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. O, sir, you must; and therefore, I beseech you, Look forward on the journey you shall go. Barnar. I swear, I will not die to-day for any man's persuasion. 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. Enter Provost. 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, This reprobate, till he were well inclined; And satisfy the deputy with the visage Of Ragozine, more like to Claudio? Duke. O, 'tis an accident that heaven provides! Prov. This shall be done, good father, presently. And how shall we continue Claudio, To save me from the danger that might come, Duke. Let this be done; - Put them in secret holds, Both Barnardine and Claudio: Ere twice The sun hath made his journal3 greeting to The under generation, you shall find Your safety manifested. Prov. I am your free dependant. Duke. And send the head to Angelo. Quick, despatch, [Exit Provost. whose contents Now will I write letters to Angelo,- To meet me at the consecrated fount, Re-enter Provost. Prov. Here is the head; I'll carry it myself. 3 -journal-] i. e. daily. 4 The under generation,] i. e. the antipodes. 5 weal-balanced form,] probably well-balanced. For I would commune with you of such things, 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, 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 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. Duke. This nor hurts him nor profits you a jot: By every syllable, a faithful verity: The duke comes home to-morrow;-nay, dry your eyes; One of our convent, 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; 6 And 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, 7 8 And shall be absent. Wend you with this letter: 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 lov'd thy brother: if the old fantastical duke of dark corners 9 had been at home, he had lived. [Exit ISABELLA. Duke. Sir, the duke is marvellous little beholden -your bosom-] your wish; your heart's desire. JOHNSON. 7 I am combined,-] i. e. bound by agreement. 9 Wend you-] To wend is to go. -An obsolete word. duke of dark corners] this duke who meets his mistresses in by-places. to your reports; but the best is, he lives not in them. 1 Lucio. Friar, thou knowest not the duke so well as I do: he's a better woodman 2 than thou takest him for. Duke. Well, you'll answer this one day. well. Fare ye Lucio. Nay, tarry; I'll go along with thee; I can tell 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. Luczo. I was once before him for getting a wench with child. Duke. Did you such a thing? Lucio. Yes, marry, did I: but 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. 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. SCENE IV. A Room in Angelo's House. Enter ANGELO and ESCAlus. Escal. Every letter he hath writ hath disvouch'd 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 re-deliver our authorities there? Escal. I guess not. 1 he lives not in them.] i. e. his character depends not on them. 2 woodman] A woodman was an attendant or servant to the officer called Forester, but is here used in a wanton sense. |