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ANGELO。 Condemn the fault and not the actor of it！ Why； every fault's
condemn'd ere it be done； Mine were the very cipher of a function； To fine
the faults whose fine stands in record； And let go by the actor。 ISABELLA。
O just but severe law！ I had a brother； then。 Heaven keep your honour！
LUCIO。 ＇To ISABELLA＇ Give't not o'er so； to him again； entreat him；
Kneel down before him； hang upon his gown； You are too cold： if you
should need a pin； You could not with more tame a tongue desire it。 To
him； I say。 ISABELLA。 Must he needs die？ ANGELO。 Maiden； no
remedy。 ISABELLA。 Yes； I do think that you might pardon him。 And
neither heaven nor man grieve at the mercy。 ANGELO。 I will not do't。
ISABELLA。 But can you； if you would？ ANGELO。 Look； what I will not；
that I cannot do。 ISABELLA。 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？
ANGELO。 He's sentenc'd； 'tis too late。 LUCIO。 ＇To ISABELLA＇ You are
too cold。 ISABELLA。 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； 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 slipp'd like
him； but he； like you； Would not have been so stern。 ANGELO。 Pray you
be gone。 ISABELLA。 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。 ＇To ISABELLA＇ Ay； touch him； there's the
vein。 ANGELO。 Your brother is a forfeit of the law； And you but waste
your words。 ISABELLA。 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 If He； which is the top of judgment； should
But judge you as you are？ O； think on that； And mercy then will breathe
within your lips； Like man new made。 ANGELO。 Be you content； fair
maid。 It is the law； not I condemn your brother。 Were he my kinsman；
brother； or my son； It should be thus with him。 He must die to…morrow。
ISABELLA。 To…morrow！ O； that's sudden！ Spare him； spare him。 He's not
prepar'd for death。 Even for our kitchens We kill the fowl of season； shall
we serve heaven With less respect than we do minister To our gross selves？
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Good； good my lord； bethink you。 Who is it that hath died for this offence？
There's many have committed it。 LUCIO。 ＇Aside＇ Ay； well said。 ANGELO。
The law hath not been dead； though it hath slept。 Those many had not
dar'd to do that evil If the first that did th' edict infringe Had answer'd for
his deed。 Now 'tis awake； Takes note of what is done； and； like a prophet；
Looks in a glass that shows what future evils… Either now or by remissness
new conceiv'd； And so in progress to be hatch'd and born… Are now to have
no successive degrees； But here they live to end。 ISABELLA。 Yet show
some pity。 ANGELO。 I show it most of all when I show justice； 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。 ISABELLA。 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。 ＇To ISABELLA＇ That's well said。 ISABELLA。 Could great
men thunder As Jove himself does； Jove would never 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；
Splits the unwedgeable and gnarled oak Than the soft myrtle。 But man；
proud man； Dress'd in a little brief authority； Most ignorant of what he's
most assur'd； His glassy essence； like an angry ape； Plays such fantastic
tricks before high heaven As makes the angels weep； who； with our
spleens； Would all themselves laugh mortal。 LUCIO。 ＇To ISABELLA＇ O；
to him； to him； wench！ He will relent； He's coming； I perceive 't。
PROVOST。 ＇Aside＇ Pray heaven she win him。 ISABELLA。 We cannot
weigh our brother with ourself。 Great men may jest with saints： 'tis wit in
them； But in the less foul profanation。 LUCIO。 ＇To ISABELLA＇ Thou'rt i'
th' right； girl； more o' that。 ISABELLA。 That in the captain's but a choleric
word Which in the soldier is flat blasphemy。 LUCIO。 ＇To ISABELLA＇ Art
avis'd o' that？ More on't。 ANGELO。 Why do you put these sayings upon
me？ ISABELLA。 Because authority； though it err like others； Hath yet a
kind of medicine in itself That skins the vice o' th' 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
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thought upon your tongue Against my brother's life。 ANGELO。 ＇Aside＇
She speaks； and 'tis Such sense that my sense breeds with it。… Fare you
well。 ISABELLA。 Gentle my lord； turn back。 ANGELO。 I will bethink me。
Come again to…morrow。 ISABELLA。 Hark how I'll bribe you； good my
lord； turn back。 ANGELO。 How； bribe me？ ISABELLA。 Ay； with such
gifts that heaven shall share with you。 LUCIO。 ＇To ISABELLA） You had
marr'd all else。 ISABELLA。 Not with fond shekels of the tested gold； Or
stones； whose rate are either rich or poor 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。 ANGELO。 Well； come to me to…morrow。
LUCIO。 ＇To ISABELLA＇ Go to； 'tis well； away。 ISABELLA。 Heaven
keep your honour safe！ ANGELO。 ＇Aside＇ Amen； for I Am that way going
to temptation Where prayers cross。 ISABELLA。 At what hour to…morrow
Shall I attend your lordship？ ANGELO。 At any time 'fore noon。
ISABELLA。 Save your honour！ Exeunt all but ANGELO ANGELO。 From
thee