hang'd a man for the getting a hundred bastards, he would have paid for the nursing a thousand: He had some feeling of the sport; he knew the service, and that instructed him to mercy. Duke. I never heard the absent Duke much detected* for women; he was not inclined that way. Lucio. O, Sir, you are deceived. Duke. No might nor greatness in mortality Enter ESCALUS, PROVOST, BAWD, and Officers. lord. Bawd. Good my lord, be good to me; your beg-honour is accounted a merciful man: good my forfeit* in the same kind? This would make Escal. Double and treble admonition, and still mercy swear, and play the tyrant. Lucio. Who? not the duke? yes, your gar of fifty;-and his use was, to put a ducat in her clack-dish: the duke had crotchets in him: He would be drunk too; that let me inform you. Duke. You do him wrong, surely. Lucio. Sir, I was an inward of his: A shy fellow was the duke: and, I believe, I know the cause of his withdrawing. Duke. What, I pr'ythee, might be the cause? Lucio. No, pardon;-'tis a secret must be lock'd within the teeth and the lips: but this I can let you understand,-The greater filet of the subject held the duke to be wise. Duke. Wise? why, no question but he was. Lucio. A very superficial, ignorant, unweighing fellow. Duke. Either this is envy in you, folly, or mistaking; the very stream of Lis life, and the business he hath helmed, must, upon a warranted need, give him a better proclamation. Let him be but testimonied in his own bringings forth, and he shall appear to the envious, a scholar, a statesman, and a soldier: Therefore, you speak unskilfully; or, if your knowledge be more, it is much darken'd in your malice. Lucio. Sir, I know him, and I love him. Duke. Love talks with better knowledge, and knowledge with dearer love. Lucio. Come, Sir, I know what I know. Duke. I can hardly believe that, since you know not what you speak. But, if ever the duke return, (as our prayers are he may,) let me desire you to make your answer before him: If it be honest you have spoke, you have courage to maintain it: I am bound to call upon you; and, I pray you, your name? Lucio. Sir, my name is Lucio; well known to the duke. Duke. He shall know you better, Sir, if I may live to report you. Lucio. I fear you not. Duke. O, you hope the duke will return no more; or you imagine me too unhurtful an opposite. But, indeed, I can do you little harm: you'll forswear this again. Lucio. I'll be hang'd first: thou art deceived in me, friar. But no more of this: Canst thou tell, if Claudio die to-morrow, or no? Duke. Why should he die, Sir? Prov. A bawd of eleven years continuance, may it please your honour. Bawd. My lord, this is one Lucio's information against me: mistress Kate Keep-down Was with child by him in the duke's time, he promised her marriage; his child is a year and a quarter old, come Philip and Jacob: I have kept it myself; and see how he goes about to abuse me. Eseal. Good even, good father. Duke. Not of this country, though my chance To use it for my time: I am a brother Escal. What news abroad i' the world? Duke. None, but that there is so great a fever on goodness, that the dissolution of it must cure it novelty is only in request; and it is as dangerous to be aged in any kind of course, as There is scarce truth enough alive, to make it is virtuous to be constant in any undertaking. societies secure; but security enough, to make fellowships accurs'd: much upon this riddle runs the wisdom of the world. This news is old enough, yet it is every day's news. I pray you, Sir, of what disposition was the duke? Escal. One, that, above all other strifes, contended especially to know himself. Duke. What pleasure was he given to? Escal. Rather rejoicing to see another merry, him rejoice: a gentleman of all temperance. than merry at any thing which profess'd to make But leave we him to his events, with a prayer to know how you find Claudio prepared. I am they may prove prosperous; and let me desire made to understand, that you have lent him visitation. Lucio. Why? for filling a bottle with a tundish. I would, the duke, we talk of, were return'd again: this ungenitur'd agent will unpeople the province with continency; sparrows must not build in his house-eaves, because they are lecherous. The duke yet would have dark deeds darkly answer'd; he would never bring them to light: would he were return'd! Mar- sinister measure from his judge, but most wilDuke. He professes to have received no ry, this Claudio is condemn'd for untrussing lingly humbles himself to the determination of Farewell, good friar; I pr'ythee, pray for me. justice: yet had he framed to himself, by the The duke, I say to thee again, would eat mut-instruction of his frailty, many deceiving proton on Fridays. He's now past it; yet, and mises of life; which I, by my good leisure, I say to thee, he would mouth with a beggar, have discredited to him, and now he is resolved† though she smelt brown bread and garlic: say, to die. that I said so. Farewell. * Suspected. Have a wench. [Exit. †The majority of his subjects. Escal. You have paid the heavens your func- [Exit. tion, and the prisoner the very debt of your forbearance a little; may be, I will call upon calling. I have labour'd for the poor gentle-you anon, for some advantage to yourself. man, to the extremest shore of my modesty; but my brother justice have I found so severe, that he hath forced me to tell him, he is indeed -justice. Duke. If his own life answer 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. He, who the sword of heaven will bear, Should be as holy as severe; Pattern in himself to know, Grace to stand and virtue go; More nor less to others paying, Than by self-offences weighing, Shame to him, whose cruel striking Kills for faults of his own liking! Twice treble shame on Angelo, To weed my vice, and let his grow! O, what may man within him hide, Though angel on the outward side! How may likeness,* madet in crimes, Making practice on the times, Draw with idle spiders' strings Most pond'rous and substantial things! Craft against vice I must apply: With Angelo to-night shall lie His old betrothed, but despis'd; So disguise shall, by the disguis'd, Pay with falsehood false exacting, And perform an old contracting. ACT IV. Mari. I am always bound to you. Whose western side is with a vineyard back'd; Duke. But shall you on your knowledge find Isab. I have ta'en a due and wary note upon't; With whispering and most guilty diligence, In action all of precept, he did show me The way twice o'er. Duke. Are there no other tokens Between you 'greed, concerning her observance? Isab. No, none, but only a repair i' the dark; And that I have possess'd‡ him, my most stay Can be but brief: for I have made him know, I have a servant comes with me along, That stays upon me; whose persuasion is, I come about my brother. 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. I pray you, be acquainted with this maid: [Exit. She comes to do you good. seal'd in vain. Isab. I do desire the like. Duke. Do you persuade yourself that I respect you? Mari. Good friar, I know you do; and have found it. Duke. Take then this your companion by the hand, Who hath a story ready for your ear: I shall attend your leisure; but make haste; The vaporous night approaches. Mari. Will't please you walk aside? [Exeunt MARIANA and ISABELLA. place and greatness, millions of false eyes Duke. Mari. Break off thy song, and haste thee Are struck upon thee! volumes of report quick away; Here comes a man of comfort, whose advice Hath often still'd my brawling discontent.[Exit Boy. Enter ISABELLA. Run with these false and most contrarious quests || Upon thy doings! thousand 'scapes of wit Re-enter MARIANA and ISABELLA. Duke. It is not my consent, But my entreaty too. [father, Isab. Little have you to say, When you depart from him, but, soft and low, Remember now my brother. Mari. Fear me not. Duke. Nor, gentle daughter, fear you not at He is your husband on a pre-contract: To bring you thus together, 'tis no sin; [all: Duke. I do constantly believe you :-The Sith** that the justice of your title to him time is come, even now. I shall crave your Doth flourish the deceit. Come, let us go; Our corn's to reap, for yet our tithe'st to sow. [Exeunt. SCENE II.—A Rown in the Prison. Enter PROVOST and CLOWN. › Prov. Come hither, sirrah: Can you cut off a man's head? 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. Prov. Come, Sir, leave me your snatches, and yield me a direct answer. To-morrow morning are to die Claudio and Barnardine: Here is in 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 Barnardine? 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 noto-I rious 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 to-morrow 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? Fie upon him, he will discredit our mystery. Prov. Go to, Sir; you weigh equally; a feather will turn the scale. [Exit. Clo. Pray, Sir, by your good favour, (for, surely, Sir, a good favour 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. 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, 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. 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 :tt for, truly Sir, for your kindness, I owe you a good turn. Claud. As fast lock'd up in sleep, as guiltless labour 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 [Knocking within. noise? Heaven give your spirits comfort! By and by :- [Exit CLAUDIO. hope it is some pardon, or reprieve, For the most gentle Claudio.--Welcome,father. Enter DUKE. Duke. The best and wholesomest spirits of the night Envelope you, good Provost! Who call'd here of late? Prov. None, since the curfew rung. [comes You something know; yet, I believe, there 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 take it, it is almost day. † Moderate. * Stiffly. Perhaps. 1 Defiled. | Seat. For which the pardoner himself is in: [ed. Prov. I told you: Lord Angelo, be-like, thinking me remiss in mine office, awakens me with this unwonted putting on:* methinks, strangely; for he hath not used it before. Duke. Pray you, let's hear. Prov. [Reads.] Whatsoever you may hear to the contrary, let Claudio be executed by four of the clock; and, in the afternoon, Barnardine: for my better satisfaction, let me have Claudio's head sent me by five. Let this be duly performed; with a thought, that more depends on it than we must yet deliver. Thus fail not to do your office, as you will answer it at your peril. What say you to this, Sir? Duke. What is that Barnardine, who is to be executed in the afternoon? Prov. A Bohemian born; but here nursed up and bred: one that is a prisoner nine years old.t Duke. How came it, that the absent duke had not either deliver'd him to his liberty, or executed him? I have heard, it was ever his manner to do so. Prov. His friends still wrought reprieves for him: And, indeed, his fact, till now in the government of lord Angelo, came not to an undoubtful proof. Duke. Is it now apparent? Prov. Most manifest, and not denied by himself. Duke. Hath he borne himself penitently in prison? How seems he to be touch'd? Prov. A man that apprehends death no more dreadfully, but as a drunken sleep; careless, reckless, and fearless of what's past, present, or to come; insensible of mortality, and desperately mortal. Duke. He wants advice. Prov. He will hear none: he hath evermore had the liberty of the prison; give him leave to escape hence, he would not: drunk many times a day, if not many days entirely drunk. We have very often awaked him, as if to carry him to execution, and show'd him a seeming warrant for it: it hath not moved him at all. Duke. More of him anon. There is written in your brow, Provost, honesty and constancy if I read it not truly, my ancient skill beguiles me; but in the boldness of my cunning, I will lay myself in hazard. Claudio, whom here you have a warrant to execute, is no greater forfeit to the law than Angelo who hath sentenced hiin: To make you understand this in a manifested effect, I crave but four days respite; for the which you are to do me both a present and a dangerous courtesy. Prov. Pray, Sir, in what? Prov. Alack! how may I do it? having the hour limited; and an express command, under penalty, to deliver his head in 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 borne to Angelo. : Prov. Angelo hath seen them both, and will discover the favour.* 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 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. Prov. Pardon me, good father; it is against my oath. Duke. Were you sworn to the duke, or to the deputy? Prov. To him, and to his substitutes. Duke. You will think you have made no offence, if 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 t 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 over-read 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 into amazement, how these things should be: all difficulties are but easy when they are known. Call 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 CLOWN. Clo. I am as well acquainted here, as I was were mistress Over-done's own house, for here in our house of profession: one would think, it be many of her old customers. First, here's young master Rash; he's in for a commodity of brown paper and old ginger, ninescore and seventeen pounds; of which he made five marks, ready money: marry, then, ginger was not much Then is there here one master Caper, at the in request, for the old women were all dead. suit of master Three-pile the mercer, for some four suits of peach-colour'd satin, which now peaches him a beggar. Then have we here young Dizy, and young master Deep-vow, and master Copper-spur, and master Starvelackey the rapier and dagger-man, and young Drop-heir that kill'd lusty Pudding, and master Forthright the tilter, and brave master Shoe-tie stabb'd Pots, and, I think, forty more; all the great traveller, and wild Half-can that great doers in our trade, and are now for the Lord's sake. Enter ABHORSON. Abhor. Sirrah, being Barnardine hither. Clo. Master Barnardine! you must rise and be hang'd, master Barnardine! * Countenance. Abhor. What, ho, Barnardine! Abhor. Tell him, he must awake, and that quickly too. Clo. Pray, master Barnardine, awake till you are executed, and sleep afterward. Abhor. Go in to him, and fetch him out. Clo. He is coming, Sir, he is coming; I hear his straw rustle. 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. To save me from the danger that might come, If he were known alive? Duke. Let this be done ;-Put them in secret Both Barnardine and Claudio: Ere twice Prov. I am your free dependant. And send the head to Angelo. [Exit PROVOST. Re-enter PROVOST. 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. Duke. O, Sir, you must: and therefore, I Hath yet the deputy sent my brother's pardon? beseech you, Look forward on the journey you shall go. Barnar. I swear, I will not die to-day for any 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 I to-day. [Exit. Enter PROVOST. 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, Prov. Here in the prison, father, Duke. O, 'tis an accident that heaven pro vides; Duke. He hath releas'd him, Isabel, from the His head is off, and sent to Angelo. Isab. Nay, but it is not so. [world; [patience. Show your wisdom, daughter, in your close Isab. O, I will to him, and pluck out his eyes. Duke. You shall not be admitted to his sight. Isab. Unhappy Claudio! Wretched Isabel! Injurious world! Most damned Angelo! Duke. This nor hurts him, nor profits you a jot: Forbear it therefore; give your cause to heaven. your eyes; One of our convent, and his confessor, 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 it go; Isab. I am directed by you. Duke. This letter then to friar Peter give; 'Tis that he sent me of the duke's return: Say, by this token, I desire his company At Mariana's house to night. Her cause, and yours, Prov. This shall be done, good father, pre-I'll perfect him withal; and he shall bring you sently. But Barnardine must die this afternoon: And how shall we continue Claudio, Before the duke; and to the head of Angelo |