Escal. I am going to visit the prisoner: Fare you well. Duke. Peace be with you! [Exit ESCAL. and PROV. He, who the sword of heaven will bear, Should be as holy as severe; Pattern in himself to know, ACT IV. [Exit. SCENE 1.-A Room in MARIANA's house. MARIANA discovered sitting; a Boy singing. [1] This is part of a little song of Shakespeare's own writing, consisting of two stanzas, and so extremely sweet, that the reader won't be displeased to have the other. Hide, oh hide those hills of snow, Mari. Break off thy song, and haste thee quick away, Here comes a man of comfort, whose advice Hath often still'd my brawling discontent. Enter Duke. [Exit Boy. I cry you mercy, sir; and well could wish 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. Duke. I do constantly believe you :— Enter ISABELLA. The time is come, even now. I shall crave your for bearance a little; may be, I will call upon you anon for some advantage to yourself. Mari. I am always bound to you. Duke. Very well met, and welcome. What is the news from this good deputy? Isab. He hath a garden circummur'd with brick, Upon the heavy middle of the night. [Exit. 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 ? On whose tops the pinks that grow, But first set my poor heart free, [2] Circummured, walled round. JOHNSON. WARBURTON. [3] i. e. A gate made of boards; planche, Fr. A plancher is a plank. STEEV Isab. No, none, but only a repair i' th' dark; Duke. 'Tis well borne up. I have not yet made known to Mariana A word of this :-What, ho! within! come forth! I pray you, be acquainted with this maid; 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 haste; Mari. Wilt please you walk aside? [Exe. MARI. and ISAB Duke. O place and greatness, millions of false eyes Run with these false and most contrarious quests Make thee the father of their idle dream, And rack thee in their fancies Welcome! how agreed? If Re-enter MARIANA and ISABELLA. Isab. She'll take the enterprize upon her, father, you advise it. Duke. It is not my consent, But my entreaty 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-contract: To bring you thus together, 'tis no sin; C 2 [Exeunt SCENE II. A room in the Prison. Enter Provost and Clown. Prov. Come hither, sirrah: Can you cut off a man's head? Clown. 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. Clown. Sir, I have been an unlawful bawd, time out of mind; but yet I will be content to be a lawful hangman. I would be glad to receive some instruction from my fellow partner. Prov. What ho, Abhorson! where's Abhorson, there? Enter ABHORSON. Abhor. Do you call, sir? Prov. Sirrah, here's a fellow will help you to-morrow 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? Fye upon him, he will discredit our mystery. Prov. Go to, sir; you weigh equally; a feather will turn the scale. [Exit. Clown. 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. Clown. 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. Clown. 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? Clown. 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. Clown. 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: One has my pity; not a jot the other, Being a murderer, though he were my brother. [Exeunt Clown and ABHORSON. Enter CLAUdio. Look, here's the warrant, Claudio, for thy death: Prov. Who can do good on him? Well, go, prepare yourself. But hark, what noise? [Knocking within. Heaven give your spirits comfort!-By and by :I hope it is some pardon, or reprieve, [Exit CLAU. 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? Prov. None, since the curfew rung. Duke. Not Isabel? Prov. No. Duke. They will then, ere't be long. Prov. What comfort is for Claudio? [4] Starkly-Stiffy. There two lines afford a very pleasing image. JOHN. |