man is a more penitent trade than your bawd; he Prov. You, sirrah, provide your block and your axe 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 60 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, Being a murderer, though he were my brother. Enter Claudio. Look, here's the warrant, Claudio, for thy death : Claud. As fast lock'd up in sleep as guiltless labour Prov. He will not wake. Who can do good on him? Well, go, prepare yourself. [Knocking within.] But, hark, what noise ? Heaven give your spirits comfort! By and by. I hope it is some pardon or reprieve 70 [Exit Claudio.] Enter Duke disguised as before. Welcome, father. Duke. The best and wholesomest spirits of the night Envelop you, good Provost! Who call'd here of late? Prov. None, since the curfew rung. Duke. Not Isabel? Prov. No. Duke. They will, then, ere't be long. 80 Prov. What comfort is for Claudio. Duke. There's some in hope. 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 But this being so, he's just. [Knocking within. 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, Prov. But he must die to-morrow ? None, sir, none. 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 Enter a Messenger. 100 This is his lordship's man. Duke. And here comes Claudio's pardon. note; and by me this further charge, that you Prov. I shall obey him. [Exit Messenger. IIO Duke. [Aside] This is his pardon, purchased by such sin For which the pardoner himself is in. Hence hath offence his quick celerity, 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 120 hath not used it before. Duke. Pray you, let's hear. Whatsoever you may hear to the contrary, let Claudio let me have Claudio's head sent me by five. Let answer it at your peril. 130 What say you to this, sir? 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 delivered 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: 140 and, indeed, his fact, till now in the government of Lord Angelo, came not to an undoubtful proof. Duke. It is now apparent ? Prov. Most manifest, and not denied by himself. how seems he to be touched? 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; 150 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 entirely drunk. We have very oft awaked him, as if to carry him to execution, and showed him a seeming warrant for it: it Duke. More of him anon. There is written in your 160 Prov. Pray, sir, in what? Prov. Alack, how may I do it, having the hour 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. 170 180 |