him ; Then, if you speak, you must not show your face; [Exit FRANCISCA. Ifab. Peace and prosperity! Who is't that calls? Enter LUCIO. Lucio. Hail, virgin, if you be; as those cheek-rofes A novice of this place, and the fair fifter To her unhappy brother Claudio? Ifab. Why her unhappy brother? let me afk; The rather, for I now must make you know I am that Isabella, and his fifter. Lucio. Gentle and fair, your brother kindly greets you: Not to be weary with you, he's in prison. Ifab. 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. Ifab. Sir, make me not your story. It is true. And And to be talk'd with in fincerity, As with a faint. Ifab. You do blafpheme the good, in mocking me. Lucio. Do not believe it. Fewnefs and truth, 'tis thus: Your brother and his lover have embrac'd: As thofe that feed grow full; as bloffoming time, Ifab. Some one with child by him ?-My coufin Juliet ? Ifab. Adoptedly; as fchool-maids change their names, By vain though apt affection. Lucio. Ifab. O, let him marry her! Lucio. She it is. This is the point. Which have, for long, run by the hideous law, Το To make him an example: all hope is gone, Of business, 'twixt you and your poor brother. Lucio. Has cenfur'd him Already; and, as I hear, the provost hath A warrant for his execution. Ifab. Alas! what poor ability's in me To do him good? Lucio. Affay the power you have. Our doubts are traitors, And make us lofe the good we oft might win, As they themselves would owe them. Lucio. But, speedily. Ifab. I will about it straight; Ifab. Good fir, adieu. [Exeunt. ACT ACT II. SCENE I. A Hall in Angelo's House. Enter ANGELO, ESCALUS, a Juftice, 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. Efcal. Ay, but yet Let us be keen, and rather cut a little, Than fall, and bruife to death: Alas! this gentleman, Whom I would fave, had a most noble father. Let but your honour know, (Whom I believe to be most strait in virtue,) That, in the working of your own affections, Had time coher'd with place, or place with wishing, Could have attain'd the effect of your own purpose, Whether you had not sometime in your life Err'd in this point which now you censure him, And pull'd the law upon you. Ang. 'Tis one thing to be tempted, Escalus, Another thing to fall. I not deny, The jury, paffing on the prisoner's life, May, in the fworn twelve, have a thief or two Guiltier than him they try: What's open made to justice, That justice seizes. What know the laws, That thieves do país on thieves? 'Tis very pregnant, The jewel that we find, we stoop and take it, Because |