47: _in person bear me_] Capell. _in person beare_ Ff.

_my person bear_ Pope.

49: _our_] F1. _your_ F2 F3 F4.

SCENE IV. _A nunnery._

_Enter ISABELLA and FRANCISCA._

_Isab._ And have you nuns no farther privileges?

_Fran._ Are not these large enough?

_Isab._ Yes, truly: I speak not as desiring more; But rather wishing a more strict restraint Upon the sisterhood, the votarists of Saint Clare. 5

_Lucio_ [_within_]. Ho! Peace be in this place!

_Isab._ Who's that which calls?

_Fran._ It is a man's voice. Gentle Isabella, Turn you the key, and know his business of him; You may, I may not; you are yet unsworn.

When you have vow'd, you must not speak with men 10 But in the presence of the prioress: Then, if you speak, you must not show your face; Or, if you show your face, you must not speak.

He calls again; I pray you, answer him. [_Exit._

_Isab._ Peace and prosperity! Who is't that calls? 15

_Enter LUCIO._

_Lucio._ Hail, virgin, if you be, as those cheek-roses Proclaim you are no less! Can you so stead me As bring me to the sight of Isabella, A novice of this place, and the fair sister To her unhappy brother Claudio? 20

_Isab._ Why, 'her unhappy brother'? let me ask The rather, for I now must make you know I am that Isabella and his sister.

_Lucio._ Gentle and fair, your brother kindly greets you: Not to be weary with you, he's in prison. 25

_Isab._ Woe me! for what?

_Lucio._ For that which, if myself might be his judge, He should receive his punishment in thanks: He hath got his friend with child.

_Isab._ Sir, make me not your story.

_Lucio._ It is true. 30 I would not--though 'tis my familiar sin With maids to seem the lapwing, and to jest, Tongue far from heart--play with all virgins so: I hold you as a thing ensky'd and sainted; By your renouncement, an immortal spirit; 35 And to be talk'd with in sincerity, As with a saint.

_Isab._ You do blaspheme the good in mocking me.

_Lucio._ Do not believe it. Fewness and truth, 'tis thus:-- Your brother and his lover have embraced: 40 As those that feed grow full,--as blossoming time, That from the seedness the bare fallow brings To teeming foison,--even so her plenteous womb Expresseth his full tilth and husbandry.

_Isab._ Some one with child by him?--My cousin Juliet? 45

_Lucio._ Is she your cousin?

_Isab._ Adoptedly; as school-maids change their names By vain, though apt, affection.

_Lucio._ She it is.

_Isab._ O, let him marry her.

_Lucio._ This is the point.

The duke is very strangely gone from hence; 50 Bore many gentlemen, myself being one, In hand, and hope of action: but we do learn By those that know the very nerves of state, His givings-out were of an infinite distance From his true-meant design. Upon his place, 55 And with full line of his authority, Governs Lord Angelo; a man whose blood Is very snow-broth; one who never feels The wanton stings and motions of the sense, But doth rebate and blunt his natural edge 60 With profits of the mind, study and fast.

He--to give fear to use and liberty, Which have for long run by the hideous law, As mice by lions--hath pick'd out an act, Under whose heavy sense your brother's life 65 Falls into forfeit: he arrests him on it; And follows close the rigour of the statute, To make him an example. All hope is gone, Unless you have the grace by your fair prayer To soften Angelo: and that's my pith of business 70 'Twixt you and your poor brother.

_Isab._ Doth he so seek his life?

_Lucio._ Has censured him Already; and, as I hear, the provost hath A warrant for his execution.

_Isab._ Alas! what poor ability's in me 75 To do him good?

_Lucio._ a.s.say the power you have.

_Isab._ My power? Alas, I doubt,--

_Lucio._ Our doubts are traitors, And 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, 80 Men give like G.o.ds; but when they weep and kneel, All their pet.i.tions are as freely theirs As they themselves would owe them.

_Isab._ I'll see what I can do.

_Lucio._ But speedily.

_Isab._ I will about it straight; 85 No longer staying but to give the Mother Notice of my affair. I humbly thank you: Commend me to my brother: soon at night I'll send him certain word of my success.

_Lucio._ I take my leave of you.

_Isab._ Good sir, adieu. 90

[_Exeunt._

NOTES: I, 4.

SCENE IV.] SCENA QUINTA Ff. SCENE VIII. Pope.

5: _sisterhood, the votarists_] _sister votarists_ Pope.

27: _For that which_] _That for which_ Malone conj.

30: _make me not your story_] _mock me not:--your story_ Malone.

_make me not your scorn_ Collier MS. (after Davenant).

_make ... sport_ Singer.

_It is true_] Steevens. _'Tis true_ Ff. om. Pope.

_Nay, tis true_ Capell.

31: _I would not_] Malone puts a full stop here.

40: _have_] _having_ Rowe.

42: _That ... brings_] _Doth ... bring_ Hanmer.

_seedness_] _seeding_ Collier MS.

44: _his_] _its_ Hanmer.

49: _O, let him_] F1. _Let him_ F2 F3 F4. _Let him then_ Pope.