Duke. More of him anon. There is written in your brow, provoft, honefty and conftancy: if I read it not truly, my ancient skill beguiles me: but in the boldness of my cunning, I will lay myfelf in hazard. Claudio, whom here you have a warrant to execute, is no greater forfeit to the law than Angelo who hath sentenc'd him; To make you understand this in a manifested effect, I crave but four days refpite; for the which you are to do me both a present and a dangerous courtesy. Prov. Pray, fir, in what? Duke. In the delaying death. Prov. Alack! how may I do it? having the hour limited; and an exprefs command, under penalty, to deliver his head in the view of Angelo? I may make my cafe as Claudio's, to cross this in the fmallest. Duke. By the vow of mine order, I warrant you, if my instruction may be your guide. Let this Bar. nardine be this morning executed, and his head borne to Angelo. Prov. Angelo hath seen them both, and will dif cover the favour. Duke. Oh, death's a great disguiser and you may add to it. Shave the head, and tie the beard; and fay, it was the defire of the penitent to be fo barbed 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 faint whom I profefs, I will plead against it with my life. Prov. Pardon me, good father; it is against my oath. Duke. Were you fworn to the duke, or to the deputy? Prov. To him, and to his fubftitutes. Duke. You will think you have made no offence, if the duke avouch the juftice of your dealing. Prov. But what likelihood is in that? Duke. Not a refemblance, but a certainty. Yet fince I fee you fearful, that neither my coat, integrity, nor my perfuafion, can with eafe attempt you, I will go further than I meant, to pluck all fears out of you. Look, you, fir, here is the hand and feal of the duke; You know the character, I doubt not; and the fignet is not strange to you. Prov. I know them both. Duke. The contents of this is the return of the duke; you fhall anon over-read it at your pleasure where you fhall 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 fome monaftery; but, by chance, nothing of what is writ. Look, the unfolding ftar calls up the fhepherd: Put not yourself into amazement, how these things fhould be: all difficulties are but eafy when they are known. Call your executioner, and off with Barnardine's head: I will give him a prefent fhrift, and advise him for a better place. Yet you are amaz'd; but this fhall abfolutely refolve you. Come away; it is almost clear [Exeunt. dawn. SCENE III: Enter Clown. Clown. I am as well acquainted here as I was in our house of profeffion: one would think, it were were mistress Over-done's own house, for here be many of her old customers. First, here's young mafter Rafh; he's in for a commodity of brown paper and old ginger, ninefcore and seventeen pounds; of which he made five marks, ready money: marry then, ginger was not much in requeft, for the old women were all dead. Then is there here one master Caper, at the fuit of master Three-pile the mercer, for fome four fuits of peach'dcolour'd fatin, which now peaches him a beggar. Then have we here young Dizy, and young mafter Deep-vow, and mafter Copper-fpur, and mafter Starve-lucky the rapier and dagger man, and young Drop-heir that kill'd lufty Pudding, and mafter Forth-right the tilter, and brave mafter Shoe-tye 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 in for the Lord's fake. Enter ABHORSON. Abhor. Sirrah, bring Barnardine hither. Clown. Mafter Barnardine? you must rise and be hang'd, mafter Barnardine! Abhor. What, ho, Barnardine ! Barnar. [Within.] A pox o' your throats! Who makes that noife there? What are you? Clown. Your friends, fir; the hangman: You must be fo good, fir, to rife and be put to death. Barnar. [Within.] Away, you rogue, away; I am fleepy. Abhor. Tell him he muft awake, and that quick too. Clown. Pray, mafter Barnardine, awake till you are executed, and fleep afterwards. Abhor. Abhor. Go in to him, and fetch him out. Clown. He is coming, fir, he is coming: I hear his ftraw rustle. Enter BARNARDINE. Barnar. Is the axe upon the block, firrah? Barnar. How now, Abhorfon! what's the news with you? Abhor. Truly, fir, I would defire you to clap into your prayers; for, look you, the warrant's come. Barnar. You rogue, 1 have been drinking all night, I am not fitted for't. Clown. Oh, the better, fir; for he that drinks all night, and is hang'd betimes in the morning, may fleep the founder all the next day. Enter Duke, Abhor. Look you, fir, here comes your ghoftly father; Do we jeft now, think you? Duke. Sir, induced by my charity, and hearing how haftily you are to depart, I am come to advife 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 fhall beat out my brains with billets: I will not confent to die this day, that's certain. Duke. Oh, fir, you must: and therefore, I be feech you, look forward on the journey you fhall go. Barnar. I fwear, I will not die to-day for any man's perfuafion. Duke. But hear you Barnar Barnar. Not a word: if you have any thing to fay to me, come to my ward; for thence will not I to-day. Enter Provoft. [Exit. Duke. Unfit to live, or die: Oh, gravel heart!— After him, fellows; bring him to the block. [Exeunt ABHORSON, and Clown. Prov. Now, fir, how do you find the prisoner? Duke. A creature unprepar'd, unmeet for death; And, to transport him in the mind he is, Were damnable. Prov. Here in the prison, father, There dy'd this morning of a cruel fever Duke. O, 'tis an accident that heaven provides! To fave me from the danger that might come, If he were known alive? Duke. Let this be done-Put them In fecret holds, both Barnardine and Claudio : Ere twice the fun hath made his journal meeting To the under generation, you fhall find |