178

MEASURE FOR MEASURE.

1

Isa. Ignomy 1 in ransom, and free pardon,

Are of two houses: lawful

is mercy

Nothing akin to foul redemption.

ACT II.

Ang. You seem'd of late to make the law a tyrant ;

And rather proved the sliding of

A merriment than a vice.

your brother

Isa. O, pardon me, my lord; it oft falls out,

To have what we'd have, we speak not what we

mean:

I something do excuse the thing I hate,

For his advantage that I dearly love.
Ang. We are all frail.

Isa.

Else let my brother die,

Nay, women are frail too.

Owe,3 and succeed by weakness.

Ang.

Isa. Ay, as the glasses where they view them

selves;

Which are as easy broke as they make forms.
Women!-Help Heaven! men their creation mar
In profiting by them. Nay, call us ten times frail ;
For we are soft as our complexions are,

And credulous to false prints.5

Ang.

I think it well :

And from this testimony of your own sex,

(Since, I suppose, we are made to be no stronger

1 Ignominy.

2 Associate in his crime.

3 Own.

In taking advantage of their weakness.

5 Take any impression.

we

CT

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MEASURE FOR MEASURE
Isabella &Angelo

Act II Scene IV

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