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,

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

That for the fault's love, is the offender friended.common. If any thing fall to you upon this, more Now, sir, what news?

than thanks and good fortune, by the saint whom Prov. I told you: Lord Angelo, belike, think- I profess, I will plead against it with my life. ng me remiss in mine office, awakens me with this Prov. Pardon me, good father; it is against my unwonted putting on: methinks, strangely; for he hath not used it before.

Duke. Pray you, let's hear.

oath.

Duke. Were you sworn to the duke, or to the deputy?

Prov. [Reads.] Whatsoever you may hear to the contrary, let Claudio be executed by four of the clock; and, in the afternoon, Barnardine: if for my better satisfaction, 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?

Dake. What is that Barnardine, who is to be executed in the afternoon?

Prov. To him, and to his substitutes. Duke. You will think you have made no offence, 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, 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.

Proc. A Bohemian born; but here nursed up and bred: one that is a prisoner nine years old. Duke. The contents of this is the return of the Duke. How came it, that the absent duke had duke; you shall anon over-read it at your pleanot either deliver'd him to his liberty, or executed sure; where you shall find, within these two days him? I have heard, it was ever his manner to do so. he will be here. This is a thing, that Angelo Prov. His friends still wrought reprieves for knows not: for he this very day receives letters of him: and, indeed, his fact, till now in the govern-strange tenor; perchance, of the duke's death; ment of lord Angelo, came not to an undoubtful perchance, entering into some monastery; but, by proof. chance, nothing of what is writ.-Look, the un folding star calls up the shepherd: put not your self into amazement, how these things should be. all difficulties are but easy when they are known. Call your executioner, and off with Barnardine's Prov. A man that apprehends death no more head: I will give him a present shrift, and advise dreadfully, but as a drunken sleep; careless, reck-him for a better place. Yet you are amazed; but less, and fearless of what's past, present, or to this shall absolutely resolve you. Come away; it come; insensible of mortality, and desperately is almost clear dawn. mortal.

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?

Duke. He wants advice.

[Exeunt. SCENE III.-Another room in the same. Enter

Clown.

Prov. He will hear none: he hath evermore had the liberty of the prison; give him leave to escape Clo. I am as well acquainted here, as I was in our hence, he would not: drunk many times a day, it house of profession: one would think, it were misnot many days entirely drunk. We have very tress Over-done's own house, for here be many of often awaked him, as if to carry him to execution, her old customers. First, here's young master Rash; and show'd him a seeming warrant for it: it hath he's in for a commodity of brown paper and old not mov'd him at all. ginger, ninescore and seventeen pounds; of which Duke. More of him anon. There is written in he made five marks, ready money: marry, then, your brow, provost, honesty and constancy: If ginger was not much in request, for the old women read not truly, my ancient skill beguiles me;were all dead. Then is there here one master Cabnt in the boldness of my cunning, I will lay my-per, at the suit of master Three-pile the mercer, for self in hazard. Claudio, whom here you have a some four suits of peach-colour'd satin, which now warrant to execute, is no greater forfeit to the law peaches him a beggar. Then have we here young than Angelo who hath sentenced him: to make Dizy, and young master Deep-vow, and master 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 be borne to Angelo.

Prov. Angelo hath seen them both, and will discover the favour."

(1) Spur incitement. (2) Nine vears in prison.

Copper-spur, and master Starve-lackey the rapien 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 sta b'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. hang'd, master Barnardine. Clo. Master Barnardine! you must rise and be

Abhor. What, ho, Barnardine!

makes that noise there? What are you?
Barnar. [Within.] A pox o' your throats! Who

Clo. Your friends, sir; the hangman: you must

(3) Countenance.

be so good, sir, to rise and be put to death. Barnar. [Within.] Away, you rogue, away; am sleepy.

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

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

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

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.

Quick, despatch,

And send the head to Angelo.
Now will I write letters to Angelo,-

[Exit Provost.

Clo. He is coming, sir, he is coming; I hear his The provost, he shall bear them,-whose contents straw rustle.

Enter Barnardine.

Abhor. Is the axe upon the block, sirrah?
Clo. Very ready, sir.

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

Abhor. Truly, 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.

Clo. 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.

Enter Duke.

Al hor. Look you, sir, here comes your ghostly father; do we jest now, think you?

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.

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.

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 weal-balanced form,
We shall proceed with Angelo.

Re-enter Provost.

Isab. [Within.] Peace, ho, be here!
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.

Isub. Ho, by your leave.
Duke. Good morning to you, fair and gracious
daughter.

Isab. The better, given me by so holy a man.

Barnar. I swear, I will not die to-day for any Hath yet the deputy sent my brother's pardon?

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 [Exit. to day.

Enter Provost.

Duke. Unfit to live, or die: O, gravel heart!-
After him, fellows; bring him to the block.

[Exeunt Abhorson and Clown.
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,
T'here 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 Ragozíne, more like to Claudio?

Duke. O, us an accident that Heaven provides!
Despatch it presently; the hour draws on
Prefix'd by Angelo: See, this be done,
And sent accuding to command; whiles I
Persuade this rude wretch willingly to die.
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,

1) The antipodes. (2) Your heart's desire.

Duke. He hath releas'd him, Isabel, from the
world;

Isab. Nay, but it is not so.
His head is off, and sent to Angelo.
Duke.

It is no other:

Show your wisdom, daughter, in your close patience.

Isab. O, I will to him, and pluck out his eyes.
Duke. You shall not be admitted to his sight.
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 you

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;
'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
Accuse him home, and home. For my poor sell.

Lucio. O, pretty Isabella, I heart, to see thine eyes so red: thou must be pa

The law against it!-But that her tender shame
Will not proclaim against her maiden loss
How might she tongue me? Yet reason dares
her?-no:

For my authority bears a credent' bulk,
That no particular scandal once can touch,
But it confounds the breather. He should have liv'd
Save that his riotous youth, with dangerous sense,
Might, in the times to come, have ta'en revenge,
By so receiving a dishonour'd life,

With ransom of such shame. 'Would yet he
had liv'd!

tient: I am fain to dine and sup with water and Alack, when once our grace we have forgot,
bran; I dare not for my head fill my belly; one Nothing goes right; we would and we would not.
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 SCENE V.-Fields without the town.
dark corners had been at home, he had lived.
Duke in his own habit, and Friar Peter.
Duke. These letters at fit time deliver me.

[Exit Isabella.

[Exit.

Enter

[Giving letters.

Duke. Sir, the duke is marvellous little beholden to your reports; but the best is, he lives not in them. The provost knows our purpose, and our plot. Lucio. Friar, thou knowest not the duke so well The matter being afoot, keep your instruction, as I do: he's a better woodman than thou takest And hold you ever to our special drift;

him for.

Duke. Well, you'll answer this one day.

ye well.

Fare

Lucio. Nay, tarry; I'll go along with thee; can tell thee pretty tales of the duke.

Though sometimes you do blench from this to that
As cause doth minister. Go, call at Flavius' house,
And tell him where I stay: give the like notice,
To Valentinus, Rowland, and to Crassus,
And bid them bring the trumpets to the gate;
al-But send me Flavius first.

Duke. You have told me too many of him ready, sir, if they be true; if not true, none were enough.

Lucio. I was once before him for getting a wench with child.

Duke. Did you such a thing?

Lucio. Yes, marry, did I: but was fain to for- Come, we will walk: There's other of our friend swear it; they would else have married me to the Will greet us here anon, my gentle Varrius. [Exe

rotten medlar.

Duke. Sir, your company is fairer than honest: SCENE VI.-Street near the city gate. Ente Rest you well.

I

Lucio. By my troth, I'll go with thee to the lane's end: If bawdy talk offend you, we'll have very little of it: Nay, friar, I am a kind of burr, shall stick [Exeunt. SCENE IV.A room in Angelo's house. Enter Angelo and Escalus.

Escal. Every letter he hath writ hath disvouch'de 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? Escal. I guess not.

I

Mari.

Isabella and Mariana.

Isab. To speak so indirectly, I am loath;
would say the truth; but to accuse him so,
That is your part: yet I am advis'd to do it;
He says, to veil full purpose.
Be rul'd by him.
Isab. Besides, he tells me, that, if peradventure
should not think it strange: for 'tis a physic,
He speak against me on the adverse side,
That's bitter to sweet end.
Mari. I would, friar Peter,-
Isab.

O, peace; the friar is com
Enter Friar Peter.

F. Peter. Come, I have found you out a stand most fit,

Ang. And why should we proclaim it in an hour before his entering, that if any crave redress of injusWhere you may have such vantage on the duke, tice, they should exhibit their petitions in the street? He shall not pass you: Twice have the trumpeta Escal. He shows his reason for that: to have a

sounded;

despatch of complaints; and to deliver us from The generous and gravest citizens devices hereafter, which shall then have no power Have hent" the gates, and very near upon to stand against us. The duke is ent'ring; therefore hence, away. [Exe.

Ang. Well, I beseech you, let it be proclaim'd:
Betimes i' the morn, I'll call you at your house :
Give notice to such men of sort and suit,'
As are to meet him.
Escal. I shall, sir: fare you well. [Exit.
Ang. Good night.-
This deed unshapes me quite, makes me unpreg-
nant,

And dull to all proceedings. A deflower'd maid!
And by an eminent body, that enforc'd

(1) Go. (2) Contradicted. (3) Figure and rank.
(4) Calls, challenges her to do it.

3) Credit unquestionable. (6) Utterer.

Our old and faithful friend, we are glad to see you. Ang. & Escal. Happy return be to your royal grace!

Duke. Many and hearty thankings to you both. We have made inquiry of you; and we hear Such goodness of your justice, that our soul Cannot but yield you forth to public thanks, Forerunning more requital.

Ang.

You make my bonds still greater. Duke. O, your desert speaks loud; and I should wrong it,

To lock it in the wards of covert bosom,
When it deserves with characters of brass
A forted residence, 'gainst the tooth of time,
And razure of oblivion: Give me your hand,
And let the subject see, to make them know
That outward courtesies would fain proclaim
Favours that keep within.-Come, Escalus;
You must walk by us on our other hand;-
And good supporters are you.

Friar Peter and Isabella come forward. F. Peter. Now is your time; speak loud, kneel before him.

and

Isab. Justice, O, royal duke! Vail' your regard
Upon a wrong'd, I'd fain have said, a maid!
O worthy prince, dishonour not your eye
By throwing it on any other object,
Till you have heard me in my true complaint,
And give me, justice, justice, justice, justice!
Duke. Relate your wrongs: In what? By whom?
Be brief:

Here is lord Angelo shall give you justice;
Reveal yourself to him.

Isab.

O, worthy duke,
You bid me seek redemption of the devil:
Hear me yourself; for that which I must speak
Must either punish me, not being belier'd,
Or wring redress from you: hear me, O, hear me,

here.

Isab. Most strange, but yet most truly, will I
speak:

That Angelo's forsworn; is it not strange?
That Angelo's a murderer; is't not strange?
That Angelo is an adulterous thief,

A hypocrite, a virgin-violator
Is it not strange, and strange?
Duke.

I wish you now ther;
Pray you, take note of it: and when you have
A business for yourself, pray heaven, you then
Be perfect.

Lucio.
I warrant your honour.
Duke. The warrant's for yourself; take heed
to it.

Isab. This gentleman told somewhat of my tale.
Lucio. Right.

Duke. It may be right; but you are in the wrong
To speak before your time.-Proceed.

Isab.

I went

To this pernicious caitiff deputy.
Duke. That's somewhat madly spoken.
Isab.

The phrase is to the matter.

Pardon it;

Duke. Mended again: the matter:- Proceed.
Isab. In brief,-to set the needless process by,
How I persuaded, how I pray'd, and kneel'd,
How he refell'd3 me, and how I reply'd;
(For this was of much length,) the vile conclusion
I now begin with grief and shame to utter:
He would not, but by gift of my chaste body

Nay, ten times strange. To his concupiscible intemperate lust,

Isab. It is not truer he is Angelo,
Than this is all as true as it is strange:
Nay, it is ten times true; for truth is truth
To the end of reckoning,
Duke.
Away with her:-Poor soul,
She speaks this in the infirmity of sense.
Isab. O prince, I conjure thee, as thou believ'st
There is another comfort than this world,
That thou neglect me not, with that opinion
That I am touch'd with madness; make not im-
possible

That which but seems unlike: 'tis not impos-
sible.

But one, the wicked'st caitiff on the ground,
May seem as shy, as grave, as just, as absolute,
As Angelo; even so may Angelo,

(1) Lower. (2) Habits and characters of office.
(3) Refuted. (4) Pity. (5) Foolish.

Release my brother; and, after much debatement,
My sisterly remorse confutes mine honour,
And I did yield to him: But the next morn betimes,
For my poor brother's head.
His purpose surfeiting, he sends a warrant

Duke.

This is most likely
Isab. O, that it were as like, as it is true!
Duke. By heaven, fonds wretch, thou know'st
not what thou speak'st;
Or else thou art suborn'd against his honour,
Stands without blemish: next, it imports no reason
In hateful practice:-First, his integrity
That with such vehemency he should pursue
Faults proper to himself: if he had so offended,
He would have weigh'd thy brother by himself,
And not have cut him off: Some one hath set you or

(6) Conspiracy.

P