Isab. So
Ang. And his offence is so, as it appeares, Accountant to the Law, vpon that paine
Isab. True
Ang. Admit no other way to saue his life (As I subscribe not that, nor any other, But in the losse of question) that you, his Sister, Finding your selfe desir"d of such a person, Whose creadit with the Iudge, or owne great place, Could fetch your Brother from the Manacles Of the all-building-Law: and that there were No earthly meane to saue him, but that either You must lay downe the treasures of your body, To this supposed, or else to let him suffer: What would you doe?
Isab. As much for my poore Brother, as my selfe; That is: were I vnder the tearmes of death, Th" impression of keene whips, I"ld weare as Rubies, And strip my selfe to death, as to a bed, That longing haue bin sicke for, ere I"ld yeeld My body vp to shame
Ang. Then must your brother die
Isa. And "twer the cheaper way: Better it were a brother dide at once, Then that a sister, by redeeming him Should die for euer
Ang. Were not you then as cruell as the Sentence, That you haue slander"d so?
Isa. Ignomie in ransome, and free pardon Are of two houses: lawfull mercie, Is nothing kin to fowle redemption
Ang. You seem"d of late to make the Law a tirant, And rather prou"d the sliding of your brother A merriment, then a vice
Isa. Oh pardon me my Lord, it oft fals out To haue, what we would haue, We speake not what we meane; I something do excuse the thing I hate, For his aduantage that I dearely loue
Ang. We are all fraile
Isa. Else let my brother die, If not a fedarie but onely he Owe, and succeed thy weaknesse
Ang. Nay, women are fraile too
Isa. I, as the gla.s.ses where they view themselues, Which are as easie broke as they make formes: Women? Helpe heauen; men their creation marre In profiting by them: Nay, call vs ten times fraile, For we are soft, as our complexions are, And credulous to false prints
Ang. I thinke it well: And from this testimonie of your owne s.e.x (Since I suppose we are made to be no stronger Then faults may shake our frames) let me be bold; I do arrest your words. Be that you are, That is a woman; if you be more, you"r none.
If you be one (as you are well exprest By all externall warrants) shew it now, By putting on the destin"d Liuerie
Isa. I haue no tongue but one; gentle my Lord, Let me entreate you speake the former language
Ang. Plainlie conceiue I loue you
Isa. My brother did loue Iuliet, And you tell me that he shall die for"t
Ang. He shall not Isabell if you giue me loue
Isa. I know your vertue hath a licence in"t, Which seemes a little fouler then it is, To plucke on others
Ang. Beleeue me on mine Honor, My words expresse my purpose
Isa. Ha? Little honor, to be much beleeu"d, And most pernitious purpose: Seeming, seeming.
I will proclaime thee Angelo, looke for"t.
Signe me a present pardon for my brother, Or with an out-stretcht throate Ile tell the world aloud What man thou art
Ang. Who will beleeue thee Isabell?
My vnsoild name, th" austeerenesse of my life, My vouch against you, and my place i"th State, Will so your accusation ouer-weigh, That you shall stifle in your owne report, And smell of calumnie. I haue begun, And now I giue my sensuall race, the reine, Fit thy consent to my sharpe appet.i.te, Lay by all nicetie, and prolixious blushes That banish what they sue for: Redeeme thy brother, By yeelding vp thy bodie to my will, Or else he must not onelie die the death, But thy vnkindnesse shall his death draw out To lingring sufferance: Answer me to morrow, Or by the affection that now guides me most, Ile proue a Tirant to him. As for you, Say what you can; my false, ore-weighs your true.
Exit
Isa. To whom should I complaine? Did I tell this, Who would beleeue me? O perilous mouthes That beare in them, one and the selfesame tongue, Either of condemnation, or approofe, Bidding the Law make curtsie to their will, Hooking both right and wrong to th" appet.i.te, To follow as it drawes. Ile to my brother, Though he hath falne by prompture of the blood, Yet hath he in him such a minde of Honor, That had he twentie heads to tender downe On twentie bloodie blockes, hee"ld yeeld them vp, Before his sister should her bodie stoope To such abhord pollution.
Then Isabell liue chaste, and brother die; ""More then our Brother, is our Chast.i.tie.
Ile tell him yet of Angelo"s request, And fit his minde to death, for his soules rest.
Enter.
Actus Tertius. Scena Prima.
Enter Duke, Claudio, and Prouost.
Du. So then you hope of pardon from Lord Angelo?
Cla. The miserable haue no other medicine But onely hope: I"haue hope to liue, and am prepar"d to die
Duke. Be absolute for death: either death or life Shall thereby be the sweeter. Reason thus with life: If I do loose thee, I do loose a thing That none but fooles would keepe: a breath thou art, Seruile to all the skyie-influences That dost this habitation where thou keepst Hourely afflict: Meerely, thou art deaths foole, For him thou labourst by thy flight to shun, And yet runst toward him still. Thou art not n.o.ble, For all th" accommodations that thou bearst, Are nurst by basenesse: Thou"rt by no meanes valiant, For thou dost feare the soft and tender forke Of a poore worme: thy best of rest is sleepe, And that thou oft prouoakst, yet grosselie fearst Thy death, which is no more. Thou art not thy selfe, For thou exists on manie a thousand graines That issue out of dust. Happie thou art not, For what thou hast not, still thou striu"st to get, And what thou hast forgetst. Thou art not certaine, For thy complexion shifts to strange effects, After the Moone: If thou art rich, thou"rt poore, For like an a.s.se, whose backe with Ingots bowes; Thou bearst thy heauie riches but a iournie, And death vnloads thee; Friend hast thou none.
For thine owne bowels which do call thee, fire The meere effusion of thy proper loines Do curse the Gowt, Sapego, and the Rheume For ending thee no sooner. Thou hast nor youth, nor age But as it were an after-dinners sleepe Dreaming on both, for all thy blessed youth Becomes as aged, and doth begge the almes Of palsied-Eld: and when thou art old, and rich Thou hast neither heate, affection, limbe, nor beautie To make thy riches pleasant: what"s yet in this That beares the name of life? Yet in this life Lie hid moe thousand deaths; yet death we feare That makes these oddes, all euen
Cla. I humblie thanke you.
To sue to liue, I finde I seeke to die, And seeking death, finde life: Let it come on.
Enter Isabella.
Isab. What hoa? Peace heere; Grace, and good companie
Pro. Who"s there? Come in, the wish deserues a welcome
Duke. Deere sir, ere long Ile visit you againe
Cla. Most holie Sir, I thanke you
Isa. My businesse is a word or two with Claudio
Pro. And verie welcom: looke Signior, here"s your sister
Duke. Prouost, a word with you
Pro. As manie as you please
Duke. Bring them to heare me speak, where I may be conceal"d
Cla. Now sister, what"s the comfort?
Isa. Why, As all comforts are: most good, most good indeede, Lord Angelo hauing affaires to heauen Intends you for his swift Amba.s.sador, Where you shall be an euerlasting Leiger; Therefore your best appointment make with speed, To Morrow you set on
Clau. Is there no remedie?
Isa. None, but such remedie, as to saue a head To cleaue a heart in twaine: Clau. But is there anie?
Isa. Yes brother, you may liue; There is a diuellish mercie in the Iudge, If you"l implore it, that will free your life, But fetter you till death