You are pardon'd, Isabel: my 34 Duke. And now, dear maid, be you as free 33 to us. Your brother's death, I know, sits at your heart; And you may marvel, why I obscur'd myself, Labouring to save his life; and would not rather Make rash remonstrance of hidden power 3*, Than let him so be lost: O, most kind maid, It was the swift celerity of his death, Which I did think with slower foot came on, That brain'd my purpose 35: But, peace be with him! That life is better life, past fearing death, Than that which lives to fear: make it your comfort, So happy is your brother. Re-enter ANGELO, MARIANA, PETER, and Isab. Provost. I do, my lord.. Duke. For this new-married man, approaching here, Whose salt imagination yet hath wrong'd Of sacred chastity, and of promise-breach 36, 33 i. e. generous;-pardon us as we have pardoned you. 34 Rash remonstrance; that is, ' a premature display of it, perhaps we should read demonstrance; but the word may be formed from remonstrer, French-to show again. 35 That brain'd my purpose. We still use in conversation a like phrase that knocked my design on the head.' 36 Promise-breach. It should be promise, breach is superfluous. 37 i. e. Angelo's own tongue. Like doth quit like, and Measure still for Measure 38? Then, Angelo, thy fault's thus manifested; Which though thou would'st deny, denies thee van O, my most gracious lord, I hope you will not mock me with a husband! husband: with a Consenting to the safeguard of your honour, We do instate and widow you withal, To buy you a better husband. Mari. I crave no other, nor no better man. O, my dear lord, [Kneeling. You do but lose your labour; Duke. Never crave him; we are definitive. Mari. Gentle, my liege, Duke. Away with him to death.-Now, sir, [To LUCIO.] to you. Mari. Ŏ, my good lord!-Sweet Isabel, take my part; Lend me your knees, and, all my life to come, I'll lend you all my life to do you service. 38 Measure still for measure. This appears to have been a current expression for retributive justice. Equivalent to like for like. So, in the 3d part of Henry VI. 'Measure for measure must be answered.' 39 i. e. to deny which will avail thee nothing." VOL. II. Duke. Against all sense 40 you do impórtune her: Should she kneel down, in mercy of this fact, Her brother's ghost his paved bed would break, And take her hence in horror. Mari. Isabel, Sweet Isabel, do yet but kneel by me; Hold up your hands, say nothing, I'll speak all. They say, best men are moulded out of faults; And, for the most, become much more the better For being a little bad: so may my husband. O, Isabel! will you not lend a knee? Duke. He dies for Claudio's death. Isab. Most bounteous sir, [Kneeling. Look, if it please you, on this man condemn'd, As if my brother liv'd: I partly think, A due sincerity govern'd his deeds, Till he did look on me: since it is so, Let him not die: My brother had but justice, In that he did the thing for which he died: For Angelo, His act did not o'ertake his bad intent? And must be buried but as an intent That perish'd by the way 41: thoughts are no subjects; Intents but merely thoughts. Mari. Merely, my lord. Duke. Your suit's unprofitable; stand up, I say.— - I have bethought me of another fault:- Prov. It was commanded so. 40 i. e. against reason and affection. 41 i. e. like the traveller, who dies on his journey, is obscurely interred, and thought of no more: 'Illum expirantem————— Obliti ignoto camporum in pulvere linquant.' Duke. Had you a special warrant for the deed? Prov. No, my good lord; it was by private mes sage. Duke. For which I do discharge you of your office; Give up your keys. Prov. Duke. Prov. What's he? His name is Barnardine. Ang. I am sorry, that such sorrow I procure: Re-enter Provost, Barnardine, CLAUDIO, and Duke. Which is that Barnardine? Prov. This, my lord. Duke. There was a friar told me of this man :— Sirrah, thou art said to have a stubborn soul, That apprehends no further than this world, And squar'st thy life according. Thou'rt condemn'd; But, for those earthly 43 faults, I quit them all; 42 i. e. better consideration. K. Henry V. Act ii. Sc. 2. 43 i. e. so far as they are punishable on earth. And pray thee, take this mercy to provide Prov. This is another prisoner, that I sav'd, That should have died when Claudio lost his head; As like almost to Claudio, as himself. [Unmuffles CLAUDIO. Duke. If he be like your brother, [To ISABELLA.] for his sake Is he pardoned; And, for your lovely sake, I find an apt remission in myself: And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon;~~ You, sirrah, [To LUCIO.] that knew me for a fool, a coward, One all of luxury 46, an ass, a madman; Lucio. 'Faith, my lord, I spoke it but according to the trick 47: If you will hang me for it, you may, but I had rather it would please you, I might be whipp'd. Duke. Whipp'd first, sir, and hang'd after.- 44 Requites. 45 Her worth worth yours;' that is, 'her value is equal to yours, the match is not unworthy of you.' 46 Incontinence. 47 Thoughtless practice. |