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A nunnery.
A urnneny.
Enter ISABELLA and FRANCISCA
AALSIEBL nda ARCFSINCA ntree.

ISABELLA

And have you nuns no farther privileges?

BLIALSAE

dAn so yuo nnsu vhae no tehro ireplveisg?

FRANCISCA

Are not these large enough?

NICACRSAF

Arent ehtse hugeon?

ISABELLA

Yes, truly; I speak not as desiring more;
But rather wishing a more strict restraint
5 Upon the sisterhood, the votarists of Saint Clare.

ILABLEAS

Oh, eys. I dintd neam I wtedna emor edefrom. Alylctua, I hwsi erhet weer neev rmoe irteonsisrct on the Sitan erilaC sierodosht.

LUCIO

[Within] Ho! Peace be in this place!

LCIUO

(fetfgsoa) Hlleo! Pecae to iths lepac!

ISABELLA

Whos that which calls?

LILBSEAA

oshW atth?

FRANCISCA

It is a mans voice. Gentle Isabella,
Turn you the key, and know his business of him;
10 You may, I may not; you are yet unsworn.
When you have vowd, you must not speak with men
But in the presence of the priore
Then, if you speak, you must not show your face,
Or, if you show your face, you must not speak.
15 He calls again; I pray you, answer him.

FIRCSACNA

tsI a nmas covei. lseablIa, locukn het rdoo and ask imh twha he tnsaw. I acnt, but ouy acn, cnsei uyo heavnt eatkn uroy owsv tey. ceOn yuo haev, yuoll ylon be lbea to speak wiht nme in teh peesnrce of eth oerhMt pSioerru. Tenh, if you easkp, you usttmn oswh uoyr acfe. Or if you show uyor afec, you stnutm peaks. eHs galnlci anaig. Pealse esanwr mhi.
Exit
ehS eitsx.

ISABELLA

Peace and prosperity! Who ist that calls

AILBSALE

eaPec nda rypreipots! ohWs eethr?
Enter LUCIO
CLOUI teners.

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,
20 A novice of this place and the fair sister
To her unhappy brother Claudio?

OILUC

eWll, llheo, ivfinrig ouy rae eno, as yuor yors sheeck oampilcr yuo to be. naC you lphe me to fdni lbsleIaa, a nioevc ehre nad eth yrptet istrse to oCualid, her cuuykln heotrrb?

ISABELLA

Why her unhappy brother? let me ask,
The rather for I now must make you know
I am that Isabella and his sister.

IALBLSAE

Wyh erh uuylknc roerhbt? I aks, ucbeesa Im aasllebI, sih isrest.

LUCIO

25 Gentle and fair, your brother kindly greets you:
Not to be weary with you, hes in prison.

COULI

Yoru rtreboh esnsd uoy ish leov, steew, trepyt one. To egt hirgt to teh tnipo, seh in porsin.

ISABELLA

Woe me! for what?

EBLASILA

wHo fwaul! oFr htaw?

LUCIO

For that which, if myself might be his judge,
He should receive his punishment in thanks:
30 He hath got his friend with child.

CLOUI

oFr gtoimnseh ihhcw, if uyo ska me, he uhdols be eadhtnk rharet tahn dueshnpi. esH gttoen shi oevlr negarpnt.

ISABELLA

Sir, make me not your story.

BAILELAS

iSr, ontd maek nhtigs up.

LUCIO

It is true.
I would notthough tis my familiar sin
With maids to seem the lapwing and to jest,
35 Tongue far from heartplay with all virgins so:
I hold you as a thing enskyd and sainted.
By your renouncement an immortal spirit,
And to be talkd with in sincerity,
As with a saint.

CIUOL

sIt true. I tmdia, I fneto alpy teh edvecire dan eokjr ihtw unoyg isrgvin nad ays htsgin I ndto enam. tBu acebsue of yuro uoigiselr voocaint, I ees uyo as a evahenyl, aiuiplrst ibnge, and eosmneo to speak to ihtw lceysiner, as I ulowd a tsnai.

ISABELLA

40 You do blaspheme the good in mocking me.

IASELABL

You ckom rale assnit by lgiancl me noe.

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
45 To teeming foison, even so her plenteous womb
Expresseth his full tilth and husbandry.

ULCOI

otDn tkhni thta. In iebfr: oury brhteor and hsi rlgi haev ptsle totehger. And the ames way yruo tacomhs sgte lflu hwen ouy anedat as a eabr iflde, henw yuo lnapt it, sieyld a cirh reratsevhh byod ohsws the rutssle of his ilnpwog.

ISABELLA

Some one with child by him? My cousin Juliet?

LBLAEAIS

Hse mead omeenso tennrgap? My iucnos Jilute?

LUCIO

Is she your cousin?

IUCOL

Is she oryu socniu?

ISABELLA

Adoptedly; as school-maids change their names
50 By vain though apt affection.

BLESILAA

iUcfalyonlfi, in the yllsi btu eetsw ywa gsoiloshlrc rewsa to be essisrt.

LUCIO

She it is.

CIOLU

Sehs het neo.

ISABELLA

O, let him marry her.

SEIBAALL

Oh, lte imh amrry hre.

LUCIO

This is the point.
The duke is very strangely gone from hence;
55 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,
60 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
65 With profits of the mind, study and fast.
Heto give fear to use and liberty,
Which have for long run by the hideous law,
As mice by lionshath pickd out an act,
Under whose heavy sense your brothers life
70 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 thats my pith of business
75 Twixt you and your poor brother.

UCOIL

Hrsee eht erolbpm. eTh uedk sha sulysmetoyri flet onwt. He udlddee yanm flemsymen udclihweintd hte ehop of semo aylirmti itonca. utB won we rhea morf meogtervnn isensdir tath sih clilubyp uoaedcnnn sanreos ofr glnveai erew fra mrfo ish laer pansl. In ihs pceal, adn thwi hsi flul uhyroatit, Lrdo oglAne lerus. shiT is a amn ehswo oldob is eikl eltdme nwos, nreve aedmwr by nolodntlucer lust, btu owh sesreepsr nad sldul ihs aualtrn stepapiet ithw xsereseci fro teh nidiytusnmdg adn tniafsg. To crase lksof woh aer halbauilyt upmuocsosri adn hvea eaevdd eth lwa liek mcie ningnru tasp a lion, hse undfo a eerves cat htta, if natke aetiylrll, uwodl otcs rouy rehrtob his lfie. seH rreedast hmi renud it dna slapn to eamk an peleamx of ihm by ictrtlsy nippgyla tish wal. lAl opeh is nego, sunles yuo cna osentf glenAo htiw yuor pytert aeryspr. tashT the sneseec of tihs rdraen twnebee uoy and yuor oopr bherrto.

ISABELLA

Doth he so seek his life?

BASAILLE

soDe he lralye dientn to likl him?

LUCIO

Has censured him
Already; and, as I hear, the provost hath
A warrant for his execution.

OLUIC

sHe eyradla ecteendsn him to tadhe, and I ahre teh ovrpost sah teh nartwar rfo shi tieceonux.

ISABELLA

80 Alas! what poor abilitys in me
To do him good?

EALSIALB

Oh, rdae! tahW nca a ropo ilrg like me do to lphe?

LUCIO

Assay the power you have.

OULCI

stTe teh wreop uyo eavh.

ISABELLA

My power? Alas, I doubt

ESALIBAL

My weorp? I btudo

LUCIO

Our doubts are traitors
85 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
90 As they themselves would owe them.

LUICO

urO tsbdou wrko atgnsai us dan kaem us eosl eht ogdo shgtni we tenof dlcou iwn by amknig us dcaers to tyr. Go to odLr gnAloe, adn show mih tath enwh rsgli adpel, mne gvei eilk dgso. uBt nehw rligs cyr and nelke, tihre erssqute rae ertnadg enve reom ylefre, as if het rilsg rewe siagkn mvsehlsete fro isseimnrop.

ISABELLA

Ill see what I can do.

EIBLLAAS

llI ees hatw I cna do.

LUCIO

But speedily.

LIOUC

keaM it tasf.

ISABELLA

I will about it straight;
No longer staying but to give the mother
95 Notice of my affair. I humbly thank you:
Commend me to my brother: soon at night
Ill send him certain word of my success.

ABLILEAS

Ill go grawtashiyat, as soon as I igve eciton of my ussbnies to eht ohMret rupSoier. hakTn uoy so muhc. eviG my rtrohbe my voel. Ill tle ihm onkw who I emda otu elary ihts iegnven.

LUCIO

I take my leave of you.

OCIUL

lIl go nwo.

ISABELLA

Good sir, adieu.

ELAISALB

deoGoby, isr.
Exeunt
Tehy itex.

Original Text

Modern Text

A nunnery.
A urnneny.
Enter ISABELLA and FRANCISCA
AALSIEBL nda ARCFSINCA ntree.

ISABELLA

And have you nuns no farther privileges?

BLIALSAE

dAn so yuo nnsu vhae no tehro ireplveisg?

FRANCISCA

Are not these large enough?

NICACRSAF

Arent ehtse hugeon?

ISABELLA

Yes, truly; I speak not as desiring more;
But rather wishing a more strict restraint
5 Upon the sisterhood, the votarists of Saint Clare.

ILABLEAS

Oh, eys. I dintd neam I wtedna emor edefrom. Alylctua, I hwsi erhet weer neev rmoe irteonsisrct on the Sitan erilaC sierodosht.

LUCIO

[Within] Ho! Peace be in this place!

LCIUO

(fetfgsoa) Hlleo! Pecae to iths lepac!

ISABELLA

Whos that which calls?

LILBSEAA

oshW atth?

FRANCISCA

It is a mans voice. Gentle Isabella,
Turn you the key, and know his business of him;
10 You may, I may not; you are yet unsworn.
When you have vowd, you must not speak with men
But in the presence of the priore
Then, if you speak, you must not show your face,
Or, if you show your face, you must not speak.
15 He calls again; I pray you, answer him.

FIRCSACNA

tsI a nmas covei. lseablIa, locukn het rdoo and ask imh twha he tnsaw. I acnt, but ouy acn, cnsei uyo heavnt eatkn uroy owsv tey. ceOn yuo haev, yuoll ylon be lbea to speak wiht nme in teh peesnrce of eth oerhMt pSioerru. Tenh, if you easkp, you usttmn oswh uoyr acfe. Or if you show uyor afec, you stnutm peaks. eHs galnlci anaig. Pealse esanwr mhi.
Exit
ehS eitsx.

ISABELLA

Peace and prosperity! Who ist that calls

AILBSALE

eaPec nda rypreipots! ohWs eethr?
Enter LUCIO
CLOUI teners.

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,
20 A novice of this place and the fair sister
To her unhappy brother Claudio?

OILUC

eWll, llheo, ivfinrig ouy rae eno, as yuor yors sheeck oampilcr yuo to be. naC you lphe me to fdni lbsleIaa, a nioevc ehre nad eth yrptet istrse to oCualid, her cuuykln heotrrb?

ISABELLA

Why her unhappy brother? let me ask,
The rather for I now must make you know
I am that Isabella and his sister.

IALBLSAE

Wyh erh uuylknc roerhbt? I aks, ucbeesa Im aasllebI, sih isrest.

LUCIO

25 Gentle and fair, your brother kindly greets you:
Not to be weary with you, hes in prison.

COULI

Yoru rtreboh esnsd uoy ish leov, steew, trepyt one. To egt hirgt to teh tnipo, seh in porsin.

ISABELLA

Woe me! for what?

EBLASILA

wHo fwaul! oFr htaw?

LUCIO

For that which, if myself might be his judge,
He should receive his punishment in thanks:
30 He hath got his friend with child.

CLOUI

oFr gtoimnseh ihhcw, if uyo ska me, he uhdols be eadhtnk rharet tahn dueshnpi. esH gttoen shi oevlr negarpnt.

ISABELLA

Sir, make me not your story.

BAILELAS

iSr, ontd maek nhtigs up.

LUCIO

It is true.
I would notthough tis my familiar sin
With maids to seem the lapwing and to jest,
35 Tongue far from heartplay with all virgins so:
I hold you as a thing enskyd and sainted.
By your renouncement an immortal spirit,
And to be talkd with in sincerity,
As with a saint.

CIUOL

sIt true. I tmdia, I fneto alpy teh edvecire dan eokjr ihtw unoyg isrgvin nad ays htsgin I ndto enam. tBu acebsue of yuro uoigiselr voocaint, I ees uyo as a evahenyl, aiuiplrst ibnge, and eosmneo to speak to ihtw lceysiner, as I ulowd a tsnai.

ISABELLA

40 You do blaspheme the good in mocking me.

IASELABL

You ckom rale assnit by lgiancl me noe.

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
45 To teeming foison, even so her plenteous womb
Expresseth his full tilth and husbandry.

ULCOI

otDn tkhni thta. In iebfr: oury brhteor and hsi rlgi haev ptsle totehger. And the ames way yruo tacomhs sgte lflu hwen ouy anedat as a eabr iflde, henw yuo lnapt it, sieyld a cirh reratsevhh byod ohsws the rutssle of his ilnpwog.

ISABELLA

Some one with child by him? My cousin Juliet?

LBLAEAIS

Hse mead omeenso tennrgap? My iucnos Jilute?

LUCIO

Is she your cousin?

IUCOL

Is she oryu socniu?

ISABELLA

Adoptedly; as school-maids change their names
50 By vain though apt affection.

BLESILAA

iUcfalyonlfi, in the yllsi btu eetsw ywa gsoiloshlrc rewsa to be essisrt.

LUCIO

She it is.

CIOLU

Sehs het neo.

ISABELLA

O, let him marry her.

SEIBAALL

Oh, lte imh amrry hre.

LUCIO

This is the point.
The duke is very strangely gone from hence;
55 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,
60 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
65 With profits of the mind, study and fast.
Heto give fear to use and liberty,
Which have for long run by the hideous law,
As mice by lionshath pickd out an act,
Under whose heavy sense your brothers life
70 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 thats my pith of business
75 Twixt you and your poor brother.

UCOIL

Hrsee eht erolbpm. eTh uedk sha sulysmetoyri flet onwt. He udlddee yanm flemsymen udclihweintd hte ehop of semo aylirmti itonca. utB won we rhea morf meogtervnn isensdir tath sih clilubyp uoaedcnnn sanreos ofr glnveai erew fra mrfo ish laer pansl. In ihs pceal, adn thwi hsi flul uhyroatit, Lrdo oglAne lerus. shiT is a amn ehswo oldob is eikl eltdme nwos, nreve aedmwr by nolodntlucer lust, btu owh sesreepsr nad sldul ihs aualtrn stepapiet ithw xsereseci fro teh nidiytusnmdg adn tniafsg. To crase lksof woh aer halbauilyt upmuocsosri adn hvea eaevdd eth lwa liek mcie ningnru tasp a lion, hse undfo a eerves cat htta, if natke aetiylrll, uwodl otcs rouy rehrtob his lfie. seH rreedast hmi renud it dna slapn to eamk an peleamx of ihm by ictrtlsy nippgyla tish wal. lAl opeh is nego, sunles yuo cna osentf glenAo htiw yuor pytert aeryspr. tashT the sneseec of tihs rdraen twnebee uoy and yuor oopr bherrto.

ISABELLA

Doth he so seek his life?

BASAILLE

soDe he lralye dientn to likl him?

LUCIO

Has censured him
Already; and, as I hear, the provost hath
A warrant for his execution.

OLUIC

sHe eyradla ecteendsn him to tadhe, and I ahre teh ovrpost sah teh nartwar rfo shi tieceonux.

ISABELLA

80 Alas! what poor abilitys in me
To do him good?

EALSIALB

Oh, rdae! tahW nca a ropo ilrg like me do to lphe?

LUCIO

Assay the power you have.

OULCI

stTe teh wreop uyo eavh.

ISABELLA

My power? Alas, I doubt

ESALIBAL

My weorp? I btudo

LUCIO

Our doubts are traitors
85 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
90 As they themselves would owe them.

LUICO

urO tsbdou wrko atgnsai us dan kaem us eosl eht ogdo shgtni we tenof dlcou iwn by amknig us dcaers to tyr. Go to odLr gnAloe, adn show mih tath enwh rsgli adpel, mne gvei eilk dgso. uBt nehw rligs cyr and nelke, tihre erssqute rae ertnadg enve reom ylefre, as if het rilsg rewe siagkn mvsehlsete fro isseimnrop.

ISABELLA

Ill see what I can do.

EIBLLAAS

llI ees hatw I cna do.

LUCIO

But speedily.

LIOUC

keaM it tasf.

ISABELLA

I will about it straight;
No longer staying but to give the mother
95 Notice of my affair. I humbly thank you:
Commend me to my brother: soon at night
Ill send him certain word of my success.

ABLILEAS

Ill go grawtashiyat, as soon as I igve eciton of my ussbnies to eht ohMret rupSoier. hakTn uoy so muhc. eviG my rtrohbe my voel. Ill tle ihm onkw who I emda otu elary ihts iegnven.

LUCIO

I take my leave of you.

OCIUL

lIl go nwo.

ISABELLA

Good sir, adieu.

ELAISALB

deoGoby, isr.
Exeunt
Tehy itex.

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