SCENE II.
Changes to the Prison.
Enter Provost and Clown.
Prov.
Come hither, sirrah: Can you cut off a man's
head?
Clown.
If the man be a batchelor, sir, I can: but if
he be a marry'd 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 unpity'd whipping, for you have been a notorious
bawd.
Clown.
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?
-- 111 --
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 mistery4 note.
Prov.
Go to, sir; you weigh equally; a feather
will turn the scale.
Exit.
Clown.
Pray, sir, by your good favour (for, surely,
sir, a good favour5 note
you have, but that you have a
hanging look) do you call, sir, your occupation a mistery?
Abhor.
Ay, sir; a mistery.
Clown.
Painting, sir, I have heard say, is a mistery;
and your whores, sir, being members of my occupation,
using painting, do prove my occupation a mistery:
but what mistery there should be in hanging,
if I should be hang'd, I cannot imagine6 note
.
-- 112 --
Abhor.
Sir, it is a mistery.
Clown.
Proof.
-- 113 --
Abhor.
Every true man's apparel fits your thief7 note
.
Clown.
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?
Clown.
Sir, I will serve him; for I do find, your
hangman is a more penitent trade than your bawd;
he doth oftner ask forgiveness8 note
.
Prov.
You, sirrah, provide your block and your axe,
to-morrow four o'clock.
-- 114 --
Abhor.
Come on, bawd; I will instruct thee in my
trade; follow.
Clown.
I do desire to learn, sir; and, I hope, if you
have occasion to use me for your own turn, you shall
find me yare9 note
: for, truly sir, for your kindness, I owe
you a good turn.
[Exit.
Prov.
Call hither Barnardine and Claudio:
One has my pity; not a jot the other,
Being a murtherer, though he were my brother.
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 labour
When it lies starkly1 note in the traveller's bones:
He will not wake.
Prov.
Who can do good on him?
Well, go, prepare yourself. [Exit Claud.] But, hark, what noise?
[Knock within.
Heaven give your spirits comfort!—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
Invellop you, good provost! Who call'd here of late?
Prov.
None, since the curfew rung?
Duke.
Not Isabel?
Prov.
No.
Duke.
They will then2 note, ere't be long.
Prov.
What comfort is for Claudio?
-- 115 --
Duke.
There's some in hope.
Prov.
It is a bitter deputy.
Duke.
Not so, not so; his life is parellel'd
Even with the stroke3 note and line of his great justice;
He doth with holy abstinence subdue
That in himself, which he spurs on his power
4 note
To qualify in others: were he meal'd5 note
With that, which he corrects, then were he tyrannous;
But this being-so 9Q0193, he's just.—Now are they come.—
[Knock. Provost goes out.
This is a gentle provost; Seldom, when
The steeled goaler is the friend of men.—
How now? what noise? that spirit's possess'd with haste6 note
,
That wounds the unresisting postern 9Q01949Q0195 with these strokes.
-- 116 --
Provost returns, speaking to one at the door.
Prov.
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
No countermand; no such example have we:
Besides, upon the very siege of justice7 note
,
Lord Angelo hath to the publick ear
Profess'd the contrary.
Enter a Messenger8 note
.
Duke.
This is his lordship's man.
Prov.
And here comes Claudio's pardon.
-- 117 --
Mess.
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 my office, awakens me with this unwonted
putting on: methinks, strangely; for he hath
not us'd it before.
Duke.
Pray you, let's hear.
Provost reads the letter.
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?
-- 118 --
Duke.
What is that Barnardine, who is to be executed
in the afternoon?
Prov.
A Bohemian born; but here nurs'd up and
bred: one that is a prisoner nine years old. 9Q0196
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 deny'd 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,
and fearless of what's past, present, or to come; insensible
of mortality, and desperately mortal9 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
awak'd him, as if to carry him to execution, and
shew'd him a seeming warrant for it; it hath not
mov'd 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 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
-- 119 --
sentenc'd 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.
Duke.
Oh, death's a great disguiser: and you may
add to it. Shave the head, 1 note
and tie the beard; and
say, it was the desire of the penitent to be so barb'd2 note before
-- 120 --
his death: you know the course is common. 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: 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, 4 note
the unfolding star 9Q0197 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
-- 121 --
shrift, and advise him for a better place. Yet you are
amaz'd; but this shall absolutely resolve you. Come
away; it is almost clear dawn.
[Exeunt.
Samuel Johnson [1778], The plays of William Shakspeare. In ten volumes. With the corrections and illustrations of various commentators; to which are added notes by Samuel Johnson and George Steevens. The second edition, Revised and Augmented (Printed for C. Bathurst [and] W. Strahan [etc.], London) [word count] [S10901].