Claudio must die to-morrow: let him be furnished with divines, and have all charitable preparation. If my brother wrought by my pity, it should not be so with him. Prov. So please you, this friar hath been with him, and advised him for the entertainment of death. Escal. Good even, good father. Duke. Bliss and goodness on you! Escal. Of whence are you? Duke. Not of this country, though my chance is now To use it for my time: I am a brother Escal. What news abroad i' the world? had he framed to himself, by the instruction of his frailty, many deceiving promises of life; which I, by my good leisure, have discredited to him, and now is he resolved to die. Escal. You have paid the heavens your function, and the prisoner the very debt of your calling. I have labored for the poor gentleman, 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. Escal. One that, above all other strifes, con- O, what may man within him hide, tended especially to know himself. Duke. What pleasure was he given to? Escal. Rather rejoicing to see another merry, than merry at anything which professed to make him rejoice: a gentleman of all temperance. But leave we him to his events, with a prayer they may prove prosperous; and let me desire to know how you find Claudio prepared. I am made to understand that you have lent him visitation. Duke. He professes to have received no sinister measure from his judge, but most willingly humbles himself to the determination of justice: yet Though angel on the outward side! [Exit. ACT IV. SCENE I. A Room in MARIANA'S House. MARIANA discovered sitting; a Boy singing. That so sweetly were forsworn; Bring again, Sealed in vain. Seals of love, but sealed in vain, Whose western side is with a vineyard backed; 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, Mari. Break off thy song and haste thee quick In action all of precept, he did shew me away; Here comes a man of comfort, whose advice [Exit Boy. Enter DUKE. I cry you mercy, sir; and well could wish You had not found me here so musical: To make bad good, and good provoke to harm. The way twice o'er. I pray you be acquainted with this maid; Mari. You have not been enquired after: I have She comes to do you good. sat here all day. Isab. Enter ISABELLA. Duke. I do constantly believe you: - the time is come even now. I shall crave your forbearance a little may be I will call upon you anon, for some advantage to yourself. 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, [Exit. Who hath a story ready for Mari. I am always bound to you. brick, your ear: Duke. O place and greatness, millions of false lawful hangman. I would be glad to receive some eyes Are stuck upon thee! volumes of report Run with these false and most contrarious quests And rack thee in their fancies! - Welcome! how Re-enter MARIANA and ISABELLA. 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 it meet, compound with him by the year, and let him abide Isab. She'll take the enterprise upon her, fa- here with you; if not, use him for the present, and ther, If you advise it. When you depart from him, but, soft and low, "Remember now my brother." Mari. Fear me not. dismiss him he cannot plead his estimation with you; he hath been a bawd. Abhor. A bawd, sir? Fy 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 favor (for surely, sir, a good favor you have, but that you have a Duke. Nor, gentle daughter, fear you not at all: hanging look), do you call, sir, your occupation a Prov. Come hither, sirrah: Can you cut off a thinks it big enough; if it be too big for your thief, 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 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 of mind; but yet I will be content to be a 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: for truly, sir, for your kind- How now? what noise? That spirit's possessed ness, 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 Barnardine? Claud. As fast locked up in sleep as guiltless labor When it lies starkly in the traveler's bones: Prov. Who can do good on him? I hope it is some pardon or reprieve For the most gentle Claudio. Welcome, father. Enter DUKE. with haste 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 Duke. The best and wholesomest spirits of the the smallest article of it, neither in time, matter, night or other circumstance. Envelop you, good Provost! Who called here of take it, it is almost day. Good-morrow; for, as I 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? 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 Duke. What is that Barnardine, who is to be Barnardine be this morning executed, and his head executed in the afternoon? borne to Angelo. Prov. A Bohemian born; but here nursed up and bred one that is a prisoner nine years old. Duke. How came it that the absent Duke had not either delivered 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 touched? 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; insensibility 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 awakened him as if to carry him to execution, and shewed 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 him. 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? 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 Prov. Angelo hath seen them both, and will discover the favor. 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 anything 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 offense, 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 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 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. |