Isab. I have ta'en a due and wary note upon't; Duke. Duke. I have not yet made known to Mariana A word of this :-What, ho! within! come forth! MA-I pray you, be acquainted with this maid; Mari. Break off thy song, and haste thee quick Isab. you ? eyes Are stuck upon thee! volumes of report Run with these false and most contrarious quests And rack thee in their fancies !-Welcome !-How Re-enter MARIANA and ISABELLA. [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. cond. It may indeed be the property of some unknown 1 The duke's vice may be explained by what he or forgotten author. Be this as it may, the reader will says himself, Act. i. Sc. 4. -'twas my fault to give the people scope.' Angelo's vice requires no explanation. 2 'How may likeness, made in crimes, The old copies read making. The emendation is Mr. be pleased to have the second stanza. Hide, oh hide those hills of snow 4 Though the music soothed my sorrows, it had no 6 Planched, planked, wooden. 7 i. e. informed. Thus Shylock says I have possess'd your grace of what I purpose." 9 Stays, waits. 9 Quests, inquisitions, inquiries. 10 'Scapes, sallies, sportive wiles. 11 i. e. ornament, embellish an action that would otherwise seem ugly. 3 It does not appear certain to whom this beautiful little song rightly belongs. It is found with an additional stanza in Fletcher's Bloody Brother. Mr. Malone prints it as Shakspeare's, Mr. Boswell thinks Fletcher has the best claim to it; Mr. Webster that Shakspeare 12 Tilth here means land prepared for sowing. The may have written the first stanza, and Fletcher the se-old copy reads tithe; the emendation is Warburton's Prov. Come, sir, leave me your snatches, and | vield 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 angman. I would be glad to receive some instrucLion 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 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. Clo. Pray, sir, by your good favour (for, surely, sir, a good favours 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 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 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 ny trade; follow. Claud. As fast lock'd up in sleep, as guiltless la- When it lies starkly' in the traveller's bones : I hope it is some pardon, or reprieve, Duke. The best and wholesome spirits of the night Envelope good Provost! Who call'd here of late? Prov. None, since the curfew rung. Duke. Prov. No. Duke. Not Isabel? They will then, ere't be long. Prov. What comfort is for Claudio? Duke. There's some in hope. 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 justice, He doth with holy abstinence subdue That in himself, which he spurs on his power To qualify in others: were he meal'di With that which he corrects,then were he tyrannous, But this being so, he's just.-Now are they come. [Knocking within.-Provost goes out This is a gentle provost: Seldom when11 The steeled gaoler is the friend of men.How now? What noise? That spirit's possess'd with haste, That wounds the unsisting12 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, 13 You something know; yet, I believe, there comes Enter a Messenger. Duke. This is his lordship's man. Prov. And here comes Claudio's pardon. Clo. I do desire to learn, sir; and, I hope, if you Mess. My lord hath sent you this note; and by have occasion to use me for your own turn, you me this further charge, that you swerve not from shall find me yare ; for, truly, sir, for your kind-the smallest article of it, neither in time, matter, or other circumstance. Good-morrow; for, as I take ness, I owe you a good turn. it, it is almost day. Prov. Call hither Barnardine and Claudio: Look, here's the warrant, Claudio, for thy death; 1 i. e. fetters. 2 i. e. a whipping that none shall pity. 3 Favour is countenance. 4 i. e. honest. 5 Warburton says, 'this proves the thief's trade a mystery, not the hangman's,' and therefore supposes that a speech in which the hangman proved his trade a mystery is lost, part of this last speech being in the old editions given to the clown. But Heath observes, 'The argument of the hangman is exactly similar to that of the clown. As the latter puts in his claim to the whores as members of his occupation, and in virtue of their painting would enroll his own fraternity in the mystery of painters; so the former equally lays claim to the thieves as members of his occupation, and in their right endeavours to rank his brethren the hangmen under the mystery of fitters of apparel, or tailors ie. ready. 7 í. e. strongly Prov. I shall obey him. [Exit Messenger. Duke. This is his pardon; purchas'd by such sin. [Aside. For which the pardoner himself is in: 8 Stroke is here put for the stroke of a pen, or a line. 9 To qualify is to temper, to moderate. 10 Meal'd appears to mean here sprinkled, o'erdusted, defiled; I cannot think that in this instance it has any relation to the verb to mell, meddle or mix with 11 This is absurdly printed Seldom, when, &c. in all the late editions. Seldom-when (i. e. rarely, not often) is the steeled gaoler the friend of men.' Thus in old phraseology we have seldom-time, any-when, &c. The comma between seldom and when is not in the old copy. but an arbitrary addition of some editor. 12 The old copies read thus.-Monck Mason proposed, unlisting, i e. unheeding, which is intelligible. But I prefer Sir W. Blackstone's suggestion, that unsisting may signify never at rest,' always opening. 13 Hapily, haply, perhaps the old orthography of the word. 14 i e. seat. That for the fault's love, is the offender friended.—say, it was the desire of the penitent to be so bared Now, sir, what news? 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 1 profess, I will plead against it with my life. Prov. I told you: Lord Angelo, be-like, thinking me remiss in mine office, awakens me with this un wonted putting on: methinks, strangely; for he hath not used it before. Duke. Pray you, let's hear. better sa Prov. [Reads] Whatever you may hear to the contrary, let Claudio be executed by four of the clock; and, in the afternoon, Barnardine; for my tisfaction, 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. What say you to this, sir? 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. since I see you fearful, that neither my coat, in Yet Duke. What is that Barnardine, who is to be ex-tegrity, nor my persuasion, can with ease attempt ecuted in the afternoon? Prov. A Bohemian born; but here nursed up and bred; one that is a prisoner nine years old.2 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? Prov. Most manifest, and not denied by himself. Duke. Hath he borne himself penitently in prison? How seems he to be touched? 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.3 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. I Duke. More of him anon. There is written in your brow, Provost, honesty and constancy: if 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 Angelo who hath sentenced him: To make understand this in a manifested effect, I crave but four days' respite; for the which you are to do me both a present and a dangerous courtesy. Prov. Pray, sir, in what? you 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 you, I will go further than I meant, to pluck all fears out of you. Look you, sir, here is the hand and seal of the duke. You know the character, I doubt 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 overread 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. Enter Clown. Clo. I am as well acquainted here, as I was m our house of profession: one would think it were mistress Overdone's own house, for here be many of her old customers. First, here's young master and old ginger, ninescore and seventeen pounds; of Rash;10 he's in for a commodity of brown paper which he made five marks, ready money:11 marry, then, ginger was not much in request, for the old 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 kill'd lusty Pudding, and master Forthright the til rapier and dagger man, and young Drop-heir that ter, 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.12 Enter ABHORSON. Abhor. Sirrah, bring Barnardine hither. Clo. Master Barnardine! you must rise and bo hang'd, master Barnardine! 10 This enumeration of the inhabitants of the prison, affords a very striking view of the practices predomi nant in Shakspeare's age. Besides those whose follies are common to all times, we have four fighting men and a traveller. It is not unlikely that the originals of the pictures were then known. Rash was a silken stuff forhar-merly worn in coats: all the names are characteristic. As 6 Shave the head and tie the beard-the course is common. This probably alludes to a practice among Roman Catholics of desiring to receive the tonsure of the monks before they died. 7 What is writ; we should read here writ;' the Duke pointing to the letter in his hand. 8 So Milton in Comus: "The star that bids the shepherd fold si e convince you. 11 It was the practice of money lenders in Shak speare's time, as well as more recently, to make advances partly in goods and partly in cash. The goods were to be resold generally at an enormous loss upon the cost price, and of these commodities it appears that broton paper and ginger often formed a part. 12 It appears from Davies's Epigrams, 1611, that this was the language in which prisoners who were confined for debt addressed passengers ;— 'Good gentle writers, for the Lord's sake, for the Lord's sake, Like Ludgate prisoners, lo, I, begging, make 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 him out. The under generation, you shall find Prov. I am your free dependant. Quick, despatch, Clo. He is coming, sir, he is coming; I hear his By cold gradation and weal-balanced form, straw rustle. Enter BARNArdine. Abhor. Is the axe upon the block, sirrah? 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 hanged 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? 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. 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 you, Look forward on the journey you shall go. We shall proceed with Angelo. Re-enter Provost. Duke. Good morning to you fair and gracious daughter. Isab. The better given me by so holy a man. His head is off, and sent to Angelo It is no other : I will not die to-day for any Show your wisdom, daughter, in your close patience. 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 to-day. [Exit. Enter Provost. I Duke. Unfit to live, or die: O, gravel heart!- Prov. Here in the prison, father, A man of Claudio's years; his beard and head, Duke. O, 'tis an accident that heaven provides! But Barnardine must die this afternoon: To save me from the danger that might come, Isab. O, I will to him, and pluck out his eyes. Duke. This nor hurts him, nor profits you a jot: The duke comes home to-morrow;-nay, dry your Gives me this instance: Already he hath carried Who do prepare to meet him at the gates, In that good path that I would wish to go; And you shall have your bosom3 on this wretch, Isab. And shall be absent. Wend' you with this letter Duke. Let this be done :-Put them in secret holds, If I pervert your course.-Who's here? Both Barnardine and Claudio; Ere twice The sun hath made his journal greeting to Lucio. Enter LUCIO. 1 i. e. to remove him from one world to another. The Friar, where is the Provost ? French trepas affords a kindred sense. 2 The under generation, the antipodes. 4 Shakspeare uses combine for to bind by a pact or Good event agreement; so he calls Angelo the combinate husband of Mariana. 5 i. e. Go. Duke. Not within, sir. Lucio. O, pretty Isabella, I am pale at mine heart, to see thine eyes so red: thou must be patient: am fain to dine and sup with water and bran; I dare not for my head fill my belly; one fruitful meal would set me to't: But they say the duke will be here to-morrow. By my troth, Isabel, I lov'd thy brother: if the old fantastical duke of dark corners had been at home, he had lived. [Exit ISABELLA. Duke. Sir, the duke is marvellous little beholden to your reports; but the best is he lives not in them.' Lucio. Friar, thou knowest not the duke so well as I do: he's a better woodman2 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? Lucio. Yes, marry, did I; but was fain to forswear it; they would else have married me to the rotten meddlar. Duke. Sir, your company is fairer than honest: Rest you well. 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 shall stick. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. A Room in Angelo's House. Enter ANGELO and ESCALUS. Escal. Every letter he hath writ hath disvouch'd' other. For my authority bears a credent' bulk, Duke. These letters at fit time deliver me. It shall be speeded well. [Exit. Friar Enter VARRIUS. Duke. I thank thee, Varrius; thou hast made good haste: Come we will walk There's other of our friends Will greet us here anon, my gentle Varrius. [Exeunt. SCENE VI. Street near the City Gate. Enter ISABELLA and MARIANA. Isab. To speak so indirectly, I am loath; Ang. In most uneven and distracted manner. I would say the truth; but to accuse him so, His actions show much like to madness: pray hea-That is your part: Yet I'm advis'd to do it; ven, his wisdom be not tainted! And why meet him He says, to 'vailful12 purpose. at the gates, and redeliver our authorities there? Mari, Be rul'd by him. Escal. I guess not. Isab. Besides, he tells me, that, if peradventure He speak against me on the adverse side, 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. He 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: Betimes i' the morn, I'll call you at your house: Give notice to such men of sort and suit,* As are to meet him. Escal. I shall, sir fare you well. [Exit. Ang. Good night.This deed unshapes me quite, makes me unpreg nant, And dull to all proceeding. A deflower'd maid! I should not think it strange; for 'tis a physic, Mari. I would, friar Peter- O, peace; the friar is come. F. Peter. Come, I have found you out a stand most fit, Where you may have such vantage on the duke, He shall not pass you; Twice have the trumpets sounded; The generous and the gravest citizens, ACT V. SCENE I. A public Place near the City Gate. MARIANA (veil'd,) ISABELLA, and PETER, at a distance. Enter at opposite doors, Duke, VARRIUS, Lords; ANGELO, ESCALUS, LUCIO, Provost, Officers, and Citizens. This passage will therefore bear two interpretations, between which the reader must choose. 7 Credent, creditable, not questionable. 8 Particular is private: a French sense of the word. 9 i. e. utterer. 10 Dr. Johnson thought the fourth Act should end here, 'for here is properly a cessation of action, a night inter venes, and the place is changed between the passages of this scene and those of the next. The fifth Act, beginning with the following scene, would proceed with out any interruption of time or place.' 11 To blench, to start off, to fly off. 12 Availful. 13 He is called friar Thomas in the first Act. 14 Generous, for most noble, or those of rank. Gen erosi, Lat. 15 i. e. seized, laid hold on |