Isab.
I do, my lord.

Duke.
For this new-marry'd man, approaching here,
Whose salt imagination yet hath wrong'd
Your well-defended honour, you must pardon him
For Mariana's sake: but as he adjudg'd your brother,
Being criminal, in double violation
Of sacred chastity, and in promise-breach,
Thereon dependant, for your brother's life,
The very mercy of the law cries out
Most audible, even from his proper tongue,^{3 note}


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 faults are manifested;
Which tho' thou would'st deny, deny thee vantage.^{4 note}
We do condemn thee to the very block,
Where Claudio stoop'd to death; and with like haste—
Away with him.

Mari.
Oh, 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 choak your good to come. For his possessions,
Altho' by confiscation they are ours,
We do enstate and widow you withal,
To buy you a better husband.

Mari.
Oh, my dear lord,
I crave no other, nor no better man.

Duke.
Never crave him; we are definitive.

Mari.
Gentle, my liege— [Kneeling.

Duke.
You do but lose your labour—
Away with him to death—Now, Sir, to you. [To Lucio.

Mari.
Oh, 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;^{5 note}
Should she kneel down, in mercy of this fact,
Her brother's ghost his paved bed would break,
And take her hence in horror.

Mari.
Isabel,
Sweet Isabel, do yet but kneel by me;
Hold up your hands, say nothing; I'll speak all—
They say, best men are moulded out of faults;
And, for the most, become much more the better
For being a little bad: so may my husband.
—Oh, Isabel! will you not lend a knee?

Duke.
He dies for Claudio's death.

Isab.
Most bounteous Sir, [Kneeling.
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;^{6 note}

Let him not die. My brother had but justice,
In that he did the thing for which he dy'd.
For Angelo,
His act did not o'ertake his bad intent;
And must be bury'd but as an intent,
That perish'd by the way: thoughts are no subjects:
Intents, but meerly thoughts.

Mari.
Meerly, 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?

Prov.
It was commanded so.

Duke.
Had you a special warrant for the deed?

Prov.
No, my good lord; it was by private message.

Duke.
For which I do discharge you of your office.
Give up your keys.

Prov.
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 dy'd,

I have reserv'd alive.

Duke.
What's he?

Prov.
His name is Barnardine.

Duke.
I would, thou had'st done so by Claudio—
Go, fetch him hither; let me look upon him. [Exit Provost.

Escal.
I'm sorry one so learned and so wise
As you, lord Angelo, have still appear'd,
Should slip so grossly both in heat of blood,
And lack of temper'd judgment afterward.

Ang.
I'm 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 intreat it.

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