he deputy.' The much-grieved
sister cried out: 'O unhappy Claudio, wretched Isabel, injurious world,
most wicked Angelo!' The seeming friar bid her take comfort, and when
she was become a little calm, he acquainted her with the near prospect
of the duke's return, and told her in what manner she should proceed in
preferring her complaint against Angelo; and he bade her not fear if
the cause should seem to go against her for a while. Leaving Isabel
sufficiently instructed, he next went to Mariana, and gave her counsel
in what manner she also should act.

Then the duke laid aside his friar's habit, and in his own royal robes,
amidst a joyful crowd of his faithful subjects, assembled to greet his
arrival, entered the city of Vienna, where he was met by Angelo, who
delivered up his authority in the proper form. And there came Isabel,
in the manner of a petitioner for redress, and said: 'Justice, most
royal duke! I am the sister of one Claudio, who, for the seducing a
young maid, was condemned to lose his head. I made my suit to lord
Angelo for my brother's pardon. It were needless to tell your grace how
I prayed and kneeled, how he repelled me, and how I replied; for this
was of much length. The vile conclusion I now begin with grief and
shame to utter. Angelo would not but by my yielding to his
dishonourable love release my brother; and after much debate within
myself, my sisterly remorse overcame my virtue, and I did yield to him.
But the next morning betimes, Angelo, forfeiting his promise, sent a
warrant for my poor brother's head!' The duke affected to disbelieve
her story; and Angelo said that grief for her brother's death, who had
suffered by the due course of the law, had disordered her senses. And
now another suitor approached, which was Mariana; and Mariana said:
'Noble prince, as there comes light from heaven, and truth from breath,
as there is sense in truth and truth in virtue, I am this man's wife,
and my good lord, the words of Isabel are false; for the night she says
was with Angelo, I passed that night with him in the garden-house. As
this is true, let me in safety rise, or else for ever be fixed here a
marble monument.' Then did Isabel appeal for the truth of what she had
said to friar Lodowick, that being the name the duke had assumed in his
disguise. Isabel and Mariana had both obeyed his instructions in what
they said, the duke intending that the innocence of Isabel should be
plainly proved in that publi