Part 6

_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. 50

_Pom._ 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 Pompey and Abhorson._ 55

The 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? 60

_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. [_Knocking within._] But, hark, what noise?-- Heaven give your spirits comfort! [_Exit Clandio._] By and by.-- 65 I hope it is some pardon or reprieve For the most gentle Claudio.

_Enter DUKE disguised as before._

Welcome, father.

_Duke._ The best and wholesomest spirits of the night Envelop you, good Provost! Who call'd here of late?

_Prov._ None, since the curfew rung. 70

_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.

_Duke._ Not so, not so; his life is parallel'd 75 Even with the stroke and line of his great justice: He doth with holy abstinence subdue That in himself which he spurs on his power To qualify in others: were he meal'd with that Which he corrects, then were he tyrannous; 80 But this being so, he's just. [_Knocking within._ Now are they come.

[_Exit Provost._

This is a gentle provost: seldom when The steeled gaoler is the friend of men. [_Knocking within._ How now! what noise? That spirit's possessed with haste That wounds the unsisting postern with these strokes. 85

_Re-enter PROVOST._

_Prov._ There he must stay until the officer Arise to let him in: he is call'd up.

_Duke._ Have you no countermand for Claudio yet, But he must die to-morrow?

_Prov._ None, sir, none.

_Duke._ As near the dawning, provost, as it is, 90 You shall hear more ere morning.

_Prov._ 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 95 Profess'd the contrary.

_Enter a MESSENGER._

This is his lordship's man.

_Duke._ And here comes Claudio's pardon.

_Mes._ [_Giving a paper_] 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. 100 Good morrow; for, as I take it, it is almost day.

_Prov._ I shall obey him. [_Exit Messenger._

_Duke._ [_Aside_] This is his pardon, purchased by such sin For which the pardoner himself is in. Hence hath offence his quick celerity, 105 When it is borne in high authority: When vice makes mercy, mercy's so extended, That for the fault's love is the offender friended. Now, sir, what news?

_Prov._ I told you. Lord Angelo, belike thinking me remiss 110 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.

[Transcriber's Note: In order to preserve the marked line breaks without losing readability, each line of the quoted message has been split into two equal halves.]

_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 115 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? 120

_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.

_Duke._ How came it that the absent Duke had not 125 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 Angclo, came not to an undoubtful proof. 130

_Duke._ It is 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 135 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 140 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 oft awaked him, as if to carry him to execution, and showed him a seeming warrant for it: it hath not moved him at all. 145

_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 my self in hazard. Claudio, whom here you have warrant to execute, is no greater forfeit to the 150 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? 155

_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. 160

_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. 165

_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 170 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 175 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 persuasion can with ease attempt you, I will go further than I 180 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: 185 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 tenour; perchance of the Duke's death; perchance entering into some monastery; but, by 190 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 195 advise him for a better place. Yet you are amazed; but this shall absolutely resolve you. Come away; it is almost clear dawn. [_Exeunt._

NOTES: IV, 2.

## SCENE II.] SCENE V. Pope.

2-4: Printed as verse in Ff. 37-42: Abhor. _Sir,.......thief_] Abhor. ***Clown.*** _Sir, it is a mystery._ Abhor. _Proof.--_ Clown. _Every ... thief_ (42) Hanmer. Pom. _Proof ... thief_ (42) Lloyd conj. 39-42: _Every......thief_] Capell. Abh. _Every....thief_ (39). Clo. _If it be ... thief_ (41) Ff. Abh. _Every ... thief, Clown: if it be......thief_ (42) Theobald. 45: _your_] _you_ F2. 53: _yare_] Theobald. _y'are_ Ff. _yours_ Rowe. 56: _The one_] _Th' one_ Ff. _One_ Hamner. 58: SCENE VI. Pope. 63: _He will not wake_] F1 F2. _He will not awake_ F3 F4. _He'll not awake_ Pope. 64: _yourself_] _yourself_ [Ex. Claudio.] Theobald. 65: _comfort!_ [Exit Claudio.] _By and by.--_] Capell. _comfort: by and by,_ Ff. 70: _None_] F1. _Now_ F2 F3 F4. 71: _They_] _She_ Hawkins conj. _There_ Collier MS. 85: _unsisting_] F1 F2 F3. _insisting_ F4. _unresisting_ Rowe. _unresting_ Hanmer. _unshifting_ Capell. _unlist'ning_ Steevens conj. _resisting_ Collier conj. _unlisting_ Mason conj. _unfeeling_ Johnson conj. _unwisting_ Singer. 86: ....Provost] ....Provost, speaking to one at the door, after which he comes forward. Capell. 91: _Happily_] _Happely_ F1 F2. _Happily_ F3 F4. See note (XVIII). 96: SCENE VII. Pope. _lordship's_] Pope. _lords_ Ff. om. Capell. 96, 97: _This ... man._ Duke. _And ... pardon_] Knight (Tyrwhitt conj.). Duke. _This ... man._ Pro. _And ... pardon_ Ff. 98-101: Printed as verse in Ff. 113: _you_] om. F4. 114: Prov. [Reads] Rowe. The letter. Ff. 117: _duly_] _truly_ Capell (a misprint). 131: _It is_] Ff. _Is it_ Pope. 136: _reckless_] Theobald. _wreaklesse_ F1 F2 F3. _wreakless_ F4. _rechless_ Pope. 138: _desperately mortal_] _mortally desperate_ Hanmer. 161-165: Printed as verse in Ff. Rowe. 167: _tie_] F1 F4. _tye_ F2 F3. _tire_ Theobald conj. _dye_ Simpson conj. 168: _bared_] Malone. _bar'de_ F1 F2 F3. _barb'd_ F4. 179: _persuasion_] Ff. _my persuasion_ Rowe. 188: _that_] F1 F2 F3. _which_ F4. 191: _writ_] _here writ_ Hanmer.

## SCENE III. _Another room in the same._

_Enter POMPEY._

_Pom._ I am as well acquainted here as I was in our house of profession: one would think it were Mistress Overdone's own house, for here be many of her old customers. First, here's young Master Rash; he's in for a commodity of brown paper and old ginger, nine-score and seventeen 5 pounds; of which he made five marks, ready money: marry, then ginger was not much in request, for the old women were all dead. Then is there here one Master Caper, at the suit of Master Three-pile the mercer, for some four suits of peach-coloured satin, which now peaches him a 10 beggar. Then have we here young Dizy, and young Master Deep-vow, and Master Copper-spur, and Master Starve-lackey the rapier and dagger man, and young Drop-heir that killed lusty Pudding, and Master Forthlight the tilter, and brave Master Shooty the great traveller, and 15 wild Half-can that stabbed 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.

_Pom._ Master Barnardine! you must rise and be hanged, 20 Master Barnardine!

_Abhor._ What, ho, Barnardine!

_Bar._ [_Within_] A pox o' your throats! Who makes that noise there? What are you?

_Pom._ Your friends, sir; the hangman. You must be 25 so good, sir, to rise and be put to death.

_Bar._ [_Within_] Away, you rogue, away! I am sleepy.

_Abhor._ Tell him he must awake, and that quickly too.

_Pom._ Pray, Master Barnardine, awake till you are executed, and sleep afterwards. 30

_Abhor._ Go in to him, and fetch him out.

_Pom._ He is coming, sir, he is coming; I hear his straw rustle.

_Abhor._ Is the axe upon the block, sirrah?

_Pom._ Very ready, sir. 35

_Enter BARNARDINE._

_Bar._ 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.

_Bar._ You rogue, I have been drinking all night; I am not fitted for 't. 40

_Pom._ 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.

_Abhor._ Look you, sir; here comes your ghostly father: do we jest now, think you? 45

_Enter DUKE disguised as before._

_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.

_Bar._ Friar, not I: I have been drinking hard all night, and I will have more time to prepare me, or they shall beat 50 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.

_Bar._ I swear I will not die to-day for any man's persuasion. 55

_Duke._ But hear you.

_Bar._ Not a word: if you have any thing to say to me, come to my ward; for thence will not I to-day. [_Exit._

_Duke._ Unfit to live or die: O gravel heart! 60 After him, fellows; bring him to the block.

[_Exeunt Abhorson and Pompey._

_Re-enter PROVOST._

_Prov._ Now, sir, how do you find the prisoner?

_Duke._ A creature unprepared, unmeet for death; And to transport him in the mind he is Were damnable.

_Prov._ Here in the prison, father, 65 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; 70 And satisfy the Deputy with the visage Of Ragozine, more like to Claudio?

_Duke._ O, 'tis an accident that heaven provides! Dispatch it presently; the hour draws on Prefix'd by Angelo: see this be done, 75 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, 80 To save me from the danger that might come If he were known alive?

_Duke._ Let this be done. Put them in secret holds, both Barnardine and Claudio: Ere twice the sun hath made his journal greeting To the under generation, you shall find 85 Your safety manifested.

_Prov._ I am your free dependant.

_Duke._ Quick, dispatch, and send the head to Angelo.

[_Exit Provost._

Now will I write letters to Angelo,-- The provost, he shall bear them,--whose contents 90 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, 95 By cold gradation and well-balanced form, 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 100 That want no ear but yours.

_Prov._ I'll make all speed. [_Exit._

_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, 105 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? 110

_Duke._ He hath released 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: show your wisdom, daughter, In your close patience. 115

_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; 120 Forbear it therefore; give your cause to heaven. Mark what I say, which you shall find By every syllable a faithful verity: The Duke comes home to-morrow;--nay, dry your eyes; One of our covent, and his confessor, 125 Gives me this instance: already he hath carried 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 it go; 130 And you shall have your bosom on this wretch, Grace of the Duke, revenges to your heart, And general honour.

_Isab._ I am directed by you.

_Duke._ This letter, then, to Friar Peter give; 'Tis that he sent me of the Duke's return: 135 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 Before the Duke; and to the head of Angelo Accuse him home and home. For my poor self, 140 I am combined by a sacred vow, And shall be absent. Wend you with this letter: Command these fretting waters from your eyes With a light heart; trust not my holy order, If I pervert your course.--Who's here? 145

_Enter LUCIO._

_Lucio._ Good even. Friar, where's the provost?

_Duke._ Not within, sir.

_Lucio._ O pretty Isabella, I am pale at mine heart to see thine eyes so red: thou must be patient. I am fain to dine and sup with water and bran; I dare not for my 150 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 loved 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 beholding to 155 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 woodman than thou takest him for.

_Duke._ Well, you'll answer this one day. Fare ye well.

_Lucio._ Nay, tarry; I'll go along with thee: I can tell 160 thee pretty tales of the Duke.

_Duke._ You have told me too many of him already, sir, if they be true; if not true, none were enough.

_Lucio._ I was once before him for getting a wench with child. 165

_Duke._ Did you such a thing?

_Lucio._ Yes, marry, did I: but I was fain to forswear it; they would else have married me to the rotten medlar.

_Duke._ Sir, your company is fairer than honest. Rest you well. 170

_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._

NOTES: IV, 3.

## SCENE III.] SCENE VIII. Pope.

5: _paper_] _pepper_ Rowe. 11: _Dizy_] F2 F3 F4. _Dizie_ F1. _Dizzy_ Pope. _Dicey_ Steevens conj. 14: _Forthlight_] Ff. _Forthright_ Warburton. 15: _Shooty_] F2 F3 F4. _Shootie_ F1. _Shooter_ Warburton. _Shoo-tye_ Capell. 17: _are_] _cry_ Anon. conj. See note (XIX). _now_] _now in_ Pope. 25: _friends_] F1 F2. _friend_ F3 F4. 32: _his_] _the_ Pope. 49: _I_] om. F4.

[Transcriber's Note: The text does not specify which occurrence of "I" is meant. The speech begins "Not I: I have..."]

57: _hear_] _heave_ F2. 59: SCENE IX. Pope. 60: _gravel heart_] _grovelling beast_ Collier MS. 61: Given by Hanmer to _Prov._ 69: _his_] F1. om. F2 F3 F4. _do_] om. Pope. 76: _whiles_] _while_ Pope. 83: _both Barnardine and Claudio_] _Claudio and Barnardine_ Hanmer. See note (XX). 85: _the under_] Hanmer. _yond_ Ff. _yonder_ Pope. 86: _manifested_] _manifest_ Hanmer. 88: _Quick_] _Quick, then,_ Capell. 96: _well-_] Rowe. _weale-_ F1 F2 F3. _weal_ F4. 102: SCENE X. Pope. 103: _She's come_] _She comes_ Pope. 106: _comforts_] _comfort_ Hanmer. 107: _Ho,_] om. Pope. 113, 114, 115: Ff make two lines ending at _other ... patience._ Text as proposed by Spedding. 114, 115: _show ... patience_] _In your close patience, daughter, shew your wisdom_ Capell. 114: _your wisdom_] _wisdom_ Pope. 115: _close_] _closest_ Pope. 119: _Injurious_] _perjurious_ Collier MS. 120: _nor hurts_] _not hurts_ F4. _hurts not_ Rowe. 122: _say_] _say to you_ Collier MS. _find_] _surely find_ Pope. 124: _nay_] om. Pope. 125: _covent_] Ff. _convent_ Rowe. 126: _instance_] _news_ Pope. 129: _If you can, pace_] Rowe. _If you can pace_ Ff. _Pace_ Pope. S. Walker thinks a line is lost after 131. 129, 130: _If you can pace ... wish it, go,_ Edd. conj. 137: _to-night_] om. Pope. 141: _combined_] _confined_ Johnson conj. (withdrawn). 145: _Who's_] _whose_ F1. 146: SCENE XI. Pope. 154: [Exit ISABELLA] Theobald. om. Ff. 155: _beholding_] Ff. _beholden_ Rowe. 163: _not true_] _not_ Rowe. 172: _it_] om. F2.

## SCENE IV. _A room in ANGELO'S house._

_Enter ANGELO and ESCALUS._

_Escal._ Every letter he hath writ hath disvouched other.

_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 redeliver our authorities there? 5

_Escal._ I guess not.

_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 dispatch 10 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 proclaimed betimes i' the morn; I'll call you at your house: give notice to such men of sort and suit as are to meet him. 15

_Escal._ I shall, sir. Fare you well.

_Ang._ Good night. [_Exit Escalus._

This deed unshapes me quite, makes me unpregnant, And dull to all proceedings. A deflower'd maid! And by an eminent body that enforced 20 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; For my authority bears of a credent bulk, That no particular scandal once can touch 25 But it confounds the breather. He should have lived, 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 lived! 30 Alack, when once our grace we have forgot, Nothing goes right: we would, and we would not. [_Exit._

NOTES: IV, 4.

## SCENE IV.] SCENE XII. Pope.