Author's NoteEdited for length Measure for Measure is a play by William Shakespeare that demonstrates the fall of the man, Angelo, from a place of supposed virtue to that public shame. It's not preformed very often, but I suggest anyone go read it or watch it if they get the chance.
Virtue's Cold Embrace
Angelo thought he knew the scalding cold touch of Virtue like a lover. He thought he was an old friend to her iron shackles that bound desire, and harsh caress that doused crude cravings in the cool pure flame of righteousness. Virtue, cruel mistress, encircled him so tightly her painful pressure left sores, and time's measured passing metamorphosed them into rough calluses. Angelo's deadened nerves had long ago forgot the destructive erotic fire that burned so commonly in men's veins. He mistakenly thought he knew all the sharp edges of Virtue's body. But he did not know that chronic disease of Virtue had a homeopathic remedy.
Virtue, clothed in the nubile virgin flesh of an innocent, awakened his latent fierce desires. Virtue's fire melted Virtue's cold embrace, and Angelo's most hidden dreams flowed from him in a pillaging flood. Angelo awoke from his mausoleum of purity hating and loving his mistress Virtue, and finding the duel sensations more painful than the erstwhile-unthawed frostbite of his soul, realized that he had only one desire and that was Virtue defiled, Virtue destroyed utterly. Thus Angelo decided that Angelo must murder Virtue.