Dress'd in a little brief authority; Most ignorant of what he's most assured, Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven, Lucio. O, to him, to him, wench: he will relent; He's coming; I perceive 't. Pro. Pray Heaven, she win him! Isa. We cannot weigh our brother with ourself: Great men may jest with saints: 'tis wit in them But, in the less, foul profanation. Lucio. Thou 'rt in the right, girl; more o' that. Isa. That in the captain's but a choleric word, Which in the soldier is flat blasphemy. Lucio. Art advised o' that? more on 't. ; Ang. Why do you put these sayings upon me? Isa. Because authority, though it err like others, Hath yet a kind of medicine in itself, That skins the vice o' the top. Go to your bosom ; Let it not sound a thought upon your tongue Ang. She speaks, and 'tis Such sense, that my sense breeds with it.1 -Fare you well. She delivers her sentiments with such eloquence, that my sensual desires are inflamed even by what she says. Isa, Gentle my lord, turn back. Ang. I will bethink me.- -Come again to-morrow. Isa. Hark, how I'll bribe you. Good my lord, turn back. Ang. How! bribe me? Isa. Ay, with such gifts, that Heaven shall share with you. Lucio. You had marr'd all else. Isa. Not with fond shekels of the tested1 gold. Or stones, whose rates are either rich, or poor, As fancy values them: but with true prayers, That shall be up at heaven, and enter there, Ere sun-rise; prayers from preserved souls,2 From fasting maids, whose minds are dedicate To nothing temporal. Ang. To-morrow. Well: come to me Lucio. Go to; it is well; away. [aside to Isabel. For I am that way going to temptation, Where prayers cross. Isa. Amen : [aside. At what hour to-morrow Ang. From thee; even from thy virtue !— What's this? what's this? Is this her fault, or mine? The tempter, or the tempted, who sins most? Ha! Do, as the carrion does, not as the flower, Shall we desire to raze the sanctuary, When judges steal themselves. What? do I love her, That I desire to hear her speak again, And feast upon her eyes? What is 't I dream on? To sin in loving virtue: never could the strumpet, Once stir my temper; but this virtuous maid 1 I am like the carrion, which grows putrid by those beams which increase the fragrance of the violet. Subdues me quite.-Ever, till now, When men were fond, I smiled, and wonder'd how. [Exit. SCENE III. A room in a prison. Enter DUKE, habited like a Friar, and PROVOST. Duke. Hail to you, provost! so, I think, you are. Pro. I am the provost. What's your will, good friar? Duke. Bound by my charity, and my bless'd order, I come to visit the afflicted spirits Here in the prison: do me the common right The nature of their crimes, that I may minister Pro. I would do more than that, if more were needful. Enter JULIET. Look, here comes one; a gentlewoman of mine, Than die for this. Duke. When must he die? Pro. As I do think, to-morrow.[to Juliet. I have provided for you; stay awhile, Duke. Repent you, fair one, of the sin you carry? Jul. I do; and bear the shame most patiently. Duke. I'll teach you how you shall arraign your conscience, And try your penitence, if it be sound, Or hollowly put on. Duke. Love you the man that wrong'd you? Jul. Yes, as I love the woman that wrong'd him. Duke. So then, it seems, your most offenceful act Was mutually committed? Duke. Then was your sin of heavier kind than his. repent, As that the sin hath brought you to this shame,— Showing, we'd not spare Heaven,1 as we love it, Jul. I do repent me, as it is an evil; And take the shame with joy. Duke. There rest.2 Your partner, as I hear, must die to-morrow, [Exit. 1 Spare to offend Heaven. 2 Keep yourself in this temper. |