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Thieves for their robbery have authority,

When judges fteal themfelves. What! do I love her,
That I defire to hear her speak again,

And feast upon her eyes? what is't I dream on?
Oh cunning enemy, that to catch a faint
With faints doft bait thy hook! most dangerous
Is that temptation that doth goad us on

To fin in loving virtue; ne'er could the ftrumpet,
With all her double vigour, art and nature,
Once ftir my temper; but this virtuous maid
Subdues me quite: Ev'n 'till this very Now,
When men were fond, I fmil'd, and wonder'd how. [Exit.
SCENE IX. A Prison.

Enter Duke babited like a Friar, and Provoft.
Duke. Hail to you, Provoft; fo I think you are.
Prov. I am the Provoft; what's your will, good Friar?
Duke. Bound by my charity, and my bleft order,

I come to vifit the afflicted fpirits

Here in the prifon; do me the common right
To let me fee them, and to make me know
The nature of their crimes; that I may minifter
To them accordingly.

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

Look, here comes one; a gentlewoman of mine,
Who falling in the flaws of her own youth,
Hath blifter'd her report: fhe is with child,
And he that got it, fentenc'd: a young man
More fit to do another fuch offence,
Than die for this.

Duke. When muft he die?

Prov. As I do think, to-morrow!

I have provided for you; ftay a while,

And you shall be conducted.

[To Juliet.

Duke. Repent you, fair one, of the fin you carry?
Juliet. Ido; and bear the fhame moft patiently.

Duke. I'll teach you how you shall arraign your confcience, And try your penitence if it be found,

Or hollowly put on.

Juliet. I'll gladly learn.

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

Juliet. Yes, as I love the woman that wrong'd him. Duke. So then it seems your moft offenceful act Was mutually committed.

Juliet. Mutually,

Duke. Then was your fin of heavier kind than his.
Juliet. I do confefs it and repent it, father.

Duke. 'Tis meet fo, daughter; but repent you not
As that the fin hath brought you to this fhame?
Which forrow's always tow'rds ourselves, not heaven,
Showing we'd not feek heaven, as we love it,
But as we ftand in fear.

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

And take the fhame with joy.

Duke. 'Tis well, there reft.

Your partner, as I hear, muft die to-morrow,
And I am going with inftruction to him;

So grace go with you; benedicite!

Juliet. Muft die to-morrow! oh injurious law,

That refpites me a life, whofe very comfort

Is ftill a dying horror!

Prov. 'Tis pity of him.

SCENE X. The Palace.

Enter Angelo.

[Exit

[Exeunt

Ang. When I would pray and think, I think and pray
To fev'ral fubjects: heav'n hath my empty words,
Whilft my intention, hearing not my tongue,
Anchors on Ifabel: heav'n's in my mouth,
As if I did but only chew its name,

And in my heart the strong and fwelling evil
Of my conception: the ftate whereon I ftudied
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. Oh place! oh form!
How often doft thou with thy cafe, thy habit,
Wrench awe from fools, and tie the wifer fouls
To thy falfe feeming! blood, thou art but blood:
Let's write good angel on the devil's horn;

2

Let's

Is't not the devil's creft? How now? who's there?
Enter Servant.

Serv. One Ifabel a fifter afks access to you.

Ang. Teach her the way. Oh heav'ns! why does my Thus mufter to my heart, making both that Unable for itself, and difpoffeffing

My other parts of neceffary fitness?

So play the foolish throngs with one that fwoons;
Come all to help him, and fo ftop the air
By which he should revive: and even fo
The gen'ral fubjects to a well-wifht King
Quit their own part, and in obfequious fondness
Crowd to his prefence, where their untaught love
Muft needs appear offence. How now, fair maid ?
SCENE XI. Enter Ifabella.

[blood

Ang. That you might know it, would much better please

Ifab. I am come to know your pleasure.

Than to declare what 'tis. He cannot live.

Ifab. Even fo?-heav'n keep you!

[me,

[Going

Ang. Yet may he live a while;

And it may be as long as you or I;

Yet he must die.

Ifab. Under your fentence?

Ang. Yea..

Ifab. When, I beseech you? that in his reprieve, Longer or fhorter, he may be fo fitted,

That his foul ficken not.

Ang. Ha? fie, these filthy vices! 'twere as good To pardon him, that hath from nature ftol'n

A man already made, as to remit

Their fawcy lewdness that do coin heav'n's image

In ftamps that are forbid: 'tis all as juft,
Falfely to take away a life true made,

As to put mettle in reftrained means,

To make a falfe one.

Ifab. 'Tis fet down fo in heav'n, but not in earth.
Ang. And fay you fo? then I fhall poze you quickly.
Which had you rather, that the most just law
Now took your brother's life; or, to redeem him,
Give up your body to fuch fweet uncleanness

2

As

As fhe, that he hath ftain'd?

fab. Sir, believe this,

I had rather give my body than my foul.
Ang. I talk not of your foul; our compell'd fins
Stand more for number than accompt.

Ifab. How fay you?

Ang. Nay, I'll not warrant that; for I can speak
Against the thing I fay. Anfwer to this:

I, now the voice of the recorded law,
Pronounce a fentence on your brother's life:
Might there not be a charity in fin,
To fave this brother's life?

Ifab. Pleafe you to do't,

I'll take it as a peril to my foul, It is no fin at all, but charity.

Ang. Pleas'd you to do't at peril of your soul,
Were't equal poize of fin and charity?

Ifab. That I do beg his life, if it be fin,
Heav'n let me bear it! you granting my fuit,
If that be fin, I'll make't my morning-pray'r
To have it added to the faults of mine,
And nothing of your answer.

Ang. Nay, but hear me :

Your fenfe purfues not mine: either you're ignorant,
Or feem fo craftily; and that's not good.

Ifab. Let me be ignorant, and in nothing good,
But graciously to know I am no better.

Ang. Thus wifdom wishes to appear most bright,
When it doth tax it felf: as thefe black mafques
Proclaim an en-fhield beauty ten times louder
Than beauty could difplay'd. But mark me well:
To be received plain I'll fpeak more grofs;
Your brother is to die.

Ifab. So.

Ang. And his offence is fo, as it appears
Accountant to that law upon that pain.
Ifab. True

Ang. Admit no other way to fave his life,
(As I fubfcribe not that, nor any other,)
But (in the lofs of queftion) that you his fifter,

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Finding

Finding yourself defir'd of fuch a perfon,
Whofe credit with the judge, or own great place,
Could fetch your brother from the manacles
Of the all-holding law; and that there were
No earthly mean to fave him, but that either
You must lay down the treafures of your body
To this fuppofed, or else let him fuffer;
What would you do?

Ifab. As much for my poor brother as my felf;
That is, were I under the terms of death,
Th' impreffion of keen whips I'd wear as rubies,
And strip myself to death as to a bed

That longing I've been fick for, ere I'd yield
My body up to fhame.

Ang. Then must your brother die.
Ifab. And 'twere the cheaper way;
Better it were a brother dy'd at once,
Than that a fifter, by redeeming him,
Should die for ever.

Ang. Were not you then as cruel as the fentence That you have flander'd fo?

Ifab. An ignominious ranfom, and free pardon, Are of two houfes; lawful mercy fure

Is nothing kin to foul redemption.

Ang. You feem'd of late to make the law a tyrant,

And rather prov'd the fliding of your brother
A merriment than a vice,

Ifab. Oh, pardon me,

My lord; it very oft falls out, to have

What we would have, we fpeak not what we mean :

I fomething do excuse the thing I hate,

For his advantage that I dearly love.

Ang. We are all frail.

Ifab. Elfe let my brother die,

If not a feodary but only he
Owe and fucceed by weakness.

Ang. Nay, women are frail too.

Ifab. Ay, as the glaffes where they view themselves; Which are as eafy broke as they make forms. Women! help heav'n; men their creation mar

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