Quote explanations

[george_7717]

I was looking over the key quotations I am supposed to be learning and there a few whose meanings I can't quite fathom - I was wondering if anyone could enlighten me as to what they signify or a rough translation into modern English?


1)"Who may, in the ambush of my name, strike home,
And yet my nature never in the fight
To do in slander" (Act I)

2)"It was a mad fantastical trick of him to steal from
the state, and usurp the beggary he was never born
to." (Act III)

3)"if he had so offended,
He would have weigh'd thy brother by himself
And not have cut him off." (Act V, the Duke)

Thanks very much!

[shklovsky]

Hi George
The first quote is the Duke telling Friar Thomas that Angelo, now he has taken over the Duke's role in Vienna (in the ambush of my name), can now enforce the law (strike home) but without harming the Duke, himself, in any way (my nature never in the way to do in slander)

The second is a strange moment in the play. Lucio is saying that it was strange of the Duke to leave Vienna secretly (to steal from the state) and to pretend to be some kind of beggar (usurp the beggary). Some critics have suggested that Lucio has actually seen through the Duke's disguise at this point, but this is highly debatable.

The third quote means that if Angelo had really committed the crime that Isabella has accused him of, then he would have recognised his own sin in her brother's crime and not have had him executed. He is subtly reminding Angelo of the view he has expressed earlier in the play that he (Angelo) has the authority to punish others because he is himself without sin.