Your brother's death, I know, sits at your heart;And you may marvel why I obscured myself, Labouring to save his life, and would not rather Make rash remonstrance of my hidden power 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 VINCENTIO 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 adjudged 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 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 VINCENTIO 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 VINCENTIO Never crave him; we are definitive. MARIANA Gentle my liege,--Kneeling DUKE VINCENTIO 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 VINCENTIO 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 are 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 VINCENTIO He dies for Claudio's death. ISABELLA Most bounteous sir, Kneeling Look, if it please you, on this man condemn'd, As if my brother lived: 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 VINCENTIO Your suit's unprofitable; stand up, I say.
I have bethought me of another fault.