1204Du. So then you hope of pardon from Lord Angelo?

1205Cla. The miserable haue no other medicine

1206But onely hope: I'haue hope to liue, and am prepar'd to

1207die.

1208Duke. Be absolute for death: either death or life

1209Shall thereby be the sweeter. Reason thus with life:

1210If I do loose thee, I do loose a thing

1211That none but fooles would keepe: a breath thou art,

1212Seruile to all the skyie-influences

1213That dost this habitation where thou keepst

1214Hourely afflict: Meerely, thou art deaths foole,

1215For him thou labourst by thy flight to shun,

1216And yet runst toward him still. Thou art not noble,

1217For all th' accommodations that thou bearst,

1218Are nurst by basenesse: Thou'rt by no meanes valiant,

1219For thou dost feare the soft and tender forke

1220Of a poore worme: thy best of rest is sleepe,

1221And that thou oft prouoakst, yet grosselie fearst

1222Thy death, which is no more. Thou art not thy selfe,

1223For thou exists on manie a thousand graines

1224That issue out of dust. Happie thou art not,

1225For what thou hast not, still thou striu'st to get,

1226And what thou hast forgetst. Thou art not certaine,

1227For thy complexion shifts to strange effects,

1228After the Moone: If thou art rich, thou'rt poore,

1229For like an Asse, whose backe with Ingots bowes;

1230Thou bearst thy heauie riches but a iournie,

1231And death vnloads thee; Friend hast thou none.

1232For thine owne bowels which do call thee, fire

1233The meere effusion of thy proper loines

1234Do curse the Gowt, Sapego, and the Rheume

1235For ending thee no sooner. Thou hast nor youth, nor age

1236But as it were an after-dinners sleepe

1237Dreaming on both, for all thy blessed youth

1238Becomes as aged, and doth begge the almes

1239Of palsied-Eld: and when thou art old, and rich

1240Thou hast neither heate, affection, limbe, nor beautie

1241To make thy riches pleasant: what's yet in this

1242That beares the name of life? Yet in this life

1243Lie hid moe thousand deaths; yet death we feare

1244That makes these oddes, all euen.

1245Cla. I humblie thanke you.

1246To sue to liue, I finde I seeke to die,

1247And seeking death, finde life: Let it come on.

1249Isab. What hoa? Peace heere; Grace, and good com-

1250panie.

1251Pro. Who's there? Come in, the wish deserues a

1252welcome.

1253Duke. Deere sir, ere long Ile visit you againe.

1254Cla. Most holie Sir, I thanke you.

1255Isa. My businesse is a word or two with Claudio.

1256Pro. And verie welcom: looke Signior, here's your

1257sister.

1258Duke. Prouost, a word with you.

1259Pro. As manie as you please.

1260Duke. Bring them to heare me speak, where I may be

1261conceal'd.

1262Cla. Now sister, what's the comfort?

1263Isa. Why,

1264As all comforts are: most good, most good indeede,

1265Lord Angelo hauing affaires to heauen

1266Intends you for his swift Ambassador,

1267Where you shall be an euerlasting Leiger;

1268Therefore your best appointment make with speed,

1269To Morrow you set on.

1270Clau. Is there no remedie?

1271Isa. None, but such remedie, as to saue a head

1272To cleaue a heart in twaine:

1273Clau. But is there anie?

1274Isa. Yes brother, you may liue;

1275There is a diuellish mercie in the Iudge,

1276If you'l implore it, that will free your life,

1277But fetter you till death.

1278Cla. Perpetuall durance?

1279Isa. I iust, perpetuall durance, a restraint

1280Through all the worlds vastiditie you had

1281To a determin'd scope.

1282Clau. But in what nature?

1283Isa. In such a one, as you consenting too't,

1284Would barke your honor from that trunke you beare,

1285And leaue you naked.

1286Clau. Let me know the point.

1287Isa. Oh, I do feare thee Claudio, and I quake,

1288Least thou a feauorous life shouldst entertaine,

1289And six or seuen winters more respect

1290Then a perpetuall Honor. Dar'st thou die?

1291The sence of death is most in apprehension,

1292And the poore Beetle that we treade vpon

1293In corporall sufferance, finds a pang as great,

1294As when a Giant dies.

1295Cla. Why giue you me this shame?

1296Thinke you I can a resolution fetch

1297From flowrie tendernesse? If I must die,

1298I will encounter darknesse as a bride,

1299And hugge it in mine armes.

1300Isa. There spake my brother: there my fathers graue

1301Did vtter forth a voice. Yes, thou must die:

1302Thou art too noble, to conserue a life

1303In base appliances. This outward sainted Deputie,

1304Whose setled visage, and deliberate word

1305Nips youth i'th head, and follies doth emmew

1306As Falcon doth the Fowle, is yet a diuell:

1307His filth within being cast, he would appeare

1308A pond, as deepe as hell.

1309Cla. The prenzie, Angelo?

1310Isa. Oh 'tis the cunning Liuerie of hell,

1311The damnest bodie to inuest, and couer

1312In prenzie gardes; dost thou thinke Claudio,

1313If I would yeeld him my virginitie

1314Thou might'st be freed?

1315Cla. Oh heauens, it cannot be.

1316Isa. Yes, he would giu't thee; from this rank offence

1317So to offend him still. This night's the time

1318That I should do what I abhorre to name,

1319Or else thou diest to morrow.

1320Clau. Thou shalt not do't.

1321Isa. O, were it but my life,

1322I'de throw it downe for your deliuerance

1323As frankely as a pin.

1324Clau. Thankes deere Isabell.

1325Isa. Be readie Claudio, for your death to morrow.

1326Clau. Yes. Has he affections in him,

1327That thus can make him bite the Law by th' nose,

1328When he would force it? Sure it is no sinne,

1329Or of the deadly seuen it is the least.

1330Isa. Which is the least?

1331Cla. If it were damnable, he being so wise,

1332Why would he for the momentarie tricke

1333Be perdurablie fin'de? Oh Isabell.

1334Isa. What saies my brother?

1335Cla. Death is a fearefull thing.

1336Isa. And shamed life, a hatefull.

1337Cla. I, but to die, and go we know not where,

1338To lie in cold obstruction, and to rot,

1339This sensible warme motion, to become

1340A kneaded clod; And the delighted spirit

1341To bath in fierie floods, or to recide

1342In thrilling Region of thicke-ribbed Ice,

1343To be imprison'd in the viewlesse windes

1344And blowne with restlesse violence round about

1345The pendant world: or to be worse then worst

1346Of those, that lawlesse and incertaine thought,

1347Imagine howling, 'tis too horrible.

1348The weariest, and most loathed worldly life

1349That Age, Ache, periury, and imprisonment

1350Can lay on nature, is a Paradise

1351To what we feare of death.

1352Isa. Alas, alas.

1353Cla. Sweet Sister, let me liue.

1354What sinne you do, to saue a brothers life,

1355Nature dispenses with the deede so farre,

1356That it becomes a vertue.

1357Isa. Oh you beast,

1358Oh faithlesse Coward, oh dishonest wretch,

1359Wilt thou be made a man, out of my vice?

1360Is't not a kinde of Incest, to take life

1361From thine owne sisters shame? What should I thinke,

1362Heauen shield my Mother plaid my Father faire:

1363For such a warped slip of wildernesse

1364Nere issu'd from his blood. Take my defiance,

1365Die, perish: Might but my bending downe

1366Repreeue thee from thy fate, it should proceede.

1367Ile pray a thousand praiers for thy death,

1368No word to saue thee.

1369Cla. Nay heare me Isabell.

1370Isa. Oh fie, fie, fie:

1371Thy sinn's not accidentall, but a Trade;

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.