No Fear Shakespeare: Measure for Measure: Act 2 Scene 2

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Measure for Measure

William Shakespeare

Act 2 Scene 2

Original Text

Modern Text

Original Text

Modern Text

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Original Text	Modern Text
Another room in the same.	Another room in the same.
Enter Provost and a Servant	Enter Provost and a Servant
SERVANT He’s hearing of a cause; he will come straight I’ll tell him of you.	SERVANT He’s hearing of a cause; he will come straight I’ll tell him of you.
PROVOST Pray you, do.	PROVOST Pray you, do.
Exit Servant	Exit Servant
I’ll know 5 His pleasure; may be he will relent. Alas, He hath but as offended in a dream! All sects, all ages smack of this vice; and he To die for’t!	I’ll know His pleasure; may be he will relent. Alas, He hath but as offended in a dream! All sects, all ages smack of this vice; and he To die for’t!
Enter ANGELO	Enter ANGELO
ANGELO Now, what’s the matter. Provost?	ANGELO Now, what’s the matter. Provost?
PROVOST 10 Is it your will Claudio shall die tomorrow?	PROVOST Is it your will Claudio shall die tomorrow?
ANGELO Did not I tell thee yea? Hadst thou not order? Why dost thou ask again?	ANGELO Did not I tell thee yea? Hadst thou not order? Why dost thou ask again?
PROVOST Lest I might be too rash: Under your good correction, I have seen, 15 When, after execution, judgment hath Repented o’er his doom.	PROVOST Lest I might be too rash: Under your good correction, I have seen, When, after execution, judgment hath Repented o’er his doom.
ANGELO Go to; let that be mine: Do you your office, or give up your place, And you shall well be spared.	ANGELO Go to; let that be mine: Do you your office, or give up your place, And you shall well be spared.
PROVOST 20 I crave your honour’s pardon. What shall be done, sir, with the groaning Juliet? She’s very near her hour.	PROVOST I crave your honour’s pardon. What shall be done, sir, with the groaning Juliet? She’s very near her hour.
ANGELO Dispose of her To some more fitter place, and that with speed.	ANGELO Dispose of her To some more fitter place, and that with speed.
Re-enter Servant	Re-enter Servant
SERVANT 25 Here is the sister of the man condemn’d Desires access to you.	SERVANT Here is the sister of the man condemn’d Desires access to you.
ANGELO Hath he a sister?	ANGELO Hath he a sister?
PROVOST Ay, my good lord; a very virtuous maid, And to be shortly of a sisterhood, 30 If not already.	PROVOST Ay, my good lord; a very virtuous maid, And to be shortly of a sisterhood, If not already.
ANGELO Well, let her be admitted.	ANGELO Well, let her be admitted.
Exit Servant	Exit Servant
See you the fornicatress be removed: Let have needful, but not lavish, means; There shall be order for’t.	See you the fornicatress be removed: Let have needful, but not lavish, means; There shall be order for’t.
Enter ISABELLA and LUCIO	Enter ISABELLA and LUCIO
PROVOST 35 God save your honour!	PROVOST God save your honour!
ANGELO Stay a little while.	ANGELO Stay a little while.
To ISABELLA	To ISABELLA
You’re welcome: what’s your will?	You’re welcome: what’s your will?
ISABELLA I am a woeful suitor to your honour, Please but your honour hear me.	ISABELLA I am a woeful suitor to your honour, Please but your honour hear me.
ANGELO 40 Well; what’s your suit?	ANGELO Well; what’s your suit?
ISABELLA There is a vice that most I do abhor, And most desire should meet the blow of justice; For which I would not plead, but that I must; For which I must not plead, but that I am 45 At war ’twixt will and will not.	ISABELLA There is a vice that most I do abhor, And most desire should meet the blow of justice; For which I would not plead, but that I must; For which I must not plead, but that I am At war ’twixt will and will not.
ANGELO Well; the matter?	ANGELO Well; the matter?
ISABELLA I have a brother is condemn’d to die: I do beseech you, let it be his fault, And not my brother.	ISABELLA I have a brother is condemn’d to die: I do beseech you, let it be his fault, And not my brother.
PROVOST 50 [Aside] Heaven give thee moving graces!	PROVOST [Aside] Heaven give thee moving graces!
ANGELO Condemn the fault and not the actor of it? Why, every fault’s condemn’d ere it be done: Mine were the very cipher of a function, To fine the faults whose fine stands in record, 55 And let go by the actor.	ANGELO Condemn the fault and not the actor of it? Why, every fault’s condemn’d ere it be done: Mine were the very cipher of a function, To fine the faults whose fine stands in record, And let go by the actor.
ISABELLA O just but severe law! I had a brother, then. Heaven keep your honour!	ISABELLA O just but severe law! I had a brother, then. Heaven keep your honour!
LUCIO [Aside to ISABELLA] Give’t not o’er so: to him again, entreat him; 60 Kneel down before him, hang upon his gown: You are too cold; if you should need a pin, You could not with more tame a tongue desire it: To him, I say!	LUCIO [Aside to ISABELLA] Give’t not o’er so: to him again, entreat him; Kneel down before him, hang upon his gown: You are too cold; if you should need a pin, You could not with more tame a tongue desire it: To him, I say!
ISABELLA Must he needs die?	ISABELLA Must he needs die?
ANGELO 65 Maiden, no remedy.	ANGELO Maiden, no remedy.
ISABELLA Yes; I do think that you might pardon him, And neither heaven nor man grieve at the mercy.	ISABELLA Yes; I do think that you might pardon him, And neither heaven nor man grieve at the mercy.
ANGELO I will not do’t.	ANGELO I will not do’t.
ISABELLA But can you, if you would?	ISABELLA But can you, if you would?
ANGELO 70 Look, what I will not, that I cannot do.	ANGELO Look, what I will not, that I cannot do.
ISABELLA But might you do’t, and do the world no wrong, If so your heart were touch’d with that remorse As mine is to him?	ISABELLA But might you do’t, and do the world no wrong, If so your heart were touch’d with that remorse As mine is to him?
ANGELO He’s sentenced; ’tis too late.	ANGELO He’s sentenced; ’tis too late.
LUCIO 75 [Aside to ISABELLA] You are too cold.	LUCIO [Aside to ISABELLA] You are too cold.
ISABELLA Too late? why, no; I, that do speak a word. May call it back again. Well, believe this, No ceremony that to great ones ’longs, Not the king’s crown, nor the deputed sword, 80 The marshal’s truncheon, nor the judge’s robe, Become them with one half so good a grace As mercy does. If he had been as you and you as he, You would have slipt like him; but he, like you, 85 Would not have been so stern.	ISABELLA Too late? why, no; I, that do speak a word. May call it back again. Well, believe this, No ceremony that to great ones ’longs, Not the king’s crown, nor the deputed sword, The marshal’s truncheon, nor the judge’s robe, Become them with one half so good a grace As mercy does. If he had been as you and you as he, You would have slipt like him; but he, like you, Would not have been so stern.
ANGELO Pray you, be gone.	ANGELO Pray you, be gone.
ISABELLA I would to heaven I had your potency, And you were Isabel! should it then be thus? No; I would tell what ’twere to be a judge, 90 And what a prisoner.	ISABELLA I would to heaven I had your potency, And you were Isabel! should it then be thus? No; I would tell what ’twere to be a judge, And what a prisoner.
LUCIO [Aside to ISABELLA] Ay, touch him; there’s the vein.	LUCIO [Aside to ISABELLA] Ay, touch him; there’s the vein.
ANGELO Your brother is a forfeit of the law, And you but waste your words.	ANGELO Your brother is a forfeit of the law, And you but waste your words.
ISABELLA Alas, alas! 95 Why, all the souls that were forfeit once; And He that might the vantage best have took Found out the remedy. How would you be, If He, which is the top of judgment, should But judge you as you are? O, think on that; 100 And mercy then will breathe within your lips, Like man new made.	ISABELLA Alas, alas! Why, all the souls that were forfeit once; And He that might the vantage best have took Found out the remedy. How would you be, If He, which is the top of judgment, should But judge you as you are? O, think on that; And mercy then will breathe within your lips, Like man new made.
ANGELO Be you content, fair maid; It is the law, not I condemn your brother: Were he my kinsman, brother, or my son, 105 It should be thus with him: he must die tomorrow.	ANGELO Be you content, fair maid; It is the law, not I condemn your brother: Were he my kinsman, brother, or my son, It should be thus with him: he must die tomorrow.
ISABELLA To-morrow! O, that’s sudden! Spare him, spare him! He’s not prepared for death. Even for our kitchens We kill the fowl of season: shall we serve heaven With less respect than we do minister 110 To our gross selves? Good, good my lord, bethink you; Who is it that hath died for this offence? There’s many have committed it.	ISABELLA To-morrow! O, that’s sudden! Spare him, spare him! He’s not prepared for death. Even for our kitchens We kill the fowl of season: shall we serve heaven With less respect than we do minister To our gross selves? Good, good my lord, bethink you; Who is it that hath died for this offence? There’s many have committed it.
LUCIO [Aside to ISABELLA] Ay, well said.	LUCIO [Aside to ISABELLA] Ay, well said.
ANGELO The law hath not been dead, though it hath slept: 115 Those many had not dared to do that evil, If the first that did the edict infringe Had answer’d for his deed: now ’tis awake Takes note of what is done; and, like a prophet, Looks in a glass, that shows what future evils, 120 Either new, or by remissness new-conceived, And so in progress to be hatch’d and born, Are now to have no successive degrees, But, ere they live, to end.	ANGELO The law hath not been dead, though it hath slept: Those many had not dared to do that evil, If the first that did the edict infringe Had answer’d for his deed: now ’tis awake Takes note of what is done; and, like a prophet, Looks in a glass, that shows what future evils, Either new, or by remissness new-conceived, And so in progress to be hatch’d and born, Are now to have no successive degrees, But, ere they live, to end.
ISABELLA Yet show some pity.	ISABELLA Yet show some pity.
ANGELO 125 I show it most of all when I show justice; For then I pity those I do not know, Which a dismiss’d offence would after gall; And do him right that, answering one foul wrong, Lives not to act another. Be satisfied; 130 Your brother dies to-morrow; be content.	ANGELO I show it most of all when I show justice; For then I pity those I do not know, Which a dismiss’d offence would after gall; And do him right that, answering one foul wrong, Lives not to act another. Be satisfied; Your brother dies to-morrow; be content.
ISABELLA So you must be the first that gives this sentence, And he, that suffer’s. O, it is excellent To have a giant’s strength; but it is tyrannous To use it like a giant.	ISABELLA So you must be the first that gives this sentence, And he, that suffer’s. O, it is excellent To have a giant’s strength; but it is tyrannous To use it like a giant.
LUCIO 135 [Aside to ISABELLA] That’s well said.	LUCIO [Aside to ISABELLA] That’s well said.
ISABELLA Could great men thunder As Jove himself does, Jove would ne’er be quiet, For every pelting, petty officer Would use his heaven for thunder; 140 Nothing but thunder! Merciful Heaven, Thou rather with thy sharp and sulphurous bolt Split’st the unwedgeable and gnarled oak Than the soft myrtle: but man, proud man, Drest in a little brief authority, 145 Most ignorant of what he’s most assured, His glassy essence, like an angry ape, Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven As make the angels weep; who, with our spleens, Would all themselves laugh mortal.	ISABELLA Could great men thunder As Jove himself does, Jove would ne’er be quiet, For every pelting, petty officer Would use his heaven for thunder; Nothing but thunder! Merciful Heaven, Thou rather with thy sharp and sulphurous bolt Split’st the unwedgeable and gnarled oak Than the soft myrtle: but man, proud man, Drest in a little brief authority, Most ignorant of what he’s most assured, His glassy essence, like an angry ape, Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven As make the angels weep; who, with our spleens, Would all themselves laugh mortal.
LUCIO 150 [Aside to ISABELLA] O, to him, to him, wench! he will relent; He’s coming; I perceive ’t.	LUCIO [Aside to ISABELLA] O, to him, to him, wench! he will relent; He’s coming; I perceive ’t.
PROVOST [Aside] Pray heaven she win him!	PROVOST [Aside] Pray heaven she win him!
ISABELLA We cannot weigh our brother with ourself: 155 Great men may jest with saints; ’tis wit in them, But in the less foul profanation.	ISABELLA We cannot weigh our brother with ourself: Great men may jest with saints; ’tis wit in them, But in the less foul profanation.
LUCIO Thou’rt i’ the right, girl; more o, that.	LUCIO Thou’rt i’ the right, girl; more o, that.
ISABELLA That in the captain’s but a choleric word, Which in the soldier is flat blasphemy.	ISABELLA That in the captain’s but a choleric word, Which in the soldier is flat blasphemy.
LUCIO 160 [Aside to ISABELLA] Art avised o’ that? more on ’t.	LUCIO [Aside to ISABELLA] Art avised o’ that? more on ’t.
ANGELO Why do you put these sayings upon me?	ANGELO Why do you put these sayings upon me?
ISABELLA Because authority, though it err like others, Hath yet a kind of medicine in itself, That skins the vice o’ the top. Go to your bosom; 165 Knock there, and ask your heart what it doth know That’s like my brother’s fault: if it confess A natural guiltiness such as is his, Let it not sound a thought upon your tongue Against my brother’s life.	ISABELLA Because authority, though it err like others, Hath yet a kind of medicine in itself, That skins the vice o’ the top. Go to your bosom; Knock there, and ask your heart what it doth know That’s like my brother’s fault: if it confess A natural guiltiness such as is his, Let it not sound a thought upon your tongue Against my brother’s life.
ANGELO 170 [Aside] She speaks, and ’tis Such sense, that my sense breeds with it. Fare you well.	ANGELO [Aside] She speaks, and ’tis Such sense, that my sense breeds with it. Fare you well.
ISABELLA Gentle my lord, turn back.	ISABELLA Gentle my lord, turn back.
ANGELO I will bethink me: come again tomorrow.	ANGELO I will bethink me: come again tomorrow.
ISABELLA Hark how I’ll bribe you: good my lord, turn back.	ISABELLA Hark how I’ll bribe you: good my lord, turn back.
ANGELO 175 How! bribe me?	ANGELO How! bribe me?
ISABELLA Ay, with such gifts that heaven shall share with you.	ISABELLA Ay, with such gifts that heaven shall share with you.
LUCIO [Aside to ISABELLA] You had marr’d all else.	LUCIO [Aside to ISABELLA] You had marr’d all else.
ISABELLA Not with fond shekels of the tested gold, Or stones whose rates are either rich or poor 180 As fancy values them; but with true prayers That shall be up at heaven and enter there Ere sun-rise, prayers from preserved souls, From fasting maids whose minds are dedicate To nothing temporal.	ISABELLA Not with fond shekels of the tested gold, Or stones whose rates are either rich or poor As fancy values them; but with true prayers That shall be up at heaven and enter there Ere sun-rise, prayers from preserved souls, From fasting maids whose minds are dedicate To nothing temporal.
ANGELO 185 Well; come to me to-morrow.	ANGELO Well; come to me to-morrow.
LUCIO [Aside to ISABELLA] Go to; ’tis well; away!	LUCIO [Aside to ISABELLA] Go to; ’tis well; away!
ISABELLA Heaven keep your honour safe!	ISABELLA Heaven keep your honour safe!
ANGELO [Aside] Amen: For I am that way going to temptation, 190 Where prayers cross.	ANGELO [Aside] Amen: For I am that way going to temptation, Where prayers cross.
ISABELLA At what hour to-morrow Shall I attend your lordship?	ISABELLA At what hour to-morrow Shall I attend your lordship?
ANGELO At any time ’fore noon.	ANGELO At any time ’fore noon.
ISABELLA ’Save your honour!	ISABELLA ’Save your honour!
Exeunt ISABELLA , LUCIO , and Provost	Exeunt ISABELLA , LUCIO , and Provost
ANGELO 195 From thee, even from thy virtue! What’s this, what’s this? Is this her fault or mine? The tempter or the tempted, who sins most? Ha! Not she: nor doth she tempt: but it is I 200 That, lying by the violet in the sun, Do as the carrion does, not as the flower, Corrupt with virtuous season. Can it be That modesty may more betray our sense Than woman’s lightness? Having waste ground enough, 205 Shall we desire to raze the sanctuary And pitch our evils there? O, fie, fie, fie! What dost thou, or what art thou, Angelo? Dost thou desire her foully for those things That make her good? O, let her brother live! 210 Thieves for their robbery have authority When judges steal themselves. What, do I love her, That I desire to hear her speak again, And feast upon her eyes? What is’t I dream on? O cunning enemy, that, to catch a saint, 215 With saints dost bait thy hook! Most dangerous Is that temptation that doth goad us on To sin in loving virtue: never could the strumpet, With all her double vigour, art and nature, Once stir my temper; but this virtuous maid 220 Subdues me quite. Even till now, When men were fond, I smiled and wonder’d how.	ANGELO From thee, even from thy virtue! What’s this, what’s this? Is this her fault or mine? The tempter or the tempted, who sins most? Ha! Not she: nor doth she tempt: but it is I That, lying by the violet in the sun, Do as the carrion does, not as the flower, Corrupt with virtuous season. Can it be That modesty may more betray our sense Than woman’s lightness? Having waste ground enough, Shall we desire to raze the sanctuary And pitch our evils there? O, fie, fie, fie! What dost thou, or what art thou, Angelo? Dost thou desire her foully for those things That make her good? O, let her brother live! Thieves for their robbery have authority When judges steal themselves. What, do I love her, That I desire to hear her speak again, And feast upon her eyes? What is’t I dream on? O cunning enemy, that, to catch a saint, With saints dost bait thy hook! Most dangerous Is that temptation that doth goad us on To sin in loving virtue: never could the strumpet, With all her double vigour, art and nature, Once stir my temper; but this virtuous maid Subdues me quite. Even till now, When men were fond, I smiled and wonder’d how.
Exit	Exit