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To bathe in fiery floods or to reside In thrilling region of thick…ribbed ice；
To be imprison'd in the viewless winds； And blown with restless violence
round about The pendent world； or to be worse than worst Of those that
lawless and incertain thought Imagine howling… 'tis too horrible。 The
weariest and most loathed worldly life That age； ache； penury； and
imprisonment； Can lay on nature is a paradise To what we fear of death。
ISABELLA。 Alas； alas！ CLAUDIO。 Sweet sister； let me live。 What sin
you do to save a brother's life； Nature dispenses with the deed so far That
it becomes a virtue。 ISABELLA。 O you beast！ O faithless coward！ O
dishonest wretch！ Wilt thou be made a man out of my vice？ Is't not a kind
of incest to take life From thine own sister's shame？ What should I think？
Heaven shield my mother play'd my father fair！ For such a warped slip of
wilderness Ne'er issu'd from his blood。 Take my defiance； Die； perish。
Might but my bending down Reprieve thee from thy fate； it should
proceed。 I'll pray a thousand prayers for thy death； No word to save thee。
CLAUDIO。 Nay； hear me； Isabel。 ISABELLA。 O fie； fie； fie！ Thy sin's not
accidental； but a trade。 Mercy to thee would prove itself a bawd； 'Tis best
that thou diest quickly。 CLAUDIO。 O； hear me； Isabella。
Re…enter DUKE
DUKE。 Vouchsafe a word； young sister； but one word。 ISABELLA。
What is your will？ DUKE。 Might you dispense with your leisure； I would
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by and by have some speech with you； the satisfaction I would require is
likewise your own benefit。 ISABELLA。 I have no superfluous leisure； my
stay must be stolen out of other affairs； but I will attend you awhile。
＇Walks apart＇ DUKE。 Son； I have overheard what hath pass'd between you
and your sister。 Angelo had never the purpose to corrupt her； only he hath
made an assay of her virtue to practise his judgment with the disposition
of natures。 She； having the truth of honour in her； hath made him that
gracious denial which he is most glad to receive。 I am confessor to Angelo；
and I know this to be true； therefore prepare yourself to death。 Do not
satisfy your resolution with hopes that are fallible； to…morrow you must
die； go to your knees and make ready。 CLAUDIO。 Let me ask my sister
pardon。 I am so out of love with life that I will sue to be rid of it。 DUKE。
Hold you there。 Farewell。 ＇Exit CLAUDIO＇ Provost； a word with you。
Re…enter PROVOST PROVOST。 What's your will； father？ DUKE。
That； now you are come； you will be gone。 Leave me a while with the
maid； my mind promises with my habit no loss shall touch her by my
company。 PROVOST。 In good time。 Exit PROVOST DUKE。 The hand
that hath made you fair hath made you good； the goodness that is cheap in
beauty makes beauty brief in goodness； but grace； being the soul of your
complexion； shall keep the body of it ever fair。 The assault that Angelo
hath made to you； fortune hath convey'd to my understanding； and； but
that frailty hath examples for his falling； I should wonder at Angelo。 How
will you do to content this substitute； and to save your brother？
ISABELLA。 I am now going to resolve him； I had rather my brother die
by the law than my son should be unlawfully born。 But； O； how much is
the good Duke deceiv'd in Angelo！ If ever he return； and I can speak to
him； I will open my lips in vain； or discover his government。 DUKE。 That
shall not be much amiss； yet； as the matter now stands； he will avoid your
accusation： he made trial of you only。 Therefore fasten your ear on my
advisings； to the love I have in doing good a remedy presents itself。 I do
make myself believe that you may most uprighteously do a poor wronged
lady a merited benefit； redeem your brother from the angry law； do no
stain to your own gracious person； and much please the absent Duke； if
peradventure he shall ever return to have hearing of this business。
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ISABELLA。 Let me hear you speak farther； I have spirit to do anything
that appears not foul in the truth of my spirit。 DUKE。 Virtue is bold； and
goodness never fearful。 Have you not heard speak of Mariana； the sister of
Frederick； the great soldier who miscarried at sea？ ISABELLA。 I have
heard of the lady； and good words went with her name。 DUKE。 She should
this Angelo have married； was affianced to her by oath； and the nuptial
appointed； between which time of the contract and limit of the solemnity
her brother Frederick was wreck'd at sea； having in that perished vessel the
dowry of his sister。 But mark how heavily this befell to the poor
gentlewoman： there she lost a noble and renowned brother； in his love
toward her ever most kind and natural； with him the portion and sinew of
her fortune； her marriage…dowry； with both； her combinate husband； this
well…seeming Angelo。 ISABELLA。 Can this be so？ Did Angelo so leave
her？ DUKE。 Left her in her tears； and dried not one of them with his
comfort； swallowed his vows whole； pretending in her discoveries of
dishonour； in few； bestow'd her on her own lamentation； which she yet
wears for his sake； and he； a marble to her tears； is washed with them； but
relents not。 ISABELLA。 What a merit were it in death to take this poor
maid from the world！ What corruption in this life that it will let this man
live！ But how out of this can she avail？ DUKE。 It is a rupture that you
may easily heal； and the cure of it not only saves your brother； but keeps
you from dishonour in doing it。 ISABELLA。 Show me how； good father。
DUKE。 This forenamed maid hath yet in her the continuance of her first
affection； his unjust unkindness； that in all reason should have quenched
her love； hath； like an impediment in the current； made it more violent and
unruly。 Go you to Angelo； answer his requiring with a plausible obedience；
agree with his demands to the point； only refer yourself to this advantage：
first； that your stay with him may not be long； that the time may have all
shadow and silence in it； and the place answer to convenience。 This being
granted in course… and now follows all： we shall advis