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 bath.

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.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. Yet you are amazed; but this shall absolutely resolve you. Come away; it is almost clear dawn.

[Exeunt the DUKE and Provost.

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.

Enter ABHOrson.

Abh. Sirrah, bring Barnardine hither.

Pom. Master Barnardine! You must rise and be hanged, Master Barnardine.

Abh. What, ho, Barnardine!

Barn. [Within.] A plague o' your threats! 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.

Barn. [Within.] Away, you rogue, away; I am sleepy.

Abh. Tell him he must awake, and that quickly

too.

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

Abh. Go in to him, and fetch him out.

Pom. He is coming, sir, he is coming; I hear his straw rustle.

Abh. Is the axe upon the block, sirrah?

Pom. Very ready, sir.

Enter BARNARDINE.

Barn. How now, Abhorson?

with you?

What's the news

Abh. Truly, sir, I would desire you to clap into your prayers; for, look you, the warrant is

come.

Barn. 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 by times in the morning, may sleep the sounder all the next day.

Abh. Look you, sir, here comes your ghostly father: Do we jest now, think you?

Enter the DUKE, as a Friar.

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.

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

Duke. But hear

you,

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

[Exeunt BARNARDINE, ABHORSON, and POMPEY.

Enter Provost.

Duke. Unfit to live or die!

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 do 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!

Despatch it presently; the hour draws on
Prefix'd by Angelo: See this be done,

And sent according to command.

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
The under generation, you shall find

Your safety manifested.

Prov. I am your free dependant.
Duke.

And send the head to Angelo.

Now will I letters write to Angelo,
Whose contents

Quick, despatch

[Exit Provost.

Shall witness to him, I am near at home;
And that, by great injunctions, I am bound
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.

Enter Provost with a Bag.

Prov. Here is the head:
Duke. Make a swift return;

I'll carry it myself.

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

Prov. I'll make all speed. [Exit Provost.
Isa. [Without.] Peace, ho, be here!
Duke. The tongue of Isabel :—

know,

She's come to

If yet her brother's pardon be come hither:
But I will keep her ignorant of her good,
To make her heavenly comforts of despair,
When it is least expected.

4 The antipodes.

Enter ISABELLA.

Good morning to you, fair and gracious daughter.
Isa. 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.

Isa. Nay, but it is not so.

Duke.

It is no other.

-

Show your wisdom, daughter, in your close patience. Isa. Unhappy Claudio! Wretched Isabel! Injurious world! Most damned Angelo!

Duke. This nor hurts him, nor profits you a jot: Forbear it therefore; give your cause to Heaven.Mark what I say; which you shall find,

By every syllable a faithful verity:
The duke comes home to-morrow;

eyes;

One of our convent, and his confessor,

nay, dry your

Gives me this instance: 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,

your

And shall have bosom on this wretch,
you
Grace of the duke, revenges to your heart,
And general honour.

Isa.

I am 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