Such as moves men; beside, she hath prosperous art When she will play with reason and discourse, And well she can persuade. Lucio. I pray, she may as well for the en- . couragement of the like, which else would stand under grievous imposition; as for the enjoying of thy life, who I would be sorry should be thus foolishly lost at a game of tick-tack. I'll to her. Claud. I thank you, good friend Lucio. Lucio. Within two hours, Claud. Come, officer, away. SCENE IV. A Monastery. Enter Duke and FRIAR THOMAS. [Exeunt. Duke. No: holy father; throw away that thought; Believe not that the dribbling dart of love Fri. May your grace speak of it? Duke. My holy sir, none better knows than you How I have ever loved the life remov'd; And held in idle price to haunt assemblies, Where youth, and cost, and witless bravery keeps. I have deliver'd to lord Angelo (A man of stricture, and firm abstinence) Duke. We have strict statutes, and most biting laws, (The needful bits and curbs for headstrong steeds,) Which for these fourteen years we have let sleep; For terror, not to use; in time the rod Becomes more mock'd than fear'd: so our de crees, Dead to infliction, to themselves are dead; Fri. Duke. I do fear, too dreadful: Sith 'twas my fault to give the people scope, 'Twould be my tyranny to strike, and gall them For what I bid them do: For we bid this be done, When evil deeds have their permissive pass, And not the punishment. Therefore, indeed, my father, I have on Angelo impos'd the office; Who may, in the ambush of my name, strike home, And yet my nature never in the sight, To do it slander: And to behold his sway, Supply me with the habit, and instruct me Like a true friar. More reasons for this action, Is more to bread than stone: Hence shall we see, If power change purpose, what our seemers be. [Exeunt. SCENE V. A Nunnery. Enter ISABELLA and FRANCISCA. Isab. And have you nuns no further privileges? Fran. Are not these large enough? Isab. Yes, truly: I speak not as desiring more; But rather wishing a more strict restraint Upon the sisterhood, the votarists of saint Clare. Lucio. Ho! Peace be in this place! [Within. Isab. Who's that which calls? Fran. It is a man's voice: Gentle Isabella, Turn you the key, and know his business of him; You may, I may not; you are yet unsworn: When you have vow'd, you must not speak with men, But in the presence of the prioress: Then, if you speak, you must not show your face; Or, if you show your face, you must not speak. He calls again; I pray you, answer him. [Exit FRANCISCA. Isab. Peace and prosperity! Who is't that calls? Enter LUCIO. Lucio. Hail, virgin, if you be; as those cheek roses Proclaim you are no less! Can you so stead me, A novice of this place, and the fair sister Isab. Why her unhappy brother? let me ask; Lucio. Gentle and fair, your brother kindly greets you: Not to be weary with you, he's in prison. Lucio. For that, which, if myself might be his judge, He should receive his punishment in thanks: He hath got his friend with child. Isab. Sir, mock me not:-your story. Lucio. 'Tis true, I would not,-though 'tis my familiar sin With maids to seem the lapwing, and to jest, As with a saint. Isab. You do blaspheme the good, in mocking me. Lucio. Do not believe it. Fewness and truth, 'tis thus: Your brother and his lover have embrac'd: To teeming foison; even so her plenteous womb Lucio. She it is. 1sub. O let him marry her! Governs lord Angelo; a man, whose blood Which have, for long, run by the hideous law, Lucio. Isab. Alas! what poor ability's in me To do him good? Assay the power you have. Lucio. Isab. My power! Alas! I doubt,Lucio. Our doubts are traitors, And make us lose the good we oft might win, By fearing to attempt: Go to lord Angelo, And let him learn to know, when maidens sue, Men give like gods; but when they weep and kneel, All their petitions are as freely theirs Lucio. But speedily. Isab. I will about it straight; No longer staying but to give the mother Notice of my affair. I humbly thank you: Commend me to my brother: soon at night I'll send him certain word of my success. Lucio. I take my leave of you. Isab. ACT II. Good sir, adien. [Exeunt. SCENE I. A Hall in Angelo's House. Enter ANGELO, ESCALUS, a Justice, Provost, Officers, and other Attendants. Ang. We must not make a scarecrow of the law, Setting it up to fear the birds of prey, And let it keep one shape, till custom make it Their perch, and not their terror. Escal. Ay, but yet Let us be keen, and rather cut a little, Than fall, and bruise to death: Alas! this gen tleman, Whom I would save, had a most noble father, Let but your honour know, (Whom I believe to be most strait in virtue), That, in the working of your own affections, Had time coher'd with place, or place with wishing, Or that the resolute acting of your blood pose, Whether you had not sometime in your life Err'd in this point which now you censure him, And pull'd the law upon you. Ang. 'Tis one thing to be tempted, Escalus, Another thing to fall. I not deny, The jury, passing on the prisoner's life, |