To make bad, good, and good provoke to harm. I pray you, tell me, hath any body inquired for me here to-day? much upon this time have I promis'd here to meet.

Mari. You have not been inquired after : I have sat here all day.

Enter ISABELLA.

Duke. I do constantly believe you :--The time is come, even now. I shall crave your forbearance a little; may be, I will call upon you anon, for some advantage to yourself. Mari. I am always bound to you.

[Erit. Duke. Very well met, and welcome. What is the news from this good deputy ?

Isab. He hath a garden circummur'd with brick, Whose western side is with a viney: rd back'd ; And to that vineyard is a planched gate, That makes his opening with this bigger key: This other doth command a little door, 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.

Duke. But shall you on your knowledge find this way?

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 show 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? Mari. Good friar, I know you do; and have

found it. Duke. Take then this your companion by the hand, Who hath a story ready for your ear : I shall attend your leisure; but make baste ; The vaporous night approaches. Mari.

Will't please you walk aside ?

[E.xeunt Mariana and Isabella. Duke. O place and greatness, millions of false eyes 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, And rack thee in their fancies ! - Welcome! How

agreed ?

Re-enter MARIANA and Is A BELLA.

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

It is not my consent,
But my intreaty too.
Isab.

Little have you to say,
When you depart from him, but, soft and low,
Remember now my brother.
Mari.

Fear me not.
Duke. Nor, gentle daughter, fear you not at all :
He is your husband on a pre-contráct :
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 49.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

A Room in the Prison.

Enter Provost and Clown,

Prov. Come hither, sirrah: Can you cut off a man's head?

Clo. If the man be a bachelor, sir, I can: but if he be a married man, he is his wife's head, and I can never cut off a woman's head.

Prov. Come, sir, leave me your snatches, and yield me a direct answer. To-morrow morning are to die

Claudio and Barnardine: Here is in our prison a common executioner, who in his office lacks a helper: if you will take it on you to assist him, it shall redeem you from your gyves; if not, you shall have

your

full time of imprisonment, and your deliverance with an unpitied whipping; for you have been a notorious bawd.

Clo. Sir, I have been an unlawful bawd, time out of mind; but yet I will be content to be a lawful hang

I would be glad to receive some instruction from my fellow partner.

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

man.

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? Fie upon him, he will discredit our mystery.

Prod. 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.

Clo. Painting, sir, I have heard say, is a mystery ; and your whores, sir, being members of my occupation, 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 Prooost. Prov. Are you agreed ?

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.

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.

Cl. 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.