For terror, not to use, in time the rod Becomes more mock'd than fear'd; so our decrees, And liberty plucks justice by the nose; The baby beats the nurse, and quite athwart To unloose this tied-up justice when you pleased: Duke. I do fear, too dreadful: Sith 'twas my fault to give the people scope, 35 '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, 40 Who may, in the ambush of my name, strike home, 52 And yet my nature never in the fight To do in slander. And to behold his sway, I will, as 'twere a brother of your order, Visit both prince and people: therefore, I prithee, 45 Stands at a guard with envy; scarce confesses SCENE IV. A nunnery. Enter ISABELLA and FRANCISCA. [Exeunt. Isab. And have you nuns no farther privileges? Isab. Yes, truly: I speak not as desiring more; Fran. It is a man's voice. Gentle Isabella, You may, Then, if you speak, you must not show your face; Isab. Peace and prosperity! Who is't that calls? Enter LUCIO. 5 ΙΟ [Exit. 15 Lucio. Hail, virgin, if you be, as those cheek-roses Proclaim you are no less! Can you so stead me As bring me to the sight of Isabella, A novice of this place, and the fair sister To her unhappy brother Claudio? Isab. Why, 'her unhappy brother'? let me ask The rather, for I now must make you know I am that Isabella and his sister. Lucio. Gentle and fair, your brother kindly greets you: SCENE IV.] SCENA QUINTA Ff. SCENE VIII. Pope. 5. sisterhood, the votarists] sister votarists Pope. 20 25 Not to be weary with you, he's in prison. Isab. Woe me! for what? 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, make me not your story. It is true. 30 I would not-though 'tis my familiar sin As with a saint. Isab. You do blaspheme the good in mocking me. 35 Lucio. Do not believe it. Fewness and truth, 'tis thus: Your brother and his lover have embraced: As those that feed grow full,-as blossoming time, 40 That from the seedness the bare fallow brings To teeming foison,—even so her plenteous womb Expresseth his full tilth and husbandry. Isab. Some one with child by him?-My cousin Juliet? 45 Lucio. Is she your cousin? Isab. Adoptedly; as school-maids change their names By vain, though apt, affection. Lucio. Isab. O, let him marry her. She it is. This is the point. 50 The duke is very strangely gone from hence; 27. For that which] That for which Malone conj. 30. make me not your story] mock me not-your story Malone. make me not your scorn Collier MS. (after Davenant). make...sport Singer. It is true] Steevens. 'Tis true Ff. om. Pope. Nay, tis true Capell. 31. I would not] Malone puts a full stop here. 40. have] having Rowe. 42. Hanmer. seedness] seeding Collier MS. 44. his] its Hanmer. 49. O, let him] F1. Let him F2F3 F4. Let him then Pope. 50. is] who's Collier MS. By those that know the very nerves of state, Isab. Doth he so seek his life? Has censured him Already; and, as I hear, the provost hath Isab. Alas! what poor ability's in me Lucio. Assay the power you have. Isab. My power? Alas, I doubt,Lucio. Our doubts are traitors, And make us lose the good we oft might win 54. givings-out] Rowe. givingout Ff. 60. his] it's Capell. 63. for long long time Pope. 68. hope is] hope's Pope. 70. pith of business 'Twixt] pith Of business betwixt Hanmer. See note Edd. conj. Has] H'as Theobald. 73. as] om. Hanmer. 74. A warrant for his] a warrant For's Ff. 78. make] Pope. makes Ff. Men give like gods; but when they weep and kneel, Lucio. But speedily. Isab. I will about it straight; Isab. 85 Good sir, adieu. 90 [Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE I. A hall in ANGELO's house. Enter ANGELO, ESCALUS, and a Justice, Provost, Officers, and other 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. Let us be keen, and rather cut a little, Than fall, and bruise to death. Alas, this gentleman, Let but your honour know, Whom I believe to be most strait in virtue, That, in the working of your own affections, Had time cohered with place or place with wishing, |