Measure for Measure Part 9

_Ang._ Maiden, no remedy.

_Isab._ Yes; I do think that you might pardon him, And neither heaven nor man grieve at the mercy. 50

_Ang._ I will not do't.

_Isab._ But can you, if you would?

_Ang._ Look, what I will not, that I cannot do.

_Isab._ But might you do't, and do the world no wrong, If so your heart were touch'd with that remorse As mine is to him.

_Ang._ He's sentenced; 'tis too late. 55

_Lucio._ [_Aside to Isab._] You are too cold.

_Isab._ Too late? why, no; I, that do speak a word, May call it back again. Well, believe this, No ceremony that to great ones 'longs, Not the king's crown, nor the deputed sword, 60 The marshal's truncheon, nor the judge's robe, Become them with one half so good a grace As mercy does.

If he had been as you, and you as he, You would have slipt like him; but he, like you, 65 Would not have been so stern.

_Ang._ Pray you, be gone.

_Isab._ I would to heaven I had your potency, And you were Isabel! should it then be thus?

No; I would tell what 'twere to be a judge, And what a prisoner.

_Lucio._ [_Aside to Isab._] Ay, touch him; there's the vein. 70

_Ang._ Your brother is a forfeit of the law, And you but waste your words.

_Isab._ Alas, alas!

Why, all the souls that were were forfeit once; And He that might the vantage best have took Found out the remedy. How would you be, 75 If He, which is the top of judgement, should But judge you as you are? O, think on that; And mercy then will breathe within your lips, Like man new made.

_Ang._ Be you content, fair maid; It is the law, not I condemn your brother: 80 Were he my kinsman, brother, or my son, It should be thus with him: he must die to-morrow.

_Isab._ To-morrow! O, that's sudden! Spare him, spare him!

He's not prepared for death. Even for our kitchens We kill the fowl of season: shall we serve heaven 85 With less respect than we do minister To our gross selves? Good, good my lord, bethink you; Who is it that hath died for this offence?

There's many have committed it.

_Lucio._ [_Aside to Isab._] Ay, well said.

_Ang._ The law hath not been dead, though it hath slept: 90 Those many had not dared to do that evil, If the first that did the edict infringe Had answer'd for his deed: now 'tis awake, Takes note of what is done; and, like a prophet, Looks in a gla.s.s, that shows what future evils, 95 Either now, or by remissness new-conceived, And so in progress to be hatch'd and born, Are now to have no successive degrees, But, ere they live, to end.

_Isab._ Yet show some pity.

_Ang._ I show it most of all when I show justice; 100 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. 105

_Isab._ 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._ [_Aside to Isab._] That's well said.

_Isab._ Could great men thunder 110 As Jove himself does, Jove would ne'er 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 115 Split'st the unwedgeable and gnarled oak Than the soft myrtle: but man, proud man, Drest in a little brief authority, Most ignorant of what he's most a.s.sured, His gla.s.sy essence, like an angry ape, 120 Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven As make the angels weep; who, with our spleens, Would all themselves laugh mortal.

_Lucio._ [_Aside to Isab._] O, to him, to him, wench!

he will relent; He's coming; I perceive't.

_Prov._ [_Aside_] Pray heaven she win him! 125

_Isab._ We cannot weigh our brother with ourself: Great men may jest with saints; 'tis wit in them.

But in the less foul profanation.

_Lucio._ Thou'rt i' the right, girl; more o' that.

_Isab._ That in the captain's but a choleric word, 130 Which in the soldier is flat blasphemy.

_Lucio._ [_Aside to Isab._] Art avised o' that? more on't.

_Ang._ Why do you put these sayings upon me?

_Isab._ Because authority, though it err like others.

Hath yet a kind of medicine in itself, 135 That skins the vice o' the 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 thought upon your tongue 140 Against my brother's life.

_Ang._ [_Aside_] She speaks, and 'tis Such sense, that my sense breeds with it. Fare you well.

_Isab._ Gentle my lord, turn back.

_Ang._ I will bethink me: come again to-morrow.

_Isab._ Hark how I'll bribe you: good my lord, turn back. 145

_Ang._ How? bribe me?

_Isab._ Ay, with such gifts that heaven shall share with you.

_Lucio._ [_Aside to Isab._] Yon had marr'd all else.

_Isab._ Not with fond shekels of the tested gold, Or stones whose rates are either rich or poor 150 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.

_Ang._ Well; come to me to-morrow. 155

_Lucio._ [_Aside to Isab._] Go to; 'tis well; away!

_Isab._ Heaven keep your honour safe!

_Ang._ [_Aside_] Amen: For I am that way going to temptation, Where prayers cross.

_Isab._ At what hour to-morrow Shall I attend your lords.h.i.+p?