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＇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 advise this wronged maid
to stead up your appointment； go in your place。 If the encounter
acknowledge itself hereafter； it may compel him to her recompense； and
here； by this； is your brother saved； your honour untainted； the poor
Mariana advantaged； and the corrupt deputy scaled。 The maid will I frame
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and make fit for his attempt。 If you think well to carry this as you may； the
doubleness of the benefit defends the deceit from reproof。 What think you
of it？ ISABELLA。 The image of it gives me content already； and I trust it
will grow to a most prosperous perfection。 DUKE。 It lies much in your
holding up。 Haste you speedily to Angelo； if for this night he entreat you
to his bed； give him promise of satisfaction。 I will presently to Saint
Luke's； there； at the moated grange； resides this dejected Mariana。 At that
place call upon me； and dispatch with Angelo； that it may be quickly。
ISABELLA。 I thank you for this comfort。 Fare you well； good father。
Exeunt severally
Scene II。 The street before the prison
Enter； on one side； DUKE disguised as before； on the other； ELBOW；
and OFFICERS with POMPEY
ELBOW。 Nay； if there be no remedy for it； but that you will needs
buy and sell men and women like beasts； we shall have all the world drink
brown and white bastard。 DUKE。 O heavens！ what stuff is here？
POMPEY。 'Twas never merry world since； of two usuries； the merriest was
put down； and the worser allow'd by order of law a furr'd gown to keep
him warm； and furr'd with fox on lamb…skins too； to signify that craft；
being richer than innocency； stands for the facing。 ELBOW。 Come your
way； sir。 Bless you； good father friar。 DUKE。 And you； good brother father。
What offence hath this man made you； sir？ ELBOW。 Marry； sir； he hath
offended the law； and； sir； we take him to be a thief too； sir； for we have
found upon him； sir； a strange picklock； which we have sent to the deputy。
DUKE。 Fie； sirrah； a bawd； a wicked bawd！ The evil that thou causest to
be done； That is thy means to live。 Do thou but think What 'tis to cram a
maw or clothe a back From such a filthy vice； say to thyself 'From their
abominable and beastly touches I drink； I eat； array myself； and live。'
Canst thou believe thy living is a life； So stinkingly depending？ Go mend；
go mend。 POMPEY。 Indeed； it does stink in some sort； sir； but yet； sir； I
would prove… DUKE。 Nay； if the devil have given thee proofs for sin；
Thou wilt prove his。 Take him to prison； officer； Correction and
instruction