SCENE V. A nunnery. Enter ISABELLA and FRANCISCA. Isa. And have you nuns no farther privileges? Isa. Yes, truly: I speak not as desiring more; Isa. [within. Who's that which calls? Fran. It is a man's voice. Gentle Isabella, Turn you the key, and know his business of him : You may, I may not; you are yet unsworn : When you have vow'd, you must not speak with men, But in the presence of the prioress : Then, if you speak, you must not show your face; Or, if you show your face, you must not speak. He calls again: I pray you, answer him. [Exit Francisca. Isa. Peace and prosperity! Who is 't that calls? Enter LUCIO. Lucio. Hail, virgin, if you be; as those cheek roses Proclaim you are no less! Can you so stead me, A novice of this place, and the fair sister To her unhappy brother Claudio? Isa. Why her unhappy brother? let me ask; The rather, for I now must make you know I am that Isabella, and his sister. Lucio. Gentle and fair, your brother kindly greets you: Not to be weary with you, he's in prison. Isa. Woe me! For what? Lucio. For that, which, if myself might be his judge, He should receive his punishment in thanks: Isa. Sir, mock me not:-your story. Lucio. "Tis true. I would not.1 Though 'tis my familiar sin With maids to seem the lapwing, and to jest, As with a saint. Isa. You do blaspheme the good, in mocking me. Lucio. Do not believe it. Fewness and truth, 2 'tis thus: Your brother and his lover have embraced : I would not mock you. 3 Abundant produce. 2 In few and true words. Expresseth his full tilth and husbandry. Isa. Some one with child by him?-My cousin Juliet? Lucio. Is she your cousin? Isa. Adoptedly; as school-maids change their names, By vain though apt affection. Lucio. She it is. This is the point. Isa. O, let him marry her! The duke is very strangely gone from hence; Governs lord Angelo; a man, whose blood Which have, for long, run by the hideous law, 1 Kept many gentlemen in expectation. › Repress. 2 Extent. And pull'd the law upon you. Ang. 'Tis one thing to be tempted, Escalus, Another thing to fall. I not deny, The jury, passing on the prisoner's life, May, in the sworn twelve, have a thief or two Guiltier than him they try. What's open made to justice, That justice seizes. What know the laws, That thieves do pass on thieves? 'Tis very pregnant,1 For 2 I have had such faults; but rather tell me, Where is the provost ? Pro. Here, if it like your honor. Ang. See that Claudio Be executed by nine to-morrow morning: [Exit Provost. Esc. Well, Heaven forgive him, and forgive us all! Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall: 1 Plain. 2 Because. 3 Sentence. Some run from brakes 1 of vice, and answer none; And some condemned for a fault alone. Enter ELBOW, FROTH, CLOWN, Officers, &c. Elbow. Come, bring them away: if these be good people in a commonweal, that do nothing but use their abuses in common houses, I know no law : bring them away. Ang. How now, sir! What's your name?" and what's the matter? Elbow. If it please your honor, I am the poor duke's constable, and my name is Elbow: I do lean upon justice, sir, and do bring in here before your good honor two notorious benefactors. Ang. Benefactors? Well; what benefactors are they? are they not malefactors? Elbow. If it please your honor, I know not well what they are: but precise villains they are, that I am sure of; and void of all profanation in the world, that good Christians ought to have. Esc. This comes off well; 2 here's a wise officer. Ang. Go to. What quality are they of? Elbow is your name? Why dost thou not speak, Elbow? Clown. He cannot, sir; he's out at elbow. Ang. What are you, sir? Elbow. He, sir? a tapster, sir; parcel3 bawd; one that serves a bad woman; whose house, sir, Thickets, thorny paths. 2 This is well told. 3 Partly. |