Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616 -- Adaptations; Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616 -- Stories, plots, etc. -- Juvenile literature
Again they heard the voice of Lucio, and the nun said: “He calls
again. I pray you answer him.”
Isabel then went out to Lucio, and in answer to his salutation,
said: “Peace and Prosperity! Who is it that calls?”
Then Lucio, approaching her with reverence, said: “Hail, virgin,
if such you be, as the roses on your cheeks proclaim you are no
less! Can you bring me to the sight of Isabel, a novice of this
place, and the fair sister to her unhappy brother Claudio?”
“Why her unhappy brother?” said Isabel, “let me ask! for I am
that Isabel and his sister.”
“Fair and gentle lady,” he replied, “your brother kindly greets
you by me; he is in prison.”
“Woe is me! for what?” said Isabel.
Lucio then told her Claudio was imprisoned for seducing a young
maiden. “Ah,” said she, “I fear it is my cousin Juliet.”
Juliet and Isabel were not related, but they called each other
cousin in remembrance of their school-days’ friendship; and as
Isabel knew that Juliet loved Claudio, she feared she had been
led by her affection for him into this transgression.
“She it is,” replied Lucio.
“Why, then, let my brother marry Juliet,” said Isabel.
Lucio replied that Claudio would gladly marry Juliet, but that
the lord deputy had sentenced him to die for his offense.
“Unless,” said he, “you have the grace by your fair prayer to
soften Angelo, and that is my business between you and your poor
brother.”
“Alas!” said Isabel, “what poor ability is there in me to do him
good? I doubt I have no power to move Angelo.”
“Our doubts are traitors,” said Lucio, “and make us lose the good
we might often win, by fearing to attempt it. Go to Lord Angelo!
When maidens sue and kneel and weep men give like gods.”
“I will see what I can do said Isabel. “I will but stay to give
the prioress notice of the affair, and then I will go to Angelo.
Commend me to my brother. Soon at night I will send him word of
my success.”
Isabel hastened to the palace and threw herself on her knees
before Angelo, saying, “I am a woeful suitor to your Honor, if it
will please your Honor to hear me.”
“Well, what is your suit?” said Angelo.
She then made her petition in the most moving terms for her
brother’s life.
But Angelo said, “Maiden, there is no remedy; your brother is
sentenced, and he must die.”
“Oh, just but severe law!” said Isabel. “I had a brother then.
Heaven keep your Honor!” and she was about to depart.
But Lucio, who had accompanied her, said: “Give it not over so;
return to him again, entreat him, kneel down before him, hang
upon his gown. You are too cold; if you should need a pin, you
could not with a more tame tongue desire it.”
Then again Isabel on her knees implored for mercy.
“He is sentenced,” said Angelo. “It is too late.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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