Ang. I was, my lord.

That I, your vassal, have employ'd and pain'd Your unknown sovereignty.

Duke.

You are pardon'd, Isabel :
And now, dear maid, be you as free to us.
Your brother's death, I know, sits at your heart;
And you may marvel why I obscur'd myself,
Labouring to save his life; and would not rather
Make rash remonstrance of my hidden power,
Than let him be so lost: O, most kind maid,
It was the swift celerity of his death,
Which I did think with slower foot came on,
That brain'd my purpose: But peace be with him!
That life is better life, past fearing death,
Than that which lives to fear: make it your comfort,
So happy is your brother.

Re-enter ANGELO, MARIANA, PETER, and Provost.
Isab.
I do, my lord.
Duke. For this new-married man, approaching
here,

Whose foul imagination yet hath wrong'd
Your well-defended honour, you must pardon
For Mariana's sake: but as he adjudged your brother,
(Being criminal, in double violation

Of sacred chastity, and of promise-breach,
Thereon dependent for your brother's life,)
The very mercy of the law cries out
Most audible, even from his proper tongue,
"An Angelo for Claudio, death for death."
Haste still pays haste, and leisure answers leisure;
Like doth quit like, and "Measure still for Mea-
sure! "

Then, Angelo, thy fault's thus manifested;
Which though thou would'st deny, denies thee van-
tage:

We do condemn thee to the very block
Where Claudio stoop'd to death, and with like haste:
Away with him.

to you.

Mari. O, my good lord! - Sweet Isabel, take my part;

Lend me your knees, and all my life to come
I'll lend you all my life to do you service.

Duke. Against all sense you do impórtune her:
Should she kneel down, in mercy of this fact,
Her brother's ghost his paved bed would break,
And take her hence in horror.
Mari.

Isabel,

Look, if it please you, on this man condemn'd,
As if my brother liv'd: I partly think,
A due sincerity govern'd his deeds,
Till he did look on me; since it is so,
Let him not die: My brother had but justice,
In that he did the thing for which he died:
For Angelo,

His act did not o'ertake his bad intent,
And must be buried but as an intent
That perish'd by the way: thoughts are no subjects;
Intents but merely thoughts.

Mari.
Merely, my lord.
Duke. Your suit's unprofitable; stand up, I say.—
I have bethought me of another fault:
Provost, how came it, Claudio was beheaded
At an unusual hour?

Prov.

It was commanded so. Duke. Had you a special warrant for the deed? Prov. No, my good lord; it was by private mes

Escal. I am sorry, one so learned and so wise
As you, lord Angelo, have still appear'd,
Should slip so grossly, both in the heat of blood,
And lack of temper'd judgment afterward.

Ang. I am sorry, that such sorrow I procure :
And so deep sticks it in my penitent heart,
That I crave death more willingly than mercy;
'Tis my deserving, and I do entreat it.

Re-enter Provost, BARNARDINE, CLAUDIO, and JULIET.

Duke. Which is that Barnardine ?

Prov. This, my lord. Duke. There was a friar told me of this man. Sirrah, thou art said to have a stubborn soul, That apprehends no further than this world, And squar'st thy life according. Thou'rt condemn'd; But, for those earthly faults I quit them all; And pray thee, take this mercy to provide For better times to come: Friar advise him; I leave him to your hand. What muffled fellow's

that?

Prov. This is another prisoner, that I sav'd, That should have died when Claudio lost his head; As like almost to Claudio as himself.

[Unmuffles CLAUDIO. Duke. If he be like your brother, [To ISABELLA.]

for his sake

Wherein have I so deserved of you, That you extol me thus ?

Lucio 'Faith, my lord, I spoke it but according to the trick 9: If you will hang me for it, you may, but I had rather it would please you, I might be whipp'd.

Duke. Whipp'd first, sir, and hang'd after. —
Proclaim it, provost, round about the city;
If any woman's wrong'd by this lewd fellow,
(As I have heard him swear himself, there's one
Whom he hath injured thus,) let her appear,
And he shall marry her: the nuptial finish'd,
Let him be whipp'd and hang'd.

So.

Lucio. I beseech your highness, do not marry me Your highness said even now, I made you a duke; good my lord, do not recompense me, in making me a cuckold.

Duke. Upon mine honour, thou shalt marry her. Thy slanders I forgive; and therewithal Remit thy other forfeits : - Take him to prison: And see our pleasure herein executed.

Lucio. Marrying me so, my lord, is pressing to death, whipping, and hanging.

Duke. Sland'ring a prince deserves it. She, Claudio, that you wrong'd look you restore. Joy to you, Mariana! - love her, Angelo; I have confess'd her, and I know her virtue. Thanks, good friend Escalus, for thy much goodness: There's more behind, that is more gratulate. Thanks, provost, for thy care and secrecy; We shall employ thee in a worthier place: Forgive him, Angelo, that brought you home The head of Ragozine for Claudio's; The offence pardons itself. Dear Isabel, I have a motion much imports your good; Whereto if you'll a willing ear incline, What's mine is yours, and what is yours is mine : So bring us to our palace; where we'll show What's yet behind, that's meet you all should know [Exeunt.

Thoughtless practice.