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father； I have on Angelo impos'd the office； Who may； in th' ambush of my
name； strike home； 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； Supply me with the habit； and
instruct me How I may formally in person bear me Like a true friar。 Moe
reasons for this action At our more leisure shall I render you。 Only； this
one： Lord Angelo is precise； Stands at a guard with envy； scarce confesses
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That his blood flows； or that his appetite Is more to bread than stone。
Hence shall we see； If power change purpose； what our seemers be。
Exeunt
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SCENE IV。 A nunnery
Enter ISABELLA and FRANCISCA
ISABELLA。 And have you nuns no farther privileges？ FRANCISCA。
Are not these large enough？ ISABELLA。 Yes； truly； I speak not as
desiring more； But rather wishing a more strict restraint Upon the
sisterhood； the votarists of Saint Clare。 LUCIO。 ＇ Within＇ Ho！ Peace be in
this place！ ISABELLA。 Who's that which calls？ FRANCISCA。 It is a
man's voice。 Gentle Isabella； Turn you the key； and know his business of
him： You may； I may not； you are yet unsworn； When you have vow'd；
you must not speak with men But in the presence of the prioress； Then； if
you speak； you must not show your face； Or； if you show your face； you
must not speak。 He calls again； I pray you answer him。 Exit FRANCISCA
ISABELLA。 Peace and prosperity！ Who is't that calls？ Enter LUCIO
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？
ISABELLA。 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。 Not to be weary with you； he's in
prison。 ISABELLA。 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。 ISABELLA。 Sir； make me not your story。
LUCIO。 It is true。 I would not… though 'tis my familiar sin With maids to
seem the lapwing； and to jest； Tongue far from heart… play with all virgins
so： I hold you as a thing enskied and sainted； By your renouncement an
immortal spirit； And to be talk'd with in sincerity； As with a saint。
ISABELLA。 You do blaspheme the good in mocking me。 LUCIO。 Do not
believe it。 Fewness and truth； 'tis thus： Your brother and his lover have
embrac'd。 As those that feed grow full； as blossoming time That from the
seedness the bare fallow brings To teeming foison； even so her plenteous
womb Expresseth his full tilth and husbandry。 ISABELLA。 Some one with
child by him？ My cousin Juliet？ LUCIO。 Is she your cousin？ ISABELLA。
Adoptedly； as school…maids change their names By vain though apt
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affection。 LUCIO。 She it is。 ISABELLA。 O； let him marry her！ LUCIO。
This is the point。 The Duke is very strangely gone from hence； Bore many
gentlemen； myself being one； In hand； and hope of action； but we do learn；
By those that know the very nerves of state； His givings…out were of an
infinite distance From his true…meant design。 Upon his place； And with
full line of his authority； Governs Lord Angelo； a man whose blood Is very
snow…broth； one who never feels The wanton stings and motions of the
sense； But doth rebate and blunt his natural edge With profits of the mind；
study and fast。 He… to give fear to use and liberty； Which have for long run
by the hideous law； As mice by lions… hath pick'd out an act Under whose
heavy sense your brother's life Falls into forfeit； he arrests him on it； And
follows close the rigour of the statute To make him an example。 All hope
is gone； Unless you have the grace by your fair prayer To soften Angelo。
And that's my pith of business 'Twixt you and your poor brother。
ISABELLA。 Doth he so seek his life？ LUCIO。 Has censur'd him Already；
and； as I hear； the Provost hath A warrant for his execution。 ISABELLA。
Alas！ what poor ability's in me To do him good？ LUCIO。 Assay the pow'r
you have。 ISABELLA。 My power； alas； I doubt！ LUCIO。 Our doubts are
traitors； And make us lose the good we oft might win By fearing to
attempt。 Go to Lord Angelo； And let him learn to know； when maidens sue；
Men give like gods； but when they weep and kneel； All their petitions are
as freely theirs As they themselves would owe them。 ISABELLA。 I'll see
what I can do。 LUCIO。 But speedily。 ISABELLA。 I will about it straight；
No longer staying but to give the Mother Notice of my affair。 I humbly
thank you。 Commend me to my brother； soon at night I'll send him certain
word of my success。 LUCIO。 I take my leave of you。 ISABELLA。 Good
sir； adieu。 Exeunt
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ACT II。
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Scene I。 A hall in ANGELO'S house
Enter ANGELO； ESCALUS； a JUSTICE； PROVOST； OFFICERS；
and other ATTENDANTS
ANGELO。 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。 ESCALUS。 Ay； but yet Let us be keen； and
rather cut a little Than fall and bruise to death。 Alas！ this gentleman；
Whom I would save； had a most noble father。 Let but your honour know；
Whom I believe to be most strait in virtue； That； in the working of your
own affections； Had time coher'd with place； or place with wishing； Or
that the resolute acting of our blood Could have attain'd th' effect of your
own purpose Whether you had not sometime in your life Err'd in this point
which now you censure him； And pull'd the law upon you。 ANGELO。 'Tis
one thing to be tempted； Escalus； Another thing to fall。 I not deny The jury；
passing on the prisoner's life； May in the sworn twelve have a thief or two
Guiltier than him they try。 What's open made to justice； That justice seizes。
What knows the laws That thieves do pass on thieves？ 'Tis very pregnant；
The jewel that we find； we stoop and take't； Because we see it； but what
we do not see We tread upon； and never think of it。 You may not so
extenuate his offence For I have had such faults； but rather tell me； When I；
that censure him； do so offend； Let mine own judgment pattern out my
death； And nothing come in partial。 Sir； he must die。 ESCALUS。 Be it as
your wisdom will。 ANGELO。 Where is the Provost？ PROVOST。 Here； if it
like your honour。 ANGELO。 See that Claudio Be executed by nine to…
morrow morning； Bring him his confessor； let him be prepar'd； For that's
the utmost of his pilgrimage。 Exit PROVOST ESCALUS。 ＇Aside＇ Well；
heaven forgive him！ and forgive us all！ Some rise by sin； and some by
virtue fall； Some run from breaks of ice； and answer none； And some
condemned for a fault alone。