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PETER； and PROVOST ESCALUS。 My lord； I am more amaz'd at his
dishonour Than at the strangeness of it。 DUKE。 Come hither； Isabel。 Your
friar is now your prince。 As I was then Advertising and holy to your
business； Not changing heart with habit； I am still Attorney'd at your
service。 ISABELLA。 O； give me pardon； That I； your vassal have
employ'd and pain'd Your unknown sovereignty。 DUKE。 You are pardon'd；
Isabel。 And now； dear maid； be you as free to us。 Your brother's death； I
know； sits at your heart； And you may marvel why I obscur'd myself；
Labouring to save his life； and would not rather Make rash remonstrance
of my hidden pow'r Than let him so be lost。 O most kind maid； It was the
swift celerity of his death； Which I did think with slower foot came on；
That brain'd my purpose。 But peace be with him！ That life is better life；
past fearing death； Than that which lives to fear。 Make it your comfort； So
happy is your brother。 ISABELLA。 I do； my lord。
Re…enter ANGELO； MARIANA； FRIAR PETER； and PROVOST
DUKE。 For this new…married man approaching here； Whose salt
imagination yet hath wrong'd Your well…defended honour； you must
pardon For Mariana's sake； but as he adjudg'd your brother… Being
criminal in double violation Of sacred chastity and of promise…breach；
Thereon dependent； for your brother's life… The very mercy of the law
cries out Most audible； even from his proper tongue； 'An Angelo for
Claudio； death for death！' Haste still pays haste； and leisure answers
leisure； Like doth quit like； and Measure still for Measure。 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 stoop'd to
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death； and with like haste。 Away with him！ MARIANA。 O my most
gracious lord； I hope you will not mock me with a husband。 DUKE。 It is
your husband mock'd you with a husband。 Consenting to the safeguard of
your honour； I thought your marriage fit； else imputation； For that he knew
you； might reproach your life； And choke your good to come。 For his
possessions； Although by confiscation they are ours； We do instate and
widow you withal To buy you a better husband。 MARIANA。 O my dear
lord； I crave no other； nor no better man。 DUKE。 Never crave him； we are
definitive。 MARIANA。 Gentle my liege… ＇Kneeling＇ DUKE。 You do but
lose your labour。 Away with him to death！ ＇To LUCIO＇ Now； sir； to you。
MARIANA。 O my good lord！ Sweet Isabel； take my part； Lend me your
knees； and all my life to come I'll lend you all my life to do you service。
DUKE。 Against all sense you do importune her。 Should she kneel down in
mercy of this fact； Her brother's ghost his paved bed would break； And
take her hence in horror。 MARIANA。 Isabel； Sweet Isabel； do yet but
kneel by me； Hold up your hands； say nothing； I'll speak all。 They say best
men 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。 ISABELLA。 ＇Kneeling＇
Most bounteous sir； Look； if it please you； on this man condemn'd； As if
my brother liv'd。 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。
MARIANA。 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？ PROVOST。 It was commanded so。
DUKE。 Had you a special warrant for the deed？ PROVOST。 No； my good
lord； it was by private message。 DUKE。 For which I do discharge you of
your office； Give up your keys。 PROVOST。 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 reserv'd alive。 DUKE。 What's he？ PROVOST。
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His name is Barnardine。 DUKE。 I would thou hadst done so by Claudio。
Go fetch him hither； let me look upon him。 Exit PROVOST ESCALUS。 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 judgment afterward。 ANGELO。 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； with BARNARDINE； CLAUDIO （muffled）
and JULIET
DUKE。 Which is that Barnardine？ PROVOST。 This； my lord。 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 squar'st thy
life according。 Thou'rt condemn'd； 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 muffl'd fellow's that？
PROVOST。 This is another prisoner that I sav'd； 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
quick'ning 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。 To Lucio＇ You； sirrah；
that knew me for a fool； a coward； One all of luxury； an ass； a madman！
Wherein have I so deserv'd 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
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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。 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： Th' 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