For terror, not to use; in time the rod Becomes more mock'd, than fear'd: fo our Decrees, And Liberty plucks Juftice by the nose; Fri. It refted in your Grace T'unloose this ty'd up juftice, when you pleas'd: Duke. I do fear, too dreadful. Sith 'twas my fault to give the people scope, And not the punishment. Therefore, indeed, my father, I have on Angelo impos'd the office: Who may in th' ambush of my name ftrike home, To do in flander: And to behold his sway, Like a true Friar. More reafons for this action [Exeunt. SCENE SCENE VIII. A Nunnery. Enter Ifabella and Francifca. ND have you Ijab. Nun. Are not these large enough? Nuns no further privileges ? Ifab. Yes, truly; I speak not as defiring more; Nun. It is a man's voice: gentle Isabella, Turn you the key, and know his business of him ; Then, if you speak, you must not fhew your face; Enter Lucio. Lucio. Hail, virgin, (if you be) as those cheek rofes Proclaim you are no lefs; can you fo ftead me, A novice of this place, and the fair sister Ifab. Why her unhappy brother? let me ask I am that Ifabella, and his fifter. Lucio. Gentle and fair, your brother kindly greets you; Not to be weary with you, he's in prison. Ifab. Woe me! for what? Lucio. For that, which, if myself might be his judge, He fhould receive his punishment in thanks; He hath got his friend with child. Ifab. Sir, make me not your ftory. Lucio. 'Tis true : miliar fin -I would not (tho' 'tis fa my With maids to feem the lapwing, and to jeft, As with a Saint. Ifab. You do blafpheme the good, in mocking me. Lucio. Do not believe it. Fewness and truth, 'tis thus; Your brother and his lover having embrac'd, As those that feed grow full, as bloffoming time That from the feedness the bare fallow brings To teeming foifon; fo her plenteous womb Expreffeth his full tilth and husbandry. -my coufin Ifab. Some one with child by him?—my Lucio. Is fhe your cousin ? Ifab.Adoptedly, as fchool-maids change their names, By vain, tho' apt, affection. Lucio. She it is. Ifab. O, let him marry her! Lucio. This is the point. The Duke is very ftrangely gone from hence; But But doth rebate and blunt his natural edge Which have long time run by the hideous law, Ifab. Doth he fo Seek for his life? Lucio. H'as cenfur'd him already; Ifab. Alas! what poor Ability's in me, to do him good? And make us loose the good, we oft might win, And let him learn to know, when maidens fue, As they themselves would owe them. Lucio. But, fpeedily. Ifab. I will about it ftrait; No longer ftaying, but to give the mother [Exeunt. АСТ. ACT II. SCENE I The PALACE. Enter Angelo, Escalus, a Justice, and Attendants. ANGELO. WE muft not make a scare-crow of the law, Setting it up to fear the birds of prey, And let it keep one fhape, 'till cuftom make it Efcal. Ay, but yet Let us be keen, and rather cut a little, Than fall, and bruise to death. Alas! this gentleman, Whom I would fave, had a moft noble father; Let but your Honour know, Whom I believe to be moft ftrait in virtue, Could have attain'd th' effect of your own purpofe; Ang. 'Tis one thing to be tempted, Escalus, The jury, paffing on the prisoner's life, May in the fworn twelve have a thief or two, Guiltier than him they try; what's open made to juftice, That justice feizes on. What know the laws, That thieves do pass on thieves? 'tis very pregnant, We tread upon, and never think of it. For I have had fuch faults; but rather tell me, When |