Isab. No, none, but only a repair i' the And that I have possess'd him my most stay [Exit. Can be but brief: for I have made him know, I have a servant comes with me along, That stays upon me; whose persuasion is. I come about my brother.

Abhor. Every true man's apparel fits your thief

Clo. 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 often 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,

death:

Prov. Come hither, sirrah. Can you cut for your kindness I owe you a good turn. off a man's head? Prov. Call hither Barnardine and Claudio: Clo. If the man be a bachelor, sir, I can ; [Exeunt Clown and Abhorson. but if he be a married man, he is his wife's Th' one has my pity; not a jot the other, head, and I can never cut off a woman's head. Being a murderer, though he were my brother. Prov. Come, sir, leave me your snatches, Enter Claudio. and yield me a direct answer. To-morrow Look, here's the warrant, Claudio, for thy morning are to die Claudio and Barnardine. [row Here is in our prison a common executioner, 'Tis now dead midnight, and by eight to-morwho in his office lacks a helper: if you will Thou must be made immortal. Where's take it on you to assist him, it shall redeem you Barnardine? 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.

[less labour, Claud. As fast lock'd up in sleep, as guiltWhen it lies starkly in the traveller's bones : He will not wake.

Prov.

Who can do good on him?
Well, go, prepare yourself. [Knocking within.]
But hark, what noise?-
Heaven give your spirits comfort !—[Exit
Claudio.] By and by!--

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 re-
ceive some instruction from my fellow-partner.
Prov. What ho, Abhorson! Where's Ab-I hope it is some pardon, or reprieve,
horson, there?
For the most gentle Claudio.-
Enter Duke.

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? Fie 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 occupation, using painting, do prove my occupation a mystery: but what mystery there should be in hanging, if I should be hanged, I cannot imagine.

Abhor. Sir, it is a mystery.

Clo. Proof?

Not Isabel?

Welcome, father.
Duke. The best and wholesom'st spirits of
the night
[of late?
Envelop you, good provost ! Who call'd here
Prov. None, since the curfew rung.
Duke.
Prov. No.
Duke. 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'd with that
Which he corrects, then were he tyrannous;
But this being so, he's just.-[Knocking with-
in.] Now are they come. [Exit Provost.
This is a gentle provost : seldom, when
The steeled gaoler is the friend of men.-
[Knocking.

How now! What noise? That spirit's pos

sess'd with haste,
[strokes.
That wounds th' unsisting postern with these
Re-enter Provost, speaking to one at the door.
Prov. There he must stay until the officer
Arise to let him in: he is call'd up.
Dake. Have you no countermand for
But he must die to-morrow? [Claudio yet,
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. 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. 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 oft awaked him, as if to carry him to execution, and showed 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 : This is his lordship's man. if I read it not truly, my ancient skill beguiles Duke. And here comes Claudio's pardon. me; but, in the boldness of my cunning, I will Mes. Giving a paper.] My lord hath sent lay myself in hazard. Claudio, whom here you this note; and by me this farther charge, you have warrant to execute, is no greater -that you swerve not from the smallest article forfeit to the law than Angelo who hath senof it, neither in time, matter, or other circum-tenced him. To make you understand this in stance. Good-morrow; for, as I take it, it is almost day.

Prov. I shall obey him. [Exit Messenger.
Duke. [Aside.] This is his pardon, pur-
chased by such sin

For which the pardoner himself is in.
Hence hath offence his quick celerity,
When it is borne in high authority:
When vice makes mercy, mercy's so extended,
That for the fault's love is th' offender
Now, sir, what news?
[friended.-
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.]

a manifested effect, I crave but four days' re-
spite; 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.

Duke. O, death's a great disguiser; and you "Whatsoever you may hear to the contrary, may add to it. Shave the head, and tie the let Claudio be executed by four of the clock; beard; and say it was the desire of the penitent and, in the afternoon, Barnardine. For my to be so bared before his death: you know better satisfaction, let me have Claudio's head the course is common. If anything fall to sent me by five. Let this be duly performed; you upon this, more than thanks and good with a thought that more depends on it than fortune, by the saint whom I profess, I will we must yet deliver. Thus fail not to do your plead against it with my life. 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 this 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 delivered 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.

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 persuasion, can with ease attempt you, I will go farther than I meant, to pluck all fears out of you. Look you, sir, There 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 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 Prison. Enter Clown.

Abhor. Is the axe upon the block, sirrah?
Clo. Very ready, sir.

Enter Barnardine.

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. Abhor. Look you, sir; here comes your ghostly father: do we jest now, think you? Enter Duke, disguised as before.

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. [beseech you,

Duke. O, sir, you must: and therefore, I Look forward on the journey you shall go. Barnar. I swear I will not die to-day for any man's persuasion.

Duke. But hear you,

[Exit. Duke. Unfit to live, or die. O, gravel heart!

Clo. I am as well acquainted here, as I was in 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 Rash; he's in for a commodity of brown paper and old ginger, nine- Barnar. Not a word: if you have anything score and seventeen pounds; of which he made to say to me, come to my ward; for thence five marks ready money: marry, then ginger will not I to-day. was not much in request, for the old women were all dead. Then is there here one master Caper, at the suit of master Threepile the After him, fellows; bring him to the block. mercer, for some four suits of peach-colour'd satin, which now peaches him a beggar. Then have we young Dizzy, and young master Deepvow, 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 Halfcan that stabbed 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 hanged, master Barnardine.

Abhor. What ho! Barnardine! Barnar. [Within.] A pox o' your throats! Who makes that noise there? What are you? Clo. Your friend, sir; the hangman. You must be so good, sir, to rise and be put to death. [I am sleepy. Barnar. [Within.] Away, you rogue, away! 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. Clo. He is coming, sir, he is coming; I hear his straw rustle.

[Exeunt Abhorson and Clown. Enter Provost.

Prov. Now, sir, how do you find the prisoner ? [death; Duke. A creature unprepar'd, unmeet for And, to transport him in the mind he is, Were damnable.

Prov.

Here in the prison, father,
There died this morning of a cruel fever
One Ragozine, a most notorious pirate,
A man of Claudio's years; his beard and head
Just of his colour. What if we do omit
This reprobate till he were well inclin'd;
And satisfy the deputy with the visage
Of Ragozine, more like to Claudio?
Duke. O, 'tis an accident that heaven pro-
Despatch it presently: the hour draws on
Prefix'd by Angelo; see this be done,
And sent according to command, whiles I
Persuade this rude wretch willingly to die.
Prov. This shall be done, good father,
presently.

[vides!

But Barnardine must die this afternoon :
And how shall we continue Claudio,
To save me from the danger that might come,
If he were known alive?
[holds,

Duke. Let this be done ;-put them in secret
Both Barnardine and Claudio: ere twice
The sun hath made his journal greeting to