Original: Could great men thunder
Modern: If powerful men could make thunder

Original: As Jove himself does, Jove would ne’er be quiet,
Modern: The way Jupiter does, Jupiter would never have peace and quiet,

Original: For every pelting, petty officer
Modern: Because every insignificant, small-time official

Original: Would use his heaven for thunder;
Modern: Would be using the heavens to make their own thunder;

Original: Nothing but thunder! Merciful Heaven,
Modern: There’d be nothing but thunder! Merciful Heaven,

Original: Thou rather with thy sharp and sulphurous bolt
Modern: You’d rather use your sharp lightning bolt that smells of sulfur

Original: Split’st the unwedgeable and gnarled oak
Modern: To split the solid, twisted oak tree

Original: Than the soft myrtle: but man, proud man,
Modern: Instead of the delicate myrtle bush: but humans, prideful humans,

Original: Drest in a little brief authority,
Modern: Dressed up with a small amount of temporary power,

Original: Most ignorant of what he’s most assured,
Modern: Completely unaware of what they should be most certain about,

Original: His glassy essence, like an angry ape,
Modern: Their fragile soul, like an angry monkey,

Original: Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven
Modern: Performs such ridiculous antics in front of God

Original: As make the angels weep; who, with our spleens,
Modern: That it makes the angels cry; and if angels had our sense of humor,

Original: Would all themselves laugh mortal.
Modern: They would all laugh themselves to death.

In Act II, Scene 2 of “Measure for Measure,” Isabella, a novice nun, arrives at the prison to plead with Angelo, the Duke’s deputy, for her brother Claudio’s life. Claudio has been sentenced to death under Angelo’s strict enforcement of Vienna’s fornication laws for impregnating his betrothed Juliet before their marriage ceremony. Initially, Isabella’s appeal lacks conviction, and Angelo remains unmoved by her arguments. However, when Lucio, who accompanies her, encourages Isabella to press her case more forcefully, she begins to argue more passionately about mercy, justice, and the abuse of power.

As Isabella’s pleas become more eloquent and fervent, Angelo finds himself increasingly attracted to her virtue and beauty. He begins to waver in his resolve, asking her to return the next day while he considers her request. After Isabella leaves, Angelo delivers a soliloquy revealing his sudden and unwelcome sexual desire for the novice nun. He is horrified by his own lustful thoughts, recognizing the hypocrisy of being tempted by the very sin for which he has condemned Claudio. The scene ends with Angelo struggling between his public role as a moral authority and his private corruption, setting up the central conflict that will drive the remainder of the play.

Measure for Measure opens in Vienna, where Duke Vincentio announces he must leave the city on urgent business and appoints his deputy Angelo to govern in his absence, with the elder lord Escalus as Angelo’s advisor. The Duke actually remains in Vienna disguised as a friar to observe how Angelo will rule. Angelo immediately begins strictly enforcing long-neglected laws against sexual immorality, ordering the demolition of brothels and condemning Claudio to death for getting his betrothed Juliet pregnant before their official marriage ceremony.

Claudio’s sister Isabella, a novice nun, pleads with Angelo for her brother’s life. Angelo, struck by Isabella’s beauty and virtue, propositions her: he will spare Claudio’s life if she will sleep with him. Isabella refuses and tells her brother of Angelo’s corrupt bargain. When Claudio, desperate to live, begs Isabella to sacrifice her chastity for his life, she angrily rejects the idea. The disguised Duke, who has been counseling prisoners, overhears this conversation and devises a plan.

The Duke arranges for Mariana, Angelo’s former betrothed whom he abandoned when her dowry was lost, to take Isabella’s place in a secret nighttime encounter with Angelo - a “bed trick” that Angelo believes is with Isabella. Despite this fulfillment of the bargain, Angelo still orders Claudio’s execution. The Duke, still disguised, arranges for another prisoner’s head to be sent to Angelo instead of Claudio’s, saving Claudio’s life while letting Angelo believe his order was carried out.

In the final act, the Duke returns publicly to Vienna, and Isabella openly accuses Angelo of corruption before the Duke (not knowing he already knows everything). The Duke pretends to disbelieve her until he reveals his true identity and Angelo’s crimes. Angelo confesses and is sentenced to marry Mariana and then be executed, though Mariana and Isabella both plead for his life. The Duke pardons Angelo, reveals that Claudio is alive, and proposes marriage to Isabella, leaving her response ambiguous in the text.