it was the defire of the penitent to be fo barb'd before his death; you know the course is common. If any thing fall to you upon this, more than thanks and good fortune; by the Saint whom I profefs, I will plead against it with my life.

Prov. Pardon me, good father; it is against my oath.

Duke. Were you fworn to the Duke, or to the deputy?

Prov. To him, and to his fubftitutes.

Duke. You will think you have made no offence, if the Duke avouch the juftice of your dealing?

Prov. But what likelihood is in that?

Duke. Not a refemblance, but a certainty. Yet fince I fee you fearful, that neither my coat, integrity, nor my perfuafion, can with eafe attempt you, I will go further than I meant, to pluck all fears out of you. Look you, Sir, here is the hand and feal of the Duke; you know the character, I doubt not; and the fignet is not strange to you.

Prov. I know them both.

I

Duke. The contents of this is the return of the Duke; you shall anon over-read it at your pleasure; where you fhall find, within these two days he will be here. This is a thing, which Angelo knows not, for he this very day receives letters of ftrange tenor; perchance, of the Duke's death; perchance, of his entering into fome monaftery; but, by chance, nothing of what is here writ. Look, the unfolding ftar calls up the fhepherd; put not yourself into amazement how thefe things Thould be; all difficulties are but eafie when they are known. Call your executioner, and off with Barnardine's head: I will give him a prefent shrift, and advife him for a better place. Yet you are amaz'd, but this shall abfolutely refolve you. Come away, it is almoft clear dawn. [Exeunt.

1 nothing of what is writ.] We should read here writ.the Duke pointing to the let er in his hand.

SCENE

SCENE

Enter Clown.

VIII.

Clown. "I am as well acquainted here, as I was in "our house of profeffion; one would think, it were "mistress Over-done's own houfe; for here be many "of her old customers. First, here's young Mr. Rafb; he's in for a commodity of brown pepper and old ginger, ninefcore and feventeen pounds; of which he made five marks ready mony: marry, then, ginger was not much in requeft: for the old women were all dead. Then is there here one Mr. Caper, at the fuit of mafter Three-Pile the mercer; for fome four fuits of peach-colour'd fattin, which now peaches him a beg gar. Then have we here young Dizzy, and young Mr. Deep-vow, and Mr. Copper-fpur, and mafter Starve-lacky the rapier and dagger-man, and young Drop-beire that kill'd lufty Pudding, and Mr. Forthright the tilter, and brave Mr. Shooter the great traveller, and wild Half-canne that ftabb'd Pots, and, I think, forty more; all great doers in our trade, and are now in for the Lord's fake.

2

Enter Abhorfon.

Abbor. Sirrah, bring Barnardine hither.

Clown. Mafter Barnardine, you must rife and be hang'd, mafter Barnardine.

Abbor. What, hoa, Barnardine!

Barnar. [within.] A pox o' your throats; who makes that noise there? what are you?

Clown. Your friend, Sir, the hangman: you must be fo good, Sir, to rife, and be put to death.

Barnar. [within.] Away, you rogue, away; I am fleepy.

2 in for the Lord's-fake. ] i. e. to beg for the rest of their lives.

Abbor

too.

Abbor. Tell him, he must awake, and that quickly

Clown. Pray, mafter Barnardine, awake 'till you are executed, and fleep afterwards.

Abbor. Go in to him, and fetch him out.

Clown. He is coming, Sir, he is coming; I hear the ftraw ruftle.

Enter Barnardine.

Abbor. Is the ax upon the block, Sirrah?
Clown. Very ready, Sir.

Barnar. How now, Abhorfon? what's the news with you?

Abbor. Truly, Sir, I would defire you to clap into your prayers: for, look you, the warrant's come.

Barnar. You rogue, I have been drinking all night, I am not fitted for't.

Clown. Oh, the better, Sir; for he that drinks all night, and is hang'd betimes in the morning, may fleep the founder all the next day.

Enter Duke.

Abbor. Look you, Sir, here comes your ghostly father; do we jeft now, think you?

Duke. Sir, induced by my charity, and hearing how haftily you are to depart, I am come to advise you, comfort you, and pray with you.

Barnar. Friar, not I: I have been drinking hard all night, and I will have more time to prepare me, or they shall beat out my brains with billets: I will not confent to die this day, that's certain.

Duke. Oh, Sir, you must; and therefore, I beseech you, look forward on the journey you fhall go.

Barnar. I fwear, I will not die to day for any man's perfuafion.

Duke. But hear you,

Barnar.

Barnar. Not a word: if you have any thing to fay to me, come to my ward; for thence will not I to

day.

SCENE

IX.

Enter Provoft.

[Exit.

Duke. Unfit to live, or die : oh, gravel heart!
After him, fellows: bring him to the block.
Prov. Now, Sir, how do you find the prisoner?
Duke. A creature unprepar'd, unmeet for death;
And, to tranfport him in the mind he is,
Were damnable.

Prov. Here in the prison, father,
There dy'd this morning of a cruel fever
One Ragozine, a moft notorious pirate,
A man of Claudio's years; his beard, and head,
Juft of his colour: What if we omit
This reprobate, 'till he were well inclin'd;
And fatisfie the deputy with the visage

Of Ragozine, more like to Claudio?

Duke. O, 'tis an accident, that heav'n provides : Dispatch it presently; the hour draws on

Prefixt by Angelo: fee, this be done,

And fent according to command; while I
Persuade this rude wretch willingly to die.

Prov. This shall be done, good father, presently: But Barnardine muft die this afternoon :

And how fhall we continue Claudio,

To fave me from the danger that might come,
If he were known alive?

Duke. Let this be done;

Put them in fecret holds, both Barnardine and Claudio: Ere twice the fun hath made his journal greeting

(a) To th' under generation, you shall find

Your fafety manifested.

Prov. I am your free dependent.

[(a) To th' under generation, Oxford Edition. Vulg. To yon

der generation]

VOL. I.

Ff

Duke.

Duke. Quick, dispatch, and send the head to Angelo. [Exit Provost.

Now will I write letters to Angelo,

(The Provost, he fhall bear them ;) whose contents
Shall witness to him, I am near at home;
And that, by great injunctions, I am bound
To enter publickly: him I'll defire

To meet me at the confecrated fount,

A league below the city; and from thence,
By cold gradation and weal-balanced form,
We fhall proceed with Angelo.

Enter Provoft.

Prov. Here is the head, I'll carry it myself. Duke. Convenient is it: make a fwift return; For I will commune with you of fuch things, That want no ears but yours.

Prov. I'll make all speed.

Ifab. [within.] Peace, hoa, be here!

[Exit.

Duke. The tongue of Ifabel.-She comes to know,

If yet her brother's pardon be come hither:
But I will keep her ign'rant of her good,
To make her heav'nly comforts of defpair,
When it is leaft expected.

Ifab. Hoa, by your leave.

Duke. Good morning to you, fair and gracious

daughter.

Ifab. The better, giv'n me by fo holy a man: Hath yet the deputy fent my brother's pardon?

Duke. He hath releas'd him, Isabel, from the world; His head is off, and fent to Angelo.

Ifab. Nay, but it is not fo.

Duke. It is no other.

Shew your wisdom, daughter, in your closest patience.