tremest shore of my modesty; but my brother jus- is come, even now. I shall crave your forbearance tice have I found so severe, that he hath forced me a little; may be, I will call upon you anon, for to tell him, he is indeed-justice. some advantage to yourself. Duke. If his own life answers the straitness of his proceeding, it shall become him well; wherein, if he chance to fail, he hath sentenced himself. Escal. I am going to visit the prisoner: Fare you well. Duke. Peace be with you! [Exeunt Escalus and Provost. Grace to stand, and virtue go; Most pond'rous and substantial things! ACT IV. [Exit, I cry you mercy, sir; and well could wish To make bad, good, and good provoke to harm. here to meet, Mari, You have not been inquired after: I have sat here all day. Enter Isabella. [Exit. Mari. I am always bound to you. Duke. But shall you on your knowledge find Isab. I have ta'en a due and wary note upon't; Duke. Duke. 'Tis well borne up. I have not yet made known to Mariana A word of this:-What, ho! within! come forth! Re-enter Mariana. Duke. Do you persuade yourself that I respect you? Mari. Good friar, I know you do; and have found it. Who hath a story ready for your car: I shall attend your leisure; but make haste; Will't please you walk aside ? Duke. O place and greatness, millions of false eyes Are stuck upon thee! volumes of report Run with these false and most contrarious quests' agreed? When you depart from him, but, soft and low, Mari. Duke. I do constantly believe you :-The time Sith that the justice of your title to him Scene II. Our corn's to reap, for yet our tithe's' to sow. One has my pity; not a jot the other, SCENE II-A room in the prison. Enter Prov. Come hither, sirrah: can you cut off man's head? a Clo. If the man be a bachelor, sir, I can: but if he be a married man, he is his wife's head, and I can never cut off a woman's head. Look, here's the warrant, Claudio, for thy death: When it lies starkly in the traveller's bones: Who can do good on him? Prov. Come, sir, leave me your snatches, and yield me a direct answer. To-morrow morning Well, go, prepare yourself. But hark, what noise? are to die Claudio and Barnardine: here is in our [Knocking within. prison a common executioner, who in his office Heaven give your spirits comfort! [Exit Claudio. lacks a helper: if you will take it on you to assist By and by: him, it shall redeem you from your gyves;2 if not, I hope it is some pardon, or reprieve, you shall have your full time of imprisonment, and For the most gentle Claudio.-Welcome, father. your deliverance with an unpitied whipping; for you have been a notorious bawd. Clo. Sir, I have been an unlawful bawd, time out of mind; but yet I will be content to be a lawful hangman. I would be glad to receive some instruction from my fellow partner. Prov. What ho, Abhorson! Where's Abhorson, there? Enter Abhorson. Abhor. Do you call, sir? Prov. Sirrah, here's a fellow will help you tomorrow in your execution: if you think him meet, compound with him by the year, and let him abide here with you: if not, use him for the present, and dismiss him he cannot plead his estimation with you; he hath been a bawd. Enter Duke. Duke. The best and wholesomest spirits of the night Not Isabel? Envelop you, good provost! Who call'd here of late? They will then, ere't be long. Abhor. A bawd, sir? Fie upon him, he will dis-To qualify in others: were he meal'd credit our mystery.' With that which he corrects, then were he tyrannous; Prov. Go to, sir; you weigh equally; a feather But this being so, he's just.-Now are they come.will turn the scale. [Knocking within-Provost goes out. [Exit. Clo. Pray, sir, by your good favour (for, surely, This is a gentle provost: Seldom, when sir, a good favour you have, but that you have a The steeled gaoler is the friend of men. hanging look,) do you call, sir, your occupation a How now? What noise? That spirit's possess'd mystery? Abhor. Ay, sir; a mystery. Clo. Painting, sir, I have heard say, is a mystery; and your whores, sir, being members of my occupation, using painting, do prove my occupation a mystery: but what mystery there should be in hanging, if I should be hang'd, I cannot imagine. Abhor. Sir, it is a mystery. Clo. Proof. Abhor. Every trues man's apparel fits your thief: if it be too little for your thief, your true man thinks it big enough; if it be too big for your thief, your thief thinks it little enough: so every true man's apparel fits your thief. Re-enter Provost. Prov. Are you agreed? Clo. Sir, I will serve him; for I do find, your hangman is a more penitent trade than your bawd; he doth oftener ask forgiveness. Prov. You, sirrah, provide your block and your axe, to-morrow four o'clock. Abhor. Come on, bawd; I will instruct thee in my trade; follow. with haste, That wounds the unsisting postern with these Provost returns, speaking to one at the door. Enter a Messenger. Duke. This is his lordship's man. Prov. And here comes Claudio's pardon. Mess. My lord hath sent you this note; and by me this further charge, that you swerve not from Clo. I do desire to learn, sir; and, I hope, if you the smallest article of it, neither in time, matter, have occasion to use me for your own turn, you nor other circumstance. shall find me yare: for, truly, sir, for your kind-take it, it is almost day. ness, I owe you a good turn. Prov. Call hither, Barnardine and Claudio: [Exeunt Clown and Abhorson. Good morrow; for, as I For which the pardoner himself is in: When vice makes mercy, mercy's so extended, Duke. O, death's a great disguiser: and you may add to it. Shave the head, and tie the beard; and say, it was the desire of the penitent to be so bared before his death; you know, the course is than thanks and good fortune, by the saint whom profess, I will plead against it with my life. ing me remiss in mine office, awakens me with this Prov. Pardon me, good father; it is against my unwonted putting on methinks, strangely; for That for the fault's love, is the offender friended.common. If any thing fall to you upon this, more Now, sir, what news? Prov. I told you: Lord Angelo, belike, think- I oath. Duke. Were you sworn to the duke, or to the deputy? he hath not used it before. Dake. What is that Barnardine, who is to be executed in the afternoon? Prov. To him, and to his substitutes. Duke. You will think you have made no offence, the duke avouch the justice of your dealing? Prov. But what likelihood is in that? Duke. Not a resemblance, but a certainty. Yet since I see you fearful, that neither my coat, integrity, nor my persuasion, can with ease attempt you, I will go further than I meant, to pluck all fears out of you. Look you, sir, here is the hand and seal of the duke. You know the character, I doubt not; and the signet is not strange to you. Prov. I know them both. Proc. A Bohemian born; but here nursed up and bred: one that is a prisoner nine years old. 2 Duke. The contents of this is the return of the Duke. How came it, that the absent duke had duke; you shall anon over-read it at your pleanot either deliver'd him to his liberty, or executed sure; where you shall find, within these two days him? I have heard, it was ever his manner to do so. he will be here. This is a thing,, that Angelo Prov. His friends still wrought reprieves for knows not: for he this very day receives letters of him and, indeed, his fact, till now in the govern-strange tenor; perchance, of the duke's death; ment of lord Angelo, came not to an undoubtful perchance, entering into some monastery; but, by proof. Duke. Is it now apparent? chance, nothing of what is writ.-Look, the un folding star calls up the shepherd: put not your self into amazement, how these things should be. all difliculties are but easy when they are known. Call your executioner, and off with Barnardine's Prov. A man that apprehends death no more head: I will give him a present shrift, and advise dreadfully, but as a drunken sleep; careless, reck-him for a better place. Yet you are amazed; but less, and fearless of what's past, present, or to this shall absolutely resolve you. Come away; it come; insensible of mortality, and desperately is almost clear dawn. mortal. Duke. He wants advice. Prov. He will hear none: he hath evermore had the liberty of the prison; give him leave to escape [Exeunt. SCENE III.-Another room in the same. Enter Clown. Clo. I am as well acquainted here, as I was in our hence, he would not: drunk many times a day, if house of profession: one would think, it were misnot many days entirely drunk. We have very tress Over-done's own house, for here be many of often awaked him, as if to carry him to execution, her old customers. First, here's young master Rash; and show'd him a seeming warrant for it: it hath he's in for a commodity of brown paper and old not mov'd him at all. ginger, ninescore and seventeen pounds; of which Duke. More of him anon. There is written in he made five marks, ready money: marry, then, your brow, provost, honesty and constancy: If I ginger was not much in request, for the old women read it not truly, my ancient skill beguiles me; were all dead. Then is there here one master Cabnt in the boldness of my cunning, I will lay my-per, at the suit of master Three-pile the mercer, for self in hazard. Claudio, whom here you have a some four suits of peach-colour'd satin, which now warrant to execute, is no greater forfeit to the law peaches him a beggar. Then have we here young than Angelo who hath sentenced him: to make Dizy, and young master Deep-vow, and master you understand this in a manifested effect, I crave Copper-spur, and master Starve-lackey the rapier but four days respite; for the which you are to do me both a present and a dangerous courtesy. Prov. Pray, sir, in what? Duke. In the delaying death. Prov. Alack! how may I do it? having the hour limited; and an express command, under penalty, to deliver his head in the view of Angelo? I may make my case as Claudio's, to cross this in the smallest. Duke. By the vow of mine order, I warrant you, if my instructions may be your guide. Let this Barnardine be this morning executed, and his head| be borne to Angelo. Prov. Angelo hath seen them both, and will discover the favour." (1) Spur, incitement. (2) Nine years in prison. and dagger-man, and young Drop-heir that kill'a lusty Pudding, and master Forthright the tilter, and brave master Shoe-tie the great traveller, and wild Half-cann that stabb'd Pots, and, I think, forty more; all great doers in our trade, and are now for the Lord's sake. Enter Abhorson. Abhor. Sirrah, bring Barnardine hither. Clo. Master Barnardine! you must rise and be hang'd, master Barnardine. Abhor. What, ho, Barnardine! Barnar. [Within.] A pox o' your throats! Who makes that noise there? What are you? Clo. Your friends, sir; the hangman: you must (3) Countenance. be so good, sir, to rise and be put to death. Barnar. [Within.] Away, you rogue, away; am sleepy. Abhor. Tell him, he must awake, and that quickly too. Clo. Pray, master Barnardine, awake till you are executed, and sleep afterwards. Abhor. Go in to him, and fetch him out. Both Barnardine and Claudio: Ere twice Prov. I am your free dependant. Quick, despatch, [Exit Provost. And send the head to Angelo. Clo. He is coming, sir, he is coming; I hear his The provost, he shall bear them,-whose contents straw rustle. Enter Barnardine. Abhor. Is the axe upon the block, sirrah? Barnar. How now, Abhorson? what's the news with you? Abhor. Truly, sir, I would desire 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. Shall witness to him, I am near at home; To meet me at the consecrated fount, Re-enter Provost. Prov. Here is the head; I'll carry it myself. Duke. Convenient is it: Make a swift return; Clo. O, the better, sir; for he that drinks all For I would commune with you of such things, night, and is hang'd betimes in the morning, may That want no ear but yours. sleep the sounder all the next day. I'll make all speed. [Exit. Isab. [Within.] Peace, ho, be here! Duke. The tongue of Isabel :-She's come to know, Enter Duke. Abhor. Look you, sir, here comes your ghostly father; do we jest now, think you? Prov. Duke. Sir, induced by my charity, and hearing If yet her brother's pardon be come hither: how hastily you are to départ, I am come to advise But I will keep her ignorant of her good, you, comfort you, and pray with you. To make her heavenly comforts of despair, When it is least expected. 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 consent to die this day, that's certain. Duke. O, sir, you must: and therefore, I beseech you, Look forward on the journey you shall go. Enter Isabella. Isab. Ho, by your leave. Duke. Good morning to you, fair and gracious daughter. Isab. The better, given me by so holy a man. Barnar. I swear, I will not die to-day for any Hath yet the deputy sent my brother's pardon? man's persuasion. Duke. But hear you, Barnar. Not a word; if you have any thing to say to me, come to my ward; for thence will not to-day. Enter Provost. I [Exit. Duke. Unfit to live, or die: O, gravel heart!- [Exeunt Abhorson and Clown. Prov. Here in the prison, father, Duke. O, 'tis an accident that Heaven provides! To save me from the danger that might come, Duke. Let this be done;-Put them in secret One of our convent, and his confessor, Who do prepare to meet him at the gates, In that good path that I would wish it go; Isab. (1) The antipodes. (2) Your heart's desire. Accuse him home, and home. For my poor self, I am combined by a sacred vow, Lucio. Friar, where is the provost ? Lucio. O, pretty Isabella, I Good even! Not within, sir. The law against it!-But that her tender shame For my authority bears a credent* bulk, am pale at mine With ransom of such shame. Would yet he heart, to see thine eyes so red: thou must be pa tient: I am fain to dine and sup with water and Alack, when once our grace we have forgot, I lov'd thy brother: if the old fantastical duke of SCENE V.-Fields without the town. [Exit Isabella. [Exit. Enter Duke. Sir, the duke is marvellous little beholden but the best is, he lives not in them. The provost knows our purpose, and our plot. [Giving letters. to your reports; Lucio. Friar, thou knowest not the duke so well The matter being afoot, keep your instruction, as I do: he's a better woodman than thou takest And hold you ever to our special drift: him for. Duke. Well, you'll answer this one day. ye well. Fare Lucio. Nay, tarry; I'll go along with thee; can tell thee pretty tales of the duke. Though sometimes you do blench" from this to that, As cause doth minister. Go, call at Flavius' house, And tell him where I stay: give the like notice, To Valentinus, Rowland, and to Crassus, And bid them bring the trumpets to the gate; Duke. You have told me too many of him al-But send me Flavius first. ready, sir, if they be true; if not true, none were enough. Lucio. I was once before him for getting a wench with child. Duke. Did you such a thing? F. Peter. Enter Varrius. It shall be speeded well. [Exit Friar. Duke. I thank thee, Varrius; thou hast made good haste; Lucio. Yes, marry, did 1: but was fain to for- Come, we will walk': There's other of our friends swear it; they would else have married me to the Will greet us here anon, my gentle Varrius. [Exe. rotten medlar. Duke. Sir, your company is fairer than honest: SCENE VI.-Street near the city gate. Enter Rest you well. Lucio. By my troth, I'll go with thee to the Jane's end: If bawdy talk offend you, we'll have very little of it: Nay, friar, I am a kind of burr, shall stick. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-A room in Angelo's house. Enter Angelo and Escalus. Escal. Every letter he hath writ hath vouch'da other. dis-I Ang. In most uneven and distracted manner. His actions show much like to madness: pray Heaven, his wisdom be not tainted! And why meet him at the gates, and re-deliver our authorities there? Escal. I guess not. Isabella and Mariana. Isab. To speak so indirectly, I am loath; That's bitter to sweet end. O, peace; the friar is come. Enter Friar Peter. F. Peter. Come, I have found you out a stand most fit, Ang. And why should we proclaim it in an hour before his entering, that if any crave redress of injus- Where you may have such vantage on the duke, tice, they should exhibit their petitions in the street?e shall not pass you: Twice have the trumpets Escal. He shows his reason for that: to have a sounded; despatch of complaints; and to deliver us from The generous and gravest citizens devices hereafter, which shall then have no power Have hent" the gates, and very near upon to stand against us. The duke is ent'ring; therefore hence, away. [Exe. Ang. Well, I beseech you, let it be proclaim'd: Escal. I shall, sir: fare you well. [Exit. This deed unshapes me quite, makes me unpreg- And dull to all proceedings. A deflower'd maid! (1) Go. (2) Contradicted. (3) Figure and rank. (5) Credit unquestionable. (6) Utterer. |