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pation, 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.

Clo. Proof.

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

he doth oftner ask forgiveness.

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 kindness, 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?

1-yare:] i. e. handy, nimble.

Claud. As fast lock'd up in sleep, as guiltless labour

When it lies starkly2 in the traveller's bones:

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 call'd here of

late?

[blocks in formation]

There's some hope.

Prov. What comfort is for Claudio?

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 jus

tice;

He doth with holy abstinence subdue

That in himself, which he spurs on his power

To qualify3 in others: were he meal'd1

With that which he corrects, then were he tyran

nous;

2- starkly-] Stiffly. These two lines afford a very pleasing image. JOHNSON.

To qualify as we say wine is qualified with water.

meal'd] Were he sprinkled; or perhaps mingled.

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.-
How now? What noise? That spirit's possess'd with

haste,

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That wounds the unsisting postern with these

strokes.

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, But he must die to-morrow?

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 publick ear

Profess'd the contrary.

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.

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6

Prov. I shall obey him.

[Exit Messenger.

the unsisting postern-] i. e. never at rest, always opening. siege of justice,] i. e. seat of justice. Siege, French.

Duke. This is his pardon; purchas'd by such sin,

For which the pardoner himself is in:
Hence hath offence his quick celerity,
When it is borne in high authority:

[Aside.

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 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 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.8

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.

7 · putting on:] i. e. spur, incitement.

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one that is a prisoner nine years old.] i. e. That has been confined these nine years.

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.

him leave to escape many times a day, if We have We have very often

Prov. He will hear none: he hath evermore had the liberty of the prison; give hence, he would not: drunk not many days entirely drunk. 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 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 may make my case as Claudio's, to cross this in the smallest.

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sagacity.

in the boldness of my cunning,] i. e. in confidence of my

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