And rather prov'd the sliding of your brother A merriment than a vice. Isab. O pardon me my lord; it oft falls out. 680 To have what we would have, we speak not what we mean: I something do excuse the thing I hate, For his advantage that I dearly love. Ang. We are all frail. Isab. Else let my brother die, "If not a feodary, but only he, "Owe, and succeed by weakness." Ang. Nay, women are frail too. Isab. Ay, as the glasses where they view themselves; Which are as easy broke as they make forms. "Women!-Help heaven! men their creation mar “In profiting by them. Nay, call us ten times frail;" For we are as soft as our complexions are, And credulous to false prints. Ang. I think it well: And from this testimony of your own sex, (Since, I suppose, we are made to be no stronger, Than faults may shake our frames) let me be bold,I do arrest your words; Be that you are, 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, By putting on the destin'd livery. 701 Isab. I have no tongue but one: gentle my lord, Let Let me intreat you speak the former language. Isab. My brother did love Juliet ; And 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, 710 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 believed, And most pernicious purpose!" Seeming, seeming!" I will proclaim thee, Angelo; look for't: Sign me a present pardon for my brother, Or, with an out-stretch'd throat, I'll tell the world Aloud, what man thou art. Ang. Who will believe thee, Isabel? My unsoil'd name, the austereness of my life, 720 Lay by all nicety, and prolixious blushes, That banish what they sue for; redeem thy brother By yielding up thy body to my will; 731 Or else he must not only die the death, But thy unkindness shall his death draw out Το To lingering sufferance: answer me to-morrow, Say what you can, my false o'erweighs your true. [Exit. Isab. To whom should I complain? Did I tell this, Who would believe me? O perilous mouths, That bear in them one and the self-same tongue, 740 Bidding the law make court'sy to their will ; To such abhorr'd pollution. Then, Isabel, live chaste, and, brother, die: And fit his mind to death, for his soul's rest. 747 [Exit. ACT ACT III. SCENE 1. The Prison. Enter Duke, CLAUDIO, and Provost. Duke. So, then you hope of pardon from lord Angelo ? But only hope : I have hope to live, and am prepar'd to die. Duke. Be absolute for death; either death or life, Shall thereby be the sweeter. Reason thus with life, If I do lose thee, I do lose a thing, That none but fools would keep: a breath thou art, That do this habitation, where thou keep'st, 10 And yet runnest toward him still: Thou art not noble ž For all the accommodations, that thou bear'st, Are nurs'd by baseness: Thou art by no means valiant ; For thou dost fear the soft and tender fork Of a poor worm: Thy best of rest is sleep, And that thou oft provok'st; yet grossly fear'st thyself; "Thou art not < For 20 "For thou exist'st on many a thousand grains "That issue out of dust :" Happy thou art not; For what thou hast not, still thou striv'st to get; And what thou hast, forget'st: "Thou art not certain ; "For thy complexion shifts to strange effects, "After the moon;" If thou art rich, thou art poor; ვი Do curse the gout, serpigo, and the rheum, nor age; But, as it were, an after-dinner's sleep, Dreaming on both: for all thy blessed youth Becomes as aged, "and doth beg the alms "Of palsied eld ;" and when thou art old, and rich, Thou hast neither heat, affection, limb, nor beauty Lye hid more thousand deaths: yet death we fear, Claud. I humbly thank you. To sue to live, I find, I seek to die; And, seeking death, find life: Let it come on. 41 Enter |