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Unhappily； even so。 And the new deputy now for the Duke… Whether it be
the fault and glimpse of newness； Or whether that the body public be A
horse whereon the governor doth ride； Who； newly in the seat； that it may
know He can command； lets it straight feel the spur； Whether the tyranny
be in his place； Or in his eminence that fills it up； I stagger in。 But this new
governor Awakes me all the enrolled penalties Which have； like unscour'd
armour； hung by th' wall So long that nineteen zodiacs have gone round
And none of them been worn； and； for a name； Now puts the drowsy and
neglected act Freshly on me。 'Tis surely for a name。 LUCIO。 I warrant it is；
and thy head stands so tickle on thy shoulders that a milkmaid； if she be in
love； may sigh it off。 Send after the Duke； and appeal to him。 CLAUDIO。
I have done so； but he's not to be found。 I prithee； Lucio； do me this kind
service： This day my sister should the cloister enter； And there receive her
approbation； Acquaint her with the danger of my state； Implore her； in my
voice； that she make friends To the strict deputy； bid herself assay him。 I
have great hope in that； for in her youth There is a prone and speechless
dialect Such as move men； beside； she hath prosperous art When she will
play with reason and discourse； And well she can persuade。 LUCIO。 I pray
she may； as well for the encouragement of the like； which else would
stand under grievous imposition； as for the enjoying of thy life； who I
would be sorry should be thus foolishly lost at a game of tick…tack。 I'll to
her。 CLAUDIO。 I thank you； good friend Lucio。 LUCIO。 Within two hours。
CLAUDIO。 Come； officer； away。 Exeunt
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MEASURE FOR MEASURE
SCENE III。 A monastery
Enter DUKE and FRIAR THOMAS
DUKE。 No； holy father； throw away that thought； Believe not that the
dribbling dart of love Can pierce a complete bosom。 Why I desire thee To
give me secret harbour hath a purpose More grave and wrinkled than the
aims and ends Of burning youth。 FRIAR。 May your Grace speak of it？
DUKE。 My holy sir； none better knows than you How I have ever lov'd
the life removed； And held in idle price to haunt assemblies Where youth；
and cost； a witless bravery keeps。 I have deliver'd to Lord Angelo； A man
of stricture and firm abstinence； My absolute power and place here in
Vienna； And he supposes me travell'd to Poland； For so I have strew'd it in
the common ear； And so it is received。 Now； pious sir； You will demand of
me why I do this。 FRIAR。 Gladly； my lord。 DUKE。 We have strict statutes
and most biting laws； The needful bits and curbs to headstrong steeds；
Which for this fourteen years we have let sleep； Even like an o'ergrown
lion in a cave； That goes not out to prey。 Now； as fond fathers； Having
bound up the threat'ning twigs of birch； Only to stick it in their children's
sight For terror； not to use； in time the rod Becomes more mock'd than
fear'd； so our decrees； Dead to infliction； to themselves are dead； And
liberty plucks justice by the nose； The baby beats the nurse； and quite
athwart Goes all decorum。 FRIAR。 It rested in your Grace To unloose this
tied…up justice when you pleas'd； And it in you more dreadful would have
seem'd Than in Lord Angelo。 DUKE。 I do fear； too dreadful。 Sith 'twas my
fault to give the people scope； 'Twould be my tyranny to strike and gall
them For what I bid them do； for we bid this be done； When evil deeds
have their permissive pass And not the punishment。 Therefore； indeed； my
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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MEASURE FOR MEASURE
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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MEASURE FOR MEASURE
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