Volume 23. Comedy. Duke Vincentio seeks to combat the rampant immorality in Vienna by reinstating an old law that punishes anyone who seduces an innocent girl with death. To enforce this decree, he appoints the strict Angelo as governor, pretends to go on a journey, but disguises himself as a monk to mingle with the people. The young Claudio, whose beloved Julia is expecting a child, is condemned to death as the first victim of the new law, despite being engaged to Julia. His sister Isabella, who wishes to enter a convent, pleads with the governor for mercy. Angelo becomes infatuated with the beautiful petitioner: he promises to spare Claudio if she surrenders to him. Outraged, Isabella rejects him and tells her brother, who is begging for his life, that she will not sacrifice his life for that.