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,
That for the fault's love is the offender friended.
Now, sir, what news?

119

Prov. 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. Whatsoever you may hear to the contrary, Let Claudio be executed by four of the clock; and in the afternoon Barnardine. For my better satisjaction, 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?

132

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 either delivered him to his liberty or executed him? I have heard it was ever his manner to do so.

:

140

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. 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?

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 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.

193

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?

201

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 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.

210

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 tenour; perchance of the duke's death; perchance entering into some monastery; but, by chance, nothing of what is writ. Look, the Prov. A man that apprehends death no more unfolding star calls up the shepherd. dreadfully but as a drunken sleep; careless, reck- not yourself into amazement how these things less, and fearless of what's past, present, or to should be: all difficulties are but easy when they come; insensible of mortality, and desperately are known. Call your executioner, and off with 153 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.

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 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.

161

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

SCENE III.-Another Room in the Same.

Enter POMPEY.

Put

Pompey. 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 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 beggar. Then have we here young Dizy, and Young Master Deep-yow, and Master Copper-spur, and Master Starve-lackey the rapier-and-dagger man, and young Drop-heir that killed lusty Pudding, and Master Forthright the tilter, and brave Master Shoe-tie the great traveller, and wild Half-can that stabbed Pots, and, I think, forty more; all great doers in our trade, and are How for the Lord's sake.'

21

Abhor. What, ho, Barnardine!

Who

Bar. Within. A pox o' your throats! makes that noise there? What are you? Pompey. Your friends, sir; the hangman. must be so good, sir, to rise and be put to death. Bar. Within. Away, you rogue, away! I am sleepy.

You

31

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

Pompey. Pray, Master Barnardine, awake till you are executed, and sleep afterwards.

Prov.

There died this morning of a cruel fever
Here in the prison, father,
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 inclin'd,
And satisfy the deputy with the visage
Of Ragozine, more like to Claudio?

Enter ABHORSON.

Duke. O! 'tis an accident that heaven provides.
Dispatch it presently: the hour draws on
Prefix'd by Angelo. See this be done,
And sent according to command, whiles I

Abhor. Sirrah, bring Barnardine hither.

Pompey. Master Barnardine! you must rise Persuade this rude wretch willingly to die. and be hanged, Master Bardardine!

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

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

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.

Abhor. Go in to him, and fetch him out.
Pompey. He is coming, sir, he is coming; I And send the head to Angelo.

hear his straw rustle.

Enter Provost.

Duke. Unfit to live or die. O gravel heart! After him, fellows: bring him to the block. Excunt ABHORSON and POMPEY. 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,

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 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. 61 Bar. I swear I will not die to-day for any man's persuasion.

Duke. But hear you.

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

Duke.

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.

Now will I write letters to Angelo,The provost, he shall bear them,-whose contents 40 Shall witness to him I am near at home,

72

89

Let this be done: 90 Put them in secret holds, both Barnardine and Claudio:

Ere twice the sun hath made his journal greeting
To yonder generation, you shall find
Your safety manifested.

Proc. I am your free dependant.
Duke.

Quick, dispatch,
Exit Provost.

And that, by great injunctions, I am bound 100
To enter publicly him I'll desire
To meet me at the consecrated fount
A league below the city; and from thence,
By cold gradation and well balanc'd 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 That want no ear but yours.

110

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
world.

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

120

Duke. It is no other: 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. 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. Mark what I say, which you shall find 130 By every syllable a faithful verity.

Ang. In most uneven and distracted manner.

The duke comes home to-morrow; nay, dry 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?

your eyes:

One of our covent, and his confessor,

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,
And you shall have your bosom on this wretch,
Grace of the duke, revenges to your heart,
And general honour.

140

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
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,
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, 152
If I pervert your course. Who's here?

Enter LUCIO.

Lucio. Good even. Friar, where is 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 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 your reports; but the best is, he lives not in them.

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.

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.

Duke. Did you such a thing?

180 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,

SCENE IV. A Room in ANGELO's House.
Enter ANGELO and ESCALUS.

Escal. Every letter he hath writ hath dis-
vouched other.

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?

12

Escal. He shows his reason for that: to have
a dispatch 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
As are to meet him.
Escal.
I shall, sir fare you well.
Ang. Good night.
Exit ESCALUS.
This deed unshapes me quite, makes me un-
pregnant

And dull to all proceedings. 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:

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 gate;
But send me Flavius first.
Fri. Pet.

It shall be speeded well. 10
Exit

By throwing it on any other object,

Duke. I thank thee, Varrius; thou hast made Till you have heard me in my true complaint,
And given me justice, justice, justice, justice!
good haste.
Duke. Relate your wrongs: in what? by whom?
Be brief.

Here is Lord Angelo shall give you justice:
Reveal yourself to him.

O worthy duke! You bid me seek redemption of the devil. Hear me yourself; for that which I must speak Must either punish me, not being believ'd, Or wring redress from you. Hear me, O hear here! me,

Ang. My lord, her wits, I fear me, are not firm:
She hath been a suitor to me for her brother
Cut off by course of justice,--

Isab.
By course of justice!
Ang. And she will speak most bitterly and
strange.

Isab. Most strange, but yet most truly, will
I speak.

That Angelo's forsworn, is it not strange?
That Angelo's a murderer, is 't not strange ?
That Angelo is an adulterous thief,
An hypocrite, a virgin-violator;
Is it not strange and strange?
Duke.