Measure for Measure - Act 5, scene 1
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Measure for Measure - Act 5, scene 1Act 5, scene 1
Synopsis:
The duke, on his entry, is met by Isabella, who accuses Angelo of violating her chastity. She is arrested for slander. Mariana claims Angelo as her husband. Angelo protests his innocence until the duke, who re-enters disguised as the friar, is stripped of his friar’s hood by Lucio. Angelo then confesses his crimes, and is sentenced first to marry Mariana and then to be executed for Claudio’s death.
Mariana begs for Angelo’s life and persuades Isabella to join in the plea, despite Claudio’s death. Isabella begs the duke to spare Angelo. The duke refuses and has Barnardine and another prisoner brought in. When this second prisoner is unmuffled, he is revealed to be Claudio. Angelo’s death sentence is revoked, Lucio is sentenced to marry Kate Keepdown, and Claudio is instructed to marry Juliet. The duke offers his hand in marriage to Isabella.
Enter Duke, Varrius, Lords, Angelo, Escalus, Lucio,⌜Provost, Officers, and⌝ Citizens at several doors.
DUKE, ⌜to Angelo⌝
2359 My very worthy cousin, fairly met.
2360 ⌜To Escalus.⌝ Our old and faithful friend, we are
2361 glad to see you.
ANGELO, ESCALUS
2362 Happy return be to your royal Grace.
DUKE
2363 5 Many and hearty thankings to you both.
2364 We have made inquiry of you, and we hear
2365 Such goodness of your justice that our soul
2366 Cannot but yield you forth to public thanks,
2367 Forerunning more requital.
ANGELO 2368 10You make my bonds still greater.
DUKE
2369 O, your desert speaks loud, and I should wrong it
2370 To lock it in the wards of covert bosom
2371 When it deserves with characters of brass
2372 A forted residence ’gainst the tooth of time
2373 15 And razure of oblivion. Give ⌜me⌝ your hand
2374 And let the subject see, to make them know
2375 That outward courtesies would fain proclaim
2376 Favors that keep within.—Come, Escalus,
2378 20 And good supporters are you.
Enter ⌜Friar⌝ Peter and Isabella.
FRIAR PETER, ⌜to Isabella⌝
2379 Now is your time. Speak loud, and kneel before him.
ISABELLA, ⌜kneeling⌝
2380 Justice, O royal duke. Vail your regard
2381 Upon a wronged—I would fain have said, a maid.
2382 O worthy prince, dishonor not your eye
2383 25 By throwing it on any other object
2384 Till you have heard me in my true complaint
2385 And given me justice, justice, justice, justice.
DUKE
2386 Relate your wrongs. In what, by whom? Be brief.
2387 Here is Lord Angelo shall give you justice.
2388 30 Reveal yourself to him.
ISABELLA 2389 O worthy duke,
2390 You bid me seek redemption of the devil.
2391 Hear me yourself, for that which I must speak
2392 Must either punish me, not being believed,
2393 35 Or wring redress from you. Hear me, O hear me,
2394 here.
ANGELO
2395 My lord, her wits, I fear me, are not firm.
2396 She hath been a suitor to me for her brother
2397 Cut off by course of justice.
ISABELLA, ⌜standing⌝ 2398 40 By course of justice!
ANGELO
2399 And she will speak most bitterly and strange.
ISABELLA
2400 Most strange, but yet most truly will I speak.
2401 That Angelo’s forsworn, is it not strange?
2402 That Angelo’s a murderer, is ’t not strange?
2403 45 That Angelo is an adulterous thief,
2405 Is it not strange, and strange?
DUKE 2406 Nay, it is ten times strange.
ISABELLA
2407 It is not truer he is Angelo
2408 50 Than this is all as true as it is strange.
2409 Nay, it is ten times true, for truth is truth
2410 To th’ end of reck’ning.
DUKE 2411 Away with her. Poor soul,
2412 She speaks this in th’ infirmity of sense.
ISABELLA
2413 55 O prince, I conjure thee, as thou believest
2414 There is another comfort than this world,
2415 That thou neglect me not with that opinion
2416 That I am touched with madness. Make not
2417 impossible
2418 60 That which but seems unlike. ’Tis not impossible
2419 But one, the wicked’st caitiff on the ground,
2420 May seem as shy, as grave, as just, as absolute
2421 As Angelo. Even so may Angelo,
2422 In all his dressings, caracts, titles, forms,
2423 65 Be an archvillain. Believe it, royal prince,
2424 If he be less, he’s nothing, but he’s more,
2425 Had I more name for badness.
DUKE 2426 By mine honesty,
2427 If she be mad—as I believe no other—
2428 70 Her madness hath the oddest frame of sense,
2429 Such a dependency of thing on thing,
2430 As e’er I heard in madness.
ISABELLA 2431 O gracious duke,
2432 Harp not on that; nor do not banish reason
2433 75 For inequality, but let your reason serve
2434 To make the truth appear where it seems hid,
2435 And hide the false seems true.
DUKE 2436 Many that are not mad
2437 Have, sure, more lack of reason. What would you
2438 80 say?
2439 I am the sister of one Claudio,
2440 Condemned upon the act of fornication
2441 To lose his head, condemned by Angelo.
2442 I, in probation of a sisterhood,
2443 85 Was sent to by my brother; one Lucio
2444 As then the messenger—
LUCIO, ⌜to Duke⌝ 2445 That’s I, an ’t like your Grace.
2446 I came to her from Claudio and desired her
2447 To try her gracious fortune with Lord Angelo
2448 90 For her poor brother’s pardon.
ISABELLA, ⌜to Duke⌝ 2449 That’s he indeed.
DUKE, ⌜to Lucio⌝
2450 You were not bid to speak.
LUCIO 2451 No, my good lord,
2452 Nor wished to hold my peace.
DUKE 2453 95 I wish you now, then.
2454 Pray you take note of it, and when you have
2455 A business for yourself, pray heaven you then
2456 Be perfect.
LUCIO 2457 I warrant your Honor.
DUKE
2458 100 The warrant’s for yourself. Take heed to ’t.
ISABELLA
2459 This gentleman told somewhat of my tale.
LUCIO 2460 Right.
DUKE
2461 It may be right, but you are i’ the wrong
2462 To speak before your time.—Proceed.
ISABELLA 2463 105 I went
2464 To this pernicious caitiff deputy—
DUKE
2465 That’s somewhat madly spoken.
ISABELLA 2466 Pardon it;
2467 The phrase is to the matter.
2468 110 Mended again. The matter; proceed.
ISABELLA
2469 In brief, to set the needless process by:
2470 How I persuaded, how I prayed and kneeled,
2471 How he refelled me, and how I replied—
2472 For this was of much length—the vile conclusion
2473 115 I now begin with grief and shame to utter.
2474 He would not, but by gift of my chaste body
2475 To his concupiscible intemperate lust,
2476 Release my brother; and after much debatement,
2477 My sisterly remorse confutes mine honor,
2478 120 And I did yield to him. But the next morn betimes,
2479 His purpose surfeiting, he sends a warrant
2480 For my poor brother’s head.
DUKE 2481 This is most likely!
ISABELLA
2482 O, that it were as like as it is true!
DUKE
2483 125 By heaven, fond wretch, thou know’st not what
2484 thou speak’st,
2485 Or else thou art suborned against his honor
2486 In hateful practice. First, his integrity
2487 Stands without blemish; next, it imports no reason
2488 130 That with such vehemency he should pursue
2489 Faults proper to himself. If he had so offended,
2490 He would have weighed thy brother by himself
2491 And not have cut him off. Someone hath set you on.
2492 Confess the truth, and say by whose advice
2493 135 Thou cam’st here to complain.
ISABELLA 2494 And is this all?
2495 Then, O you blessèd ministers above,
2496 Keep me in patience, and with ripened time
2497 Unfold the evil which is here wrapped up
2498 140 In countenance. Heaven shield your Grace from
2499 woe,
DUKE
2501 I know you’d fain be gone.—An officer!
⌜An Officer comes forward.⌝
2502 To prison with her. Shall we thus permit
2503 145 A blasting and a scandalous breath to fall
2504 On him so near us? This needs must be a practice.—
2505 Who knew of your intent and coming hither?
ISABELLA
2506 One that I would were here, Friar Lodowick.
⌜Officer exits with Isabella.⌝
DUKE
2507 A ghostly father, belike. Who knows that Lodowick?
LUCIO
2508 150 My lord, I know him. ’Tis a meddling friar.
2509 I do not like the man. Had he been lay, my lord,
2510 For certain words he spake against your Grace
2511 In your retirement, I had swinged him soundly.
DUKE
2512 Words against me? This’ a good friar, belike.
2513 155 And to set on this wretched woman here
2514 Against our substitute! Let this friar be found.
LUCIO
2515 But yesternight, my lord, she and that friar,
2516 I saw them at the prison. A saucy friar,
2517 A very scurvy fellow.
FRIAR PETER, ⌜to Duke⌝ 2518 160Blessed be your royal Grace.
2519 I have stood by, my lord, and I have heard
2520 Your royal ear abused. First hath this woman
2521 Most wrongfully accused your substitute,
2522 Who is as free from touch or soil with her
2523 165 As she from one ungot.
DUKE 2524 We did believe no less.
2525 Know you that Friar Lodowick that she speaks of?
FRIAR PETER
2526 I know him for a man divine and holy,
2528 170 As he’s reported by this gentleman;
2529 And on my trust, a man that never yet
2530 Did, as he vouches, misreport your Grace.
LUCIO
2531 My lord, most villainously, believe it.
FRIAR PETER
2532 Well, he in time may come to clear himself;
2533 175 But at this instant he is sick, my lord,
2534 Of a strange fever. Upon his mere request,
2535 Being come to knowledge that there was complaint
2536 Intended ’gainst Lord Angelo, came I hither
2537 To speak as from his mouth, what he doth know
2538 180 Is true and false, and what he with his oath
2539 And all probation will make up full clear
2540 Whensoever he’s convented. First, for this woman,
2541 To justify this worthy nobleman,
2542 So vulgarly and personally accused,
2543 185 Her shall you hear disprovèd to her eyes
2544 Till she herself confess it.
DUKE 2545 Good friar, let’s hear it.—
2546 Do you not smile at this, Lord Angelo?
2547 O heaven, the vanity of wretched fools!—
2548 190 Give us some seats.—Come, cousin Angelo,
2549 In this I’ll be impartial. Be you judge
2550 Of your own cause.⌜Duke and Angelo are seated.⌝
Enter Mariana, ⌜veiled.⌝
2551 Is this the witness, friar?
2552 First, let her show ⌜her⌝ face, and after speak.
MARIANA
2553 195 Pardon, my lord, I will not show my face
2554 Until my husband bid me.
DUKE 2555 What, are you married?
MARIANA 2556 No, my lord.
DUKE 2557 Are you a maid?
DUKE 2559 A widow, then?
MARIANA 2560 Neither, my lord.
DUKE 2561 Why you are nothing, then, neither maid, widow,
2562 nor wife?
LUCIO 2563 205My lord, she may be a punk, for many of them
2564 are neither maid, widow, nor wife.
DUKE 2565 Silence that fellow. I would he had some cause
2566 to prattle for himself.
LUCIO 2567 Well, my lord.
MARIANA
2568 210 My lord, I do confess I ne’er was married,
2569 And I confess besides I am no maid.
2570 I have known my husband, yet my husband
2571 Knows not that ever he knew me.
LUCIO 2572 He was drunk, then, my lord; it can be no better.
DUKE 2573 215For the benefit of silence, would thou wert so
2574 too.
LUCIO 2575 Well, my lord.
DUKE
2576 This is no witness for Lord Angelo.
MARIANA 2577 Now I come to ’t, my lord.
2578 220 She that accuses him of fornication
2579 In selfsame manner doth accuse my husband,
2580 And charges him, my lord, with such a time
2581 When, I’ll depose, I had him in mine arms
2582 With all th’ effect of love.
ANGELO 2583 225Charges she more than me?
MARIANA 2584 Not that I know.
DUKE 2585 No? You say your husband.
MARIANA
2586 Why, just, my lord, and that is Angelo,
2587 Who thinks he knows that he ne’er knew my body,
2588 230 But knows, he thinks, that he knows Isabel’s.
ANGELO
2589 This is a strange abuse. Let’s see thy face.
2590 My husband bids me. Now I will unmask.
⌜She removes her veil.⌝
2591 This is that face, thou cruel Angelo,
2592 Which once thou swor’st was worth the looking on.
2593 235 This is the hand which, with a vowed contract,
2594 Was fast belocked in thine. This is the body
2595 That took away the match from Isabel
2596 And did supply thee at thy garden house
2597 In her imagined person.
DUKE, ⌜to Angelo⌝ 2598 240Know you this woman?
LUCIO 2599 Carnally, she says.
DUKE 2600 Sirrah, no more.
LUCIO 2601 Enough, my lord.
ANGELO
2602 My lord, I must confess I know this woman,
2603 245 And five years since there was some speech of
2604 marriage
2605 Betwixt myself and her, which was broke off,
2606 Partly for that her promisèd proportions
2607 Came short of composition, but in chief
2608 250 For that her reputation was disvalued
2609 In levity. Since which time of five years
2610 I never spake with her, saw her, nor heard from her,
2611 Upon my faith and honor.
MARIANA, ⌜kneeling, to Duke⌝ 2612 Noble prince,
2613 255 As there comes light from heaven and words from
2614 breath,
2615 As there is sense in truth and truth in virtue,
2616 I am affianced this man’s wife as strongly
2617 As words could make up vows. And, my good lord,
2618 260 But Tuesday night last gone in ’s garden house
2619 He knew me as a wife. As this is true,
2620 Let me in safety raise me from my knees,
2621 Or else forever be confixèd here
2622 A marble monument.
2624 Now, good my lord, give me the scope of justice.
2625 My patience here is touched. I do perceive
2626 These poor informal women are no more
2627 But instruments of some more mightier member
2628 270 That sets them on. Let me have way, my lord,
2629 To find this practice out.
DUKE 2630 Ay, with my heart,
2631 And punish them to your height of pleasure.—
2632 Thou foolish friar, and thou pernicious woman,
2633 275 Compact with her that’s gone, think’st thou thy
2634 oaths,
2635 Though they would swear down each particular
2636 saint,
2637 Were testimonies against his worth and credit
2638 280 That’s sealed in approbation?—You, Lord Escalus,
2639 Sit with my cousin; lend him your kind pains
2640 To find out this abuse, whence ’tis derived.
⌜The Duke rises. Escalus is seated.⌝
2641 There is another friar that set them on.
2642 Let him be sent for.
FRIAR PETER
2643 285 Would he were here, my lord, for he indeed
2644 Hath set the women on to this complaint;
2645 Your provost knows the place where he abides,
2646 And he may fetch him.
DUKE, ⌜to Provost⌝ 2647 Go, do it instantly.
⌜Provost exits.⌝
2648 290 ⌜To Angelo.⌝ And you, my noble and well-warranted
2649 cousin,
2650 Whom it concerns to hear this matter forth,
2651 Do with your injuries as seems you best
2652 In any chastisement. I for a while
2653 295 Will leave you; but stir not you till you have
2654 Well determined upon these slanderers.
ESCALUS 2655 My lord, we’ll do it throughly.⌜Duke⌝ exits.
2657 Lodowick to be a dishonest person?
LUCIO 2658 300Cucullus non facit monachum, honest in nothing
2659 but in his clothes, and one that hath spoke most
2660 villainous speeches of the Duke.
ESCALUS 2661 We shall entreat you to abide here till he
2662 come, and enforce them against him. We shall find
2663 305 this friar a notable fellow.
LUCIO 2664 As any in Vienna, on my word.
ESCALUS 2665 Call that same Isabel here once again. I would
2666 speak with her.⌜An Attendant exits.⌝
2667 ⌜To Angelo.⌝ Pray you, my lord, give me leave to
2668 310 question. You shall see how I’ll handle her.
LUCIO 2669 Not better than he, by her own report.
ESCALUS 2670 Say you?
LUCIO 2671 Marry, sir, I think, if you handled her privately,
2672 she would sooner confess; perchance publicly she’ll
2673 315 be ashamed.
ESCALUS 2674 I will go darkly to work with her.
LUCIO 2675 That’s the way, for women are light at midnight.
Enter Duke ⌜as a Friar,⌝ Provost, ⌜and⌝ Isabella,
⌜with Officers.⌝
ESCALUS, ⌜to Isabella⌝ 2676 Come on, mistress. Here’s a gentlewoman
2677 denies all that you have said.
LUCIO 2678 320My lord, here comes the rascal I spoke of, here
2679 with the Provost.
ESCALUS 2680 In very good time. Speak not you to him till
2681 we call upon you.
LUCIO 2682 Mum.
ESCALUS, ⌜to disguised Duke⌝ 2683 325Come, sir, did you set
2684 these women on to slander Lord Angelo? They have
2685 confessed you did.
DUKE, ⌜as Friar⌝
2686 ’Tis false.
ESCALUS 2687 How? Know you where you are?
2688 330 Respect to your great place, and let the devil
2689 Be sometime honored for his burning throne.
2690 Where is the Duke? ’Tis he should hear me speak.
ESCALUS
2691 The Duke’s in us, and we will hear you speak.
2692 Look you speak justly.
DUKE, ⌜as Friar⌝
2693 335 Boldly, at least.—But, O, poor souls,
2694 Come you to seek the lamb here of the fox?
2695 Good night to your redress. Is the Duke gone?
2696 Then is your cause gone too. The Duke’s unjust
2697 Thus to retort your manifest appeal,
2698 340 And put your trial in the villain’s mouth
2699 Which here you come to accuse.
LUCIO
2700 This is the rascal; this is he I spoke of.
ESCALUS, ⌜to disguised Duke⌝
2701 Why, thou unreverend and unhallowed friar,
2702 Is ’t not enough thou hast suborned these women
2703 345 To accuse this worthy man, but, in foul mouth
2704 And in the witness of his proper ear,
2705 To call him villain? And then to glance from him
2706 To th’ Duke himself, to tax him with injustice?—
2707 Take him hence. To th’ rack with him. We’ll touse
2708 350 ⌜him⌝
2709 Joint by joint, but we will know his purpose.
2710 What? “Unjust”?
DUKE, ⌜as Friar⌝ 2711 Be not so hot. The Duke
2712 Dare no more stretch this finger of mine than he
2713 355 Dare rack his own. His subject am I not,
2714 Nor here provincial. My business in this state
2715 Made me a looker-on here in Vienna,
2716 Where I have seen corruption boil and bubble
2717 Till it o’errun the stew. Laws for all faults,
2718 360 But faults so countenanced that the strong statutes
2720 As much in mock as mark.
ESCALUS 2721 Slander to th’ state!
2722 Away with him to prison.
ANGELO, ⌜to Lucio⌝
2723 365 What can you vouch against him, Signior Lucio?
2724 Is this the man that you did tell us of?
LUCIO 2725 ’Tis he, my lord.—Come hither, Goodman Baldpate.
2726 Do you know me?
DUKE, ⌜as Friar⌝ 2727 I remember you, sir, by the sound of
2728 370 your voice. I met you at the prison in the absence of
2729 the Duke.
LUCIO 2730 O, did you so? And do you remember what you
2731 said of the Duke?
DUKE, ⌜as Friar⌝ 2732 Most notedly, sir.
LUCIO 2733 375Do you so, sir? And was the Duke a fleshmonger,
2734 a fool, and a coward, as you then reported him to
2735 be?
DUKE, ⌜as Friar⌝ 2736 You must, sir, change persons with me
2737 ere you make that my report. You indeed spoke so
2738 380 of him, and much more, much worse.
LUCIO 2739 O, thou damnable fellow! Did not I pluck thee by
2740 the nose for thy speeches?
DUKE, ⌜as Friar⌝ 2741 I protest I love the Duke as I love
2742 myself.
ANGELO 2743 385Hark how the villain would close now, after
2744 his treasonable abuses!
ESCALUS 2745 Such a fellow is not to be talked withal. Away
2746 with him to prison. Where is the Provost? ⌜Provost
comes forward.⌝ 2747 Away with him to prison. Lay bolts
2748 390 enough upon him. Let him speak no more. Away
2749 with those giglets too, and with the other confederate
2750 companion.
⌜Provost seizes the disguised Duke.⌝
DUKE, ⌜as Friar⌝ 2751 Stay, sir, stay awhile.
ANGELO 2752 What, resists he?—Help him, Lucio.
LUCIO, ⌜to the disguised Duke⌝ 2753 395Come, sir, come, sir,
2755 you must be hooded, must you? Show your knave’s
2756 visage, with a pox to you! Show your sheep-biting
2757 face, and be hanged an hour! Will ’t not off?
⌜He pulls off the friar’s hood, and reveals the Duke.
Angelo and Escalus stand.⌝
DUKE
2758 400 Thou art the first knave that e’er mad’st a duke.—
2759 First, provost, let me bail these gentle three.
2760 ⌜To Lucio.⌝ Sneak not away, sir, for the friar and
2761 you
2762 Must have a word anon.—Lay hold on him.
LUCIO 2763 405This may prove worse than hanging.
DUKE, ⌜to Escalus⌝
2764 What you have spoke I pardon. Sit you down.
2765 We’ll borrow place of him. ⌜To Angelo.⌝ Sir, by your
2766 leave.
2767 Hast thou or word, or wit, or impudence
2768 410 That yet can do thee office? If thou hast,
2769 Rely upon it till my tale be heard,
2770 And hold no longer out.
ANGELO 2771 O my dread lord,
2772 I should be guiltier than my guiltiness
2773 415 To think I can be undiscernible,
2774 When I perceive your Grace, like power divine,
2775 Hath looked upon my passes. Then, good prince,
2776 No longer session hold upon my shame,
2777 But let my trial be mine own confession.
2778 420 Immediate sentence then and sequent death
2779 Is all the grace I beg.
DUKE 2780 Come hither, Mariana.
⌜Mariana stands and comes forward.⌝
2781 ⌜To Angelo.⌝ Say, wast thou e’er contracted to this
2782 woman?
ANGELO 2783 425I was, my lord.
DUKE
2784 Go take her hence and marry her instantly.
2786 consummate,
2787 Return him here again.—Go with him, provost.
⌜Angelo, Mariana, Friar Peter, and Provost⌝ exit.
ESCALUS
2788 430 My lord, I am more amazed at his dishonor
2789 Than at the strangeness of it.
DUKE 2790 Come hither, Isabel.
2791 Your friar is now your prince. As I was then
2792 Advertising and holy to your business,
2793 435 Not changing heart with habit, I am still
2794 Attorneyed at your service.
ISABELLA 2795 O, give me pardon
2796 That I, your vassal, have employed and pained
2797 Your unknown sovereignty.
DUKE 2798 440 You are pardoned,
2799 Isabel.
2800 And now, dear maid, be you as free to us.
2801 Your brother’s death, I know, sits at your heart,
2802 And you may marvel why I obscured myself,
2803 445 Laboring to save his life, and would not rather
2804 Make rash remonstrance of my hidden power
2805 Than let him so be lost. O most kind maid,
2806 It was the swift celerity of his death,
2807 Which I did think with slower foot came on,
2808 450 That brained my purpose. But peace be with him.
2809 That life is better life past fearing death
2810 Than that which lives to fear. Make it your comfort,
2811 So happy is your brother.
ISABELLA 2812 I do, my lord.
Enter Angelo, ⌜Mariana,⌝ ⌜Friar⌝ Peter, ⌜and⌝ Provost.
DUKE
2813 455 For this new-married man approaching here,
2814 Whose salt imagination yet hath wronged
2815 Your well-defended honor, you must pardon
2817 brother—
2818 460 Being criminal in double violation
2819 Of sacred chastity and of promise-breach
2820 Thereon dependent for your brother’s life—
2821 The very mercy of the law cries out
2822 Most audible, even from his proper tongue,
2823 465 “An Angelo for Claudio, death for death.”
2824 Haste still pays haste, and leisure answers leisure;
2825 Like doth quit like, and measure still for
2826 measure.—
2827 Then, Angelo, thy fault’s thus manifested,
2828 470 Which, though thou wouldst deny, denies thee
2829 vantage.
2830 We do condemn thee to the very block
2831 Where Claudio stooped to death, and with like
2832 haste.—
2833 475 Away with him.
MARIANA 2834 O my most gracious lord,
2835 I hope you will not mock me with a husband.
DUKE
2836 It is your husband mocked you with a husband.
2837 Consenting to the safeguard of your honor,
2838 480 I thought your marriage fit. Else imputation,
2839 For that he knew you, might reproach your life
2840 And choke your good to come. For his possessions,
2841 Although by ⌜confiscation⌝ they are ours,
2842 We do instate and widow you with all
2843 485 To buy you a better husband.
MARIANA 2844 O my dear lord,
2845 I crave no other nor no better man.
DUKE
2846 Never crave him. We are definitive.
MARIANA, ⌜kneeling⌝
2847 Gentle my liege—
DUKE 2848 490 You do but lose your labor.—
2850 you.
MARIANA
2851 O, my good lord.—Sweet Isabel, take my part.
2852 Lend me your knees, and all my life to come
2853 495 I’ll lend you all my life to do you service.
DUKE
2854 Against all sense you do importune her.
2855 Should she kneel down in mercy of this fact,
2856 Her brother’s ghost his pavèd bed would break
2857 And take her hence in horror.
MARIANA 2858 500 Isabel,
2859 Sweet Isabel, do yet but kneel by me,
2860 Hold up your hands, say nothing. I’ll speak all.
2861 They say best men are molded out of faults,
2862 And, for the most, become much more the better
2863 505 For being a little bad. So may my husband.
2864 O Isabel, will you not lend a knee?
DUKE
2865 He dies for Claudio’s death.
ISABELLA, ⌜kneeling⌝ 2866 Most bounteous sir,
2867 Look, if it please you, on this man condemned
2868 510 As if my brother lived. I partly think
2869 A due sincerity governed his deeds
2870 Till he did look on me. Since it is so,
2871 Let him not die. My brother had but justice,
2872 In that he did the thing for which he died.
2873 515 For Angelo,
2874 His act did not o’ertake his bad intent,
2875 And must be buried but as an intent
2876 That perished by the way. Thoughts are no subjects,
2877 Intents but merely thoughts.
MARIANA 2878 520 Merely, my lord.
DUKE
2879 Your suit’s unprofitable. Stand up, I say.
⌜They stand.⌝
2880 I have bethought me of another fault.—
2882 At an unusual hour?
PROVOST 2883 525 It was commanded so.
DUKE
2884 Had you a special warrant for the deed?
PROVOST
2885 No, my good lord, it was by private message.
DUKE
2886 For which I do discharge you of your office.
2887 Give up your keys.
PROVOST 2888 530 Pardon me, noble lord.
2889 I thought it was a fault, but knew it not,
2890 Yet did repent me after more advice,
2891 For testimony whereof, one in the prison
2892 That should by private order else have died,
2893 535 I have reserved alive.
DUKE 2894 What’s he?
PROVOST 2895 His name is Barnardine.
DUKE
2896 I would thou hadst done so by Claudio.
2897 Go fetch him hither. Let me look upon him.
⌜Provost exits.⌝
ESCALUS, ⌜to Angelo⌝
2898 540 I am sorry one so learnèd and so wise
2899 As you, Lord Angelo, have still appeared,
2900 Should slip so grossly, both in the heat of blood
2901 And lack of tempered judgment afterward.
ANGELO
2902 I am sorry that such sorrow I procure;
2903 545 And so deep sticks it in my penitent heart
2904 That I crave death more willingly than mercy.
2905 ’Tis my deserving, and I do entreat it.
Enter Barnardine and Provost, Claudio, ⌜muffled,
and⌝ Juliet.
DUKE, ⌜to Provost⌝
2906 Which is that Barnardine?
DUKE
2908 550 There was a friar told me of this man.—
2909 Sirrah, thou art said to have a stubborn soul
2910 That apprehends no further than this world,
2911 And squar’st thy life according. Thou ’rt condemned.
2912 But, for those earthly faults, I quit them all,
2913 555 And pray thee take this mercy to provide
2914 For better times to come.—Friar, advise him.
2915 I leave him to your hand.—What muffled fellow’s
2916 that?
PROVOST
2917 This is another prisoner that I saved
2918 560 Who should have died when Claudio lost his head,
2919 As like almost to Claudio as himself.
⌜He unmuffles Claudio.⌝
DUKE, ⌜to Isabella⌝
2920 If he be like your brother, for his sake
2921 Is he pardoned; and for your lovely sake,
2922 Give me your hand and say you will be mine,
2923 565 He is my brother too. But fitter time for that.
2924 By this Lord Angelo perceives he’s safe;
2925 Methinks I see a quick’ning in his eye.—
2926 Well, Angelo, your evil quits you well.
2927 Look that you love your wife, her worth worth
2928 570 yours.
2929 I find an apt remission in myself.
2930 And yet here’s one in place I cannot pardon.
2931 ⌜To Lucio.⌝ You, sirrah, that knew me for a fool, a
2932 coward,
2933 575 One all of luxury, an ass, a madman.
2934 Wherein have I so deserved of you
2935 That you extol me thus?
LUCIO 2936 Faith, my lord, I spoke it but according to the
2937 trick. If you will hang me for it, you may, but I had
2938 580 rather it would please you I might be whipped.
2940 Proclaim it, provost, round about the city,
2941 If any woman wronged by this lewd fellow—
2942 As I have heard him swear himself there’s one
2943 585 Whom he begot with child—let her appear,
2944 And he shall marry her. The nuptial finished,
2945 Let him be whipped and hanged.
LUCIO 2946 I beseech your Highness do not marry me to a
2947 whore. Your Highness said even now I made you a
2948 590 duke. Good my lord, do not recompense me in
2949 making me a cuckold.
DUKE
2950 Upon mine honor, thou shalt marry her.
2951 Thy slanders I forgive and therewithal
2952 Remit thy other forfeits.—Take him to prison,
2953 595 And see our pleasure herein executed.
LUCIO 2954 Marrying a punk, my lord, is pressing to death,
2955 whipping, and hanging.
DUKE 2956 Slandering a prince deserves it.
⌜Officers take Lucio away.⌝
2957 She, Claudio, that you wronged, look you restore.—
2958 600 Joy to you, Mariana.—Love her, Angelo.
2959 I have confessed her, and I know her virtue.—
2960 Thanks, good friend Escalus, for thy much goodness.
2961 There’s more behind that is more gratulate.—
2962 Thanks, provost, for thy care and secrecy.
2963 605 We shall employ thee in a worthier place.—
2964 Forgive him, Angelo, that brought you home
2965 The head of Ragozine for Claudio’s.
2966 Th’ offense pardons itself.—Dear Isabel,
2967 I have a motion much imports your good,
2968 610 Whereto if you’ll a willing ear incline,
2969 What’s mine is yours, and what is yours is mine.—
2970 So, bring us to our palace, where we’ll show
2971 What’s yet behind ⌜that’s⌝ meet you all should know.
⌜They exit.⌝