Page 1189 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

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,
Her madness hath the oddest frame of sense,

Such a dependency of thing on thing, [65]
As e’er I heard in madness.

ISABELLA
O gracious Duke,
Harp not on that; nor do not banish reason

For inequality; but let your reason serve
To make the truth appear where it seems hid,
And hide the false seems true.

DUKE
Many that are not mad [70]
Have, sure, more lack of reason. What would you say?

ISABELLA
I am the sister of one Claudio,
Condemn’d upon the act of fornication
To lose his head; condemn’d by Angelo.
I − in probation of a sisterhood − [75]

Was sent to by my brother; one Lucio
As then the messenger.

LUCIO
That’s I, and ’t like your Grace.
I came to her from Claudio, and desir’d her
To try her gracious fortune with Lord Angelo

For her poor brother’s pardon.

ISABELLA
That’s he indeed. [80]