Her brother's ghost his paved bed would break,
And take her hence in horror.

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 lived: 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: thoughts are no subjects;
Intents, but merely thoughts.

MARI.
Merely, my lord.
DUKE. Your suit's unprofitable; stand up,
I have bethought me of another fault.

Provost, how came it Claudio was beheaded
At an unusual hour?

PROV.

It was commanded so.

I say.

440

450

449 His act... intent] Cf. Macb., IV, i, 145–146. "The flighty purpose never is o'ertook Unless the deed go with it."

DUKE. Had you a special warrant for the deed? PROV. No, my good lord; it was by private message. DUKE. For which I do discharge you of your office: Give up your keys.

PROV.

Pardon me, noble lord:
I thought it was a fault, but knew it not;
Yet did repent me, after more advice:
For testimony whereof, one in the prison,
That should by private order else have died,
I have reserved alive.

DUKE.

PROV.

What's he?

His name is Barnardine.

DUKE. I would thou hadst done so by Claudio.
Go fetch him hither; let me look upon him. [Exit Provost.
ESCAL. I am sorry, one so learned and so wise

As you, Lord Angelo, have still appear'd,
Should slip so grossly, both in the heat of blood,
And lack of temper'd judgement afterward.

ANG. I am sorry that such sorrow I procure:
And so deep sticks it in my penitent heart,
That I crave death more willingly than mercy;
"T is my deserving, and I do entreat it.

Re-enter PROVOST, with BARNARDINE, CLAUDIO muffled,
and JULIET

DUKE. Which is that Barnardine?

PROV.

This, my lord.

DUKE. There was a friar told me of this man.

462 after more advice] on further consideration.

460

470

Sirrah, thou art said to have a stubborn soul,
That apprehends no further than this world,

And squarest thy life according. Thou 'rt condemn'd: 480
But, for those earthly faults, I quit them all;
And pray thee take this mercy to provide
For better times to come. Friar, advise him;

I leave him to your hand. What muffled fellow's
that?

PROV. This is another prisoner that I saved,

Who should have died when Claudio lost his head;
As like almost to Claudio as himself. [Unmuffles Claudio.
DUKE. [To Isabella] If he be like your brother, for his

sake

Is he pardon'd; and, for your lovely sake,
Give me your hand, and say you will be mine,
He is my brother too: but fitter time for that.
By this Lord Angelo perceives he 's safe;
Methinks I see a quickening in his eye.
Well, Angelo, your evil quits you well:

Look that you love your wife; her worth worth yours.
I find an apt remission in myself;

And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon.

481 But... all] But for those faults punishable on earth, cognizable by temporal power, I forgive them all.

490-491 Give me ...

.. brother too] These lines are somewhat elliptical. The Duke seems to mean that provided Isabella give him her hand, Claudio will then be his brother too. Isabella expresses no emotion by word of mouth on finding Claudio alive. Much is here left to be supplied by the gesture of the actors.

494 your evil quits you well] your ill-doing lets you off easily. 496 an apt remission] an inclination to pardon.

490

[To Lucio] You, sirrah, that knew me for a fool, a coward,
One all of luxury, an ass, a madman;
Wherein have I so deserved of you,

That you extol me thus?

LUCIO. 'Faith, my lord, I spoke it but according to the trick. If you will hang me for it, you may; but I had rather it would please you I might be whipt.

DUKE. Whipt first, sir, and hang'd after.
Proclaim it, provost, round about the city,
If any woman wrong'd by this lewd fellow, -
As I have heard him swear himself there's one
Whom he begot with child, let her appear,
And he shall marry her: the nuptial finish'd,
Let him be whipt and hang'd.

LUCIO. I beseech your highness, do not marry me to a whore. Your highness said even now, I made you a Duke: good my lord, do not recompense me in making me a cuckold.

DUKE. Upon mine honour, thou shalt marry her.
Thy slanders I forgive; and therewithal

Remit thy other forfeits. - Take him to prison;
And see our pleasure herein executed.

LUCIO. Marrying a punk, my lord, is pressing to death, whipping, and hanging.

502-503 according to the trick] according to sportive custom, thoughtlessly,

a mere "façon de parler."

518 forfeits] punishments, penalties.

500

510

520 pressing to death] This was the cruel punishment, "peine et dure,” dealt out, according to English law, to persons accused of felony who refused to plead.

521

DUKE. Slandering a prince deserves it.

[Exeunt Officers with Lucio.

She, Claudio, that you wrong'd, look you restore.

Joy to you, Mariana! Love her, Angelo:

I have confess'd her, and I know her virtue.

Thanks, good friend Escalus, for thy much goodness:
There's more behind that is more gratulate.
Thanks, provost, for thy care and secrecy:
We shall employ thee in a worthier place.
Forgive him, Angelo, that brought you home
The head of Ragozine for Claudio's:
The offence pardons itself. Dear Isabel,
I have a motion much imports your good;
Whereto if you 'll a willing ear incline,

What's mine is yours, and what is yours is mine.
So, bring us to our palace; where we'll show
What's yet behind, that's meet you all should know.

[Exeunt.

527 more gratulate] more to be rejoiced at, more worthy of gratulation.

con

530