Abhor. Truly, sir, I would desire you to clap into your prayers; for, look you, the warrant's come.

Bar. You rogue, I have been drinking all night; I am not fitted for't.

Pom. O, the better, sir; for he that drinks all night, and is hanged 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?

Enter the DUKE disguised as before.

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.

Bar. 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.

Bar. I swear I will not die to-day for any man's persuasion.

Bar. Not a word: if you have any thing to say to me, come to my ward; for thence will not I to-day.

Duke. Unfit to live or die: O gravel heart ! —

After him, fellows; bring him to the block.

[Exit.

[Exeunt ABHORSON and POMPEY.

Re-enter the Provost.

Prov. Now, sir, how do you find the prisoner?

Duke. A creature unprepared, unmeet for death;

And to transport him 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 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! Dispatch 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 th' under generation, you shall find

Your safety manifested.

Prov. I am your free dependant.
Duke.

And send the head to Angelo.—

Now will I write letters to Angelo,

Quick, dispatch,

[Exit Provost.

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

5 "Th' under generation" means the generation living on the earth beneath; those inhabiting what the Poet describes in King Lear as "this under globe,” and in The Tempest as "this lower world." — Journal is used in its proper literal sense, daily.

To enter publicly: him I'll desire

To meet me at the consecrated fount,

A league below the city; and from thence,
By cold gradation and well-balanced form,
We shall proceed with Angelo.

Re-enter the Provost with RAGOZINE's head.

Prov. Here is the head; I'll carry it myself.
Make a swift return;

Duke. Convenient is it.

For I would cómmune with you of such things
That want no ear but yours.

Prov. I'll make all speed.

Isab. [Within.] Peace, ho, be here!

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 comfort of despair,
When it is least expected.

Isab.

Enter ISABELLA.

Ho, by your leave!

[Exit.

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 released 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 !

6 Shall for will, in accordance with the usage of the time. So, a little

after, "you shall find "; and several times before in this scene.

Injurious world! most damnèd Angelo !

Duke. This nor hurts him nor profits you a jot ; Forbear it therefore; give your cause to Heaven.

Mark what I say to you, 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 cónfessor,

Gives me this instance :7 Already he hath carried

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,

Then you shall have your bosom on this wretch,

Grace of the Duke, revenges to your heart,

And general honour.

Isab.

I'm 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 10 by a sacred vow,

And shall be absent. Wend you with this letter:
Command these fretting waters from your eyes

With a light heart; trust not my holy order,

7 Instance is assurance, or circumstance in proof.

8 Bosom for wish or desire, of which it is the seat.

9 Home is much used by the Poet for thoroughly, to the uttermost, or to the quick. The repetition here gives a very strong sense. See vol. iv. page 112, note 2.

10 Bound or pledged; like combinate before. See page 188, note 27.

Enter LUCIO.

Lucio. Good even, friar: where's 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 loved thy brother: if the old fantastical Duke of dark corners had been at home, he had lived. [Exit ISABELLA.

Duke. Sir, the Duke is marvellous little beholding to your reports; but the best is, he lives not in them.

Lucio. Friar, thou knowest not the Duke so well as I do : he's a better woodman 11 than thou takest him for.

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 I 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.

11 A woodman is a hunter; here the word is used for one who hunts female game; the usage having perhaps sprung from the consonance of dear and deer. See page 101, note 6.