Duke.

You are pardon'd, Isabel:

And now, dear maid, be you as free 33 to us.
Your brother's death, I know, sits at your heart;
And you may marvel, why I obscur'd myself,
Labouring to save his life; and would not rather
Make rash remonstrance of my hidden power 34,
Than let him so be lost: O, most kind maid,
It was the swift celerity of his death,

Which I did think with slower foot came on,
That brain'd my purpose 35: But, peace be with him!
That life is better life, past fearing death,

Than that which lives to fear: make it your comfort,
So happy is your brother.

Re-enter ANGELO, MARIANA, PETER, and

Isab.

Provost.

I do, my lord.

Duke. For this new-married man, approaching

here,

Whose salt imagination yet hath wrong'd

Your well-defended honour, you must pardon
For Mariana's sake: but as he adjudg'd your brother
(Being criminal, in double violation

Of sacred chastity, and of promise-breach 36,
Thereon dependent for your brother's life),
The very mercy of the law cries out

37

Most audible, even from his proper $7 tongue,
An Angelo for Claudio, death for death,

Haste still pays haste, and leisure answers leisure;

33 i. e. generous;-pardon us as we have pardoned you.

34 Rash remonstrance; that is, a premature display of it, perhaps we should read demonstrance; but the word may be formed from remonstrer, French-to show again.

35 That brain'd my purpose. We still use in conversation a like phrase that knocked my design on the head.'

36 Promise-breach. It should be promise, breach is superfluous. 37 i. e. Angelo's own tongue.

Like doth quit like, and Measure still for Measure 38? Then, Angelo, thy fault's thus manifested;

Which though thou would'st deny, denies thee vantage 39:

We do condemn thee to the very block

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

Away with him.

Mari.
O, my most gracious lord,
I hope you will not mock me with a husband!
Duke. It is your husband mock'd you

husband:

with a

Consenting to the safeguard of your honour,
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,

To buy you a better husband.

Mari.

O, my dear lord,
I crave no other, nor no better man.

Duke. Never crave him; we are definitive.
Mari. Gentle, my liege,-

Duke.

[Kneeling.

You do but lose your labour; Away with him to death.-Now, sir, [To LUCIO.]

to you.

Mari. 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.

38 Measure still for measure. This appears to have been a current expression for retributive justice. Equivalent to like for like. So, in the 3d part of Henry VI.

'Measure for measure must be answered.' to deny which will avail thee nothing.' VOL. II.

39 i. e.

L

Duke. Against all sense 40 you do impórtune 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.

Mari. Isabel, 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. Isab.

Most bounteous sir,

[Kneeling.
Look, if it please you, on this man condemn'd,
As if my brother liv'd: I partly think,
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 41: thoughts are no subjects; Intents but merely thoughts.

Mari.

Merely, my lord.

Duke. Your suit's unprofitable; stand up, I say.

I have bethought me of another fault:—

Provost, how came it Claudio was beheaded
At an unusual hour?

Prov.

It was commanded so.

40 i. e. against reason and affection.

41 i. e. like the traveller, who dies on his journey, is obscurely interred, and thought of no more:

'Illum expirantem—

Obliti ignoto camporum in pulvere linquunt.'

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

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

Prov.

Pardon me, noble lord:

I thought it was a fault, but knew it not;
Yet did repent me, after more advice 42:
For testimony whereof, one in the prison
That should by private order else have died,
I have reserv'd alive.

Duke.

Prov.

What's he?

His name is Barnardine.
Duke. I would thou had'st done so by Claudio.-
Go, fetch him hither; let me look upon him.
[Exit Provost.
Escal. 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
'Tis my deserving, and I do entreat it.

mercy;

Re-enter Provost, BARNARDINE, CLAUDIO, and

JULIET.

Duke. Which is that Barnardine?

Prov.

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 further than this world, And squar'st thy life according. Thou'rt condemn'd; But, for those earthly 43 faults, I quit them all;

42 i. e. better consideration. K. Henry V. Act ii. Sc. 2. 43 i. e. so far as they are punishable on earth.

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?

Prov. This is another prisoner, that I sav'd, 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 pardoned; 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 quick'ning in his eye :-
Well, Angelo, your evil quits11 you well:

44

Look that you love your wife; her worth, worth yours 45

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 46, 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 47: If you will hang me for it, you may, but I had rather it would please you, I might be whipp'd.

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,

44 Requites.

45 Her worth worth yours;' that is, 'her value is equal to yours, the match is not unworthy of you.'

46 Incontinence.

47 Thoughtless practice.