For this new-married man approaching here,Whose salt imagination yet hath wrong'dYour well defended honour, you must pardonFor Mariana's sake: but as he adjudged your brother,--Being criminal, in double violationOf sacred chastity and of promise-breachThereon dependent, for your brother's life,--The very mercy of the law cries outMost audible, even from his proper tongue,'An Angelo for Claudio, death for death!'Haste still pays haste, and leisure answers leisure;Like doth quit like, and MEASURE still FOR MEASURE

Summary

This quote is from Shakespeare's play "Measure for Measure." The speaker is arguing that the newlywed man, who is mistaken and has wronged the reputation of the listener, should be forgiven for Mariana's sake. However, the speaker goes on to compare this forgiveness to how the listener's brother was judged for his crimes of violating chastity and breaking promises that resulted in a threat to his life. The speaker concludes that the demand for justice and mercy should be equal - just as the law calls for Angelo's death for Claudio, there should also be a punishment equal to the offense committed by the new-married man.

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