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.
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].
