第 6 节
作者:
冷如冰 更新:2024-04-07 11:51 字数:9322
The law hath not been dead; though it hath slept。 Those many had not
dar'd to do that evil If the first that did th' edict infringe Had answer'd for
his deed。 Now 'tis awake; Takes note of what is done; and; like a prophet;
Looks in a glass that shows what future evils… Either now or by remissness
new conceiv'd; And so in progress to be hatch'd and born… Are now to have
no successive degrees; But here they live to end。 ISABELLA。 Yet show
some pity。 ANGELO。 I show it most of all when I show justice; For then I
pity those I do not know; Which a dismiss'd offence would after gall; And
do him right that; answering one foul wrong; Lives not to act another。 Be
satisfied; Your brother dies to…morrow; be content。 ISABELLA。 So you
must be the first that gives this sentence; And he that suffers。 O; it is
excellent To have a giant's strength! But it is tyrannous To use it like a
giant。 LUCIO。 'To ISABELLA' That's well said。 ISABELLA。 Could great
men thunder As Jove himself does; Jove would never be quiet; For every
pelting petty officer Would use his heaven for thunder; Nothing but
thunder。 Merciful Heaven; Thou rather; with thy sharp and sulphurous bolt;
Splits the unwedgeable and gnarled oak Than the soft myrtle。 But man;
proud man; Dress'd in a little brief authority; Most ignorant of what he's
most assur'd; His glassy essence; like an angry ape; Plays such fantastic
tricks before high heaven As makes the angels weep; who; with our
spleens; Would all themselves laugh mortal。 LUCIO。 'To ISABELLA' O;
to him; to him; wench! He will relent; He's coming; I perceive 't。
PROVOST。 'Aside' Pray heaven she win him。 ISABELLA。 We cannot
weigh our brother with ourself。 Great men may jest with saints: 'tis wit in
them; But in the less foul profanation。 LUCIO。 'To ISABELLA' Thou'rt i'
th' right; girl; more o' that。 ISABELLA。 That in the captain's but a choleric
word Which in the soldier is flat blasphemy。 LUCIO。 'To ISABELLA' Art
avis'd o' that? More on't。 ANGELO。 Why do you put these sayings upon
me? ISABELLA。 Because authority; though it err like others; Hath yet a
kind of medicine in itself That skins the vice o' th' top。 Go to your bosom;
Knock there; and ask your heart what it doth know That's like my brother's
fault。 If it confess A natural guiltiness such as is his; Let it not sound a
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thought upon your tongue Against my brother's life。 ANGELO。 'Aside'
She speaks; and 'tis Such sense that my sense breeds with it。… Fare you
well。 ISABELLA。 Gentle my lord; turn back。 ANGELO。 I will bethink me。
Come again to…morrow。 ISABELLA。 Hark how I'll bribe you; good my
lord; turn back。 ANGELO。 How; bribe me? ISABELLA。 Ay; with such
gifts that heaven shall share with you。 LUCIO。 'To ISABELLA) You had
marr'd all else。 ISABELLA。 Not with fond shekels of the tested gold; Or
stones; whose rate are either rich or poor As fancy values them; but with
true prayers That shall be up at heaven and enter there Ere sun…rise;
prayers from preserved souls; From fasting maids; whose minds are
dedicate To nothing temporal。 ANGELO。 Well; come to me to…morrow。
LUCIO。 'To ISABELLA' Go to; 'tis well; away。 ISABELLA。 Heaven
keep your honour safe! ANGELO。 'Aside' Amen; for I Am that way going
to temptation Where prayers cross。 ISABELLA。 At what hour to…morrow
Shall I attend your lordship? ANGELO。 At any time 'fore noon。
ISABELLA。 Save your honour! Exeunt all but ANGELO ANGELO。 From
thee; even from thy virtue! What's this; what's this? Is this her fault or
mine? The tempter or the tempted; who sins most? Ha! Not she; nor doth
she tempt; but it is I That; lying by the violet in the sun; Do as the carrion
does; not as the flow'r; Corrupt with virtuous season。 Can it be That
modesty may more betray our sense Than woman's lightness? Having
waste ground enough; Shall we desire to raze the sanctuary; And pitch our
evils there? O; fie; fie; fie! What dost thou; or what art thou; Angelo? Dost
thou desire her foully for those things That make her good? O; let her
brother live! Thieves for their robbery have authority When judges steal
themselves。 What; do I love her; That I desire to hear her speak again; And
feast upon her eyes? What is't I dream on? O cunning enemy; that; to catch
a saint; With saints dost bait thy hook! Most dangerous Is that temptation
that doth goad us on To sin in loving virtue。 Never could the strumpet;
With all her double vigour; art and nature; Once stir my temper; but this
virtuous maid Subdues me quite。 Ever till now; When men were fond; I
smil'd and wond'red how。 Exit
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SCENE III。 A prison
Enter; severally; DUKE; disguised as a FRIAR; and PROVOST
DUKE。 Hail to you; Provost! so I think you are。 PROVOST。 I am the
Provost。 What's your will; good friar? DUKE。 Bound by my charity and
my blest order; I come to visit the afflicted spirits Here in the prison。 Do
me the common right To let me see them; and to make me know The
nature of their crimes; that I may minister To them accordingly。
PROVOST。 I would do more than that; if more were needful。
Enter JULIET
Look; here comes one; a gentlewoman of mine; Who; falling in the
flaws of her own youth; Hath blister'd her report。 She is with child; And he
that got it; sentenc'd… a young man More fit to do another such offence
Than die for this。 DUKE。 When must he die? PROVOST。 As I do think;
to…morrow。 'To JULIET' I have provided for you; stay awhile And you
shall be conducted。 DUKE。 Repent you; fair one; of the sin you carry?
JULIET。 I do; and bear the shame most patiently。 DUKE。 I'll teach you
how you shall arraign your conscience; And try your penitence; if it be
sound Or hollowly put on。 JULIET。 I'll gladly learn。 DUKE。 Love you the
man that wrong'd you? JULIET。 Yes; as I love the woman that wrong'd
him。 DUKE。 So then; it seems; your most offenceful act Was mutually
committed。 JULIET。 Mutually。 DUKE。 Then was your sin of heavier kind
than his。 JULIET。 I do confess it; and repent it; father。 DUKE。 'Tis meet so;
daughter; but lest you do repent As that the sin hath brought you to this
shame; Which sorrow is always toward ourselves; not heaven; Showing
we would not spare heaven as we love it; But as we stand in fear… JULIET。
I do repent me as it is an evil; And take the shame with joy。 DUKE。 There
rest。 Your partner; as I hear; must die to…morrow; And I am going with
instruction to him。 Grace go with you! Benedicite! Exit JULIET。 Must die
to…morrow! O; injurious law; That respites me a life whose very comfort Is
still a dying horror! PROVOST。 'Tis pity of him。 Exeunt
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SCENE IV。 ANGELO'S house
Enter ANGELO
ANGELO。 When I would pray and think; I think and pray To several
subjects。 Heaven hath my empty words; Whilst my invention; hearing not
my tongue; Anchors on Isabel。 Heaven in my mouth; As if I did but only
chew his name; And in my heart the strong and swelling evil Of my
conception。 The state whereon I studied Is; like a good thing being often
read; Grown sere and tedious; yea; my gravity; Wherein… let no man hear
me… I take pride; Could I with boot change for an idle plume Which the air
beats for vain。 O place; O form; How often dost thou with thy case; thy
habit; Wrench awe from fools; and tie the wiser souls To thy false seeming!
Blood; thou art blood。 Let's write 'good angel' on the devil's horn; 'Tis not
the devil's crest。
Enter SERVANT
How now; who's there? SERVANT。 One Isabel; a sister; desires
access to you。 ANGELO。 Teach her the way。 'Exit SERVANT' O heavens!
Why does my blood thus muster to my heart; Making both it unable for
itself And d