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！
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
10
… Page 11…
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
11
… Page 12…
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 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