Craft against vice I must apply: [Exit. ACT THE FOURTH. SCENE I. The Prison. Enter Provost, with a Warrant, and POMPEY. Prov. Come hither, sirrah :- Can you cut off a man's head? Pom. 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. Pom. Sir, I will be content to be a hangman. I would be glad to receive some instruction from my fellow-partner. Prov. What, ho, Abhorson! Where's Abhorson, there? 6 Fetters. Enter ABHORSON. Abh. Do you call, sir? Prov. Sirrah, here's a fellow will help you tomorrow in your execution. Abh. Fie upon him, he will discredit our mystery.' Prov. Go to sir; you weigh equally; a feather will turn the scale. Provide your block and your axe, to-morrow, four o'clock. Abh. Come on, I will instruct thee in my trade; follow. Pom. I 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 ABHORSON and POMPEY. The one has my pity; not a jot the other, Being a murderer. 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? Claud. As fast lock'd up in sleep as guiltless la bour, When it lies starkly in the traveller's bones: He will not wake. Prov. Who can do good on him? Well, go, prepare yourself But, hark, what noise? Heaven give your spirits comfort! By and by : [Knocking again. — Exit CLAUDIO. 7 Trade. 8 Ready. I hope it is some pardon, or reprieve, Enter the DUKE, as a Friar. Welcome, father. Duke. The best and wholesomest spirits of the night Envelope you, good provost !-Who call'd here of late? There's some in hope. Prov. What comfort is for Claudio? Duke. 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 Now are they come. [Knocking again. [Exit Provost. This is a gentle provost : Seldom, when Re-enter Provost. Prov. [Speaking to one without.] There must he 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 9 Perhaps. Besides, upon the very siege of justice, Enter THOMAS, with a Letter. This is his lordship's man. Duke. And here comes Claudio's pardon. Tho. My lord has 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. [Having read the order.] I shall obey him. [Exit THOMAS. Duke. Now, sir, what news? Prov. I told you: Lord Angelo, belike, thinking 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 to 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? Duke. What is that Barnardine, who is to be executed in the afternoon? 2 Prov. A Bohemian born; but here nursed up and bred: one that is a prisoner nine old. years 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. 1 Seat. 2 Nine years in prison. 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. 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 Angelo who hath sentenced him. To make you 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? 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. 3 Duke. O, death's a great disguiser: and you may add to it. Shave the head, and say it was the desire of the penitent to be so bared before his death: You 3 Countenance. |