Ang.

From thee, even from thy virtue!

What's this, what's this? Is this her fault or mine?
The tempter or the tempted, who sins most ?
Ha!

Not she; nor doth she tempt: but it is I
That, lying by the violet in the sun,

165

Do as the carrion does, not as the flower,
Corrupt with virtuous season. Can it be
That modesty may more betray our sense
Than woman's lightness? Having waste ground enough, 170

Shall we desire to raze the sanctuary,

And pitch our evils there? O, fie, fie, fie!

What dost thou, or what art thou, Angelo ?

Dost thou desire her foully for those things

That make her good? O, let her brother live:

175

Thieves for their robbery have authority
When judges steal themselves. What, do I love her,
That I desire to hear her speak again,

And feast upon her eyes? What is't I dream on?
O cunning enemy, that, to catch a saint,
With saints dost bait thy hook! Most dangerous
Is that temptation that doth goad us on
To sin in loving virtue: never could the strumpet,

180

With all her double vigour, art and nature,
Once stir my temper; but this virtuous maid

185

Subdues me quite. Ever till now,

When men were fond, I smiled, and wonder'd how. [Exit.

SCENE III. A room in a prison.

Enter, severally, DUKE disguised as a friar, and PROVOST.

Duke. Hail to you, provost! so I think you are.
Prov. I am the provost. What's your will, good friar?
Duke. Bound by my charity and my blest order,
I come to visit the afflicted spirits

Here in the prison. Do me the common right
To let me see them, and to make me know
The nature of their crimes, that I may minister
To them accordingly.

5

Prov. I would do more than that, if more were needful..

Enter JULIET.

Look, here comes one: a gentlewoman of mine,

10

Who, falling in the flaws of her own youth,

Hath blister'd her report: she is with child ;

And he that got it, sentenced; a young man
More fit to do another such offence

Than die for this.

15

Duke. When must he die?
Prov.

As I do think, to-morrow.

[To Juliet.

I have provided for you: stay awhile,

And you shall be conducted.

Duke. Repent you, fair one, of the sin you carry?
Jul. I do; and bear the shame most patiently.

20

Duke. I'll teach you how you shall arraign your con

science,

And try your penitence, if it be sound,

Duke. Love you the man that wrong'd you ?

Jul. Yes, as I love the woman that wrong'd him. 25

Duke. So, then, it seems your most offenceful act

Was mutually committed?

Duke. Then was your sin of heavier kind than his. Jul. I do confess it, and repent it, father.

Duke. 'Tis meet so, daughter: but lest you do repent, 30 As that the sin hath brought you to this shame, Which sorrow is always toward ourselves, not heaven, Showing we would not spare heaven as we love it, But as we stand in fear, —

Jul. I do repent me, as it is an evil,

And take the shame with joy.

Duke.

There rest.

Your partner, as I hear, must die to-morrow,

And I am going with instruction to him.

Grace go with you, Benedicite!

Jul. Must die to-morrow! O injurious love,

That respites me a life, whose very comfort

Is still a dying horror!

'Tis pity of him.

35

[Exit.

40

1

SCENE IV. A room in ANGELO's house.

Enter ANGELO.

5

Ang. When I would pray and think, I think and pray
To several subjects. Heaven hath my empty words;
Whilst my invention, hearing not my tongue,
Anchors on Isabel: Heaven in my mouth,
As if I did but only chew his name;
And in my heart the strong and swelling evil
Of my conception. The state, whereon I studied,
Is like a good thing, being often read,
Grown fear'd and tedious; yea, my gravity,
Wherein-let no man hear me I take pride,
Could I with boot change for an idle plume,
Which the air beats for vain. O place, O form,
How often dost thou with thy case, thy habit,
Wrench awe from fools, and tie the wiser souls
To thy false seeming! Blood, thou art blood :
Let's write good angel on the devil's horn;
'Tis not the devil's crest.

10

15

Enter a Servant.

How now! who's there?

Serv. One Isabel, a sister, desires access to you.

Ang. Teach her the way. O heavens!
Why does my blood thus muster to my heart,
Making both it unable for itself,
And dispossessing all my other parts

Of necessary fitness?

20

So play the foolish throngs with one that swoons;
Come all to help him, and so stop the air
By which he should revive: and even so

25

The general subject to a well-wish'd king
Quit their own part, and in obsequious fondness
Crowd to his presence, where their untaught love
Must needs appear offence.

Isab. I am come to know your pleasure.

Ang. That you might know it, would much better

please me

Than to demand what 'tis. Your brother cannot live. Isab. Even so. - Heaven keep your honour !

Ang. Yet may he live awhile; and, it may be, 35 As long as you or I: yet he must die.

Isab. Under your sentence ?