Which had you rather, that the most just law Now took your brother’s life
Angelo
Which had you rather, that the most just law
Now took your brother’s life, or, to redeem him,
Give up your body to such sweet uncleanness
As she that he hath stained?Metonymy & Oxymoron
Isabella
Sir, believe this:
I had rather give my body than my soul.
Angelo
I talk not of your soul. Our compelled sins
Stand more for number than for accompt.
Might there not be a charity in sin
To save this brother’s life?
Isabella
How say you?
Angelo
Nay, I’ll not warrant that, for I can speak
Against the thing I say. Answer to this:
I, now the voice of the recorded law,
Pronounce a sentence on your brother’s life.
Might there not be a charity in sin
To save this brother’s life?
Isabella
Please you to do ’t,
I’ll take it as a peril to my soul,
It is no sin at all, but charity.
Angelo
Pleased you to do ’t, at peril of your soul,
Were equal poise of sin and charity.
Isabella
That I do beg his life, if it be sin
Heaven let me bear it. You granting of my suit,
If that be sin, I’ll make it my morn prayer
To have it added to the faults of mine
And nothing of your answer.
Angelo
Nay, but hear me.
Your sense pursues not mine. Either you are ignorant,
Or seem so, crafty, and that’s not good.
Isabella
Let me be ignorant and in nothing good,
But graciously to know I am no better.
Angelo
Thus wisdom wishes to appear most bright
When it doth tax itself, as these black masks
Proclaim an enshield beauty ten times louder
Than beauty could, displayed.[/tooltip But mark me.
To be receivèd plain, I’ll speak more gross:Metonymy. Simile & Ellipsis
Your brother is to die.