Clown.

I am as well acquainted here, as I was in our house of profession; one would think it were mistress Over-don's own house; for here be many of her old customers. First here's young Mr. Rash; he's in for a commodity of brown pepper and old ginger, ninescore and seventeen pounds; of which he made five marks ready mony: marry then, ginger was not much in request; for the old women were all dead. Then is there here one Mr. Caper, at the suit of master Three-Pile the mercer, for some four suits of peach-colour'd sattin, which now peaches him a beggar. Then have we here young Dizzy, and young Mr. Deep-vow, and Mr. Copper-spur, and master Starve-Lacky the rapier and dagger-man, and young Drop-heire that kill'd lusty Pudding, and Mr. Forthlight the tilter, and brave Mr. Shooty the great traveller, and wild Half-Canne that stabb'd Pots, and I think forty more; all great doers in our trade, and are now in for the lord's sake.

Abhor.

Sirrah, bring Barnardine hither.

Clown.

Master Barnardine, you must rise and be hang'd, master Barnardine.

Abhor.

What hoa, Barnardine!

Barnar.

A pox o' your throats; who makes that noise there? what are you?

Clown.

Your friend, Sir, the hangman: you must be so good, Sir, to rise, and be put to death.

Barnar.

Away, you rogue away, I am sleepy.

Abhor.

Tell him he must awake, and that quickly too.

Clown.

Pray, master Barnardine, awake 'till you are executed, and sleep afterwards.

Abhor.

Go in to him, and fetch him out.

Clown.

He is coming, Sir, he is coming; I hear the straw russle.

Abhor.

Is the ax upon the block, sirrah?

Clown.

Very ready, Sir.

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.

Clown.

Oh 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?

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 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.

Oh, 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.