The steeled gaoler is the friend of men.Igelo who hath sentenced him: To make you un How now? What noise? That spirit's possess'd derstand this in a manifested effect, I crave but with haste, [strokes. four days' respite; for the which you are to do me That wounds the unsisting postern with these both a present and a dangerous courtesy. 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. For which the pardoner himself is in: When vice makes mercy, mercy's so extended, Prov. Pray, sir, in what? Duke. In the delaying death. Prov. Alack! how may I do it? having the hour limited; and an express command, under penalty, to deliver his head in the view of Angelo? I may make my case as Claudio's, to cross this in the smallest. Duke. By the vow of mine order, I warrant you, if my instructions may be your guide. Let this Barnardine be this morning executed, and his head borne to Angelo. Prov. Angelo hath seen them both, and will discover the favour. Duke. O, death's a great disguiser: and you may add to it. Shave the head, and tie the beard; and say, it was the desire of the penitent to be so bared before his death: You know, the course is common. If any thing fall to you upon this, more than thanks and good fortune, by the saint whom I profess, I will plead against it with my life. Prov. Pardon me, good father: it is against my oath. Duke. Were you 'sworn to the duke, or to the deputy? Prov. To him, and to his substitutes. Duke. You will think you have made no offence, if the duke avouch the justice of your dealing? Prov. But what likelihood is in that? Duke. Not a resemblance, but a certainty. Yet since I see you fearful, that neither my coat, integrity, nor my persuasion, can with ease attempt you, I will go further than I meant, to pluck all fears out of you. Look you, sir, here is the hand and Prov. I told you: Lord Angelo, belike, think-seal of the duke. You know the character, I doubt ing me remiss in mine office, awakens me with this unwonted putting on: methinks, strangely; for he hath not used it before. Duke. Pray you, let's hear. Prov. [Reads.] Whatsoever you may hear to the contrary, let Claudio be executed by four of the clock; and, in the afternoon, Barnardine: for my better satisfaction, let me have Claudio's head sent me by five. Let this be duly perform'd; 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. What say you to this, sir? 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 old. Duke. How came it, that the absent duke had not either deliver'd 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 fact, till now in the government of lord Angelo, came not to an undoubtful proof. Duke. Is it now apparent ? not; and the signet is not strange to you. Prov. I know them both. Duke. The contents of this 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: for he this very day receives letters of strange tenor: perchance, of the duke's death; perchance, entering into some monastery; but, by chance, nothing of what is writ. 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: I will give him a present shrift, and advise him for a better place. Yet you are amazed: but this shall absolutely resolve you. Come away; it is almost clear dawn. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-Another Room in the same. Clo. I am as well acquainted here, as I was in our house of profession: one would think, it were Prov. Most manifest, and not denied by himself. mistress Over-done's own house, for here be many of Duke. Hath he borne himself penitently in pri- her old customers. First, here's young master son? How seems he to be touch'd? Rash; he's in for a commodity of brown paper and Prov. A man that apprehends death no more fold ginger, ninescore and seventeen pounds; of dreadfully, but as a drunken sleep; careless, reck-which he made five marks, ready money marry, less, and fearless of what's past, present, or to come; then, ginger was not much in request, for the old insensible of mortality, and desperately mortal. Duke. He wants advice. Prov. He will hear none; he hath evermore had the liberty of the prison; give him leave to escape hence, he would not: drunk many times a day, if not many days entirely drunk. We have very often awaked him, as if to carry him to execution, and show'd him a seeming warrant for it: it hath not moved him at all. Duke. More of him anon. There is written in your brow, Provost, honesty and constancy: if I read it not truly, my ancient skill beguiles me; but in the boldness of my cunning, I will lay myself in hazard. Claudio, whom here you have a warrant to execute, is no greater forfeit to the law than An women were all dead. Then is there here one master Caper, at the suit of master Three-pile the mercer, for some four suits of peach-colour'd satin, which now peaches him a beggar. Then have we here young Dizy, and young master Deep-vow, and master Copper-spur, and master Starve-lackey the rapier and dagger-man, and young Drop-heir that kill'd lusty Pudding, and master Forthright the tilter, and brave master Shoe-tie the great traveller, and wild Half-can that stabb'd Pots, and, I think. forty more; all great doers in our trade, and are now for the Lord's sake. Enter Abhorson. Abhor. Sirrah, bring Barnardine hither, Clo. Master Barnardine! you must rise and be bang'd, master Barnardine Abhor. What, ho, Barnardine ! Barnar. Within.] A pox o' your throats! Who makes that noise there? What are you? Clo. Your friends, sir; the hangman: You must be so good, sir, to rise and be put to death. Barnar. [Within.] Away, you rogue, away; I am sleepy. Abhor. Tell him, he must awake, and that quickly too. Clo. Pray, master Barnardine, awake till you are executed, and sleep afterwards. Abhor. Go in to him, and fetch hint out. Clo. He is coming, sir, he is coming; I hear his straw rustle. Enter Barnardine. 3 Abhor. Is the axe upon the block, sirrah? Clo. Very ready, sir. Barnar. How now, Abhorson? what's the news with you? Abhor. Truly, sir, I would desire you to clap into your prayers; for, look you, the warrant's come. Barnar. You rogue, I have been drinking all night, I am not fitted for't. Clo. O, the better, sir; for he that drinks all night, 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? how hastily you are to depart, I am come to advise Duke. Sir, induced by my charity, and hearing 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 Look forward on the journey you shall go. [you, 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 Duke. O, 'tis an accident that heaven provides ! 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 Isab. O, I will to him, and pluck out his eyes. Duke. You shall not be admitted to his sight. Isab. Unhappy Claudio! Wretched Isabel ! Injurious world! Most damned Angelo! Duke. This nor hurts him nor profits you a jot: Forbear it therefore; give your cause to heaven. Mark what I say; which you shall find By every syllable, a faithful verity: The duke comes home to-morrow; nay, dry your One of our convent, and his confessor, [eyes; Gives me this instance: Already he hath carried Notice to Escalus and Angelo; Who do prepare to meet him at the gates, In that good path that I would wish it go; Isab. And shall be absent. Wend you with this letter: duke will be here to-morrow. By my troth, Isabel, Lucio. Friar, thou knowest not the duke so well as I do he's a better woodman than thou takest him for. Duke. Well, you'll answer this one day. Fare ye well. 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. Lucio. I was once before him for getting a wench with child. Duke. Did you such a thing? Though sometimes you do blench from this to that, Enter Varrius. Duke. I thank thee, Varrius; thou hast made Come, we will walk There's other of our friends [Exeunt. Lucio. Yes, marry, did I: but was fain to for-I would say the truth; but to accuse him so, Duke. Sir, your company is fairer than honest: Rest you well. shall stick. 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 [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. Ang. And why should we proclaim it in an hour before his entering, that, if any crave redress of injustice, they should exhibit their petitions in the street? Escal. Ife shows his reason for that: to have a despatch of complaints; and to deliver us from devices hereafter, which shall then have no power to stand against us. Ang. Well, I beseech you, let it be proclaim'd: I shall, sir: fare you well. [Exit. That is your part: yet I'm advis'd to do it; I O, peace; the friar is come. Enter Friar Peter. F. Peter. Come, I have found you out a stand .most fit, Where you may have such vantage on the duke, The generous and gravest citizens ACT V. [Exeunt, SCENE I.-A publick Place near the City Gate. Mariana (veiled,) Isabella, and Peter, at a distance. Enter at opposite doors, Duke, Varrius, Lords; Angelo, Escalus, Lucio, Provost, Officers, and Citizens. grace! 1 Duke. My very worthy cousin, fairly met Our old and faithful friend, we are glad to see you. (nant, Ang. Good night.Ang. and Escal. Happy return be to your royal This deed unshapes me quite, makes me unpregAnd dull to all proceedings, A deflower'd maid! And by an eminent body, that enforc'd The law against it!-But that her tender shame Will not proclaim against her maiden loss, How might she tongue me? Yet reason dares her?-no: For my authority bears a credent bulk,, Save that his riotous youth, with dangerous sense, liv'd! Alack, when once our grace we have forgot, Nothing goes right; we would, and we would not. [Exit. SCENE V.-Fields without the Town." [Giving letters. Duke. Many and hearty thankings to you both. Ang. To lock it in the wards of covert bosom, Peter and Isabella come forward. F. Peter. Now is your time; speak loud, and Isab. Justice, O royal duke! Vail your regard Till you have.heard me in my true complaint, Duke, Relate your wrongs: In what? By whom 21 Here is lord Angelo shall give you justice! Isab, here. Or wring redress from you; hear me, O, hear me, By course of justice! Ang. And she will speak most bitterly, and strange. Isab. Most strange, but yet most truly, will I That Angelo's forsworn; is it not strange? Isab. The phrase is to the matter. Pardon it ; Duke. Mended again: the matter;-Proceed. Or else thou art suborn'd against his honour, Nay, ten times strange. Faults proper to himself if he had so offended, Isab. It is not truer he is Angelo, Away with her ;-Poor soul, That which but seems unlike: 'tis not impossible In all his dressings, characts, titles, forms, If he be less, he's nothing; but he's more, By mine honesty, If she be mad, as I believe no other, Ieab. Was sent to by my brother: One Lucio That's he, indeed. Duke. You were not bid to speak. No, my good lord; Nor wish'd to hold my peace." Lucio. I warrant your honour. Duke. The warrant's for yourself; take heed to it. Duke. It may be right; but you are in the wrong I went To this pernicious caitiff deputy. He would have weigh'd thy brother by himself, Isab. One that I would were here, friar Lodowick. Lucio. My lord, I know him;' tis a meddling friar? Duke. Words against me? This' a good friar, I have stood by, my lord, and I have heard Duke Lucio. My lord, most villainously; believe it. Good friar, let's hear it. [Isabella is carried off, guarded; and Mariana comes forward., ELAR Do you not smile at this, lord Angelo? Of your own cause.-Is this the witness, friar? Duke.. Mari. No, my lord. What, are you married? These poor informal women are no more Duke. Are you a maid? Duke. Mari. Duke. A widow then? Neither, my lord. Mari. Why, you Are nothing then: - Neither maid, widow, nor wife? Lucio. My lord, she may be a punk; for many of them are neither maid, widow, nor wife. Duke. Silence that fellow: I would, he had some To prattle for himself. [cause F. Peter. Would he were here, my lord; for he Hath set the women on to this complaint: Duke. Go, do it instantly.- [Exit Provost. Escal. My lord, we'll do it thoroughly.-[Exit Duke.] Signior Lucio, did not you say, you knew? that friar Lodowick to be a dishonest person? Lucio. Cucullus non facit monachum: honest in nothing, but in his clothes; and one that hath spoke most villainous speeches of the duke. Escal. We shall entreat you to abide here till he come, and enforce them against him: we shall find` this friar a notable fellow. Lucio. As any in Vienna, on my word. Escal. Call that same Isabel here once again; [To an Attendant.] I would speak with her: Pray you, my lord, give me leave to question; you shall see how I'll handle her. Lucio. Not better than he, by her own report. Lucio. Marry, sir, I think, if you handled her privately, she would sooner confess: perchance, publickly, she'll be ashamed. Re-enter Officers with Isabella; the Duke in the Escal. I will go darkly to work with her. Escal. Come on mistress: [To Isabella.] here's a gentlewoman denies all that you have said. Lucio. My lord, here comes the rascal I spoke of; here with the provost. Escal. In very good time :-speak not you to him, till we call upon you. Lucio. Mum. |