Lucio. ... I fear you not.

Duke. O, you hope the Duke will return no more, or you imagine me too 'un-hurtful an opposite. But, indeed,

I can do you little harm; you 'll forswear this again. Lucio. I'll be 'hanged first: Farewell, good Friar; I pr'ythee, 'pray for me. The Duke, I say to thee again, would... eat mutton on 'Fridays. Say that I said So. Farewell.

Duke. No might nor greatness in mortality

Can 'censure 'scape; 'back-wounding calumny
The 'whitest virtue strikes. What king so strong
Can tie the gall up in the 'slanderous tongue?
He who the sword of 'Heaven will bear
Should be as 'holy as severe;

More, nor less, to 'others paying,
Than by 'self-offences weighing.-
Shame to him whose cruel striking
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!
'Craft against vice I must apply:
And Angelo, to-night, affy

His 'old betrothed, but despised:
So disguise shall, 'by the disguised,
Pay, with 'falsehood, false 'exacting,'
And perform an 'old contracting."

[Exit.

[Exit.

Isabella resolves to do as the feigned Friar directs. She goes to Mariana at the Moated Grange,” and tells her of the plan—to enter Angelo's garden at night, and to be sure, as she goes away, to say: "Remember, 'now, my brother!"

Mariana is conducted at night to the appointed place by Isabella herself; and at the same time the Friar-Duke visits Claudio in his prison; but, while there, an unlooked-for order arrives from the deceitful Lord Deputy-who fears that the brother, if allowed to live, would, at some time, avenge the degradation of his sister. The Provost of the Prison reads to the Duke the letter of instruction sent by Lord Angelo:

Prov. [Reads.] Whatsoever you may hear to the contrary, let Claudio be executed by 'four of the clock; and, in

opponent, adversary.
a quibble on Angelo.

rattacks to destroy.

e plight in marriage.
ga previous obligation

• mode of punishment. f demands, requirements,

the afternoon, Barnardine. For my better satisfac-
tion, 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.

The amazed Duke inquires of the Provost :

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 past.

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.

Prov. His friends still wrought reprieves for him: and, indeed, his act, (till now, in the government of Lord Angelo,) came not to an undoubtful 'proof.

Duke. Hath he borne himself 'penitently in prison? How seems he to be 'touched ?a

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.

The Friar-Duke persuades the Provost to send the head of this drunken wretch to Angelo, to pass it off as Claudio's: and he promises to 'clear the Provost, by giving him a paper of acquittance, bearing the hand and seal of the Duke himself:

letter

Duke. The contents of this paper [iving] 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.-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: Come away; it is almost clear dawn.

[Exeunt.

The Friar retires; while the Provost sends Abhorson, one of the gaolers, to the drunkard's cell.

Abhor. What, ho, Barnardine!

Master Barnardine! you

must rise and be hanged, Master Barnardine.

a a native of Bohemia-formerly one of the kingdoms of Europe, but now a part of the Austrian Empire. bO. R old.

crime O R. fact). d moved, affected. edying in a desperate state, hopeless, and unrepentant fappearing star-the planet Venus-the "morning" star.

Bar. [Within. A plague o' your throats! Who makes that noise there? What are you?

Abhor. Your friend, sir; the hangman. You must be so good, sir, to rise and be put to death.

Bar. Within.] Away, you rogue, away! I am sleepy. Abhor. Pray, Master Barnardine, awake till you are 'executed, and sleep 'afterwards.

Barnardine, very drunk, enters :

Bar. How, now, Abhorson?

you?

what's the news with

Abhor. Truly, sir, I would desire you to 'clap into your prayers; for, look you, the warrant's 'come.

Bar.... You rogue, I have been drinking all night: I am not 'fitted for 't.

Abhor. O, the 'better, sir, for he that drinks all 'night, and is hanged betimes in the 'morning, may sleep the sounder 'all the next day.

The Friar-Duke advances and says:

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.

Bar. I 'swear, I will not die 'to-day, for 'any man's persua

sion.

Duke. But hear you,—

Bar. Not a word: if you have anything to say to me, come

to my ward; for thence will not I to-day. Duke. Unfit to live, or die. O gravela heart!

The Provost returns:

Prov. Now, sir, how do you find the prisoner?
Duke. A creature unprepared, unmeet for death;
And to transport him in the mind he is,

Were horrible!

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

[Ex

Exeunt Abhor. and Bar.

a stony.

b remove him from one world to another. CO. R. damnable.

This 'reprobate, till he were 'well-inclined,
And satisfy the Deputy with the visage
Of 'Ragozine, more like to Claudio?
Duke. O, 't is an accident that 'Heaven provides!
Despatch it presently: the hour draws on
Prefixed by Angelo. See this be 'done,
And sent according to command.

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

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

Duke. 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.

Prov. I am your free dependant.

Duke. Quick, despatch, and send the head to Angelo.-
Now will I write letters to Angelo-

The Provost, he shall bear them-whose contents
Shall witness to him, I am 'near at home;
And that, by great injunctions, I am bound
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-balanced form,
We shall proceed 'with Angelo.

:

The plot so far succeeds: the head of the dead pirate is sent to Angelo and the ever-clement Duke prolongs the life of the impenitent drunkard Barnardine. At this moment, Isabella, taking advantage of the earliest dawn, is heard calling at the door of the prison :

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 comfort of despair,
When it is least expected.—

Good morning to you, fair and gracious daughter.

Isab. The better, given me by so hòly a man.

Hath 'yet the Deputy sent my brother's pardon?

Isabella

enters.

a keep in custody. b daily. the antipodes (O. R. to yond generation). d well weighed or considered (O, R. weale ballanced).

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.

Isab. O, I will to him, and pluck out his eyes!-
Unhappy Claudio! Wretched Isabel!

Injurious world! O, most accursed Angelo! Duke. This nor hurts 'him, nor profits 'you a jot; Forbear it therefore; give your cause to 'Heaven.Mark what I say to shall find,. you, which you 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, paced 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.

Isab.
I am directed by you.
Duke. This letter, then, to Friar Peter give;

'T is '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

g

Accuse him home, and home! For my poor 'self,
I am combinéd" by a sacred vow,

And shall be absent. Wendi you with this letter:
Command these fretting waters from your eyes
With a light 'heart: trust not my holy order,
If I 'pervert your course.—

As Isabella, trembling between grief and hope, is about to proceed on her new mission, the fop Lucio enters:

Lucio. Good even, Friar; where 's the Provost ?

Duke. Not within, sir.

a two inserted words.
• earnest desire.

bG. R. covent. f before the face.

hbound strictly.