Pros. A bawd of eleven years' continuance, may | Shame to him, whose cruel striking
it please your honour.
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, made 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.

Bard. 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 marrage; 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.

Escal. That fellow is a fellow of much licence :let him be called before us.—Away with her to prison: Go to; no more words. [Exeunt Bawd and Officers.] Provost, my brother Angelo will not be alter'd, 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.

Proc. 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!
Escat. Of whence are you?

[now

Duke. Not of this country, though my chance is
To use it for my time: I am a brother
Of gracious order, late come from the see,
In special business from his holiness.

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 it is virtuous to be constant in any undertaking. There is scarce truth enough alive, to make 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.

Dake. What pleasure was he given to ? Escal. Rather rejoicing to see another merry, than merry at any thing which profess'd 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 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.

bring again. Seals of love, but seal'd in vain, seal'd in vain.

[Exit.

ACT IV.

SCENE I.-A Room in Mariana's House. MARIANA discovered sitting; a Boy singing. SONG.

Take, oh take those lips away,

That so sweetly were forsworn;
And those eyes, the break of day,
Lights that do mislead the morn:
But my kisses bring again,

Enter ISABELLA.

Escal. You have paid the heavens your function, and the prisoner the very debt of your calling. I Duke. I do constantly believe you :-The time is have labour'd for the poor gentleman, to the ex-come, even now, I shall crave your forbearance a tremest shore of my modesty; but my brother justice little; may be, I will call upon you anon, have I found so severe, that he hath forced me to tell advantage to yourself. him, he is indeed-justice.

for some

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.

Mari. I am always bound to you.
Duke. Very well met, and welcome.
What is the news from this good deputy?

Escal. I am going to visit the prisoner: Fare you well.

Isab. He hath a garden circummur'd with brick,
Whose western side is with a vineyard back'd ;
And to that vineyard is a planched gate,
That makes his opening with this bigger key;

[Exit.

Duke. Peace be with you!

[Exeunt ESCALUS and Provost. This other doth command a little door,
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.

Which from the vineyard to the garden leads;
There have I made my promise to call on him,
Upon the heavy middle of the night.

[way?
Duke. But shall you on your knowledge find this
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 shew 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;
She comes to do you good.

Isab.

I do desire the like.
Duke. Do you persuade yourself, that I respect
you?
[found it.
Mari. Good friar, I know you do? and have
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.
Duke. O place and greatness, millions of false
Are stuck upon thee! volumes of report
Run with these false and most contrarious quests
Upon thy doings! thousand 'scapes of wit
Make thee the father of their idle dream, [agreed?
And rack thee in their fancies!-Welcome! How

[eyes

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

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.

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 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. [Erit.

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.

and your whores, sir, being members of my occupa-
Clo. Painting, sir, I have heard say, is a mystery;
tion, using painting, do prove my occupation a mys-
tery: 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.

Re-enter MARIANA and ISABELLA.

Prov. Are you agreed?

Isab. She'll take the enterprise upon her, father, If you advise it.

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.

It is not my consent,

Prov. You, sirrah, provide your block and your axe, to-morrow four o'clock.

Duke.
But my intreaty too.
Isab.
Little have you to say,
When you depart from him, but, soft and low,
Remember now my brother.

Abhor. Come on, bawd; I will instruct thee in my trade; follow.

Mari.

Fear me not.

Clo. I do desire to learn, sir; and, I hope, if you have occasion to use me for your own turn, you shall

owe you a good turn.

Duke. Nor, gentle daughter, fear you not at all: find me yare: for, truly sir, for your kindness, I
He is our husband on a pre-contract:
To bring you thus together, 'tis no sin;
Sith that the justice of your title to him
Doth flourish the deceit. Come, let us go;
Our corn's to reap, for yet our tithe's to sow.
[Exeunt.

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.

If it be too little for your thief, your true man thinks Abhor. Every true man's apparel fits your thief: 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.

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 lock'd up in sleep, as guiltless la-
When it lies starkly in the traveller's bones: [bour
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 wholesomest spirits of the
night
Envelop you, good provost! Who called here of late?
Prov. None, since the curfew rung.

Duke.

Not Isabel?

Pres. 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
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;
But this being so, he's just.-Now are they come.-
[Knocking within.-Provost goes out.
This is a gentle provost : Seldom, when
The steeled gaoler is the friend of men.- [haste,
How now? What noise? That spirit's possess'd with
That wounds the unsisting postern with these strokes.

Prov.

None, sir, none. Duke. As near the dawning, provost, as it is, 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
Profess'd the contrary.

Enter a Messenger.
Duke. This is his lordship's man.
Pros. And here comes Claudio's pardon.

Prov. I shall obey him.

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. [Erit Messenger. Duke. This is his pardon; purchas'd by such sin, For which the pardoner himself is in: [Aside. Hence hath offence his quick celerity, 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?

Pree. I told you: Lord Angelo, belike, 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 perform'd; with a thought, that more depends on it than we must yet deliver. Thus fail not to de 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?

Pros. 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 deliver'd him to his liberty, or executed him? I have heard, it was ever his manner to do so.

Provost returns, speaking to one at the door.

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, is no greater forfeit to the law than Angelo who hath But he must die to-morrow?

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 ? 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 borne to Angelo.

Prov. Angelo hath seen them both, and will discover the favour.

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. 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,

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 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 | thrift, 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.

Enter Provost.

Clo. 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, ninescore and seventeen 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-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 Starve-lackey the rapier and dagger-man, Duke. O, 'tis an accident that heaven provides ! and young Drop-heir that kill'd lusty Pudding, and Despatch it presently; the hour draws on master Forthright the tilter, and brave master Shoe-Prefix'd by Angelo: See, this be done, tie the great traveller, and wild Half-can that stabb'd And sent according to command; whiles I Pots, and, I think, forty more; all great doers in our Persuade this rude wretch willingly to die. trade, and are now for the Lord's sake.

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?

Enter ABHORSON.

Prov. This shall be done, good father, presently.
But Barnardine must die this afternoon :
And how shall we continue Claudio,

Abhor. Sirrah, bring Barnardine hither.

Clo. Master Barnardine! you must rise and be To save me from the danger that might come, hang'd, master Barnardine!

If he were known alive?

SCENE III.-Another Room in the same.
Enter Clown.

Abhor. What, ho, Barnardine! Barnar. [Within] A pox o' your throats! Who makes that noise there? What are you?

Clo. Your friends, sir; the hangmen: You must be so good, sir, to rise and be put to death. Barnar. [Within.] Away, you rogue, away; I am sleepy.

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

too.

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

Enter BARNARDINE.

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

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.

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.

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

Clo. He is coming, sir, he is coming; I hear his To meet me at the consecrated fount, straw rustle.

A league below the city; and from thence,
By cold gradation and weal-balanced form,
We shall proceed with Angelo.

Re-enter Provost.

Clo. O, the better, sir; for he that drinks all night, and is hang'd 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. 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
Your safety manifested.

Duke. O, sir, you must; and therefore, I beseech Look forward on the journey you shall go. [you, Barnar. I swear, I will not die to-day for any man's persuasion.

Prov. I am your free dependant.
Duke.

Quick, despatch, [Exit Provost.

And send the head to Angelo.
Now will I write letters to Angelo,-
Shall witness to him, I am near at home;
The provost, he shall bear them,-whose contents
And that, by great injunctions, I am bound
To enter publicly: him I'll desire

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. [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,
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
His head is off, and sent to Angelo.
Isab. Nay, but it is not so.
Duke.
It is no other:
Shew your wisdom, daughter, in your close patience.

[world;