Measure For Measure

Front 1

How now, fair maid?

Back 1

I am come to know your pleasure.

Front 2

That you might know it, would much better please me than to demand what 'tis. Your brother cannot live.

Back 2

Even so. Heaven keep your honour!

Front 3

Yet may he live awhile; and, it may be, as long as you or I. Yet he must die.

Back 3

Under your sentence?

Front 4

Yea.

Back 4

When, I beseech you? That in his reprieve, longer or shorter, he may be so fitted that his soul sicken not.

Front 5

Ha! Fie, these filthy vices! It were as good to pardon him that hath from nature stolen a man already made, as to remit their saucy sweetness that do coin heaven's image in stamps that are forbid: 'tis all as easy falsely to take away a life true made as to put metal in restrained means to make a false one.

Back 5

'Tis set down so in heaven, but not in earth.

Front 6

Say you so? Then I shall pose you quickly. Which had you rather, that the most just law now took your brother's life; or, to redeem him, give up your body to such sweet uncleanness as she that he hath stain'd?

Back 6

Sir, believe this, I had rather give my body than my soul.

Front 7

I talk not of your soul: our compelled sins stand more for number than for accompt.

Back 7

How say you?

Front 8

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?

Back 8

Please you to do it. I'll take it as a peril to my soul; it is no sin at all, but charity.

Front 9

Pleased you to do it at peril of your soul, were equal poise of sin and charity.

Back 9

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.

Front 10

Nay, but hear me. Your sense pursues not mine: either you are ignorant, or seem so craftily; and that's not good.

Back 10

Let me be ignorant, and in nothing good, but graciously to know I am no better.

Front 11

Thus wisdom wishes to appear most bright: When it doth tax itself; as these black masks proclaim an enshield 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.

Back 11

So.

Front 12

And his offense is so, as it appears, accountant to the law upon that pain.

Back 12

True.

Front 13

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 desired of such a person, whose credit with the judge, or own great place,

Back 13

could fetch your brother from the manacles of the all-building law; that there were no earthly mean to save him, but that either you must lay down the treasures of your body to this suppose ed, or else to let him suffer. What would you do?

Front 14

As much for my poor brother as myself:

Back 14

That is, were I under the terms of death, the impression of keen whips I'ld 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.

Front 15

Then your brother must die.

Back 15

And 'twere the cheaper way: Better it were a brother died at once, than that a sister, by redeeming him, should die for ever.

Front 16

Were not you then as cruel as the sentence that you have slander'd so?

Back 16

Ignomy in ransom and free pardon are of two houses: lawful mercy is nothing kin to foul redemption.

Front 17

You seemed of late to make the law a tyrant; and rather proved the sliding of your brother a merriment than a vice.

Back 17

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.

Front 18

We are all frail.

Back 18

Else let my brother die, if not a feodary, but only he owe and succeed thy weakness.

Front 19

Nay, women are frail too.

Back 19

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.

Front 20

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.

Back 20

Be that you are, that is, a woman; if you be more, you're none;

Front 21

if you be one, as you are well expressed by all external warrants, show it now, by putting on the destined livery.

Back 21

I have no tongue but one: gentle my lord, let me entreat you speak the former language.

Front 22

Plainly conceive, I love you.

Back 22

My brother did love Juliet, and you tell me that he shall die for it.

Front 23

He shall not, Isabel, if you give me love.

Back 23

I know your virtue hath a license in it, which seems a little fouler than it is, to pluck on others.

Front 24

Believe me, on mine honor, my words express my purpose.

Back 24

Ha! little honor to be much believed, and most pernicious purpose! Seeming, seeming! I will proclaim thee, Angelo; look for it: Sign me a present pardon for my brother, or with an outstretched throat I'll tell the world aloud what man thou art.

Front 25

Who will believe thee, Isabel? My unsoiled name, the austereness of my life, my vouch against you, and my place in the state, will so your accusation overweigh, that you shall stifle in your own report and smell of calumny.

Back 25

I have begun, and now I give my sensual race the rein: Fit thy consent to my sharp appetite; lay by all nicety and prolixious blushes, that banish what they sue for; thy brother by yielding up thy body to my will;

Front 26

Or else he must not only die the death, but thy unkindness shall his death draw out to lingering sufferance. Answer me to-morrow, or, by the affection that now guides me most, I'll prove a tyrant to him.

Back 26

As for you, say what you can, my false or weighs your true.

Front 27

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 courtesy to their will: hooking both right and wrong to the appetite, to follow as it draws!

Back 27

I'll to my brother: though he hath fallen by prompture of the blood, yet hath he in him such a mind of honor. 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 abhorred pollution.

Front 28

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.