Duke. You are pardoned, Isabel. And now, dear maid, be you as free to us. brother. I do, my lord. Re-enter ANGELO, MARIANA, PETER, and Provost. Duke. For this new-married man, approaching here, Whose salt imagination yet hath wronged Your well-defended honour, you must pardon For Mariana's sake. But as he adjudged your brother (Being criminal in double violation Then, Angelo, thy fault's thus manifested,— Which though thou wouldst deny, denies thee vantage: We do condemn thee to the very block Where Claudio stooped to death, and with like haste: Sweet Isabel, do yet but kneel by me; Isab. Till he did look on me: since it is so, His act did not o'ertake his bad intent; That perished by the way: 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: Provost, how came it Claudio was beheaded At an unusual hour? Duke. What's he? Prov. 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 appeared, Should slip so grossly, both in the heat of blood And lack of tempered judgment 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; 'Tis my deserving, and I do entreat it. Re-enter Provost, BARNARDINE, CLAUDIO, and Duke. Which is that Barnardine? 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 squarest thy life according. Thou 'rt condemned; But for those earthly faults, I quit them all; Prov. This is another prisoner that I saved, 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, yours.― 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, an ass, a madman: 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 whipped. Duke. Whipped first, sir, and hanged after. Proclaim it, Provost, round the city, If any woman's wronged 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 finished, Let him be whipped and hanged. 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, Duke. Slandering a prince deserves it. She, Claudio, that you wronged, look you restore. Joy to you, Mariana!-Love her Angelo; I have confessed 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 shew What's yet behind, that's meet you all should [Exeunt. know. brings home full numbers. I find here, that Don Pedro hath bestowed much honour on a young Florentine, called Claudio. Mess. Much deserved on his part, and equally remembered by Don Pedro: he hath borne himself beyond the promise of his age, doing, in the figure of a lamb, the feats of a lion: he hath, indeed, better bettered expectation, than you must expect of me to tell you how. Leon. He hath an uncle here in Messina will be very much glad of it. Mess. I have already delivered him letters, and |