Duke. No might nor greatness in mortality Can censure 'scape; back-wounding calumny The whitest virtue strikes: What king so strong, Can tie the gall up in the slanderous tongue ?— But who comes here? Enter Escalus, Provost, Bawd, and Officers. Esca. Go, away with her to prison. Bawd. Good my lord, be good to me; your honour is accounted a merciful man: good my lord. Esca. Double and treble admonition, and still forfeit in the same kind? This would make mercy swear, and play the tyrant. Prov. A bawd of eleven years continuance, may it please your honour. Bawd. My lord, this is one Lucio's information a gainst me: mistress Kate Keep-down was with child by him in the duke's time; he promised her marriage; his child is a year and a quarter old, come Philip and Jacob: I have kept it myself; and see, how he goes about to abuse me. Esca. That fellow is a fellow of much license :-let him be called before us.-Away with her to prison: Go to; no more words. [Exe. Bawd and Officers.]—|| Provost, my brother Angelo will not be alter'd, Claudio must die to-morrow: let him be furnished with divines, and have all charitable preparation: if my brother wrought by my pity, it should not be so with him. Prov. So please you, tinis friar hath been with him, and advised him for the entertainment of death. Esca. Good even, good father. Duke. Bliss and goodness on you! Esca. Of whence are you? Duke. Not of this country, though my chance is now Of gracious order, lately come from the sec, Esca. What news abroad i' the world? Duke. None, but that there is so great a fever on goodness, that the dissolution of it must cure it: novelty is only in request; and it is as dangerous to be aged in any kind of course, as it is virtuous to be constant in any undertaking. There is scarce truth enough alive to make societies secure; but security enough, to make fellowships accurs'd: much upon this riddle runs the wisdom of the world. This news is old enough, yet it is every day's news. I pray you, sir, of what disposition was the duke? Esca. One, that, above all other strifes, contended especially to know himself. Duke. What pleasure was he given to ? Esca. Rather rejoicing to see another merry, than merry at any thing which profess'd to make him rejoice: a gentleman of all temperance. But leave we him to his events, with a prayer they may prove prosperous; and let me desire to know, how you find Claudio prepared? I am made to understand, that you have lent him visitation. Duke. He professes to have received no sinister measure from his judge, but most willingly humbles himself to the determination of justice: yet had he framed to himself, by the is struction of his frailty, many deceiv ing promises of life; which 1, by my good kisure, have discredited to him, and now is he resolved to die. Erca. You have paid the heavens your function, and the prisoner the very debt of your calling. I have labour'd for the poor gentleman, to the extremest shore of my modesty ; but my brother justice have I found so severe, that he hath forced me to tell him, he is indeed-justice. Duke. If his own life answer the straitness of his proceeding, it shall become him well; wherein, if he chance to fail, he hath sentenced himself. Esca. I am going to visit the prisoner: Fare you well. Most pond'rous and substantial things i ACT IV. [Exit. SCENE I-A Room in Mariana's house. Mariana TAKE, oh take those lips array, Mari. Break off thy song, and haste thee quick away; I cry you mercy, sir; and well could wish My mirth is much displeas'd, but pleas'd my woe. charm, To make bad, good, and good provoke to harm. here to meet. Mari. You have not been inquir'd after: I have sat here all day. Duke. I do constantly believe you : Enter Isabella. The time is come, even now. I shall crave your for Mari. I am always bound to you. [Exit What is the news from this good deputy? Isab. He hath a garden circummur'd with brick, Duke. But shall you on your knowledge find this Tab. I have taken a due and wary note upon't : With whispering and most guilty diligence, Inaction all of precept, he did show me Will't please you walk aside? And rack thee in their fancies!-Welcome! how a Re-enter Mariana and Isabella. Isob. She'll take the enterprize upon her, father, If you advise it. Duke. It is not my consent, But my entreaty too. Little have you to say, When you depart from him, but, soft and low, Mari. Fear me not. Duke. Nor, gentle daughter, fear you not at all: He is your husband on a pre-contract: To bring you thus together, 'tis no sin; Sith that the justice of your title to him Doth flourish the deceit. Come, let us go; 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 unpitied 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 bangman. I would be glad to receive some instruction from my fellow partner. Prov. What ho, Abhorson! where's Abhorson, there? Abhor. Do you call, sir? Prov. Sirrah, here's a fellow will help you to-mor row in your execution: If you think it meet, coinpound 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 mystery. 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 favour you have, but that you have a hanging look,) do you call, sir, your occupation a mystery? Abhor. Ay, sir; a mystery. Clown. Painting, sir, I have heard say, is a mystery: and your whores, sir, being members of my occupation, using painting, do prove my occupation a mystery: but what mystery there should be in hanging, if I should be hang'd, I cannot imagine. Abhor. Sir, it is a mystery. Clown. Proof. Abhor. Every true man's apparel fits your thief: 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 oftener ask forgiveness. Prov. You, sirrab, provide your block and your axe, to-morrow four o'clock. 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 yare: for, truly, sir, for your kindness, I owe you a good turn. Prov. Call hither Barnardine and Claudio: Being a murderer, though he were my brother. Our corn's to reap, for yet our tithe's to sow. [Exeu. Look, here's the warrant, Claudio, for thy death: SCENE II-A Room in the Prison. Enter Provost and Clown. Prov. Come hither, sirrah: Can you cut off a man's bead? Clown. If the man be a bachelor, sir, I can: but if he be a married man, he is his wife's head, and I can never cut off a woman's head. 'Tis now dead midnight, and by eight to-morrow Prov. Who can do good on him? Well, go, prepare yourself. But hark, what noise? [Knocking within. Prov. Come, sir, leave me your snatches, and yield Heaven give your spirits comfort!-By and by : 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, wlrich he spurs on his power To qualify in others: Were he meal'd With that which he corrects, then were he tyrannous; This is a gentle provost : Seldom, when Duke. What is that Barnardine, who is to be executed in the 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 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 denied 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 mortal. 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 How now? what noise? that spirit's possess'd with entirely drunk. We have very often awaked him, as if haste, That wounds the unsisting postern with these strokes. Provost returns, speaking to one at the door. Prov. There he must 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 inorning. Enter a Messenger. Duke. This is his lordship's man. Prov. And here comes Claudio's pardon. 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. [Aside.] This is his pardon; purchas'd by such sin, For which the pardoner himself is in: When it is borne in high authority: When vice makes mercy, mercy's so extended, 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. Duke. "Pray you, let's hear. to carry him to execution, and show'd him a seeming warrant for it: it hath not moved him at all. Duke. More of him anon. There is written in your brow, provost, honesty and constaney; if I read it not truly, my ancient skill beguiles me; but, in the bold. ness 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 sen tenced 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. O, death's a great disguiser: and you may add to it. Shave the head, and tie the beard; and say, it was the desire of the penitent to be so bared before 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. since I see you fearful, that neither my coat, integrity, nor my persuasion, can with ease attempt you, I will Yet Prov. [Reads.] Whatsoever you may hear to the contrary, let Claudio be executed by four of the clock; and, in the afternoon, Barnardine: for my better satisfac-go further than I meant, to pluck all fears out of you. tion, 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? 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 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 amazed; but this shall absolutely resolve you. Come away; it is almost clear dawn. [Exeunt. SCENE III-Another Room in the same. Enter Clown. Clown. 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, ninescore 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 here young Dizy, and young master Deep-vow, and master Copper-spur, and master Starvelackey the rapier and dagger-man, and young Drop-heir that kill'd lusty Pudding, and master Forthright the tilter, and brave master Shoe-tie the great traveller, and wild Half-cann that stabb'd Pots, and, I think, forty more; all great doers in our trade, and are now for the Lord's sake. Enter Abhorson. Abhor. Sirrah, bring Barnardine hither. Clown. Master Barnardine! you must rise and be hang'd, master Barnardine. Abher. What, ho, Barnardine!! Barn. [Within.] A pox o' your throats! Who makes that noise there? What are you? Clown. 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. Abher. Tell him, he must awake, and that quickly 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. Burn. 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. [Eait. Enter Provost. Duke. Unfit to live, or die: O, gravel heart! After him, fellows; bring him to the block. [Exe. Abhor. and Clown. Prov. Now, sir, how do you find the prisoner? Prov. Duke. O, 'tis an accident that heaven provides! Prov. This shall be done, good father, presently. To save me from the danger that might come, Duke. Let this be done ;-Put them in secret holds, Prov. I am your free dependant. Quick, despatcb, [Exit Provost. And send the head to Angelo. To meet me at the consecrated fount, When it is least expected. Enter Isabella. Isab. Ho, by your leave. 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. 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 Duke. He hath releas'd him, Isabel, from the world; of it: Nay, friar, I am a kind of burr, I shall stick. His head is off, and sent to Angelo. Isab. Nay, but it is not so. It is no other: Show your wisdom, daughter, in your close patience. Duke. This nor hurts him, nor profits you a jot: By every syllable, a faithful verity: The duke comes home to-morrow:-nay, dry your eyes; One of our convent, and his confessor, Gives me this instance: Already he hath carried Who do prepare to meet him at the gates, There to give up their power. If you can, pace your In that good path that I would wish it go; Isab. I am directed by you. At Mariana's house to-night. Her cause, and yours, And shall be absent. Wend you with this letter: 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 lov'd thy brother: if the old fantastical duke of dark-corners had been at home, he had lived. [Exit Isab. Duke. Sir, the duke is marvellous little beholden 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 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. [Exeunt. SCENE IV-A room in Angelo's house. Enter Angelo and Escalus. Esca. Every letter he hath writ hath disvouch'd' other. Ang. In most uneven and distracted manner. His actions show much like to madness: pray heaven, his wisdom be not tainted! And why meet him at the gates, and re-deliver our authorities there? Esca. I guess not. Ang. And why should we proclaim it in an hour be fore his entering, that, if any crave redress of injus ice, they should exhibit their petitions in the street? Esca. He shows his reason for that: to have a des patch of complaints; and to deliver us from devices hereafter, which shall then have no power to stand against us. Ang. Well, I beseech you, let it be proclaim'd: For my authority bears a credent bulk, That no particular scandal once can touch, But it confounds the breather. He should have liv'd, With ransom of such shame. 'Would yet he had Alack, when once our grace we have forgot, [Exit. SCENE V-Fields without the Town. Enter Duke in [Giving letters. The provost knows our purpose, and our plot. It shall be speeded well. [Exit Friar, Duke. I thank thee, Varrius; thou hast made good Come, we will walk: There's other of our friends ji Will greet us here anon, my gentle Varrius. [Exeunt. |