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. 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 amaz'd; 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.

Abhor. Sirrah, bring Barnardine hither.

Pom. Master Barnardine! You must rise and be

hang'd, master Barnardine.

Abhor. What, ho, Barnardine !

/

Barnar. (Within.) A plague 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.

Abhor. Tell him, he must awake, and that quickly

too.

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

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?

Pom. Very ready, sir.

Enter BARNARDINE.

Barnar. How now, Abhorson? What's the news with you?

Abhor. Truely, sir, I would desire you to clap into your prayers; for, look you, the warrant's come. Barnar. 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 hang'd 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, as a Friar.

Duke. Sir, induc'd by my charity, and hearing how hastily you are to depart, I am come to advise you, comfort you, and pray with you.

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

Duke. But hear you,

Barnar. 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 unprepar'd, 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 inclin'd;
And satisfy the deputy with the visage
Of Ragozine, more like to Claudio ?

Duke. O, 't is 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.

FO

Prov. I am your free dependent.

Duke. Quick, despatch,

And send the head to Angelo.

Now will I letters write to Angelo,

Whose contents

[Exit Provost.

Shall witness to him, I am near at home;

And that, by great injunctions, I am bound
To enter publickly: him I'll desire
To meet me at the consecrated fount

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

Enter Provost, with a bag.

Prov. Here is the head:-I'll carry it myself.

Duke. Make a swift return;

For I would commune with you of such things,

That want no ear but yours.

Prov. I'll make all speed.

[ISABELLA without.]

Isab. (Without.) Peace, ho, be here!

[Exit Provost.

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 comforts of despair,
When it is least expected.

Enter ISABELLA.

1

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 releas'd 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. 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;-nay, dry your

eyes;

D

• One of our convent, and his confessor,
Gives me this instance: Already he hath carry'd

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,

And you shall have your bosom on this wretch,

Grace of the duke, revenges to your heart,
And general honour.

Isab. I am directed by you.

Duke. This letter then to friar Peter give; 'T is 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 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
If I pervert your course. - Who's here?

Enter Lucio.

Lucio. Good even!

[Exit ISABELLA.

Friar, where is the provost?

Duke. Not within, sir.

Lucio. O, pretty Isabella, I am pale at mine heart, to see thine eyes so red:- If the old fantastical duke of dark corners had been at home, thy brother had liv'd.

Duke. Sir, the duke is marvelous little beholden to your reports: but the best is, he lives not in them.

Lucio. Friar, thou know'st not the duke so well as I do: he's a better woodman, than thou tak'st him for.

Duke. Well, you'll answer this one day. Fare ye well.

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