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ISABELLA Doth he so seek his life?
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ISABELLA Does he really intend to kill him?
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LUCIO Has censured him
Already; and, as I hear, the provost hath
A warrant for his execution.
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LUCIO He’s already sentenced him to death, and I hear the provost has the warrant for his execution.
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ISABELLA
80Alas! what poor ability’s in me
To do him good?
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ISABELLA Oh, dear! What can a poor girl like me do to help?
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LUCIO Assay the power you have.
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LUCIO Test the power you have.
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ISABELLA My power? Alas, I doubt—
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ISABELLA My power? I doubt—
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LUCIO Our doubts are traitors
85And 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
90As they themselves would owe them.
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LUCIO Our doubts work against us and make us lose the good things we often could win by making us scared to try. Go to Lord Angelo, and show him that when girls plead, men give like gods. But when girls cry and kneel, their requests are granted even more freely, as if the girls were asking themselves for permission.
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ISABELLA I’ll see what I can do.
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ISABELLA I’ll see what I can do.
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LUCIO But speedily.
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LUCIO Make it fast.
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ISABELLA I will about it straight;
No longer staying but to give the mother
95Notice of my affair. I humbly thank you:
Commend me to my brother: soon at night
I’ll send him certain word of my success.
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ISABELLA I’ll go straightaway, as soon as I give notice of my business to the Mother Superior. Thank you so much. Give my brother my love. I’ll let him know how I made out early this evening.
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LUCIO I take my leave of you.
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LUCIO I’ll go now.
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