Duke. I remember you, sir, by the sound of your voice: I met you at the prison, in the absence of the duke. Lucio. O, did you so? And do you remember what you said of the duke? Duke. Most notedly, sir. Lucio. Do you so, sir? And was the duke a flesh-monger, a fool, and a coward, as you then reported him to be? Duke. You must, sir, change persons with me, ere you make that my report: you, indeed, spoke so of him; and much more, much worse. Lucio. O thou damnable fellow ! Did not I pluck thee by the nose, for thy speeches? Duke. I protest, I love the duke, as I love myself. Ang. Hark! how the villain would close now, after his treasonable abuses. Escal. Such a fellow is not to be talk'd withal:-Away with him to prison :-Where is the provost ?-Away with him to prison; lay bolts enough upon him: let him speak no more:-Away with those giglots too, and with the other confederate companion. [The Provost lays hands on the Duke. Duke. Stay, sir; stay a while. Ang. What resists he? Help him, Lucio. Lucio. Come, sir; come, sir; come, sir; foh, sir: Why, you bald-pated, lying rascal! you must be hooded, must you? Show your knave's visage, with a pox to you! show your sheep-biting face, and be hang'd an hour! Will't not off? [Pulls off the Friar's hood, and discovers the Duke. Duke. Thou art the first knave that e'er made a duke. -First, Provost, let me bail these gentle three :Sneak not away, sir; [To LUCIO] for the friar and you Must have a word anon :-lay hold on him. Lucio. This may prove worse than hanging. Duke. What you have spoke, I pardon; sit you down. [TO ESCALUS. We'll borrow place of him:-Sir, by yourleave: [To ANG. Hast thou or word, or wit, or impudence, That yet can do thee office? If thou hast, Ang. O my dread lord, I should be guiltier than my guiltiness, When I perceive, your grace, like power divine, But let my trial be mine own confession; Duke. Come hither, Mariana : Say, wast thou e'er contracted to this woman? Duke. Go take her hence, and marry her instantly.➡ Do you the office, friar; which consummate, Return him here again :-Go with him, Provost. [Exe. ANGELO, MARIANA, PETER, and Provost. Escal. My lord, I am more amaz'd at his dishonour, Than at the strangeness of it. Duke. Come hither, Isabel : Your friar is now your prince: As I was then Not changing heart with habit, I am still Isab. O, give me pardon, That I, your vassal, have employ'd and pain'd 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; That brain'd my purpose: But, peace be with him! Than that which lives to fear: make it your comfort, Re-enter ANGELO, MARIANA, PETER, and Provost. Isab. I do, my lord. Duke. For this new-married man, approaching here, Whose salt imagination yet hath wrong'd Your well-defended honour, you must pardon For Mariana's sake: but as he adjudg'd your brother, (Being criminal, in double violation Of sacred chastity, and of promise-breach, Thereon dependent, for your brother's life,) Most audible, even from his proper tongue, Haste still pays haste, and leisure answers leisure; Like doth quit like, and Measure still for MeasureThen, Angelo, thy fault's thus manifested; Which though thou wouldst deny, denies thee 'vantage: We do condemn thee to the very block Where Claudio stoop'd to death, and with like haste ;Away with him. Mari. O, my most gracious lord, I hope you will not mock me with a husband! Duke. It is your husband mock'd you with a husband: Consenting to the safeguard of your honour, I thought your marriage fit; else imputation, Mari. O, my dear lord, I crave no other, nor no better man. Duke. Never crave him: we are definitive. Mari. Gentle, my liege, Duke. You do but lose your labour ; [Kneeling. Away with him to death.-Now, sir, to you. [To Lucio. 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: Mari. Isabel, Sweet Isabel, do yet but kneel by me ; Hold up your hands, say nothing, I'll speak all. Duke. He dies for Claudio's death. Look, if it please you, on this man condemn'd, [Kneeling. As if my brother liv'd: I partly think, 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.- Provost, how came it, Claudio was beheaded Prov. It was commanded so. Duke. Had you a special warrant for the deed? Prov. No, my good lord; it was by private message. Duke. For which I do discharge you of your office: Give up your keys. Prov. Pardon me, noble lord: I thought it was a fault, but knew it not; Duke. What's he? [7] The Duke has justly observed, that Isabel is importuned against all sense to solicit for Angelo, yet here against all sense she solicits for him. Her argument is extraordinary: A due sincerity govern'd his deeds Till he did look on me: since it is so, Let him not die. That Angelo had committed all the crimes charged against him, as far as he could commit them, is evident. The only intent which his act did not overtake, was the defilement of Isabel. Of this Angelo was only intentionally guilty. Angelo's crimes were such as must sufficiently justify punishment, whether its end be to secure the innocent from wrong, or to deter guilt by example; and I believe every reader feels some indignation when he finds him spared. From what extenuation of his crime can Isabel, who yet supposes her brother dead, form any plea in his favour? Since he was good till he looked on me, let him not die. I am afraid our varlet poet intended to inculcate, that women think ill of nothing that raises the credit of their beauty, and are ready, however virtuous, to pardon any act which they think incited by their own charms. JOHNSON. It is evident that Isabel condescends to Mariana's importunate solicitation with great reluctance. Bad as her argument might be, it is the best that the guilt of Angelo would admit. The sacrifice that she makes of her revenge to her friendship scarcely merits to be considered in so harsh a light. RITSON. Prov. His name is Barnardine. Duke. I would, thou hadst done so by Claudio.- As you, lord, Angelo, have still appear'd, Ang. I am sorry, that such sorrow I procure : Re-enter Provost, BARNARDINE, CLAUDIO, and Duke. Which is that Barnardine? Prov. This, my lord. Duke. There was a friar told me of this man :- Thou'rt condemn'd; But, for those earthly faults, I quit them all ; I leave him to your hand.-What muffled fellow's that? That should have dy'd when Claudio lost his head; [Unmuffles CLAUDIO. Duke. If he be like your brother, for his sake [To IS AB. Is he pardon'd; And, for your lovely sake, Give me your hand, and say you will be mine, Look, that you love your wife; her worth, worth yours.- And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon ; You, sirrah, that knew me for a fool, a coward, [To Luc. One all of luxury, an ass, a mad-man; Wherein have I deserved so of you, That you extol me thus ? Lucio. 'Faith, my lord, I spoke it but according to the |