Supply me with the habit, and inftru&t me is more to bread than stone: Hence fhall we fee, If power change purpofe, what our feemers be. SCENE V. A Nunnery. Enter ISABELLA, and FRANCISCA. Ifab. And have you nuns no farther privileges? Nun. Are not thefe large enough? Ijab. Yes, truly: I fpeak not as defiring more; But rather withing a more ftrict reftraint Upon the fifter-hood, the votarifts of faint Clare. Lucio. [Within.] Ho! Peace be in this place! Ifab. Who's that which calls? Nun. It is a man's voice: Gentle Ifabella, Turn you the key, and know his bufinefs of lim, You may, I may not; you are yet unfworn: When you have vow'd, you must not speak with men, But in the prefence of the prioreis: Then, if you fpeak, you must not fhew your face; Or, if you fhew your face, you must not speak. He calls again; I pray you anfwer him. [Exit FRANCISCA. Ifab. Peace and profperity! Who is't that calls? Enter Lucio. Lucio. Hail, virgin, if you be; as those cheek-rofes Proclaim you are no lefs! Can you fa ftead me, As As bring me to the fight of Ifabella, Iab. Why her unhappy brother? let me afk; The rather, for I now must make you know I am that Ifabella, and his fifler. Lucio. Gentle and fair, your brother kindly greets Not to be weary with you, he's in prifon. [you: Ifab. Woe me! for what? Lucio. For that, which, if myself might be his He fhould receive his punishment in thanks: Ifab. Sir, make me not your ftory. Lucio. 'Tis true:-I would not (though 'tis my With maids to feem the lapwing, and to jeft, As with a faint. Ifab. You do blafpheme the good, in mocking me. Lucio. Do not believe it. Fewnefs and truth, 'tis thus: Your brother and his lover have embrac'd: As thofe that feed grow full; as bloffoming time Ifab. Some one with child by him?-My coufin By vain though apt affection. [names, Lucio. She it is. Ifab. O, let him marry her! Lucio. This is the point. The duke is very ftrangely gone from hence; Governs lord Angelo: A man whose blood Which have, for long, run by the hideous law, Of bufinefs 'twixt you and your poor brother. Lucio. Has cenfur'd him Already; and, as I hear, the provost hath Ifab. Alas! what poor ability's in me Lucio. Affay the power you have. 1 Lucio. Our doubts are traitors, And make us lofe the good we oft might win, Lucio. But, fpeedily. fab. I will about it strait; No longer flaying but to give the mother [Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE I. ANGELO's House. Enter ANGELO, EscaLus, a Juftice, Proveft, and Attendants. Angelo. We must not make a fcare-crow of the law; Efoal. Ay, but yet Let us be keen, and rather cut a little, Thanfall, and bruife to death: Alas! this gentleman, Whom Whom I would fave, had a most noble father. That, in the working of your own affections, Could have attain'd the effect of your own purpofe, Ang. 'Tis one thing to be tempted, Escalus, Another thing to fall. I not deny, The jury, paffing on the prisoner's life, May, in the fworn twelve, have a thief or two You may not fo extenuate his offence, For I have had fuch faults; but rather tell me, When I that cenfure him do fo offend, Let mine own jndgment pattern out my death And nothing come in partial. Sir, he must die. Efcal. Be it, as your wifdom will. Ang. Where is the provost? Prov. Here, if it like your honour. Be executed by nine to-morrow morning: us all! Some |