Lucio. Has censur'd him Already; and, as I hear, the Provost hath A warrant for his execution. Isa. 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, Isa, I will about it straight; No longer staying but to give the mother Isa. Good sir, adieu. [Exeunt ISABELLA and LUCIO. ACT THE SECOND. SCENE I. ANGELO'S House. Enter ESCALUS, ANGELO, and PRovost. Ang. We must not make a scarecrow of the law, Setting it up to fear the birds of prey, And let it keep one shape, till custom make it Esca. Ay, but yet Let us be keen, and rather cut a little, Than fall, and bruise to death: Alas! this gentle man, Whom I would save, had a most noble father. Let but your honour know, (Whom I believe to be most strait in virtue,) Ang. "Tis one thing to be tempted, Escalus, You may not so extenuate his offence, For I have had such faults; but rather tell me, Let mine own judgment pattern out my death, Prov. Here, if it like your honour. Be executed by nine to-morrow morning: Esca. Well, Heaven forgive him! and forgive us all! [Exit ESCALUS. Prov. Is it your will, Claudio shall die to-mor row? Ang. Did not I tell thee, yea? Hadst thou not order? Why dost thou ask again? Pro. Lest I might be too rash: Under your good correction, I have seen, Ang. Go to; let that be mine: Do you your office, or give up your place, Prov.. I crave your honour's pardon.— What shall be done, sir, with the groaning Juliet? She's very near her hour. Ang. Dispose of her To some more fitting place; and that with speed. Tho. Here is the sister of the man condemn'd, Ang. Hath he a sister? Prov. Ay, my good lord; a very virtuous maid, And to be shortly of a sisterhood, If not already. Ang. Well, let her be admitted.— [Exit THOMAS. See you, the fornicatress be remov'd; Enter ISABELLA, and LUCIO. Prov. Save your honour! [Exit PROVOST. Ang. You are welcome: What's your will? Isa. I am a woeful suitor to your honour, Please but your honour hear me. Ang. Well, what's your suit? Isa. There is a vice, that most I do abhor, And most desire should meet the blow of justice; Ang. Well; the matter? Isa. I have a brother is condemn'd to die: Ang. Condemn the fault, and not the actor of it! fault's condemn'd, ere it be done : Why, every To fine the faults, whose fine stands in record, Isa. O just, but severe law! I had a brother then.-Heaven keep your honour! [Retiring. Lucio. Give't not o'er so: to him again, entreat him; Kneel down before him, hang upon his gown ; You are too cold. Isa. Must he needs die? Ang. Maiden, no remedy. Isa. Yes; I do think that you might pardon him, And neither Heaven, nor man, grieve at the mercy. Ang. I will not do't, Isa. But can you, if you would? Ang. Look, what I will not, that I cannot do. wrong, If so your heart were touch'd with that remorse Ang. He's sentenc'd; 'tis too late. Isa. Too late? why, no; I, that do speak a word, Not the king's crown, nor the deputed sword, If he had been as you, and you as he, You would have slipp'd, like him; but he like you, Would not have been so stern. Ang. Pray you, be gone. Isa. I would to Heaven I had your potency, And you were Isabel! should it then be thus! No; I would tell what 'twere to be a judge, Ang. Your brother is a forfeit of the law, Isa. Alas! alas! Why, all the souls that were, were forfeit once; Ang. Be you content, fair maid; It is the law, not I, condemns your brother: It should be thus with him; he must die to morrow. Isa. To-morrow? O, that's sudden! Spare him, spare him; He's not prepar'd for death! Good, good, my lord, bethink you: Who is it that hath died for this offence? There's many have committed it. Ang. The law hath not been dead, though it hath slept : Those many had not dar'd to do that evil, If the first man, that did infringe the edict, Had answer'd for his deed. Isa. Yet show some pity. Ang. I show it most of all, when I show justice; For then I pity those I do not know, Which a dismiss'd offence would after gall; And do him right, that, answering one foul wrong, Your brother dies to-morrow; be content. Isa. So you must be the first, that gives this sen tence; And he, that suffers:. O, it is excellent |