Page 1205 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

Which I did think with slower foot came on,
That brain’d my purpose. But peace be with him.
That life is better life, past fearing death,
Than that which lives to fear. Make it your comfort, [395]

So happy is your brother.

ISABELLA
I do, my lord.

Enter Angelo, Mariana, Friar Peter, [and] Provost.

DUKE
For this new-married man approaching here,
Whose salt imagination yet hath wrong’d
Your well defended honour, you must pardon

For Mariana’s sake: but as he adjudg’d your brother, [400]
Being criminal in double violation
Of sacred chastity and of promise-breach

Thereon dependent, for your brother’s life,
The very mercy of the law cries out
Most audible, even from his proper tongue: [405]
‘An Angelo for Claudio; death for death.
Haste still pays haste, and leisure answers leisure;

Like doth quit like, and Measure still for Measure.’
Then, Angelo, thy fault’s thus manifested,
Which, though thou would’st deny, denies thee vantage. [410]

We do condemn thee to the very block
Where Claudio stoop’d to death, and with like haste.
Away with him.

MARIANA
O my most gracious lord,
I hope you will not mock me with a husband.

DUKE
It is your husband mock’d you with a husband. [415]

Consenting to the safeguard of your honour,
I thought your marriage fit: else imputation,