Prov. Come, sir, leave me your snatches, and vield me a direct answer. To-morrow morning are to die Claudio and Barnardine: Here is in our prison a common executioner, who in his office lacks a helper: if you will take it on you to assist him, it shall redeem you from your gyves; if not, you shall have your full time of imprisonment, and your deliverance with an unpitied whipping; for you have been a notorious bawd.

Clo. Sir, I have been an unlawful bawd, time out :f mind; but yet I will be content to be a lawful angman. I would be glad to receive some instruction from my fellow partner.

Prov. What ho, Abhorson! Where's Abhorson, there?

Enter ABHоnson.

Abhor. Do you call, sir?

Prov. Sirrah, here's a fellow will help you tomorrow in your execution: If you think it 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.

Abhor. A bawd, sir? Fye upon him, he will discredit our mystery.

Prov. Go to, sir; you weigh equally; a feather will turn the scale. Clo. Pray, sir, by your good favour (for, surely, [Exit. sir, a good favour3 you have, but that you have a hanging look,) do you call, sir, your occupation a 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 true 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,

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 'ny trade; follow.

Clo. I do desire to learn, sir; and, I hope, if you have occasion to use me for your own turn, you shall find me yare; for, truly, sir, for your kindness, I owe you a good turn.

Prov. Call hither Barnardine and Claudio:
[Exeunt Clown and ABHORSON.
One has my pity; not a jot the other,
Being a murderer, though he were my brother.
Enter CLAUDIO,

Look, here's the warrant, Claudio, for thy death;
'Tis now dead midnight, and by eight to-morrow
Thou must be made immortal. Where's Barnar-
dine?

i i. e. fetters.

2 i. e. a whipping that none shall pity

4 1. e. honest.

3 Favour is countenance. 5 Warburton says, 'this proves the thief's trade a mystery, not the hangman's,' and therefore supposes that a speech in which the hangman proved his trade a mystery is lost, part of this last speech being in the old editions given to the clown. But Heath observes, The argument of the hangman is exactly similar to that of the clown. As the latter puts in his claim to the whores as members of his occupation, and in virtue of their painting would enroll his own fraternity in the mystery of painters; so the former equally lays claim to the thieves as members of his occupation, and in their right endeavours to rank his brethren the hangmen under the mystery of fitters of apparel, or tailors 6 i e. ready. 7 i. e. strongly

When it lies starkly' in the traveller's bones:
He will not wake.
Prov.

Who can do good on him? Well, go, prepare yourself. But hark, what noise? [Knocking within.

Heaven give your spirits comfort! [Exit CLAUDIO.
By and by:-

I hope it is some pardon, or reprieve,
For the most gentle Claudio.-Welcome, father.
Enter Duke.

Duke. The best and wholesome spirits of the
night

Envelope you, good Provost! Who call'd here of
late?

Prov. None, since the curfew rung.
Duke.
Not Isabel?
Prov. No.
Duke. They will then, ere't be long.
Prov. What comfort is for Claudio?
Duke.
There's some in hope.

Prov. It is a bitter deputy.
Even with the stroke and line of his great justice,
Duke. Not so, not so; his life is parallel'd
That in himself, which he spurs on his power
He doth with holy abstinence subdue
With that which he corrects, then were he tyrannous,
To qualify in others: were he meal'di
But this being so, he's just.-Now are they come.-
[Knocking within.-Provost goes out
This is a gentle provost: Seldom when11
How now? What noise? That spirit's possess'd
The steeled gaoler is the friend of men.-
That wounds the unsisting12 postern with these
with haste,

strokes.

Happily,"

You something know; yet, I believe, there comes
No countermand; no such example have we:
Besides, upon the very siege of justice,
Lord Angelo hath to the public ear
Profess'd the contrary.

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 the smallest article of it, neither in time, matter, or other circumstance. Good-morrow; for, as I tak it, it is almost day.

Prov. I shall obey him. [Exit Messenger.
Duke. This is his pardon; purchas'd by such sin.
[Aside.

For which the pardoner himself is in:
Hence hath offence his quick celerity,
When it is borne in high authority:
When vice makes mercy, mercy's so extended,

8 Stroke is here put for the stroke of a pen, or a line.
9 To qualify is to temper, to moderate.

10 Meal'd appears to mean here sprinkled, o'erdusted, defiled; I cannot think that in this instance it has any relation to the verb to mell, meddle or mix with

11 This is absurdly printed Seldom, when, &c. in all the late editions. Seldom-when (i. e. rarely, not often) is the steeled gaoler the friend of men.' Thus in old phraseology we have seldom-time, any-when, &c. The comma between seldom and when is not in the old copy. but an arbitrary addition of some editor.

12 The old copies read thus.-Monck Mason proposed, unlisting, i e. unheeding, which is intelligible. But prefer Sir W. Blackstone's suggestion, that unsisting may signify never at rest,' always opening. 13 Hupily, haply, perhaps the old orthography of the word. 14 i e. seat.

That for the fault's love, is the offender friended.-say, it was the desire of the penitent to be so bared Now, sir, what news? 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 profess, I will plead against it with my life.

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.

Duke. The contents of this is the return of the duke; you shall anon overread it at your pleasure; where you shall find, within these two days he will be here. This is a thing that Angelo knows not: for he this very day receives letters of strange tenor; perchance, of the duke's death; perchance, entering into some monastery; but, by chance, nothing of what is writ. Look, the unfolding star calls up the shepherd. Put not yourself intc amazement, how these things should be: all diffi culties are but easy when they are known. Cali your executioner, and off with Barnardine's head: I will give him a present shrift, and advise him for a better place. Yet you are amazed; but this shall absolutely resolve you. Come away; it is almost clear dawn. [Exeunt.

SCENE III. Another Room in the same. Enter

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 be so good, sir, to rise and be put to death. Barnar. [Within.] Away, you rogue, away; I am sleepy.

too.

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

Clo. Pray, master Barnardine, awake till you are executed, and sleep afterwards.

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

The under generation, you shall find
Your safety manifested.

Prov. I am your free dependant.
Duke.

Quick, despatch,

[Exit Provost.

And send the head to Angelo.
Now will I write letters to Angelo,—
The provost he shall bear them,-whose contents
Shall witness to him I am near at home;
And that by great injunctions, I am bound
To enter publicly: him I'll desire
To meet me at the consecrated fount,
A league below the city; and from thence,

Clo. He is coming, sir, he is coming; I hear his By cold gradation and weal-balanced form, straw rustle.

Enter BARNARDINE.

Abhor. Is the axe upon the block, sirrah?
Clo. Very ready, sir.

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 uight, I am not fitted for't.

Clo. O, the better, sir; for he that drinks all night, and is hanged betimes in the morning, may sleep the sounder all the next day.

Enter Duke.

Abhor. Look you, sir, here comes your ghostly father; Do we jest now, think you?

Duke. Sir, induced by my charity, and hearing how hastily 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 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.

Barnar. I swear,

man's persuasion.

Duke. But hear you.

We shall proceed with Angelo.

Re-enter Provost.

Prov. Here is the head; I'll carry it myself.
Duke. Convenient is it: Make a swift return;
For I would commune with you of such things,
That want no ear but yours.
Prov.
I'll make all speed.
[Ex.

Isab. [Within] Peace, ho, be here!
Duke. The tongue of Isabel ;-She's come to
know,

If yet her brother's pardon be come hither;
But I will keep her ignorant of her good,
To make her heavenly comforts of despair,
When it is least expected.

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.
Hath yet the deputy sent my brother's pardon?
Duke. He hath releas'd him, Isabel, from the
world;

His head is off, and sent to Angelo
Isab. Nay, but it is not so.
Duke.

It is no other

will not die to-day for any Show your wisdom, daughter, in your close patience.
Isab. O, I will to him, and pluck out his eyes.
Duke. You shall not be admitted to his sight.
Isah. Unhappy Claudio! Wretched Isabel!
Injurious world! Most damned Angelo!

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!
After him, fellows; bring him to the block.

[Exeunt ABHORSON and Clown.
Prov. Now, sir, how do you find the prisoner?
Duke. A creature unprepar'd, unmeet for death;
And, to transport' him in the mind he is,
Were damnable.

Prov.

Here in the prison, father,

There died this morning of a cruel fever
One Ragozine, a most notorious pirate,

A man of Claudio's years; his beard and head,
Just of his colour: What if we do omit

This reprobate, till he were well inclined;
And satisfy the deputy with the visage
Of Ragozine, more like to Claudio ?

Duke. O, 'tis an accident that heaven provides!
Despatch it presently; the hour draws on
Prefix'd by Angelo; See, this be done,
And sent according to command; whiles I
Persuade this rude wretch willingly to die.
Prov. This shall be done, good father, presently.
But Barnardine must die this afternoon:
And how shall we continue Claudio,

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

Duke. This nor hurts him, nor profits you a jot:
Forbear it therefore; give your cause to heaven.
By every syllable a faithful verity:
Mark what I say, which you shall find

The duke comes home to-morro;-nay, dry your
eyes;

Gives me this instance: Already he hath carried
One of our convent and his corfessor,
Notice to Escalus and Angelo;

Who do prepare to meet him at the gates,
There to give up their power. If you can, pace
your wisdom

In that good path that I would wish to go;
And you shall have bosom3 on this wretch,
your
Grace of the duke, revenges to your heart,
And general honour.

Isab.
I am directed by you.
"Tis that he sent me of the duke's return:
Duke. This letter then to friar Peter give;
Say, by this token, I desire his company
At Mariana's house to-night. Her cause and yours,
I'll perfect him withal; and he shall bring you
Accuse him home, and home. For my poor self,
Before the duke; and to the head of Angelo
I am combined by a sacred vow,

And shall be absent. Wends you with this letter
Command these fretting waters from your eyes
With a light heart; trust not my holy order,

Duke. Let this be done :-Put them in secret holds, If I pervert your course.-Who's here?

Both Barnardine and Claudio; Ere twice

The sun hath made his journal greeting to

Lucio.

Enter LUCIO.

1 i. e. to remove him from one world to another. The Friar, where is the Provost ?

Good event

agreement; so he calls Angelo the combinate husband of Mariana.

5 i. e. Go.

Duke. Not within, sir. Lucio. O, pretty Isabella, I am pale at mine heart, to see thine eyes so red: thou must be patient: am fain to dine and sup with water and bran; I dare not for my head fill my belly; one fruitful meal would set me to't: But they say the duke will be here to-morrow. By my troth, Isabel, I lov'd thy brother: if the old fantastical duke of dark corners had been at home, he had lived.

[Exit ISABELLA. Duke. Sir, the duke is marvellous little beholden to your reports; but the best is he lives not in them.' Lucio. Friar, thou knowest not the duke so well as I do: he's a better woodman2 than thou takest him for.

Duke. Did you such a thing?

Lucio. Yes, marry, did I; but was fain to forswear it; they would else have married me to the rotten meddlar.

Duke. Sir, your company is fairer than honest: Rest you well.

Lucio. By my troth, I'll go with thee to the lane's end: If bawdy talk offend you, we'll have very little of it: Nay, friar I am a kind of burr, I shall stick. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. A Room in Angelo's House. Enter ANGELO and ESCALUS.

Escal. Every letter he hath writ hath disvouch'd other.

For my authority bears a credent" bulk,
That no particular scandal once can touch,
But it confounds the breather. He should have liv'd,
Save that his riotous youth, with dangerous sense
Might in the times to come, have ta'en revenge,
By so receiving a dishonour'd life,
With ransom of such shame. 'Would yet he had
liv'd!
Alack, when once our grace we have forgot,
Nothing goes right; we would and we would not.
[Exit.

SCENE V. Fields without the Town. Enter Duke
in his own habit, and Friar PETER.
Duke. These letters at fit time deliver me.
[Giving letters.
The Provost knows our purpose, and our plot.
The matter being afoot, keep your instruction,
And hold you ever to our special drift;
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 gates;
But send me Flavius first.
F. Peter.

It shall be speeded well. [Exit. Friar

Enter VARRIUS.

Duke. I thank thee, Varrius; thou hast made
good haste:

Come we will walk: There's other of our friends
Will greet us here anon, my gentle Varrius.
[Exeunt.
SCENE VI. Street near the City Gate. Enter
ISABELLA and MARIANA.

Isab. To speak so indirectly, I am loath;

Ang. In most uneven and distracted manner. I would say the truth; but to accuse him so, His actions show much like to madness: pray hea-That is your part: Yet I'm advis'd to do it; ven, his wisdom be not tainted! And why meet him He says, to 'vailful purpose. at the gates, and redeliver our authorities there? Mari. Be rul'd by him. Escal. I guess not. Isab. Besides, he tells me, that, if peradventure He speak against me on the adverse side, I should not think it strange; for 'tis a physic, That's bitter to sweet end.

Ang. And why should we proclaim it in an hour before his entering, that, if any crave redress of injustice, they should exhibit their petitions in the street?

Escal. He shows his reason for that: to have a despatch of complaints; and to deliver us from devices hereafter, which shall then have no power to stand against us.

Ang. Well, I beseech you, let it be proclaim'd:
Betimes i' the morn, I'll call you at your house:
Give notice to such men of sort and suit,4
As are to meet him.
Escal.

I shall, sir: fare you well.

[Exit.

Ang. Good night.-
This deed unshapes me quite, makes me unpreg-
5
nant,

And dull to all proceeding. A deflower'd maid!
And by an eminent body, that enforc'd
The law against it!-But that her tender shame
Will not proclaim against her maiden loss,
How might she tongue me? Yet reason dares
her?-no:

Mari. I would, friar Peter-
Isab.

O, peace; the friar is come.
Enter Friar PETER.13

F. Peter. Come, I have found you out a stand most fit,

Where you may have such vantage on the duke,
He shall not pass you; Twice have the trumpets
sounded;

The generous and the gravest citizens,
Have hent's the gates, and very near upon
The Duke is ent'ring; therefore, hence, away.
[Exeunt.

ACT V.

SCENE I. A public Place near the City Gate. MARIANA (veil'd,) ISABELLA, and PETER, at distance. Enter at opposite doors, Duke, VARRIUS, Lords; ANGELO, ESCALUS, LUCIO, Provost, Officers, and Citizens.

This passage will therefore bear two interpretations,
between which the reader must choose.
7 Credent, creditable, not questionable.

8 Particular is private: a French sense of the word.
9 i. e. utterer.

10 Dr. Johnson thought the fourth Act should end here, 'for here is properly a cessation of action, a night inter venes, and the place is changed between the passages of this scene and those of the next. The fifth Act, beginning with the following scene, would proceed with out any interruption of time or place.'

11 To blench, to start off, to fly off.

12 Availful.

Duke. Mended again: the matter;-Proceed.
Isab. In brief,-to set the needless process by,
How I persuaded, how I pray'd, and kneel'd,
How he refell'd' me, and how I reply'd;
(For this was of much length,) the vile conclusion
I now begin with grief and shame to utter;
He would not, but by gift of my chaste body

Nay, ten times strange. To his concupiscible intemperate lust,