Act 2, Scene II

SCENE II. Another room in the same.

Enter Provost and a Servant
Servant
He's hearing of a cause; he will come straight
I'll tell him of you.

Provost
Pray you, do.

Exit Servant

I'll know
His pleasure; may be he will relent. Alas,
He hath but as offended in a dream!
All sects, all ages smack of this vice; and he
To die for't!

Enter ANGELO

ANGELO
Now, what's the matter. Provost?

Provost
Is it your will Claudio shall die tomorrow?

ANGELO
Did not I tell thee yea? hadst thou not order?
Why dost thou ask again?

Provost
Lest I might be too rash:
Under your good correction, I have seen,
When, after execution, judgment hath
Repented o'er his doom.

ANGELO
Go to; let that be mine:
Do you your office, or give up your place,
And you shall well be spared.

Provost
I crave your honour's pardon.
What shall be done, sir, with the groaning Juliet?
She's very near her hour.

ANGELO
Dispose of her
To some more fitter place, and that with speed.

Re-enter Servant

Servant
Here is the sister of the man condemn'd
Desires access to you.

ANGELO
Hath he a sister?

Provost
Ay, my good lord; a very virtuous maid,
And to be shortly of a sisterhood,
If not already.

ANGELO
Well, let her be admitted.

Exit Servant

See you the fornicatress be removed:
Let have needful, but not lavish, means;
There shall be order for't.

Enter ISABELLA and LUCIO

Provost
God save your honour!

ANGELO
Stay a little while.

To ISABELLA

You're welcome: what's your will?

ISABELLA
I am a woeful suitor to your honour,
Please but your honour hear me.

ANGELO
Well; what's your suit?

ISABELLA
There is a vice that most I do abhor,
And most desire should meet the blow of justice;
For which I would not plead, but that I must;
For which I must not plead, but that I am
At war 'twixt will and will not.

ANGELO
Well; the matter?

ISABELLA
I have a brother is condemn'd to die:
I do beseech you, let it be his fault,
And not my brother.

Provost
[Aside] Heaven give thee moving graces!

ANGELO
Condemn the fault and not the actor of it?
Why, every fault's condemn'd ere it be done:
Mine were the very cipher of a function,
To fine the faults whose fine stands in record,
And let go by the actor.

ISABELLA
O just but severe law!
I had a brother, then. Heaven keep your honour!

LUCIO
[Aside to ISABELLA] Give't not o'er so: to him
again, entreat