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our compell'd sins Stand more for number than for accompt。 ISABELLA。
How say you？ ANGELO。 Nay； I'll not warrant that； for I can speak
Against the thing I say。 Answer to this： I； now the voice of the recorded
law； Pronounce a sentence on your brother's life； Might there not be a
charity in sin To save this brother's life？ ISABELLA。 Please you to do't；
I'll take it as a peril to my soul It is no sin at all； but charity。 ANGELO。
Pleas'd you to do't at peril of your soul； Were equal poise of sin and charity。
ISABELLA。 That I do beg his life； if it be sin； Heaven let me bear it！ You
granting of my suit； If that be sin； I'll make it my morn prayer To have it
added to the faults of mine； And nothing of your answer。 ANGELO。 Nay；
but hear me； Your sense pursues not mine； either you are ignorant Or seem
so； craftily； and that's not good。 ISABELLA。 Let me be ignorant； and in
nothing good But graciously to know I am no better。 ANGELO。 Thus
wisdom wishes to appear most bright When it doth tax itself； as these
black masks Proclaim an enshielded beauty ten times louder Than beauty
could； display'd。 But mark me： To be received plain； I'll speak more gross…
Your brother is to die。 ISABELLA。 So。 ANGELO。 And his offence is so；
as it appears； Accountant to the law upon that pain。 ISABELLA。 True。
ANGELO。 Admit no other way to save his life； As I subscribe not that； nor
any other； But； in the loss of question； that you； his sister； Finding yourself
desir'd of such a person Whose credit with the judge； or own great place；
Could fetch your brother from the manacles Of the all…binding law； and
that there were No earthly mean to save him but that either You must lay
down the treasures of your body To this supposed； or else to let him suffer…
What would you do？ ISABELLA。 As much for my poor brother as myself；
That is； were I under the terms of death； Th' impression of keen whips I'd
wear as rubies； And strip myself to death as to a bed That longing have
been sick for； ere I'd yield My body up to shame。 ANGELO。 Then must
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your brother die。 ISABELLA。 And 'twere the cheaper way： Better it were
a brother died at once Than that a sister； by redeeming him； Should die for
ever。 ANGELO。 Were not you； then； as cruel as the sentence That you
have slander'd so？ ISABELLA。 Ignominy in ransom and free pardon Are
of two houses： lawful mercy Is nothing kin to foul redemption。 ANGELO。
You seem'd of late to make the law a tyrant； And rather prov'd the sliding
of your brother A merriment than a vice。 ISABELLA。 O； pardon me； my
lord！ It oft falls out； To have what we would have； we speak not what we
mean： I something do excuse the thing I hate For his advantage that I
dearly love。 ANGELO。 We are all frail。 ISABELLA。 Else let my brother
die； If not a fedary but only he Owe and succeed thy weakness。 ANGELO。
Nay； women are frail too。 ISABELLA。 Ay； as the glasses where they view
themselves； Which are as easy broke as they make forms。 Women； help
heaven！ Men their creation mar In profiting by them。 Nay； call us ten
times frail； For we are soft as our complexions are； And credulous to false
prints。 ANGELO。 I think it well； And from this testimony of your own sex；
Since I suppose we are made to be no stronger Than faults may shake our
frames； let me be bold。 I do arrest your words。 Be that you are； That is； a
woman； if you be more； you're none； If you be one； as you are well
express'd By all external warrants； show it now By putting on the destin'd
livery。 ISABELLA。 I have no tongue but one； gentle； my lord； Let me
intreat you speak the former language。 ANGELO。 Plainly conceive； I love
you。 ISABELLA。 My brother did love Juliet； And you tell me that he shall
die for't。 ANGELO。 He shall not； Isabel； if you give me love。 ISABELLA。
I know your virtue hath a license in't； Which seems a little fouler than it is；
To pluck on others。 ANGELO。 Believe me； on mine honour； My words
express my purpose。 ISABELLA。 Ha！ little honour to be much believ'd；
And most pernicious purpose！ Seeming； seeming！ I will proclaim thee；
Angelo； look for't。 Sign me a present pardon for my brother Or； with an
outstretch'd throat； I'll tell the world aloud What man thou art。 ANGELO。
Who will believe thee； Isabel？ My unsoil'd name； th' austereness of my
life； My vouch against you； and my place i' th' state； Will so your
accusation overweigh That you shall stifle in your own report； And smell
of calumny。 I have begun； And now I give my sensual race the rein： Fit thy
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consent to my sharp appetite； Lay by all nicety and prolixious blushes
That banish what they sue for； redeem thy brother By yielding up thy body
to my will； Or else he must not only die the death； But thy unkindness
shall his death draw out To ling'ring sufferance。 Answer me to…morrow； Or；
by the affection that now guides me most； I'll prove a tyrant to him。 As for
you； Say what you can： my false o'erweighs your true。 Exit ISABELLA。
To whom should I complain？ Did I tell this； Who would believe me？ O
perilous mouths That bear in them one and the self…same tongue Either of
condemnation or approof； Bidding the law make curtsy to their will；
Hooking both right and wrong to th' appetite； To follow as it draws！ I'll to
my brother。 Though he hath fall'n by prompture of the blood； Yet hath he
in him such a mind of honour That； had he twenty heads to tender down
On twenty bloody blocks； he'd yield them up Before his sister should her
body stoop To such abhorr'd pollution。 Then； Isabel； live chaste； and；
brother； die： More than our brother is our chastity。 I'll tell him yet of
Angelo's request； And fit his mind to death； for his soul's rest。 Exit
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ACT III。
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SCENE I。 The prison
Enter DUKE； disguised as before； CLAUDIO； and PROVOST
DUKE。 So； then you hope of pardon from Lord Angelo？ CLAUDIO。
The miserable have no other medicine But only hope： I have hope to live；
and am prepar'd to die。 DUKE。 Be absolute for death； either death or life
Shall thereby be the sweeter。 Reason thus with life。 If I do lose thee； I do
lose a thing That none but fools would keep。 A breath thou art； Servile to
all the skyey influences； That dost this habitation where thou keep'st
Hourly afflict。 Merely； thou