Duke. You are pardon'd, Isabel: And now, dear maid, be you as free 33 to us. Which I did think with slower foot came on, Than that which lives to fear: make it your comfort, 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 Of sacred chastity, and of promise-breach 36, 37 Most audible, even from his proper $7 tongue, 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. husband: with a Consenting to the safeguard of your honour, We do instate and widow you withal, To buy you a better husband. Mari. O, my dear lord, Duke. Never crave him; we are definitive. 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 Lend me your knees, and, all my life to come, 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. Let him not die: My brother had but justice, 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 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; Duke. Prov. What's he? His name is Barnardine. Ang. I am sorry, that such sorrow I procure: 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, 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 ; 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.- 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. |