Than the soft myrtle-O, but man, proud man! Most ignorant of what he's most assur'd, THE PRIVILEGE OF AUTHORITY. Great men may jest with saints: 'tis wit in them, But, in the less, foul profanation. That in the captain's but a choleric word, HONEST BRIBERY. Hark, how I'll bribe you. Ang. How! bribe me? Isab. Ay, with such gifts, that heaven shall share with you. Lucio. You had marr'd all else. Isab. Not with fond shekels of the tested* gold, Or stones, whose rates are either rich, or poor, As fancy values them: but with true prayers, That shall be up at heaven, and enter there. Ere sun-rise; prayers from preserved† souls, From fasting maids, whose minds are dedicate To nothing temporal. THE POWER OF VIRTUOUS DUTY. Is this her fault, or mine? The tempter, or the tempted, who sins most? Ha Not she; nor doth she tempt: but it is I, That lying by the violet, in the sun, Do, as the carrion does, not as the flower, Shall we desire to raze the sanctuary, * Attested, stamped. + Preserved from the corruption of the world. See 2 Kings, x. 27. What dost thou? or what art thou, Angelo? And feast upon her eyes? What is't I dream on' With saints dost bait thy hook! Most dangerous To sin in loving virtue: never could the strumpet, LOVE IN A GRAVE SEVERE GOVERNOR. When I would pray and think, I think and pray And in my heart, the strong and swelling evil FORNICATION AND MURDER EQUALLED. It were as good To pardon him, that hath from nature stolen Their saucy sweetness, that do coin heaven's ima In stamps that are forbid: 'tis all as easy Falsely to take away a life true made, As to put mettle in restrained means, LOWLINESS OF MIND. Let me be ignorant, and in nothing good, But graciously to know I am no better. Ang. Thus wisdom wishes to appear most bright When it doth tax itself. TEMPORAL FAR BETTER THAN ETERNAL DEATH. Better it were, a brother died at once, Than that a sister by redeeming him, Should die for ever. WOMEN'S FRAILTY. Nay, women are frail too. Isah. Ay, as the glasses where they view themselves; Which are as easy broke as they make forms. ACT III. HOPE. The miserable have no other medicine, But only hope. REFLECTIONS ON THE VANITY OF LIFE. Reason thus with life, If I do lose thee, I do lose a thing Ihat none but fools would keep; a breath thou art, (Servile to all the skiey influences,) That dost this habitation, where thou keep'st, And yet run'st toward him still: Thou art not noble; For thou dost fear the soft and tender fork * Impressions. And that thou oft provok'st: yet grossly fear'st 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 Of palsied eld; and when thou art old, and rich, THE TERRORS OF DEATH MOST IN APPREHENSION O, I do fear thee, Claudio; and I quake, RESOLUTION FROM A SENSE OF HONOUR, Why give you me this shame? Think you I can a resolution fetch From flowery tenderness? If I must die, *Affects, affections. Old age. + Leprous eruptions 4 I will encounter darkness 25 bride, And hug it in mine arms. THE HYPOCRISY OF ANGELO. There my father's grave Did utter forth a voice! Yes, thou must die: In base appliances. This outward-sainted deputy,- His filth within being cast, he would appear THE TERRORS OF DEATH Death is a fearful thing. Isab. And shamed life a hateful. Claud. Ay, but to die, and go we know not where To lie in cold obstruction, and to rot: This sensible warm motion to become The weariest and most loathed worldly life, To what we fear of death. VIRTUE AND GOODNESS. Virtue is bold, and goodness never fearful A BAWD. The evil that thou causest to be done, That is thy means to live: Do thou but thi What 'tis to cram a maw, or clothe a back, From such a filthy vice: say to thyself, |