986Duk. 'Tis meet so (daughter) but least you do repent

987As that the sin hath brought you to this shame,

988Which sorrow is alwaies toward our selues, not heauen,

989Showing we would not spare heauen, as we loue it,

990But as we stand in feare.

991Iul. I doe repent me, as it is an euill,

992And take the shame with ioy.

993Duke. There rest:

994Your partner (as I heare) must die to morrow,

995And I am going with instruction to him:

996Grace goe with you, Benedicite. Exit.

997Iul. Must die to morrow? oh iniurious Loue

998That respits me a life, whose very comfort

999Is still a dying horror.

1000Pro. 'Tis pitty of him. Exeunt.

1003An. When I would pray, & think, I thinke, and pray

1004To seuerall subiects: heauen hath my empty words,

1005Whilst my Inuention, hearing not my Tongue,

1006Anchors on Isabell: heauen in my mouth,

1007As if I did but onely chew his name,

1008And in my heart the strong and swelling euill

1009Of my conception: the state whereon I studied

1010Is like a good thing, being often read

1011Growne feard, and tedious: yea, my Grauitie

1012Wherein (let no man heare me) I take pride,

1013Could I, with boote, change for an idle plume

1014Which the ayre beats for vaine: oh place, oh forme,

1015How often dost thou with thy case, thy habit

1016Wrench awe from fooles, and tye the wiser soules

1017To thy false seeming? Blood, thou art blood,

1018Let's write good Angell on the Deuills horne

1019'Tis not the Deuills Crest: how now? who's there?

1021Ser. One Isabell, a Sister, desires accesse to you.

1022Ang. Teach her the way: oh, heauens

1023Why doe's my bloud thus muster to my heart,

1024Making both it vnable for it selfe,

1025And dispossessing all my other parts

1026Of necessary fitnesse?

1027So play the foolish throngs with one that swounds,

1028Come all to help him, and so stop the ayre

1029By which hee should reuiue: and euen so

1030The generall subiect to a wel-wisht King

1031Quit their owne part, and in obsequious fondnesse

1032Crowd to his presence, where their vn-taught loue

1033Must needs appear offence: how now faire Maid.

1035Isab. I am come to know your pleasure.

1036An. That you might know it, wold much better please (me,

1037Then to demand what 'tis: your Brother cannot liue.

1038Isab. Euen so: heauen keepe your Honor.

1039Ang. Yet may he liue a while : and it may be

1040As long as you, or I: yet he must die.

1041Isab. Vnder your Sentence?

1042Ang. Yea.

1043Isab. When, I beseech you: that in his Reprieue

1044(Longer, or shorter) he may be so fitted

1045That his soule sicken not.

1046Ang. Ha? fie, these filthy vices: It were as good

1047To pardon him, that hath from nature stolne

1048A man already made, as to remit

1049Their sawcie sweetnes, that do coyne heauens Image

1050In stamps that are forbid: 'tis all as easie,

1051Falsely to take away a life true made,

1052As to put mettle in restrained meanes

1053To make a false one.

1054Isab. 'Tis set downe so in heauen, but not in earth.

1055Ang. Say you so: then I shall poze you quickly.

1056Which had you rather, that the most iust Law

1057Now tooke your brothers life, and to redeeme him

1058Giue vp your body to such sweet vncleannesse

1059As she that he hath staind?

1060Isab. Sir, beleeue this.

1061I had rather giue my body, then my soule.

1062Ang. I talke not of your soule: our compel'd sins

1063Stand more for number, then for accompt.

1064Isab. How say you?

1065Ang. Nay Ile not warrant that : for I can speake

1066Against the thing I say: Answere to this,

1067I (now the voyce of the recorded Law)

1068Pronounce a sentence on your Brothers life,

1069Might there not be a charitie in sinne,

1070To saue this Brothers life?

1071Isab. Please you to doo't,

1072Ile take it as a perill to my soule,

1073It is no sinne at all, but charitie.

1074Ang. Pleas'd you to doo't, at perill of your soule

1075Were equall poize of sinne, and charitie.

1076Isab. That I do beg his life, if it be sinne

1077Heauen let me beare it: you granting of my suit,

1078If that be sin, Ile make it my Morne-praier,

1079To haue it added to the faults of mine,

1080And nothing of your answere.

1081Ang. Nay, but heare me,

1082Your sence pursues not mine: either you are ignorant,

1083Or seeme so crafty; and that's not good.

1084Isab. Let be ignorant, and in nothing good,

1085But graciously to know I am no better.

1086Ang. Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright,

1087When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques

1088Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder

1089Then beauty could displaied: But marke me,

1090To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse:

1091Your Brother is to dye.

1092Isab. So.

1093Ang. And his offence is so, as it appeares,

1094Accountant to the Law, vpon that paine.

1095Isab. True.

1096Ang. Admit no other way to saue his life

1097(As I subscribe not that, nor any other,

1098But in the losse of question) that you, his Sister,

1099Finding your selfe desir'd of such a person,

1100Whose creadit with the Iudge, or owne great place,

1101Could fetch your Brother from the Manacles

1102Of the all-building-Law: and that there were

1103No earthly meane to saue him, but that either

1104You must lay downe the treasures of your body,

1105To this supposed, or else to let him suffer:

1106What would you doe?

1107Isab. As much for my poore Brother, as my selfe;

1108That is: were I vnder the tearmes of death,

1109Th' impression of keene whips, I'ld weare as Rubies,

1110And strip my selfe to death, as to a bed,

1111That longing haue bin sicke for, ere I'ld yeeld

1112My body vp to shame.