Chapter 10 2. No.10

75 Found out the remedy. How would you be,

If He, which is the top of judgement, should

But judge you as you are? O, think on that;

And mercy then will breathe within your lips,

Like man new made.

Ang.

Be you content, fair maid;

80 It is the law, not I condemn your brother:

Were he my kinsman, brother, or my son,

It should be thus with him: he must die to-morrow.

Isab. To-morrow! O, that's sudden! Spare him, spare him!

He's not prepared for death. Even for our kitchens

85 We kill the fowl of season: shall we serve heaven

With less respect than we do minister

To our gross selves? Good, good my lord, bethink you;

Who is it that hath died for this offence?

There's many have committed it.

Lucio. [Aside to Isab.] Ay, well said.

90 Ang. The law hath not been dead, though it hath slept:

Those many had not dared to do that evil,

If the first that did the edict infringe

Had answer'd for his deed: now 'tis awake,

Takes note of what is done; and, like a prophet,

95 Looks in a glass, that shows what future evils,

Either now, or by remissness new-conceived,

And so in progress to be hatch'd and born,

Are now to have no successive degrees,

But, ere they live, to end.

Isab.

Yet show some pity.