Your partner, as I hear, must die to-morrow, [Exit. Juliet. Must die to-morrow! Oh, injurious love, SCENE IV. and pray So play the foolish throngs with one that swoons; 5 Quit their own part, and in obsequious fondness 10 15 20 Enter Isabella. How now, fair maid? Isab. I am come to know your pleasure. Ang. That you might know it, would much Than to demand what 'tis. Your brother cannot Ang. Yea. Isab. When, I beseech you? that in his reprieve Ang. Ha! Fie, these filthy vices! It were as good [image [earth. Isab. 'Tis set down so in heaven, but not in Ang. When I would pray and think, I think 30 Enter Sercant. How now, who's there? Isab. Sir, believe this, I had rather give my body than my soul. [sins [speak Isab. Please you to do't, Serv. One Isabel, a sister, desires access to you. 50 It is no sin at all, but charity. Ang. Teach her the way. [Solus.] Ohheavens! Why does my blood thus muster to my heart, Making both it unable for itself, And dispossessing all my other parts Of necessary fitness? Ang. Pleas'd you to do't, at peril of your soul, Were equal poize of sin and charity. Isab. That I do beg his life, if it be sin, Heaven, let me bear it! You granting of my suit, If that be sin, I'll make it my morn prayer 4 Case 1 That is, repent not on this account. * Intention here signifies eagerness of desire. The old folio, however, reads invention, by which the poet might mean imagination. 3 Profit, advantage. is here put for outside, or external shew. "The meaning is, Let the most wicked thing have but a virtuous pretence, and it shall pass for innocent. Thus if we write good angel on the devil's horn, 'tis not taken any longer to be the devil's crest. "This phrase of the general, means the people or multitude subject to a king, &c. That is, saucy indulgence of the appetite. The sense of this passage is simply, that murder is as easy as fornication, and it is as improper to pardon the latter as the former. 7 6 To Ang. And his offence is so, as it appears Ang. Admit no other way to save his life, Isab. As much for my poor brother, as myself: That longing I have been sick for, ere I'd yield Ang. Then must your brother die. Should die for ever. Ang. I think it well: And from this testimony of your own sex, (Since, I suppose, we are made to be no stronger, 15 Than faults may shake our frames) let me be I do arrest your words: Be that you are, [bold,― That is, a woman; if you be more, you're none; If you be one (as you are well express'd By all external warrants)shew it now, 20 By putting on the destin'd livery. Isab. I have no tongue but one: gentle my lord, Let me intreat you, speak the former language, Ang. Plainly conceive, I love you. Isab. My brother did love Juliet; 25 And 30 you tell me, that he shall die for it. Ang. He shall not, Isabel, if you give me love, Isab. I know your virtue hath a licence in't, Which seems a little fouler than it is, To pluck on others. Ang. Believe me, on mine honour, My words express my purpose. Isab. Ha! little honour to be much believ'd, And most pernicious purpose!—Seeming, seem ing 10! 35I will proclaim thee, Angelo; look for't: Ang. Who will believe thee, Isabel? Ang. Were not you then as cruel as the sentence 40 My unsoil'd name, the austereness of my life, Ang. You seem'd of late to make the law a ty-45 Isab. O pardon me, my lord; it oft falls out, we mean: I something do excuse the thing I hate, For his advantage that I dearly love. My vouch" against you, and my place i'the state, 50 Or else he must not only die the death, But thy unkindness shall his death draw out To lingering sufferance: answer me to-morrow, Meaning, the faults of mine answer are the faults which I am to answer for. 2 That is, a beauty covered as with a shield. These masks probably mean, the masks of the audience. Pain here means 1 3 penalty, punishment. To subscribe, here signifies, to agree to. Dr. Warburton observes, this pas sage is so obscure, but the allusion so fine, that it deserves to be explained. A feodary was one who in the times of vassalage held lands of the chief lord, under the tenure of paying rent and service :- which tenures were call'd feuda amongst the Goths. Now, says Angelo, "we are all frail." "Yes", replies Isabella; "if all mankind were not feodaries, who owe what they are to this tenure of imbecility, and who succeed each other by the same tenure, as well as my brother, I would give him up." The. comparing mankind, lying under the weight of original sin, to a feodary, who owes suit and service to his lord, is, I think, not ill imagined, Το owe, in this place, signities to own, to have possession. Perhaps we should read, take forms. That is, in imitating them. That is, take any impres sion. That is, Hypocrisy, hypocrisy. Fouch is the testimony one man bears for another. 9 Or, by the affection that now guides me most, [Exit. Bidding the law make court'sy to their will; Claud. The miserable have no other medicine, But only hope: I have hope to live, and am prepar'd to die. 120(For thy own bowels, which do call thee sire, Duke. Be absolute for death; either death or life noble ; Of palsied eld; and when thou art old, and rich, Claud. I humbly thank you. For all the accommodations that thou bear'st, For thou dost fear the soft and tender fork 3 50 Isab. What, ho! Peace here; grace and good Isab. My business is a word or two with Claudio. That is, temptation, instigation. 2 Meaning, be determined to die, without any hope of life. Keep in this place signifies to care for. In the old farces called Moralities, the fool of the piece, in order to shew the inevitable approaches of death, is made to employ all his stratagems to avoid him; which, as the matter is ordered, brings the fool at every turn into his very jaws. 5 Worm is here substituted for any creeping thing or serpent. For effects we should read affects; that is, affections. A kind of tetter. The drift of this period is to prove, that neither youth nor age can be said to be really enjoyed, which, in poetical language, is,-We have neither youth nor age. Eld is here used for old age, or persons worn out with years. Meaning a thousand deaths besides those which have been mentioned. Leiger is the same with resident. Appointment means preparation. 11 10 12 Claud Claud. Is there no remedy? Isab. None, but such remedy, as, to save a head, To cleave a heart in twain. Claud. But is there any? Isab. Yes, brother, you may live; If you'll implore it, that will free your life, Claud. Perpetual durance? 5 Isab. Ay, just, perpetual durance; a restraint, 10 Claud. But in what nature? Isab. In such a one as (you consenting to 't) Would bark your honour from that trunk you bear, And leave you naked. Claud. Let me know the point. Isab. Oh, I do fear thee, Claudio; and I quake, Claud. Why give you me this shame? That thus can make him bite the law by the nose, Isab. Which is the least? Claud. If it were damnable, he, being so wise, Why would he for the momentary trick [where; Be perdurably' fin'd? Oh Isabel! And blown with restless violence round about 25 To what we fear of death. [ther's grave 30 Isab. There spake my brother; there my fa- In base appliances. This outward-sainted deputy, Claud. The princely Angelo? Isab. Oh, 'tis the cunning livery of hell, Claud. Oh, heavens! it cannot be. [offence, Claud. Thou shalt not do't. Isab. Oh, were it but my life, Isab. Alas! alas! Claud. Sweet sister, let me live: Isab. Oh, you beast! Oh, faithless coward! Oh, dishonest wretch! [think? 35 From thine own sister's shame? What should I Heaven shield, my mother play'd my father fair! For such a warped slip of wilderness Ne'er issu'd from his blood. Take my defiance. 45 50 I'd throw it down for your deliverance As frankly as a pin. Claud. Thanks, dear Isabel. [morrow. 55 Isab. Be ready, Claudio, for your death to- Claud. Nay, hear me, Isabel. Isab. Oh, fie, fie, fie! Thy sin's not accidental, but a trade': Claud. Oh hear me, Isabella. Re-enter Duke. Duke. Vouchsafe a word, young sister, but one word. Isab. What is your will? Duke. Might you dispense with your leisure, I would by and by have some speech with you: the satisfaction I would require, is likewise your Jown benefit. Isab. I have no superfluous leisure; my stay must To emmew is a term in falconry. The meaning of the passage is, In whose presence youth are afraid to shew their follies. To cast a pond is to empty it of mud. "That is, in the ornaments of royalty. * That is, when he is putting the law in force against me. Lastingly. the spirit accustomed here to ease and delights. This was properly urged as an aggravation to the sharpness of the torments spoken of. ? Wilderness is here used for wildness. ? An established habit. fusal. 9 That is, Defiance is rebe be stolen out of other affairs; but I will attend] you a while. Duke. [To Claudio aside.] Son, I have overheard what hath past between you and your sister. Angelo had never the purpose to corrupt her: on- 5 ly he hath made an essay of her virtue, to practise his judgment with the disposition of natures: she, having the truth of honour in her, hath made him that gracious denial, which he is most glad to receive: I am confessor to Angelo, and I know 10 this to be true; therefore prepare yourself to death:-Do not satisfy your resolution with hopes that are fallible: to-morrow you must die; go to your knees, and make ready. Claud. Let me ask my sister pardon. I am so out 15 of love with life, that I will sue to be rid of it. [Exit Claudio. Re-enter Provost. Duke. Hold you there': Farewell. Provost, a word with you. Prov. What's your will, father? Duke. That now you are come, you will be gone: Leave me a while with the maid; my mind promises with my habit, no loss shall touch her by my company. Prov. In good time2. 20 [Exit Prov. 25 Duke. The hand, that hath made you fair, hath made you good: the goodness, that is cheap in beauty, makes beauty brief in goodness; but grace, being the soul of your complexion, should keep the body of it ever fair. The assault, that 30 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 would you do to content this substitute, and to save your brother? was affianc'd to her by oath, and the nuptial appointed: between which time of the contract, and limit of the solemnity, her brother Frederick was wreck'd at sea, having in that perish'd vessel the dowry of his sister. But mark, how heavily this befel to the poor gentlewoman: there she lost a noble and renowned 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 3 husband, this well-seeming Angelo. Isab. Can this be so? Did Angelo so leave her? Duke. Left her in her tears, and dry'd not one of them with his comfort; swallow'd his vows whole, pretending, in her, discoveries of dishonour: in few, bestow'd her on her own lamentation, which yet she wears for his sake; and he, a marble to her tears, is washed with them, but relents not. Isub. What a merit were it in death, to take this poor maid from the world! What corruption in this life, that it will let this man live!-But how out of this can she avail? Duke. It is a rupture that you may easily heai: and the cure of it not only saves your brother, but keeps you from dishonour in doing it. Isab. Shew me how, good father. Duke. This fore-named maid hath yet in her the continuance of her first affection; his unjust unkindness, that in all reason should have quenched her love, hath, like an impediment in the current, made it more violent and unruly. Go you to Angelo; answer his requiring with a plausible obedience; agree with his demands to the point; only refer yourself to this advantage,-first, that 35 your stay with him may not be long; that the time may have all shadow and silence in it, and the place answer to convenience: this being granted in course, now follows all. We shall advise this wronged maid to stead up your appointment, go in your place; if the encounter acknowledge itself hereafter, it may compel him to her recompence: and here, by this, is your brother saved, your honour untainted, the poor Mariana advantaged, and the corrupt deputy scaled'. The maid will I frame and make fit for his attempt. If you think well to carry this as you may, the doubleness of the benefit defends the deceit from reproof. What think you of it? 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 oh, how much is the good duke deceived in Angelo! If ever he returns, and I can speak to him, I will open my 40 lips in vain, or discover his government. 45 Duke. That shall not be much amiss: yet, as the matter now stands, he will avoid your accusation; he made trial of you only.-Therefore fasten your ear on my advisings; to the love I have in doing good, a remedy presents itself. I do make myself believe, that you may most uprighteously do a poor wronged lady a merited benefit; redeem your brother from the angry law; do no stain to your own gracious person; and much 50 please the absent duke, if, peradventure, he shall ever return to have hearing of this business. Isab. Let me hear you speak further: I have spirit to do any thing, that appears not foul in the truth of my spirit. Duke. Virtue is bold, and goodness never fearful. Have you not heard speak of Mariana, the sister of Frederick, the great soldier, who miscaried at sea? Isab. I have heard of the lady, and good words went with her name. Duke. Her should this Angelo have marry'd ;] 55 Isab. The image of it gives me content already; and, I trust, it will grow to a most prosperous perfection. Duke. It lies much in your holding up: Haste you speedily to Angelo; if for this night he in treat you to his bed, give him promise of satisfaction. I will presently to St. Luke's; there, at the inoated grange' resides this dejected Mariana: at that place call upon me; and dispatch with Angelo, that it may be quickly. Isub. I thank you for this comfort: Fare you 60well, good father. [Exeunt severally. 4 1 Persevere in that resolution. 2 i. e. Very well. 3 Combinate means betrothed. To scale means, to reach him notwithstanding the elevation of his situation. A grange is a solitary farmhouse. SCENE |