READ STUDY GUIDE: Act I, Scenes iii-iv |
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Act I, Scene iv
| [Enter ISABELLA and FRANCISCA.] |
| ISABELLA.: |
| And have you nuns no further 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 ensky'd 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 embraced: |
| 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 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 power 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.] |
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