Part 26 (1/2)

_Fri. P._ Now is your time: speak loud, and kneel before him.

_Isab._ Justice, O royal Duke! Vail your regard 20 Upon a wrong'd, I would fain have said, a maid!

O worthy prince, dishonour not your eye By throwing it on any other object Till you have heard me in my true complaint, And given me justice, justice, justice, justice! 25

_Duke._ Relate your wrongs; in what? by whom? be brief.

Here is Lord Angelo shall give you justice: Reveal yourself to him.

_Isab._ O worthy Duke, You bid me seek redemption of the devil: Hear me yourself; for that which I must speak 30 Must either punish me, not being believed, Or wring redress from you. Hear me, O hear me, here!

_Ang._ My lord, her wits, I fear me, are not firm: She hath been a suitor to me for her brother Cut off by course of justice,--

_Isab._ By course of justice! 35

_Ang._ And she will speak most bitterly and strange.

_Isab._ Most strange, but yet most truly, will I speak: That Angelo's forsworn; is it not strange?

That Angelo's a murderer; is't not strange?

That Angelo is an adulterous thief, 40 An hypocrite, a virgin-violator; Is it not strange and strange?

_Duke._ Nay, it is ten times strange.

_Isab._ It is not truer he is Angelo Than this is all as true as it is strange: Nay, it is ten times true; for truth is truth 45 To th' end of reckoning.

_Duke._ Away with her!--Poor soul, She speaks this in th' infirmity of sense.

_Isab._ O prince, I conjure thee, as thou believest There is another comfort than this world, That thou neglect me not, with that opinion 50 That I am touch'd with madness! Make not impossible That which but seems unlike: 'tis not impossible But one, the wicked'st caitiff on the ground, May seem as shy, as grave, as just, as absolute As Angelo; even so may Angelo, 55 In all his dressings, characts, t.i.tles, forms, Be an arch-villain; believe it, royal prince: If he be less, he's nothing; but he's more, Had I more name for badness.

_Duke._ By mine honesty, If she be mad,--as I believe no other,-- 60 Her madness hath the oddest frame of sense, Such a dependency of thing on thing, As e'er I heard in madness.

_Isab._ O gracious Duke, Harp not on that; nor do not banish reason For inequality; but let your reason serve 65 To make the truth appear where it seems hid, And hide the false seems true.

_Duke._ Many that are not mad Have, sure, more lack of reason. What would you say?

_Isab._ I am the sister of one Claudio, Condemn'd upon the act of fornication 70 To lose his head; condemn'd by Angelo: I, (in probation of a sisterhood,) Was sent to by my brother; one Lucio As then the messenger,--

_Lucio._ That's I, an't like your Grace: I came to her from Claudio, and desired her 75 To try her gracious fortune with Lord Angelo For her poor brother's pardon.

_Isab._ That's he indeed.

_Duke._ You were not bid to speak.

_Lucio._ No, my good lord; Nor wish'd to hold my peace.

_Duke._ I wish you now, then; Pray you, take note of it: and when you have 80 A business for yourself, pray heaven you then Be perfect.

_Lucio._ I warrant your honour.

_Duke._ The warrant's for yourself; take heed to't.

_Isab._ This gentleman told somewhat of my tale,--