dispenses
with the deed so far, that it becomes a virtue.' 'O faithless coward! O
dishonest wretch!' said Isabel; 'would you preserve your life by your
sister's shame? O fie, fie, fie! I thought, my brother, you had in you
such a mind of honour, that had you twenty heads to render up on twenty
blocks, you would have yielded them up all, before your sister should
stoop to such dishonour.' 'Nay, hear me, Isabel!' said Claudio. But
what he would have said in defence of his weakness, in desiring to live
by the dishonour of his virtuous sister, was interrupted by the
entrance of the duke; who said: 'Claudio, I have overheard what has
passed between you and your sister. Angelo had never the purpose to
corrupt her; what he said, has only been to make trial of her virtue.
She having the truth of honour in her, has given him that gracious
denial which he is most glad to receive. There is no hope that he will
pardon you; therefore pass your hours in prayer, and make ready for
death.' Then Claudio repented of his weakness, and said: 'Let me ask my
sister's pardon! I am so out of love with life, that I will sue to be
rid of it.' And Claudio retired, overwhelmed with shame and sorrow for
his fault.

The duke being now alone with Isabel, commended her virtuous
resolution, saying: 'The hand that made you fair, has made you good.'
'O,' said Isabel, 'how much is the good duke deceived in Angelo! if
ever he return, and I can speak to him, I will discover his
government.' Isabel knew not that she was even now making the discovery
she threatened. The duke replied: 'That shall not be much amiss; yet as
the matter now stands, Angelo will repel your accusation; therefore
lend an attentive ear to my advisings. I believe that you may most
righteously do a poor wronged lady a merited benefit, redeem your
brother from the angry law, do no stain to your own most gracious
person, and much please the absent duke, if peradventure he shall ever
return to have notice of this business. Isabel said, she had a spirit
to do anything he desired, provided it was nothing wrong. 'Virtue is
bold, and never fearful,' said the duke: and then he asked her, if she
had ever heard of Mariana, the sister of Frederick, the great soldier
who was drowned at sea. 'I have heard of the lady,' said Isabel, 'and
good words went with her name.' 'This lady,' said the duke, 'is the
wife of Angelo; but her marriage dowry was on board the vessel in which
her brother perished, an