Are stuck upon thee: volumes of report Run with these false and most contrarious quests 64 15 Pem. 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? 21 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. 28 Abhor. A bawd, sir? Fie upon him! he will discredit our mystery. Abhor. Come on, bawd; I will instruct thee in my trade; follow. Pom. I do desire to learn, sir; and, I hope, if you have occasion to use me for your own turn, you shall find me yare; for, truly, sir, for your kindness I owe you a good turn. Prov. Call hither Barnardine and Claudio: [Exeunt POMPEY and ABHORSON. The one has my pity; not a jot the other, 64 Being a murderer, though he were my brother. They will, then, ere't be long. Prov. What comfort is for Claudio? Duke. There's some in hope. 84 Prov. It is a bitter deputy. Duke. Not so, not so: his life is parallel'd Even with the stroke and line of his great justice: He doth with holy abstinence subdue That in himself which he spurs on his power To qualify in others: were he meal'd with that Which he corrects, then were he tyrannous; But this being so, he's just.-[Knocking within.] Now are they come. [Exit PROVOST. This is a gentle provost: seldom when The steeled gaoler is the friend of men. 89 [Knocking. Duke. Have you no countermand for Claudio yet, But he must die to-morrow? Prov. None, sir, none. 96 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. 100 Besides, upon the very siege of justice, Lord Angelo hath to the public ear Profess'd the contrary. Enter a Messenger. This is his lordship's man. Duke. And here comes Claudio's pardon. 104 Mes. [Giving a paper.] 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. [Aside.] This is his pardon, purchased by such sin 112 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. For which the pardoner himself is in; Now, sir, what news? 117 Prov. I told you: Lord Angelo, belike thinking me remiss in mine office, awakens me with this unwonted putting on; methinks strangely, for he hath not used it before. 121 Duke. Pray you, let's hear. Prov. 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 performed; 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? 131 Duke. What is that Barnardine who is to be executed this afternoon? Prov. A Bohemian born, but here nursed up and bred; one that is a prisoner nine years old. Duke. How came it that the absent duke had not either delivered him to his liberty or executed him? I have heard it was ever his manner to do so. 139 deputy? 196 Prov. To him, and to his substitutes. Duke. You will think you have made no Prov. His friends still wrought reprieves for him; and, indeed, his fact, till now in the government of Lord Angelo, came not to an un-offence, if the duke avouch the justice of your doubtful proof. Duke. It is now apparent? 144 Prov. Most manifest, and not denied by himself. Duke. Hath he borne himself penitently in prison? How seems he to be touched? dealing? 200 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 persuasion can with ease atProv. A man that apprehends death no more tempt you, I will go further than I meant, to dreadfully but as a drunken sleep; careless, reck-pluck all fears out of you. Look you, sir; here is less, and fearless of what's past, present, or to come; insensible of mortality, and desperately mortal. Duke. He wants advice. 152 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 oft awaked him, as if to carry him to execution, and showed him a seeming warrant for it: it hath not moved him at all. 160 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 warrant to execute, is no greater forfeit to the law than Angelo who hath sentenced 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. 209. 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 tenour; perchance of the duke's death; perchance, his entering into some monastery; but, by chance, nothing of what is writ. Look, the unfolding star 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 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. SCENE III.-Another Room in the Same. Enter POMPEY. Pom. I am as well acquainted here as I was in our house of profession: one would think it were Mistress Overdone's own house, for here be many of her old customers. First, here's young Master Rash; he's in for a commodity of brown paper and old ginger, nine-score and seventeen pounds, of which he made five marks, ready money: marry, then ginger was not much in request, for the old women were all dead. Then is there here one 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 young Dizy, and young Master Deep-vow, and Master Copperspur, and Master Starve-lackey the rapier and dagger man, and young Drop-heir that kill'd lusty Pudding, and Master Forthlight, the tilter, and brave Master Shoe-tie the great traveller, and wild Half-can that stabbed Pots, and, I think, forty more; all great doers in our trade, and are now 'for the Lord's sake.' Enter ABHORSON. 21 Abhor. What ho! Barnardine! Barnar. [Within.] A pox o' your throats! Who makes that noise there? What are you? Pom. 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. 32 Abhor. Tell him he must awake, and that quickly too. Pom. Pray, Master Barnardine, awake till you are executed, and sleep afterwards. 36 Abhor. Go in to him, and fetch him out. Pom. He is coming, sir, he is coming; I hear his straw rustle. Abhor. Is the axe upon the block, sirrah? 40 Pom. Very ready, sir. 72 Duke. Unfit to live or die. O, gravel heart! After him fellows: bring him to the block. [Exeunt ABHORSON and POMPEY. Prov. Now, sir, how do you find the prisoner? Duke. A creature unprepar'd, unmeet for death; And, to transport him in the mind he is Prov. 80 Here in the prison, father, 76 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 inclin'd, And satisfy the deputy with the visage Of Ragozine, more like to Claudio? Duke. O, 'tis an accident that heaven provides! 84 Dispatch it presently: the hour draws on But Barnardine must die this afternoon: 88 To save me from the danger that might come 92 Let this be done: Put them in secret holds, both Barnardine and One of our covent, and his confessor, Ere twice the sun hath made his journal greeting Prov. I am your free dependant. And send the head to Angelo. [Exit PROVOST. To meet me at the consecrated fount A league below the city; and from thence, Gives me this instance: already he hath carried Who do prepare to meet him at the gates, 140 In that good path that I would wish it go, yours, .148 Her cause and I'll perfect him withal, and he shall bring you 152 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. 172 136 Duke. You have told me too many of him already, sir, if they be true; if not true, none were enough. 182 Lucio. I was once before him for getting a wench with child. Duke. Did you such a thing? |