1372Mercy to thee would proue it selfe a Bawd,

1373'Tis best that thou diest quickly.

1374Cla. Oh heare me Isabella.

1375Duk. Vouchsafe a word, yong sister, but one word.

1376Isa. What is your Will.

1377Duk. Might you dispense with your leysure, I would

1378by and by haue some speech with you : the satisfaction I

1379would require, is likewise your owne benefit.

1380Isa. I haue no superfluous leysure, my stay must be

1381stolen out of other affaires : but I will attend you a while.

1382Duke. Son, I haue ouer-heard what hath past between

1383you & your sister. Angelo had neuer the purpose to cor-

1384rupt her; onely he hath made an assay of her vertue, to

1385practise his iudgement with the disposition of natures.

1386She (hauing the truth of honour in her) hath made him

1387that gracious deniall, which he is most glad to receiue: I

1388am Confessor to Angelo, and I know this to be true, ther-

1389fore prepare your selfe to death: do not satisfie your re-

1390solution with hopes that are fallible, to morrow you

1391must die, goe to your knees, and make ready.

1392Cla. Let me ask my sister pardon, I am so out of loue

1393with life, that I will sue to be rid of it.

1394Duke. Hold you there: farewell: Prouost, a word

1395with you.

1396Pro. What's your will (father?)

1397Duk. That now you are come, you wil be gone : leaue

1398me a while with the Maid, my minde promises with my

1399habit, no losse shall touch her by my company.

1400Pro. In good time. Exit.

1401Duk. The hand that hath made you faire, hath made

1402you good : the goodnes that is cheape in beauty, makes

1403beauty briefe in goodnes; but grace being the soule of

1404your complexion, shall keepe the body of it euer faire:

1405the assault that Angelo hath made to you, Fortune hath

1406conuaid to my vnderstanding; and but that frailty hath

1407examples for his falling, I should wonder at Angelo: how

1408will you doe to content this Substitute, and to saue your

1409Brother?

1410Isab. I am now going to resolue him: I had rather

1411my brother die by the Law, then my sonne should be vn-

1412lawfullie borne. But (oh) how much is the good Duke

1413deceiu'd in Angelo: if euer he returne, and I can speake

1414to him, I will open my lips in vaine, or discouer his go-

1415uernment.

1416Duke. That shall not be much amisse: yet, as the mat-

1417ter now stands, he will auoid your accusation: he made

1418triall of you onelie. Therefore fasten your eare on my

1419aduisings, to the loue I haue in doing good; a remedie

1420presents it selfe. I doe make my selfe beleeue that you

1421may most vprighteously do a poor wronged Lady a me-

1422rited benefit; redeem your brother from the angry Law;

1423doe no staine to your owne gracious person, and much

1424please the absent Duke, if peraduenture he shall euer re-

1425turne to haue hearing of this businesse.

1426Isab. Let me heare you speake farther; I haue spirit to

1427do any thing that appeares not fowle in the truth of my

1428spirit.

1429Duke. Vertue is bold, and goodnes neuer fearefull:

1430Haue you not heard speake of Mariana the sister of Fre-

1431dericke the great Souldier, who miscarried at Sea?

1432Isa. I haue heard of the Lady, and good words went

1433with her name.

1434Duke. Shee should this Angelo haue married : was af-

1435fianced to her oath, and the nuptiall appointed: between

1436which time of the contract, and limit of the solemnitie,

1437her brother Fredericke was wrackt at Sea, hauing in that

1438perished vessell, the dowry of his sister: but marke how

1439heauily this befell to the poore Gentlewoman, there she

1440lost a noble and renowned brother, in his loue toward

1441her, euer most kinde and naturall: with him the portion

1442and sinew of her fortune, her marriage dowry: with

1443both, her combynate-husband, this well-seeming

1444Angelo.

1445Isab. Can this be so? did Angelo so leaue her?

1446Duke. Left her in her teares, & dried not one of them

1447with his comfort: swallowed his vowes whole, preten-

1448ding in her, discoueries of dishonor: in few, bestow'd

1449her on her owne lamentation, which she yet weares for

1450his sake: and he, a marble to her teares, is washed with

1451them, but relents not.

1452Isab. What a merit were it in death to take this poore

1453maid from the world? what corruption in this life, that

1454it will let this man liue? But how out of this can shee a-

1455uaile?

1456Duke. It is a rupture that you may easily heale: and the

1457cure of it not onely saues your brother, but keepes you

1458from dishonor in doing it.

1459Isab. Shew me how (good Father.)

1460Duk. This fore-named Maid hath yet in her the con-

1461tinuance of her first affection: his vniust vnkindenesse

1462(that in all reason should haue quenched her loue) hath

1463(like an impediment in the Current) made it more vio-

1464lent and vnruly: Goe you to Angelo, answere his requi-

1465ring with a plausible obedience, agree with his demands

1466to the point: onely referre your selfe to this aduantage;

1467first, that your stay with him may not be long : that the

1468time may haue all shadow, and silence in it: and the place

1469answere to conuenience : this being granted in course,

1470and now followes all: wee shall aduise this wronged

1471maid to steed vp your appointment, goe in your place:

1472if the encounter acknowledge it selfe heereafter, it may

1473compell him to her recompence; and heere, by this is

1474your brother saued, your honor vntainted, the poore

1475Mariana aduantaged, and the corrupt Deputy scaled.

1476The Maid will I frame, and make fit for his attempt: if

1477you thinke well to carry this as you may, the doublenes

1478of the benefit defends the deceit from reproofe. What

1479thinke you of it?

1480Isab. The image of it giues me content already, and I

1481trust it will grow to a most prosperous perfection.

1482Duk. It lies much in your holding vp: haste you spee-

1483dily to Angelo, if for this night he intreat you to his bed,

1484giue him promise of satisfaction: I will presently to S.

1485Lukes, there at the moated-Grange recides this deie-

1486cted Mariana; at that place call vpon me, and dispatch

1487with Angelo, that it may be quickly.

1488Isab. I thank you for this comfort: fare you well good

1489father. Exit.

1491Elb. Nay, if there be no remedy for it, but that you

1492will needes buy and sell men and women like beasts, we

1493shall haue all the world drinke browne & white bastard.

1494Duk. Oh heauens, what stuffe is heere.

1495Clow. Twas neuer merry world since of two vsuries

1496the merriest was put downe, and the worser allow'd by

1497order of Law; a fur'd gowne to keepe him warme; and

1498furd with Foxe and Lamb-skins too, to signifie, that craft

1499being richer then Innocency, stands for the facing.

1500Elb. Come your way sir : 'blesse you good Father

1501Frier.

1502Duk. And you good Brother Father; what offence

1503hath this man made you, Sir?