Your well-defended honor, you must pardon

For Mariana's sake: but as he adjudged your brother,

(Being criminal, in double violation

Of sacred chastity, and of promise-breach,
Thereon dependent, for your brother's life)
The very mercy of the law cries out

Most audible, even from his proper 1 tongue,
'An Angelo for Claudio, death for death.'

Haste still pays haste, and leisure answers leisure ; Like doth quit like, and Measure still for Measure. Then, Angelo, thy fault's thus manifested;

Which though thou wouldst deny, denies thee van

We do condemn thee to the very block

Where Claudio stoop'd to death, and with like haste :

Away with him.

Mar.

O, my most gracious lord,

I hope you will not mock me with a husband!

Duke. It is your husband mock'd you with a husband:

Consenting to the safeguard of your honor,

I thought your marriage fit; else imputation,
For that he knew you, might reproach your life,
And choke your good to come: for his possessions,
Although by confiscation they are ours,

We do instate and widow you withal,

1 Own.

2 The denial of which will avail thee nothing.

O, my dear lord,

To buy you a better husband.

Mar.

I crave no other, nor no better man.

Duke. Never crave him: we are definitive.

Mar. Gentle, my liege,

Duke.

[kneeling.

You do but lose your labor :

Away with him to death.-Now, sir, [to Lucio.] to

you.

Mar. O, my good lord!-Sweet Isabel, take my part;

Lend me your knees, and all my life to come
I'll lend you, all my life to do you service.

Duke. Against all sense 1 you do importune her
Should she kneel down, in mercy of this fact,
Her brother's ghost his paved bed would break,
And take her hence in horror.

Sweet Isabel, do yet but kneel by me :

Hold up your hands; say nothing; I'll speak all.
They say, best men are moulded out of faults;
And, for the most, become much more the better
For being a little bad: so may my husband.
O Isabel! will you not lend a knee ?

Duke. He dies for Claudio's death.
Isa.

:

Most bounteous sir,

[kneeling.

Look, if it please you, on this man condemn'd,
As if my brother lived. I partly think,

1 Reason and affection.

A due sincerity govern'd his deeds,

Till he did look on me: since it is so,

Let him not die. My brother had but justice,
In that he did the thing for which he died:
For Angelo,

His act did not o'ertake his bad intent;

And must be buried but as an intent

That perish'd by the way: thoughts are no subjects; Intents but merely thoughts.

Merely, my lord.

up, I say.

Mar.
Duke. Your suit's unprofitable: stand
I have bethought me of another fault :-
Provost, how came it, Claudio was beheaded
At an unusual hour?

Pro.

:

It was commanded so.

Duke. Had you a special warrant for the deed? Pro. No, my good lord; it was by private mes

sage.

Duke. For which I do discharge you of your office :

Give up your keys.

Pro.
Pardon me, noble lord:
I thought it was a fault, but knew it not;
Yet did repent me, after more advice: 1
For testimony whereof, one in the prison,
That should by private order else have died,
I have reserved alive.

Duke.

What's he?

1 After more mature consideration.

Pro.

His name is Barnardine.

Duke. I would thou hadst done so by Claudio.Go, fetch him hither: let me look upon him. [Exit Provost.

Esc. I am sorry, one so learned and so wise,
As you, lord Angelo, have still appear'd,
Should slip so grossly, both in the heat of blood,
And lack of temper'd judgment afterward.

Ang. I am sorry, that such sorrow I procure :
And so deep sticks it in my penitent heart,
That I crave death more willingly than mercy :
'Tis my deserving, and I do entreat it.

Re-enter PROVOST, BARNARDINE, CLAUDIO, and

JULIET.

Duke. Which is that Barnardine?

Pro.

This, my lord.

Duke. There was a friar told me of this man.-
Sirrah, thou art said to have a stubborn soul,
That apprehends no farther than this world,
And squarest thy life according. Thou 'rt con-
demn'd;

But, for those earthly faults, I quit them all;
And pray thee, take this mercy to provide
For better times to come.- -Friar, advise him;

I leave him to your hand.-What muffled fellow's that?

Pro. This is another prisoner, that I saved,

That should have died when Claudio lost his head; As like almost to Claudio as himself.

[unmuffles Claudio.

Duke. If he be like your brother, [to Isabella.]

for his sake

Is he pardon'd; and, for your lovely sake,

Give me your hand, and say you will be mine,
He is my brother too. But fitter time for that.
By this, lord Angelo perceives he's safe;
Methinks, I see a quickening in his eye.-

Well, Angelo, your evil quits 1 you well:

Look that you love your wife; her worth, worth yours.

I find an apt remission in myself :

And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon ;— You, sirrah, [to Lucio.] that knew me for a fool, a coward,

One all of luxury, an ass, a madman :

Wherein have I so deserved of you, that you
Extol me thus ?

Lucio. 'Faith, my lord, I spoke it but according to the trick. If you will hang me for it, you may; but I had rather it would please you, I might be whipped.

Duke. Whipp'd first, sir, and hang'd after.--
Proclaim it, provost, round about the city;
If any woman's wrong'd by this lewd fellow,
(As I have heard him swear himself, there's one
Whom he begot with child) let her appear,
And he shall marry her: the nuptial finish'd,
Let him be whipp'd and hang'd.