"Dress'd in a little brief authority..."See in text(Act II - Act II, Scene 2)
As Isabella continues to beg Angelo to show her brother mercy, her pleas become increasingly passionate. Here, she compares Heaven's ability to check its power to Angelo's cruel, literal approach to justice. Heaven targets the most hardened and impassive victims—its thunder fells gnarled oaks, not soft myrtles. However, Angelo, full of pride from his "little brief authority"—temporary and limited power—indiscriminately and harshly enforces the law on all transgressors, even at soft myrtles like Isabella's young brother.
