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.
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 whipping5 note; for you have
been a notorious bawd.
-- 146 --
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 receive some instruction
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 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? 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 favour6 note
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 imagine7 note
.
-- 147 --
Abhor.
Sir, it is a mystery.
Clo.
Proof.
-- 148 --
Abhor.
Every true man's apparel fits your thief8 note
:
If it be too little for your thief, your true man
-- 149 --
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 forgiveness9 note
.
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 yare1 note
: for, truly, sir, for your kindness,
I owe you a good turn2 note.
Prov.
Call hither Barnardine and Claudio:
[Exeunt Clown and Abhorson.
Th'one has my pity; not a jot the other,
Being a murderer, though he were my brother.
Enter Claudio.
Look, here's the warrant, Claudio, for thy death:
-- 150 --
'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 labour
When it lies starkly3 note
in the traveller's bones:
He will not wake.
Prov.
Who can do good on him?
Well, go, prepare yourself. But hark, what noise?
[Knocking within.
Heaven give your spirits comfort!
[Exit Claudio.
By and by:—
I hope it is some pardon, or reprieve,
For the most gentle Claudio.—Welcome, father.
Enter Duke.
Duke.
The best and wholesomest spirits of the night
Envelop you, good Provost! Who call'd here of late?
Prov.
None, since the curfew rung.
Duke.
Not Isabel?
Prov.
No.
Duke.
They will then4 note
, ere't be long.
Prov.
What comfort is for Claudio?
Duke.
There's some in hope.
-- 151 --
Prov.
It is a bitter deputy.
Duke.
Not so, not so; his life is parallel'd
Even with the stroke5 note and line of his great justice;
He doth with holy abstinence subdue
That in himself, which he spurs on his power
To qualify6 note
in others: were he meal'd7 note
With that which he corrects, then were he tyranous;
But this being so8 note, he's just.—Now are they come.—
[Knocking within.—Provost goes out.
This is a gentle provost: Seldom, when
The steeled gaoler is the friend of men.—
How now? What noise? That spirit's possess'd with haste,
That wounds the unsisting postern with these strokes9 note
.
-- 152 --
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,
You something know; yet, I believe, there comes
No countermand; no such example have we:
Besides, upon the very siege of justice1 note
,
Lord Angelo hath to the public ear
Profess'd the contrary.
Enter a Messenger.
Duke.
This is his lordship's man2 note.
-- 153 --
Prov.
And here comes Claudio's pardon3 note
.
Mes.
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.
[Exit Messenger.
Duke.
This is his pardon; purchas'd by such sin,
[Aside.
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 the offender friended.—
Now, sir, what news?
Prov.
I told you: Lord Angelo, be-like, thinking
me remiss in mine office, awakens me with this
-- 154 --
unwonted putting on4 note
: 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 old5 note.
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 touch'd?
Prov.
A man that apprehends death no more
dreadfully, but as a drunken sleep; careless, reckless,
-- 115 --
and fearless of what's past, present, or to
come; insensible of mortality, and desperately
mortal6 note
.
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 cunning7 note, 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.
-- 156 --
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 favour8 note.
Duke.
O, death's a great disguiser: and you may
add to it. Shave the head, and tie the beard9 note
; and
say, it was the desire of the penitent to be so bared1 note
before his death: You know, the course is common2 note
.
-- 157 --
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
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:
-- 158 --
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 writ3 note. Look, the unfolding
star calls up the shepherd4 note
: 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 you5 note. 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 in
our house of profession6 note: one would think, it were
mistress Overdone's own house, for here be many
of her old customers. First, here's young master
Rash7 note
; he's in for a commodity of brown paper
-- 159 --
and old ginger8 note
, ninescore and seventeen pounds:
of which he made five marks, ready money: marry,
-- 160 --
then, ginger was not much in request, for the old
women were all dead9 note. Then is there here one
-- 161 --
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 Dizy1 note, 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 Forthright2 note
the tilter, and brave master Shoe-tie the great traveller3 note
,
and wild Half-can that stabb'd Pots, and, I
-- 162 --
think, forty more; all great doers in our trade,
and are now for the Lord's sake5 note
.
-- 163 --
Enter Abhorson.
Abhor.
Sirrah, bring Barnardine hither.
Clo.
Master Barnardine! you must rise and be
hang'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 him out.
Clo.
He is coming, sir, he is coming; I hear his
straw rustle.
Enter Barnardine.
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 prayers6 note; for, look you, the warrant's come.
-- 164 --
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?
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.
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, fellows7 note
: bring him to the block.
[Exeunt Abhorson and Clown.
-- 165 --
Prov.
Now, sir, how do you find the prisoner?
Duke.
A creature unprepar'd, unmeet for death;
And, to transport him8 note 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 inclined;
And satisfy the deputy with the visage
Of Ragozine, more like to Claudio?
Duke.
O, 'tis an accident that heaven provides!
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.
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?
Duke.
Let this be done;—Put them in secret holds,
Both Barnardine and Claudio: Ere twice
The sun hath made his journal greeting to
The under generation9 note
, you shall find
Your safety manifested.
-- 166 --
Prov.
I am your free dependant.
Duke.
Quick, despatch,
And send the head to Angelo.
[Exit Provost.
Now will I write letters to Angelo,—
The provost, he shall bear them,—whose contents
Shall witness to him, I am near at home;
And that, by great injunctions, I am bound
To enter publickly: him I'll desire
To meet me at the consecrated fount,
A league below the city; and from thence,
By cold gradation and weal-balanced form1 note
,
We shall proceed with Angelo.
Re-enter Provost.
Prov.
Here is the head; I'll carry it myself.
Duke.
Convenient is it: Make a swift return;
For I would commune with you of such things,
That want no ear but yours.
Prov.
I'll make all speed.
[Exit.
Isab. [Within.]
Peace, ho, be here!
-- 167 --
Duke.
The tongue of Isabel:—She's come to know,
If yet her brother's pardon be come hither:
But I will keep her ignorant of her good,
To make her heavenly comforts of despair,
When it is least expected2 note.
Enter Isabella.
Isab.
Ho, by your leave.
Duke.
Good morning to you, fair and gracious daughter.
Isab.
The better, given me by so holy a man.
Hath yet the deputy sent my brother's pardon?
Duke.
He hath releas'd him, Isabel, from the world;
His head is off, and sent to Angelo.
Isab.
Nay, but it is not so.
Duke.
It is no other:
Show your wisdom, daughter, in your close patience.
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 eyes;
One of our convent, and his confessor,
Gives me this instance: Already he hath carried
-- 168 --
Notice to Escalus and Angelo;
Who do prepare to meet him at the gates,
There to give up their power. If you can, pace your wisdom
In that good path that I would wish it go;
And you shall have your bosom3 note on this wretch,
Grace of the duke, revenges to your heart,
And general honour.
Isab.
I am directed by you.
Duke.
This letter then to friar Peter give;
'Tis that he sent me of the duke's return:
Say, by this token, I desire his company
At Mariana's house to-night. Her cause, and yours,
I'll perfect him withal; and he shall bring you
Before the duke; and to the head of Angelo
Accuse him home, and home. For my poor self,
I am combined by a sacred vow4 note
,
And shall be absent. Wend you5 note
with this letter:
Command these fretting waters from your eyes
With a light heart; trust not my holy order,
If I pervert your course.—Who's here?
-- 169 --
Enter Lucio.
Lucio.
Good even!
Friar, where is the provost?
Duke.
Not within, sir.
Lucio.
O, pretty Isabella, I am pale at mine
heart, to see thine eyes so red: thou must be patient:
I 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 corners6 note
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
them7 note
.
Lucio.
Friar, thou knowest not the duke so well
as I do; he's a better woodman8 note
than thou takest
him for.
-- 170 --
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 medlar.
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.
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.
-- 171 --
Ang.
And why should we9 note 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 house1 note
:
Give notice to such men of sort and suit2 note
,
As are to meet him.
Escal.
I shall, sir: fare you well.
[Exit.
Ang.
Good night.—
This deed unshapes me quite, makes me unpregnant3 note,
-- 172 --
And 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?—no4 note
:
-- 173 --
For my authority bears off a credent bulk,
That no particular scandal once can touch,
But it confounds the breather5 note
. He should have liv'd,
-- 174 --
Save that his riotous youth, with dangerous sense,
Might, in the times to come, have ta'en revenge,
By so receiving a dishonour'd life,
With ransome of such shame. 'Would yet he had liv'd!
Alack, when once our grace we have forgot,
Nothing goes right; we would, and we would not6 note.
[Exit.
SCENE V.
Fields without the Town.
Enter Duke in his own habit, and Friar Peter.
Duke.
These letters7 note
at fit time deliver me.
[Giving letters.
The provost knows our purpose, and our plot.
The matter being afoot, keep your instruction,
And hold you ever to our special drift;
-- 175 --
Though sometimes you do blench from this to that8 note
,
As cause doth minister. Go, call at Flavius' house,
And tell him where I stay: give the like notice,
To Valentinus, Rowland, and to Crassus,
And bid them bring the trumpets to the gate;
But send me Flavius first.
F. Peter.
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;
I would say the truth; but to accuse him so,
That is your part: yet I'm advis'd to do it;
He says, to veil full purpose9 note
.
-- 176 --
Mari.
Be rul'd by him.
Isab.
Besides, he tells me, that, if peradventure
He speak against me on the adverse side,
I should not think it strange: for 'tis a physick,
That's bitter to sweet end.
Mari.
I would, friar Peter—
Isab.
O, peace; the friar is come.
Enter Friar Peter1 note.
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 generous2 note
and gravest citizens
-- 177 --
Have hent the gates3 note
, and very near upon
The duke is ent'ring; therefore hence, away.
[Exeunt.
James Boswell [1821], The plays and poems of William Shakspeare, with the corrections and illustrations of various commentators: comprehending A Life of the Poet, and an enlarged history of the stage, by the late Edmond Malone. With a new glossarial index (J. Deighton and Sons, Cambridge) [word count] [S10201].
