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The law hath not been dead； though it hath slept。 Those many had not
dar'd to do that evil If the first that did th' edict infringe Had answer'd for
his deed。 Now 'tis awake； Takes note of what is done； and； like a prophet；
Looks in a glass that shows what future evils… Either now or by remissness
new conceiv'd； And so in progress to be hatch'd and born… Are now to have
no successive degrees； But here they live to end。 ISABELLA。 Yet show
some pity。 ANGELO。 I show it most of all when I show justice； For then I
pity those I do not know； Which a dismiss'd offence would after gall； And
do him right that； answering one foul wrong； Lives not to act another。 Be
satisfied； Your brother dies to…morrow； be content。 ISABELLA。 So you
must be the first that gives this sentence； And he that suffers。 O； it is
excellent To have a giant's strength！ But it is tyrannous To use it like a
giant。 LUCIO。 ＇To ISABELLA＇ That's well said。 ISABELLA。 Could great
men thunder As Jove himself does； Jove would never be quiet； For every
pelting petty officer Would use his heaven for thunder； Nothing but
thunder。 Merciful Heaven； Thou rather； with thy sharp and sulphurous bolt；
Splits the unwedgeable and gnarled oak Than the soft myrtle。 But man；
proud man； Dress'd in a little brief authority； Most ignorant of what he's
most assur'd； His glassy essence； like an angry ape； Plays such fantastic
tricks before high heaven As makes the angels weep； who； with our
spleens； Would all themselves laugh mortal。 LUCIO。 ＇To ISABELLA＇ O；
to him； to him； wench！ He will relent； He's coming； I perceive 't。
PROVOST。 ＇Aside＇ Pray heaven she win him。 ISABELLA。 We cannot
weigh our brother with ourself。 Great men may jest with saints： 'tis wit in
them； But in the less foul profanation。 LUCIO。 ＇To ISABELLA＇ Thou'rt i'
th' right； girl； more o' that。 ISABELLA。 That in the captain's but a choleric
word Which in the soldier is flat blasphemy。 LUCIO。 ＇To ISABELLA＇ Art
avis'd o' that？ More on't。 ANGELO。 Why do you put these sayings upon
me？ ISABELLA。 Because authority； though it err like others； Hath yet a
kind of medicine in itself That skins the vice o' th' top。 Go to your bosom；
Knock there； and ask your heart what it doth know That's like my brother's
fault。 If it confess A natural guiltiness such as is his； Let it not sound a
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thought upon your tongue Against my brother's life。 ANGELO。 ＇Aside＇
She speaks； and 'tis Such sense that my sense breeds with it。… Fare you
well。 ISABELLA。 Gentle my lord； turn back。 ANGELO。 I will bethink me。
Come again to…morrow。 ISABELLA。 Hark how I'll bribe you； good my
lord； turn back。 ANGELO。 How； bribe me？ ISABELLA。 Ay； with such
gifts that heaven shall share with you。 LUCIO。 ＇To ISABELLA） You had
marr'd all else。 ISABELLA。 Not with fond shekels of the tested gold； Or
stones； whose rate 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。 ANGELO。 Well； come to me to…morrow。
LUCIO。 ＇To ISABELLA＇ Go to； 'tis well； away。 ISABELLA。 Heaven
keep your honour safe！ ANGELO。 ＇Aside＇ Amen； for I Am that way going
to temptation Where prayers cross。 ISABELLA。 At what hour to…morrow
Shall I attend your lordship？ ANGELO。 At any time 'fore noon。
ISABELLA。 Save your honour！ Exeunt all but ANGELO ANGELO。 From
thee； even from thy virtue！ What's this； what's this？ 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 flow'r； Corrupt with virtuous season。 Can it be That
modesty may more betray our sense Than woman's lightness？ Having
waste ground enough； Shall we desire to raze the sanctuary； And pitch our
evils there？ O； fie； fie； fie！ What dost thou； or what art thou； Angelo？ Dost
thou desire her foully for those things That make her good？ O； let her
brother live！ Thieves for their robbery have authority When judges steal
themselves。 What； do I love her； That I desire to hear her speak again； And
feast upon her eyes？ What is't I dream on？ O cunning enemy； that； to catch
a saint； With saints dost bait thy hook！ Most dangerous Is that temptation
that doth goad us on To sin in loving virtue。 Never could the strumpet；
With all her double vigour； art and nature； Once stir my temper； but this
virtuous maid Subdues me quite。 Ever till now； When men were fond； I
smil'd and wond'red how。 Exit
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SCENE III。 A prison
Enter； severally； DUKE； disguised as a FRIAR； and PROVOST
DUKE。 Hail to you； Provost！ so I think you are。 PROVOST。 I am the
Provost。 What's your will； good friar？ DUKE。 Bound by my charity and
my blest order； I come to visit the afflicted spirits Here in the prison。 Do
me the common right To let me see them； and to make me know The
nature of their crimes； that I may minister To them accordingly。
PROVOST。 I would do more than that； if more were needful。
Enter JULIET
Look； here comes one； a gentlewoman of mine； Who； falling in the
flaws of her own youth； Hath blister'd her report。 She is with child； And he
that got it； sentenc'd… a young man More fit to do another such offence
Than die for this。 DUKE。 When must he die？ PROVOST。 As I do think；
to…morrow。 ＇To JULIET＇ I have provided for you； stay awhile And you
shall be conducted。 DUKE。 Repent you； fair one； of the sin you carry？
JULIET。 I do； and bear the shame most patiently。 DUKE。 I'll teach you
how you shall arraign your conscience； And try your penitence； if it be
sound Or hollowly put on。 JULIET。 I'll gladly learn。 DUKE。 Love you the
man that wrong'd you？ JULIET。 Yes； as I love the woman that wrong'd
him。 DUKE。 So then； it seems； your most offenceful act Was mutually
committed。 JULIET。 Mutually。 DUKE。 Then was your sin of heavier kind
than his。 JULIET。 I do confess it； and repent it； father。 DUKE。 'Tis meet so；
daughter； but lest you do repent As that the sin hath brought you to this
shame； Which sorrow is always toward ourselves； not heaven； Showing
we would not spare heaven as we love it； But as we stand in fear… JULIET。
I do repent me as it is an evil； And take the shame with joy。 DUKE。 There
rest。 Your partner； as I hear； must die to…morrow； And I am going with
instruction to him。 Grace go with you！ Benedicite！ Exit JULIET。 Must die
to…morrow！ O； injurious law； That respites me a life whose very comfort Is
still a dying horror！ PROVOST。 'Tis pity of him。 Exeunt
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SCENE IV。 ANGELO'S house
Enter ANGELO
ANGELO。 When I would pray and think； I think and pray To several
subjects。 Heaven hath my empty words； Whilst my invention； hearing not
my tongue； Anchors on Isabel。 Heaven in my mouth； As if I did but only
chew his name； And in my heart the strong and swelling evil Of my
conception。 The state whereon I studied Is； like a good thing being often
read； Grown sere and tedious； yea； my gravity； Wherein… let no man hear
me… I take pride； Could I with boot change for an idle plume Which the air
beats for vain。 O place； O form； How often dost thou with thy case； thy
habit； Wrench awe from fools； and tie the wiser souls To thy false seeming！
Blood； thou art blood。 Let's write 'good angel' on the devil's horn； 'Tis not
the devil's crest。
Enter SERVANT
How now； who's there？ SERVANT。 One Isabel； a sister； desires
access to you。 ANGELO。 Teach her the way。 ＇Exit SERVANT＇ O heavens！
Why does my blood thus muster to my heart； Making both it unable for
itself And d