ACT III Sc. I Enter ISABELLA. DUKE. Dear Son, ere long I'll visit you again. CLAUD. Most holy Sir, I thank you. ISAB. My business is a word or two with Claudio. PROV. And very welcome. Look, Signior, here's your sister. DUKE. Provost, a word with you. PROV. As many as you please. DUKE. Bring me to hear them speak, where I may be 51 [Exeunt DUKE and Provost. Conceal'd. CLAUD. Now, Sister, what's the comfort? ISAB. Why, as all comforts are—most good in deed : Lord Angelo, having affairs to Heaven, Intends you for his swift ambassador, Where you shall be an everlasting leiger.1 Therefore your best appointment2 make with speed: CLAUD. Is there no remedy? ISAB. None, but such remedy as, to save a head, To cleave a heart in twain. But is there any? 60 ISAB. In such a one as (you consenting to 't) Would bark your honour from that trunk you bear, And leave you naked. CLAUD. 70 And the poor beetle, that we tread upon, CLAUD. Why give you me this shame? Think you I can a resolution fetch From flowery tenderness? If I must die, I will encounter darkness as a bride, And hug it in mine arms. ISAB. There spake my brother! there my father's grave Thou art too noble to conserve a life In base appliances. This outward-sainted Deputy- Nips youth i' the head, and follies doth emmew,1 2 As falcon doth the fowl-is yet a Devil. His filth within being cast, he would appear A pond as deep as Hell. CLAUD. The primsie1 Angelo? ISAB. O, 'tis the cunning livery of Hell The damned'st body to invest and cover In primsie guards!5 Dost thou think, Claudio, If I would yield him my virginity, Thou might'st be freed. CLAUD. O, Heavens! it cannot be. ISAB. Yes, he would give't thee, from this rank 80 90 Thou shalt not do 't. 100 deliverance Thanks, dear Isabel. your ISAB. Be ready, Claudio, for your death to-morrow. That thus can make him bite the Law by the nose, Or of the deadly Seven it is the least. ISAB. Which is the least? 1 (falconry) constrain to lie close. 2 by shaking her bells. 5 trappings. 6 licence to sin in this one way. 7 impulses. ACT III 3 purged. 4 austere. 8 enforce. 257 ACT III CLAUD. If it were damnable, he being so wise, Sc. I Why, would he for the momentary trick Be perdurably fin'd?-O Isabel ! ISAB. What says my brother? ISAB. And shamed life a hateful. Death is a fearful thing. CLAUD. Ay, but to die, and go we know not where; And blown with restless violence round about The weariest and most loathed worldly life To what we fear of death. ISAB. Alas! alas! CLAUD. Heaven shield my mother play'd my father fair, Ne'er issu'd from his blood! Take my defiance:5 CLAUD. Nay, hear me, Isabel. 140 1 show. 2 delighting. 3 forefend. + wilding shoot. 5 refusal. DUKE. Vouchsafe a word, young Sister, but one word. 150 DUKE. Might you dispense with your leisure, I would by- CLAUD. Let me ask my sister pardon. I am so out of DUKE. Hold you there.1 Farewell. Re-enter Provost. Provost, a word with you. PROV. What's your will, Father? [Exit CLAUDIO. DUKE. That now you are come, you will be gone. 170 Leave me awhile with the maid: my mind promises with my habit, no loss shall touch her by my company. PROV. In good time.2 ACT III The assault that Angelo hath made to you, fortune hath convey'd to my understanding; and, but that frailty hath examples for his falling, I should wonder at Angelo. How will you do to content this Substitute and to save your brother? 184 ISAB. I am now going to resolve him: I had rather my brother die by the law than my son should be unlawfully born. But, O, how much is the good Duke deceiv'd in Angelo! If ever he return, and I can speak to him, I will open my lips in vain, or discover his Government. 190 DUKE. That shall not be much amiss. Yet, as the 200 DUKE. Virtue is bold, and goodness never fearful. Have you not heard speak of Mariana, the sister of Frederick, the great soldier who miscarried at sea? ISAB. I have heard of the lady, and good words went with her name. 208 DUKE. She should this Angelo have married: was affianc'd to her oath, and the nuptial appointed: between which time of the contract and limit1 of the solemnity, her brother Frederick was wrack'd at sea, having in that perish'd vessel the dowry of his sister. But mark, how heavily this befell to the poor gentlewoman there she lost a noble and renown'd brother, in his love toward her ever most kind and natural; with him the portion and sinew of her fortune, her marriage-dowry; with both, her combinate husband, this well-seeming Angelo. |