Run with these false and most contrarious quests" And rack thee in their fancies!-Welcome! How agreed? Re-enter MARIANA and ISABELLA. 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, 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; 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. SCENE II. A Room in the Prison. Enter Provost and Clown. [Exeunt. 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. contrarious quests-] Different reports, running counter to each other. 7 -'scapes of wit-] i. e. sallies, irregularities. • Doth flourish the deceit.] i. e. ornament. 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 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 tomorrow in your exccution: 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. 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 occu a good favour -] Favour is countenance. 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; he doth oftner 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. 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? Iyare:] i. e. handy, nimble. Claud. As fast lock'd up in sleep, as guiltless labour When it lies starkly' in the traveller's bones: He will not wake. Who can do good on him? Prov. 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 called here of late? 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 qualify' in others: were he meal'd' With that which he corrects, then were he tyran nous; - 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 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 public 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. Prov. I shall obey him. [Exit Messenger. 5 The unsisting postern] i. e. never at rest, always opening. siege of justice,] i. e. seat of justice. Siege, French. |