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proceeding, it shall become him well; wherein if he chance to fail, he hath sentenc'd himself.

Escal. I am going to visit the prisoner: Fare you

well.

Duke. Peace be with you !

[Exeunt ESCALUS, and Apparitors.

He, who the sword of heaven will bear,

Should be as holy, as severe :

More nor less to others paying,
Than by self-offences weighing.
Shame to him, whose cruel striking
Kills for faults of his own liking!
Twice treble shame on Angelo,
To weed my vice, and let his grow!
O, what may man within him hide,
Though angel on the outward side!-
Craft against vice I must apply:
With Angelo to-night shall lie
His old betrothed, but despis'd;
So disguise shall, by the disguis'd,
Pay with falsehood, false exacting,
And perform an old contracting.

END OF ACT III.

[Exit.

ACT IV.

SCENE I.

The Prison.

Enter Provost, with a warrant, and POMPEY. Prov. COME hither, sirrah:-Can you cut off a

man's head?

Pom. 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.

Prov. Come, sir, leave me your snatches, and yield 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.

Pom. Sir, I will be content to be a hangman. I would be glad to receive some instruction from my fellow partner.

Prov. What ho, Abhorson! Where's Abhorson, there?

Enter ABHORSON.

Abhor. Do you call, sir?

Prov. Sirrah, here's a fellow will help you tomorrow in your execution.

Abhor. Fie upon him, he will discredit our mystery.

Prov. Go to, sir; you weigh equally; a feather will turn the scale. Provide your block and your axe, to-morrow four o'clock.

Abhor. Come on; I will instruct thee in my trade; follow.

Pom. I desire to learn, sir; and, I hope, if you have occasion to use me for your own turn, you shall find me yare for, truely, sir, for your kindness, I owe you a good turn.

Prov. Call hither Barnardine and Claudio: [Exeunt ABHORSON, and POMPEY, The one has my pity; not a jot the other, Being a murderer.

Enter CLAUDIO.

Look, here's the warrant, Claudio, for thy death: 'T is now dead midnight, and by eight to-morrow Thou must be made immortal.-Where's Barnardinę?

Claud. As fast lock'd up in sleep, as guiltless la

bour

When it lies starkly in the traveler's bones:

He will not wake.

Prov. Who can do good on him? Well, go, prepare yourself.

[Knock without.]

But, hark, what noise ?

Heaven give your spirits comfort!

By and by:

by:

[Knock again.-Exit CLAUDIO.

I hope it is some pardon, or reprieve,

For the most gentle Claudio.

Enter the Duke, as a Friar.

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.

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

To qualify in others.

spurs on his

power

[Knock again.]

Now are they come.

[Exit Provost.

This is a gentle provost : Seldom, when

The steeled gaoler is the friend of men.

Enter Provost, speaking to one without.

Prov. There must he stay, untill 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 morning.

Prov. Happily,

You something know; yet, I believe, there comes
No countermand:

Besides, upon the very siege of justice,
Lord Angelo hath to the publick ear
Profess'd the contrary:-

Enter THOMAS, with a letter.

This is his lordship's man.

Duke. And here comes Claudio's pardon.

Tho. 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. [Having read the order.] I shall obey him. [Exit THOMAS.

Duke. Now, sir, what news?

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 us'd it before.

Duke. 'Pray you, let's hear.

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 satisfaction, let me have Claudio's head sent me by five. Lek this be duely 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?

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

Prov. A Bohemian born; but here nurs'd 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 deny'd 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. More of him anon. There is written in your brow, provost, honesty, and constancy: If I read it not truely, my ancient skill beguiles me; but in the boldness 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 sentenc'd 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 say, it was the desire of the penitent to be so bar'd 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.

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