按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ISABELLA。 You do blaspheme the good in mocking me。 LUCIO。 Do not
believe it。 Fewness and truth； 'tis thus： Your brother and his lover have
embrac'd。 As those that feed grow full； as blossoming time That from the
seedness the bare fallow brings To teeming foison； even so her plenteous
womb Expresseth his full tilth and husbandry。 ISABELLA。 Some one with
child by him？ My cousin Juliet？ LUCIO。 Is she your cousin？ ISABELLA。
Adoptedly； as school…maids change their names By vain though apt
12
… Page 13…
MEASURE FOR MEASURE
affection。 LUCIO。 She it is。 ISABELLA。 O； let him marry her！ LUCIO。
This is the point。 The Duke is very strangely gone from hence； Bore many
gentlemen； myself being one； In hand； and hope of action； but we do learn；
By those that know the very nerves of state； His givings…out were of an
infinite distance From his true…meant design。 Upon his place； And with
full line of his authority； Governs Lord Angelo； a man whose blood Is very
snow…broth； one who never feels The wanton stings and motions of the
sense； But doth rebate and blunt his natural edge With profits of the mind；
study and fast。 He… to give fear to use and liberty； Which have for long run
by the hideous law； As mice by lions… hath pick'd out an act Under whose
heavy sense your brother's life Falls into forfeit； he arrests him on it； And
follows close the rigour of the statute To make him an example。 All hope
is gone； Unless you have the grace by your fair prayer To soften Angelo。
And that's my pith of business 'Twixt you and your poor brother。
ISABELLA。 Doth he so seek his life？ LUCIO。 Has censur'd him Already；
and； as I hear； the Provost hath A warrant for his execution。 ISABELLA。
Alas！ what poor ability's in me To do him good？ LUCIO。 Assay the pow'r
you have。 ISABELLA。 My power； alas； I doubt！ LUCIO。 Our doubts are
traitors； And make us lose the good we oft might win By fearing to
attempt。 Go to Lord Angelo； And let him learn to know； when maidens sue；
Men give like gods； but when they weep and kneel； All their petitions are
as freely theirs As they themselves would owe them。 ISABELLA。 I'll see
what I can do。 LUCIO。 But speedily。 ISABELLA。 I will about it straight；
No longer staying but to give the Mother Notice of my affair。 I humbly
thank you。 Commend me to my brother； soon at night I'll send him certain
word of my success。 LUCIO。 I take my leave of you。 ISABELLA。 Good
sir； adieu。 Exeunt
14
… Page 15…
MEASURE FOR MEASURE
ACT II。
15
… Page 16…
MEASURE FOR MEASURE
Scene I。 A hall in ANGELO'S house
Enter ANGELO； ESCALUS； a JUSTICE； PROVOST； OFFICERS；
and other ATTENDANTS
ANGELO。 We must not make a scarecrow of the law； Setting it up to
fear the birds of prey； And let it keep one shape till custom make it Their
perch； and not their terror。 ESCALUS。 Ay； but yet Let us be keen； and
rather cut a little Than fall and bruise to death。 Alas！ this gentleman；
Whom I would save； had a most noble father。 Let but your honour know；
Whom I believe to be most strait in virtue； That； in the working of your
own affections； Had time coher'd with place； or place with wishing； Or
that the resolute acting of our blood Could have attain'd th' effect of your
own purpose Whether you had not sometime in your life Err'd in this point
which now you censure him； And pull'd the law upon you。 ANGELO。 'Tis
one thing to be tempted； Escalus； Another thing to fall。 I not deny The jury；
passing on the prisoner's life； May in the sworn twelve have a thief or two
Guiltier than him they try。 What's open made to justice； That justice seizes。
What knows the laws That thieves do pass on thieves？ 'Tis very pregnant；
The jewel that we find； we stoop and take't； Because we see it； but what
we do not see We tread upon； and never think of it。 You may not so
extenuate his offence For I have had such faults； but rather tell me； When I；
that censure him； do so offend； Let mine own judgment pattern out my
death； And nothing come in partial。 Sir； he must die。 ESCALUS。 Be it as
your wisdom will。 ANGELO。 Where is the Provost？ PROVOST。 Here； if it
like your honour。 ANGELO。 See that Claudio Be executed by nine to…
morrow morning； Bring him his confessor； let him be prepar'd； For that's
the utmost of his pilgrimage。 Exit PROVOST ESCALUS。 ＇Aside＇ Well；
heaven forgive him！ and forgive us all！ Some rise by sin； and some by
virtue fall； Some run from breaks of ice； and answer none； And some
condemned for a fault alone。
Enter ELBOW and OFFICERS with FROTH and POMPEY
ELBOW。 Come； bring them away； if these be good people in a
commonweal that do nothing but use their abuses in common houses； I
know no law； bring them away。 ANGELO。 How now； sir！ What's your
name； and what's the matter？ ELBOW。 If it please your honour； I am the
16
… Page 17…
MEASURE FOR MEASURE
poor Duke's constable； and my name is Elbow； I do lean upon justice； sir；
and do bring in here before your good honour two notorious benefactors。
ANGELO。 Benefactors！ Well… what benefactors are they？ Are they not
malefactors？ ELBOW。 If it please your honour； I know not well what they
are； but precise villains they are； that I am sure of； and void of all
profanation in the world that good Christians ought to have。 ESCALUS。
This comes off w