Bore many gentlemen, myself being one,
In hand, and hope of action: but we do learn
By those that know the very nerves of state,
His givings-out were of an infinite distance
From his true-meant design. Upon his place,
And with full line of his authority,
Governs Lord Angelo; a man whose blood
Is very snow-broth; one who never feels
The wanton stings and motions of the sense,
But doth rebate and blunt his natural edge
With profits of the mind, study and fast.
He to give fear to use and liberty,
Which have for long run by the hideous law,
As mice by lions-hath pick'd out an act,
Under whose heavy sense your brother's life
Falls into forfeit: he arrests him on it;
And follows close the rigour of the statute,
To make him an example. All hope is gone,
Unless you have the grace by your fair prayer
To soften Angelo: and that's my pith of business
'Twixt you and your poor brother.

Isab. Doth he so seek his life?
Lucio.

Has censured him

Already; and, as I hear, the provost hath

55

60

65

70

A warrant for his execution.

Isab. Alas! what poor ability's in me

75

To do him good?
Lucio.

Assay the power you have.

Isab. My power? Alas, I doubt, -
Lucio.

Our doubts are traitors,

And make us lose the good we oft might win
By fearing to attempt. Go to Lord Angelo,

And let him learn to know, when maidens sue,
Men give like gods; but when they weep and kneel,

All their petitions are as freely theirs

As they themselves would owe them.

80

*But speedily.

85

Isab. I will about it straight ;

No longer staying but to give the Mother
Notice of my affair. I humbly thank you:
Commend me to my brother: soon at night
I'll send him certain word of my success.

Lucio. I take my leave of you.
Isab.

Good sir, adieu.

90

[Exeunt.

ACT II.

SCENE I. A hall in ANGELO's house.

Enter ANGELO, ESCALUS, and a Justice, Provost, Officers, and other Attendants, behind.

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

Their perch, and not their terror.

Escal.

Ay, but yet

Let us be keen, and rather cut a little,

5

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,
That, in the working of your own affections,
Had time cohered with place or place with wishing,

10

Or that the resolute acting of your blood

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.

15

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,

20

That justice seizes: what know the laws

That thieves do pass on thieves? 'Tis very pregnant,

know] Rowe (ed. 2). knowes F1F2. knows F3F4

The jewel that we find, we stoop and take't,
Because we see it; but what we do not see
We tread upon, and never think of it.
You may not so extenuate his offence

25

For I have had such faults; but rather tell me,

When I, that censure him, do so offend,

Let mine own judgement pattern out my death,
And nothing come in partial. Sir, he must die.

30

Escal. Be it as your wisdom will.

Ang.

Where is the provost?

Prov. Here, if it like your honour.
Ang.

See that Claudio

Be executed by nine to-morrow morning :
Bring him his confessor, let him be prepared;

35

For that's the utmost of his pilgrimage.

[Exit Provost.

Escal. [Aside] Well, heaven forgive him! and forgive

us all!

Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall:

Some run from brakes of ice, and answer none;

And some condemned for a fault alone.

40

Enter ELBOW, and Officers with FROTH and POMPEY.

Elb. Come, bring them away: if these be good people

24 take't] take it Steevens.

31 Sir] om. Pope.

After this line Ff have 'Enter Provost.' Capell omitted it. 36 [Exit Provost.] Rowe. om. Ff. 37 [Aside] Clark and Glover (S. Walker conj.).

heaven] God Adee conj.

38 This line is printed in italics in Ff. 39 from brakes of ice, and through brakes of vice, and Rowe. from brakes of vice, and Malone. from brakes of justice, Capell. from breaks of ice, and Collier. from wreaks o' vice Keightley. from brakes, off ice

VOL. I.

in a commonweal 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?

45

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?

51

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.

55

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 ? Pom. He cannot, sir; he's out at elbow.

Ang. What are you, sir?

60

Elb. He, sir! a tapster, sir; parcel-bawd; one that serves a bad woman; whose house, sir, was, as they say, plucked down in the suburbs; and now she professes a hothouse, which, I think, is a very ill house too.

Escal. How know you that?

65

Elb. My wife, sir, whom I detest before heaven and your honour,—

Escal. How? thy wife?

Elb. Ay, sir; -whom, I thank heaven, is an honest

woman,

Escal. Dost thou detest her therefore?

70

Elb. I say, sir, I will detest myself also, as well as