Claud. I thank you, good friend Lucio. Lucio. Within two hours. Claud. Come, officer, away. SCENE IV.A Monastery. Enter DUKE and Friar THOMAS. [Exeunt. Duke. No, holy father; throw away that thought; More grave and wrinkled than the aims and ends Fri. May your grace speak of it? Duke. My holy sir, none better knows than you How I have ever lov'd the life remov'd; And held in idle price to haunt assemblies, Where youth, and cost, and witless bravery keeps.a (A man of stricture and firm abstinence) My absolute power and place here in Vienna, For so I have strew'd it in the common ear, Fri. Gladly, my lord. Duke. We have strict statutes, and most biting laws, (The needful bits and curbs to headstrong steeds,) That goes not out to prey: Now, as fond fathers For terror, not to use, in time the rod a Keeps-dwells. C b Stricture-strictness. Slip. The Duke compares himself with the animal goes not out to prey." He has let the laws slip. "who Becomes more mock'd than fear'd: so our decrees, The baby beats the nurse, and quite athwart Fri. It rested in your grace Duke. And not the punishment. Therefore, indeed, my father, Who may, in the ambush of my name, strike home, To do in slander: And to behold his sway, I will, as 't were a brother of your order, Visit both prince and people: therefore, I prithee, Like a true friar. More reasons for this action, Is more to bread than stone: Hence shall we see, SCENE V.-A Nunnery. Enter ISABELLA and FRANCISCA. Isab. And have you nuns no further privileges? Isab. Yes, truly: I speak not as desiring more; But rather wishing a more strict restraint Isab. [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, Then, if you speak, you must not show your face; Enter LUCIO. Lucio. Hail, virgin, if you be; as those cheek-roses Proclaim you are no less! Can you so stead me, As bring me to the sight of Isabella, A novice of this place, and the fair sister To her unhappy brother Claudio? Isab. 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. Isab. Woe me! For what? Lucio. For that, which if myself might be his judge, He should receive his punishment in thanks: He hath got his friend with child. Isab. Sir, make me not your story.a Lucio. T is true. I would not-though 't is my familiar sin With maids to seem the lapwing, and to jest, a Make me not your story-invent me not your story. By your renouncement, an immortal spirit; As with a saint. Isab. You do blaspheme the good, in mocking me. Lucio. Do not believe it. Fewness and truth, 't is thus: Your brother and his lover a have embrac'd: As those that feed grow full; as blossoming time, İsab. Some one with child by him?-My cousin Lucio. Is she your cousin? Isab. Adoptedly; as schoolmaids change their names, By vain though apt affection. Lucio. She it is. Isab. O, let him marry her! Governs lord Angelo: a man whose blood a Lover-mistress. Falls into forfeit: he arrests him on it; Isab. Seek his life? Lucio. Doth he so Hath censur'da him already, And, as I hear, the provost hath a warrant For his execution. Isab. Alas! what poor Ability 's in me to do him good? My power! Alas! I doubt Lucio. Our doubts are traitors, And make us lose the good we oft might win, As they themselves would owe them. Isab. I'll see what I can do. Lucio. But speedily. Isab. I will about it straight; Isab. Good sir, adieu. [Exeunt. a Censur'd-sentenced. |