FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   59   60   61   62   63   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71  
72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   >>   >|  
As when a giant dies. 'Tis not impossible But one, the wicked'st caitiff on the ground, May seem as shy, as grave, as just, as absolute As Angelo; even so may Angelo, In all his dressings, characts, titles, forms, Be an arch villain. Her fine powers of reasoning, and that natural uprightness and purity which no sophistry can warp, and no allurement betray, are farther displayed in the second scene with Angelo. ANGELO. What would you do? ISABELLA. As much for my poor brother as myself; That is, were I under the terms of death, The impression of keen whips I'd wear as rubies, And strip myself to death as to a bed That, longing, I have been sick for, ere I'd yield My body up to shame. ANGELO. Then must your brother die. ISABELLA. And 'twere the cheaper way; Better it were a brother died at once, Than that a sister, by redeeming him, Should die forever. ANGELO. Were you not then cruel as the sentence, That you have slander'd so! ISABELLA. Ignominy in ransom, and free pardon, Are of two houses: lawful mercy is Nothing akin to foul redemption. ANGELO. You seem'd of late to make the law a tyrant; And rather proved the sliding of your brother A merriment than a vice. ISABELLA. O pardon me, my lord; it oft falls out, To have what we'd have, we speak not what we mean: I something do excuse the thing I hate, For his advantage that I dearly love. Towards the conclusion of the play we have another instance of that rigid sense of justice, which is a prominent part of Isabella's character, and almost silences her earnest intercession for her brother, when his fault is placed between her plea and her conscience. The Duke condemns the villain Angelo to death, and his wife Mariana entreats Isabella to plead for him. Sweet Isabel, take my part, Lend me your knees, and all my life to come I'll lend you all my life to do you service. Isabella remains silent, and Mariana reiterates her prayer. MARIANA. Sweet Isabel, do yet but kneel by me, Hold up your hands, say nothing, I'll speak all!
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   59   60   61   62   63   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71  
72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

brother

 

ANGELO

 

Angelo

 

ISABELLA

 

Isabella

 
pardon
 

villain

 

Isabel

 

Mariana

 

excuse


advantage
 

redemption

 

lawful

 

Nothing

 

tyrant

 

proved

 

sliding

 
merriment
 

service

 

remains


entreats

 

silent

 

reiterates

 

prayer

 

MARIANA

 

condemns

 
houses
 
justice
 

prominent

 
instance

Towards

 

conclusion

 

character

 
conscience
 

intercession

 

silences

 

earnest

 

dearly

 
Better
 

powers


reasoning

 

natural

 

uprightness

 

purity

 

sophistry

 

farther

 
displayed
 
betray
 

allurement

 

titles