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Of palsied eld; and when thou art old, and rich,
Thou hast neither heat, affection, limb, nor beauty,
To make thy riches pleasant. What's yet in this,
That bears the name of life? Yet in this life,
Lic hid more thousand deaths: yet death we fear,
That makes these odds all even,

Claud, I humbly thank you,
To sue to live, I find, I seek to die;
And, seeking death, find life: Let it come on.

Enter ISABELLA.
Isab. , What, ho! Peace here; grace and good

company! Prov. Who's there? come in: the wish deserves

a welcome. Duke, Dear Sir, ere long I'll visit you again. Claud. Most, holy Sir, I thank you. Isab. My business is a word or two with Claudio. Prov. And very welcome. Look, Signior, here's

your sister,

Duke Provost, a word with you..
Prov. As many as you please.
Duke. Bring them to speak, where I may be

couceal'd Yet hear them. [Exeun. Duke and Provost.

Claud. Now, sister, what's the comfort ?
Isab. Why, as all comforts are; most good in

deel:
Lord Angelo, having affairs to leaven,
Intends you for his swift embassador,
Where you shall be an everlasting leiger;
Therefore your best appointment make with speed;
To. morrow you set 0nl.

Claud. Is there no remedy?

Isab. None, put such remedy, as, to save a head ; To cleave a heart in twain. .

Claud..

Claud. But is there any?

Isab. Yes, brother, you may live ;
There is a devilish mercy in the judge,
If you'll implore it, that will free your life,
But fetter you till death.

Claud. Perpetual durance ?

Isab. Ay, just, perpetizal durance; a restraint, Though all the world's vastidity you had, To a determin'd scope.

Claud. But in what nature?

Isab. In such a one as (you consenting to't) Would bark your honor from that trunk you

bear, And Icave you naked.

Claud. Let me know the point.

Isab. O, I do fear thee, Claudio ; and I quake, Lest thou a feverous lifc should'st entertain, And six or sevca winters more respect Than a perpetual honour. Dar'st thou die ? The sense of death is most in apprehension; And the poor beetle, that we tread upon, In corporal sufferance finds a pang as greac As when a giant dies.

Claud. Why give you me this shame? Think you I can a resolution fetch From Rowery tenderness ? If I must die, I will encounter darkness as a bride, And bug it in mine arms. Isab. There spake my brother; there my father's

grave Did utter forth a voice! Yes, thou must die: Thou art too noble to conserve a life In base appliances. This outward-sainted deputy, Whose scitled visage and deliberate 'word Nips youth i'the head, and follies doth enmew, As falcon doth the fowi, is yet a deyil; VOL. II.

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His filth within being cast, he would appear on A pond as deep as hell.

Claud. The princely Angeln?

Isab. O, 'tis the cunning livery of hell,
The damned'st body to invest and cover
In princely guards! Dost thou think, Claudio,
If I would yield him my virginity,
Thou might'st be freed ?
Claud. O, heavens! it cannot be.
Isab. Yes, he would give it thee, from this

rank offence,
So to offend him still: This night's the time
That I should do what I 'abhor to name,
Or else thou diest to morrow,

Claud. Thou shalt not do't..

Isab. O, were it but my life,
I'd throw it down for your deliverance
As frankly as a pin.

Claud. Thanks, dear Isabel.
Isab. Be ready, Claudio, for your death to.

morrow,
Claud. Yes. Has he affections in him,,
That thus can make him bite the law by the nose,
When he would force it? Sure it is uo sin;
Or' of the deadly seven it is the least.

Isab. Which is the least ?

Claud. If it were damnable, he, being so wise,
Why, would he for the momentary trick
Be perdurably find ? O'Isabel !

Isab. What says my brother?
Claud. Death is a fearful thing.
Isab. And shamed life a hateful.
Claud. Ay, but to die, and go we know not

wliere;
To lie in cold obstruction, and to rot;
This sensible warm motion to become

A kneaded clod; and the delighted spirit
To bathe in fiery floods, or to reside
In thrilling regions of thick ribbed ice;
To be in prisou'd in the viewless winds,
And blown with restless violence round about
The pendant world: or to be 'worse than worst
Of those, that lawless and incertain thoughts
Imagine howling ! 'tis too horrible!
The weariest and most loathed worldly life,
That age, ach, penury, and imprisonment
Can lay on nature, is a paradise
To what we fear of death.

Isab.. Alas! Alas!

Claud. 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.

Isab. 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 thinc 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.

Claud. Nay, hear me, Isabel, ·

Isab. O, fie, fie, fie! Thiy sin's not accidental, bat a trade : Mercy to thee would prove itself a bawd: 'Tis best that thou diest quickly. [Going

Claud. O hear me, Isabella.

your

Re-enter DUKE. Duke. Vouchsafe" a word, young sister, lut one word.

Isab. What is your will?

Duke. Might you dispense with your leisure, I would by and by have some speech with you: the satisfaction I would require, is likewise your own benefit.

Isab. I have no superduous leisure; my stay must be stolen out of other affairs ; but I will attend you a while.

Duke. [To Claudio, aside.] Son, I have over. heard what hath past between

you

and sister. Angelo 'had never the purpose to corrupt her; only he hath made an assay of her virtue, to practice his judgement with the disposition of natures : she, baving 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: tomorrow you must die ; go to your knees, and malie ready.

Claud. Let me ask my sister pardon. I am '90 out of love with life, that I will sue to be rid of it.

Dike, Hold you there : Farewell. [Exit CLAUDIO.

Ee-enter Provost, Provost, a word with you.

Prov, , What's your will, father ?

Duke. That now you are come, gone : Leave me a whilc' with the maid; my mind promiscs with my habit, no loss shall touch her by my company.

you will be