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| <title>SCENE I. A room in the prison. | |
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| <tr><td class="play" align="center">Measure for Measure | |
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| | <A href="/Shakespeare/measure/">Measure for Measure</A> | |
| | Act 3, Scene 1 | |
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| <H3>SCENE I. A room in the prison.</h3> | |
| <p><blockquote> | |
| <i>Enter DUKE VINCENTIO disguised as before, CLAUDIO, and Provost</i> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech1><b>DUKE VINCENTIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=1>So then you hope of pardon from Lord Angelo?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech2><b>CLAUDIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=2>The miserable have no other medicine</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=3>But only hope:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=4>I've hope to live, and am prepared to die.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech3><b>DUKE VINCENTIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=5>Be absolute for death; either death or life</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=6>Shall thereby be the sweeter. Reason thus with life:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=7>If I do lose thee, I do lose a thing</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=8>That none but fools would keep: a breath thou art,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=9>Servile to all the skyey influences,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=10>That dost this habitation, where thou keep'st,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=11>Hourly afflict: merely, thou art death's fool;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=12>For him thou labour'st by thy flight to shun</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=13>And yet runn'st toward him still. Thou art not noble;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=14>For all the accommodations that thou bear'st</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=15>Are nursed by baseness. Thou'rt by no means valiant;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=16>For thou dost fear the soft and tender fork</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=17>Of a poor worm. Thy best of rest is sleep,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=18>And that thou oft provokest; yet grossly fear'st</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=19>Thy death, which is no more. Thou art not thyself;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=20>For thou exist'st on many a thousand grains</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=21>That issue out of dust. Happy thou art not;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=22>For what thou hast not, still thou strivest to get,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=23>And what thou hast, forget'st. Thou art not certain;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=24>For thy complexion shifts to strange effects,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=25>After the moon. If thou art rich, thou'rt poor;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=26>For, like an ass whose back with ingots bows,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=27>Thou bear's thy heavy riches but a journey,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=28>And death unloads thee. Friend hast thou none;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=29>For thine own bowels, which do call thee sire,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=30>The mere effusion of thy proper loins,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=31>Do curse the gout, serpigo, and the rheum,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=32>For ending thee no sooner. Thou hast nor youth nor age,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=33>But, as it were, an after-dinner's sleep,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=34>Dreaming on both; for all thy blessed youth</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=35>Becomes as aged, and doth beg the alms</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=36>Of palsied eld; and when thou art old and rich,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=37>Thou hast neither heat, affection, limb, nor beauty,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=38>To make thy riches pleasant. What's yet in this</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=39>That bears the name of life? Yet in this life</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=40>Lie hid moe thousand deaths: yet death we fear,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=41>That makes these odds all even.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech4><b>CLAUDIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=42>I humbly thank you.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=43>To sue to live, I find I seek to die;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=44>And, seeking death, find life: let it come on.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech5><b>ISABELLA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=45>[Within] What, ho! Peace here; grace and good company!</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech6><b>Provost</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=46>Who's there? come in: the wish deserves a welcome.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech7><b>DUKE VINCENTIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=47>Dear sir, ere long I'll visit you again.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech8><b>CLAUDIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=48>Most holy sir, I thank you.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Enter ISABELLA</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech9><b>ISABELLA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=49>My business is a word or two with Claudio.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech10><b>Provost</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=50>And very welcome. Look, signior, here's your sister.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech11><b>DUKE VINCENTIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=51>Provost, a word with you.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech12><b>Provost</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=52>As many as you please.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech13><b>DUKE VINCENTIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=53>Bring me to hear them speak, where I may be concealed.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Exeunt DUKE VINCENTIO and Provost</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech14><b>CLAUDIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=54>Now, sister, what's the comfort?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech15><b>ISABELLA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=55>Why,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=56>As all comforts are; most good, most good indeed.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=57>Lord Angelo, having affairs to heaven,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=58>Intends you for his swift ambassador,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=59>Where you shall be an everlasting leiger:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=60>Therefore your best appointment make with speed;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=61>To-morrow you set on.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech16><b>CLAUDIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=62>Is there no remedy?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech17><b>ISABELLA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=63>None, but such remedy as, to save a head,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=64>To cleave a heart in twain.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech18><b>CLAUDIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=65>But is there any?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech19><b>ISABELLA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=66>Yes, brother, you may live:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=67>There is a devilish mercy in the judge,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=68>If you'll implore it, that will free your life,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=69>But fetter you till death.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech20><b>CLAUDIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=70>Perpetual durance?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech21><b>ISABELLA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=71>Ay, just; perpetual durance, a restraint,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=72>Though all the world's vastidity you had,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=73>To a determined scope.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech22><b>CLAUDIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=74>But in what nature?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech23><b>ISABELLA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=75>In such a one as, you consenting to't,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=76>Would bark your honour from that trunk you bear,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=77>And leave you naked.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech24><b>CLAUDIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=78>Let me know the point.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech25><b>ISABELLA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=79>O, I do fear thee, Claudio; and I quake,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=80>Lest thou a feverous life shouldst entertain,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=81>And six or seven winters more respect</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=82>Than a perpetual honour. Darest thou die?</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=83>The sense of death is most in apprehension;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=84>And the poor beetle, that we tread upon,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=85>In corporal sufferance finds a pang as great</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=86>As when a giant dies.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech26><b>CLAUDIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=87>Why give you me this shame?</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=88>Think you I can a resolution fetch</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=89>From flowery tenderness? If I must die,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=90>I will encounter darkness as a bride,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=91>And hug it in mine arms.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech27><b>ISABELLA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=92>There spake my brother; there my father's grave</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=93>Did utter forth a voice. Yes, thou must die:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=94>Thou art too noble to conserve a life</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=95>In base appliances. This outward-sainted deputy,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=96>Whose settled visage and deliberate word</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=97>Nips youth i' the head and follies doth emmew</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=98>As falcon doth the fowl, is yet a devil</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=99>His filth within being cast, he would appear</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=100>A pond as deep as hell.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech28><b>CLAUDIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=101>The prenzie Angelo!</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech29><b>ISABELLA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=102>O, 'tis the cunning livery of hell,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=103>The damned'st body to invest and cover</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=104>In prenzie guards! Dost thou think, Claudio?</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=105>If I would yield him my virginity,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=106>Thou mightst be freed.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech30><b>CLAUDIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=107>O heavens! it cannot be.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech31><b>ISABELLA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=108>Yes, he would give't thee, from this rank offence,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=109>So to offend him still. This night's the time</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=110>That I should do what I abhor to name,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=111>Or else thou diest to-morrow.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech32><b>CLAUDIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=112>Thou shalt not do't.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech33><b>ISABELLA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=113>O, were it but my life,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=114>I'ld throw it down for your deliverance</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=115>As frankly as a pin.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech34><b>CLAUDIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=116>Thanks, dear Isabel.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech35><b>ISABELLA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=117>Be ready, Claudio, for your death tomorrow.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech36><b>CLAUDIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=118>Yes. Has he affections in him,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=119>That thus can make him bite the law by the nose,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=120>When he would force it? Sure, it is no sin,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=121>Or of the deadly seven, it is the least.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech37><b>ISABELLA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=122>Which is the least?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech38><b>CLAUDIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=123>If it were damnable, he being so wise,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=124>Why would he for the momentary trick</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=125>Be perdurably fined? O Isabel!</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech39><b>ISABELLA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=126>What says my brother?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech40><b>CLAUDIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=127>Death is a fearful thing.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech41><b>ISABELLA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=128>And shamed life a hateful.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech42><b>CLAUDIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=129>Ay, but to die, and go we know not where;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=130>To lie in cold obstruction and to rot;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=131>This sensible warm motion to become</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=132>A kneaded clod; and the delighted spirit</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=133>To bathe in fiery floods, or to reside</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=134>In thrilling region of thick-ribbed ice;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=135>To be imprison'd in the viewless winds,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=136>And blown with restless violence round about</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=137>The pendent world; or to be worse than worst</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=138>Of those that lawless and incertain thought</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=139>Imagine howling: 'tis too horrible!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=140>The weariest and most loathed worldly life</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=141>That age, ache, penury and imprisonment</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=142>Can lay on nature is a paradise</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=143>To what we fear of death.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech43><b>ISABELLA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=144>Alas, alas!</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech44><b>CLAUDIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=145> Sweet sister, let me live:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=146>What sin you do to save a brother's life,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=147>Nature dispenses with the deed so far</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=148>That it becomes a virtue.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech45><b>ISABELLA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=149>O you beast!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=150>O faithless coward! O dishonest wretch!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=151>Wilt thou be made a man out of my vice?</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=152>Is't not a kind of incest, to take life</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=153>From thine own sister's shame? What should I think?</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=154>Heaven shield my mother play'd my father fair!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=155>For such a warped slip of wilderness</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=156>Ne'er issued from his blood. Take my defiance!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=157>Die, perish! Might but my bending down</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=158>Reprieve thee from thy fate, it should proceed:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=159>I'll pray a thousand prayers for thy death,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=160>No word to save thee.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech46><b>CLAUDIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=161>Nay, hear me, Isabel.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech47><b>ISABELLA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=162>O, fie, fie, fie!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=163>Thy sin's not accidental, but a trade.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=164>Mercy to thee would prove itself a bawd:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=165>'Tis best thou diest quickly.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech48><b>CLAUDIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=166>O hear me, Isabella!</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Re-enter DUKE VINCENTIO</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech49><b>DUKE VINCENTIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=167>Vouchsafe a word, young sister, but one word.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech50><b>ISABELLA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=168>What is your will?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech51><b>DUKE VINCENTIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=169>Might you dispense with your leisure, I would by and</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=170>by have some speech with you: the satisfaction I</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=171>would require is likewise your own benefit.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech52><b>ISABELLA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=172>I have no superfluous leisure; my stay must be</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=173>stolen out of other affairs; but I will attend you awhile.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Walks apart</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech53><b>DUKE VINCENTIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=174>Son, I have overheard what hath passed between you</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=175>and your sister. Angelo had never the purpose to</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=176>corrupt her; only he hath made an essay of her</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=177>virtue to practise his judgment with the disposition</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=178>of natures: she, having the truth of honour in her,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=179>hath made him that gracious denial which he is most</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=180>glad to receive. I am confessor to Angelo, and I</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=181>know this to be true; therefore prepare yourself to</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=182>death: do not satisfy your resolution with hopes</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=183>that are fallible: tomorrow you must die; go to</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=184>your knees and make ready.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech54><b>CLAUDIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=185>Let me ask my sister pardon. I am so out of love</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=186>with life that I will sue to be rid of it.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech55><b>DUKE VINCENTIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=187>Hold you there: farewell.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Exit CLAUDIO</i></p> | |
| <A NAME=188>Provost, a word with you!</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Re-enter Provost</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech56><b>Provost</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=189>What's your will, father</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech57><b>DUKE VINCENTIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=190>That now you are come, you will be gone. Leave me</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=191>awhile with the maid: my mind promises with my</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=192>habit no loss shall touch her by my company.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech58><b>Provost</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=193>In good time.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Exit Provost. ISABELLA comes forward</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech59><b>DUKE VINCENTIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=194>The hand that hath made you fair hath made you good:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=195>the goodness that is cheap in beauty makes beauty</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=196>brief in goodness; but grace, being the soul of</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=197>your complexion, shall keep the body of it ever</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=198>fair. The assault that Angelo hath made to you,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=199>fortune hath conveyed to my understanding; and, but</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=200>that frailty hath examples for his falling, I should</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=201>wonder at Angelo. How will you do to content this</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=202>substitute, and to save your brother?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech60><b>ISABELLA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=203>I am now going to resolve him: I had rather my</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=204>brother die by the law than my son should be</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=205>unlawfully born. But, O, how much is the good duke</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=206>deceived in Angelo! If ever he return and I can</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=207>speak to him, I will open my lips in vain, or</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=208>discover his government.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech61><b>DUKE VINCENTIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=209>That shall not be much amiss: Yet, as the matter</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=210>now stands, he will avoid your accusation; he made</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=211>trial of you only. Therefore fasten your ear on my</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=212>advisings: to the love I have in doing good a</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=213>remedy presents itself. I do make myself believe</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=214>that you may most uprighteously do a poor wronged</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=215>lady a merited benefit; redeem your brother from</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=216>the angry law; do no stain to your own gracious</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=217>person; and much please the absent duke, if</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=218>peradventure he shall ever return to have hearing of</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=219>this business.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech62><b>ISABELLA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=220>Let me hear you speak farther. I have spirit to do</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=221>anything that appears not foul in the truth of my spirit.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech63><b>DUKE VINCENTIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=222>Virtue is bold, and goodness never fearful. Have</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=223>you not heard speak of Mariana, the sister of</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=224>Frederick the great soldier who miscarried at sea?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech64><b>ISABELLA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=225>I have heard of the lady, and good words went with her name.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech65><b>DUKE VINCENTIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=226>She should this Angelo have married; was affianced</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=227>to her by oath, and the nuptial appointed: between</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=228>which time of the contract and limit of the</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=229>solemnity, her brother Frederick was wrecked at sea,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=230>having in that perished vessel the dowry of his</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=231>sister. But mark how heavily this befell to the</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=232>poor gentlewoman: there she lost a noble and</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=233>renowned brother, in his love toward her ever most</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=234>kind and natural; with him, the portion and sinew of</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=235>her fortune, her marriage-dowry; with both, her</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=236>combinate husband, this well-seeming Angelo.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech66><b>ISABELLA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=237>Can this be so? did Angelo so leave her?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech67><b>DUKE VINCENTIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=238>Left her in her tears, and dried not one of them</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=239>with his comfort; swallowed his vows whole,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=240>pretending in her discoveries of dishonour: in few,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=241>bestowed her on her own lamentation, which she yet</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=242>wears for his sake; and he, a marble to her tears,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=243>is washed with them, but relents not.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech68><b>ISABELLA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=244>What a merit were it in death to take this poor maid</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=245>from the world! What corruption in this life, that</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=246>it will let this man live! But how out of this can she avail?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech69><b>DUKE VINCENTIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=247>It is a rupture that you may easily heal: and the</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=248>cure of it not only saves your brother, but keeps</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=249>you from dishonour in doing it.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech70><b>ISABELLA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=250>Show me how, good father.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech71><b>DUKE VINCENTIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=251>This forenamed maid hath yet in her the continuance</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=252>of her first affection: his unjust unkindness, that</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=253>in all reason should have quenched her love, hath,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=254>like an impediment in the current, made it more</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=255>violent and unruly. Go you to Angelo; answer his</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=256>requiring with a plausible obedience; agree with</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=257>his demands to the point; only refer yourself to</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=258>this advantage, first, that your stay with him may</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=259>not be long; that the time may have all shadow and</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=260>silence in it; and the place answer to convenience.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=261>This being granted in course,--and now follows</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=262>all,--we shall advise this wronged maid to stead up</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=263>your appointment, go in your place; if the encounter</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=264>acknowledge itself hereafter, it may compel him to</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=265>her recompense: and here, by this, is your brother</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=266>saved, your honour untainted, the poor Mariana</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=267>advantaged, and the corrupt deputy scaled. The maid</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=268>will I frame and make fit for his attempt. If you</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=269>think well to carry this as you may, the doubleness</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=270>of the benefit defends the deceit from reproof.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=271>What think you of it?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech72><b>ISABELLA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=272>The image of it gives me content already; and I</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=273>trust it will grow to a most prosperous perfection.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech73><b>DUKE VINCENTIO</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=274>It lies much in your holding up. Haste you speedily</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=275>to Angelo: if for this night he entreat you to his</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=276>bed, give him promise of satisfaction. I will</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=277>presently to Saint Luke's: there, at the moated</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=278>grange, resides this dejected Mariana. At that</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=279>place call upon me; and dispatch with Angelo, that</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=280>it may be quickly.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech74><b>ISABELLA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=281>I thank you for this comfort. Fare you well, good father.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Exeunt severally</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
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