Prov. His name is Barnardine.

Duke. I would thou had'st done so by Claudio. Go, fetch him hither; let me look upon

him.

[Exit Provost Escal. I am sorry, one so learned and so wise As

you, lord Angelo, have still appeared,
Should slip so grossly, both in the heat of blood,
And lack of tempered judgment afterward.

Ang. I am sorry, that such sorrow I procure;
And so deep sticks it in my penitent heart,
That I crave death more willingly than mercy;
'Tis my deserving, and I do entreat it.

a

Re-enter Provost, BARNARDINE, Claudio, and JULIET.

Duke. Which is that Barnardine?
Prov.

This, my lord.
Duke. There was a friar told me of this man :-
Sirrah, thou art said to have a stubborn soul,
That apprehends no further than this world,
And squar’st thy life according. Thou’rt condemned;
But, for those earthly faults, I quit them all;
And pray thee, take this mercy to provide
For better times to come :-friar, advise him ;
I leave him to your hand. What muffled fellow's that?

Prov. This is another prisoner, that I saved, That should have died when Claudio lost his head; As like almost to Claudio as himself.

[Unmuffles Claudio. Duke. If he be like your brother, [TO ISABELLA.]

.

for his sake
Is he pardoned ; and, for your lovely sake,
Give me your hand, and say you will be mine.
He is my brother too; but fitter time for that.
By this, lord Angelo perceives he's safe ;
Methinks I see a quickening in his eye :
Well, Angelo, your evil quits? you well:

2

Look that you love your wife; her worth, worth

yours.?

2

I find an apt remission in myself:
And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon ;-
You, sirrah, [To Lucio.] that knew me for a fool, a

coward,
One all of luxury,” an ass, a madman;
Wherein have I so deserved of you,

, That you

extol me thus ? Lucio. 'Faith, my lord, I spoke it but according to the trick:3 If you will hang me for it, you may, but I had rather it would please you I might be whipped.

Duke. Whipped first, sir, and hanged after.-
Proclaim it, provost, round about the city;
If any woman's wronged by this lewd fellow,
(As I have heard him swear himself, there's one
Whom he begot with child,) let her appear,
And he shall marry her: the nuptial finished,
Let him be whipped and hanged.

Lucio. I beseech your highness, do not marry me to a whore! Your highness said even now, I made you a duke; good my lord, do not recompense me in

a
making me a cuckold.

Duke. Upon mine honor, thou shalt marry her.
Thy slanders I forgive; and therewithal
Remit thy other forfeits.—Take him to prison :
And see our pleasure herein executed.

Lucio. Marrying a punk, my lord, is pressing to death, whipping, and hanging.

Duke. Slandering a prince deserves it.-
She, Claudio, that you wronged, look you restore.

,
Joy to you, Mariana !-Love her, Angelo;
I have confessed her, and I know her virtue.
Thanks, good friend Escalus, for thy much goodness.
There's more behind, that is more gratulate.

Thanks, provost, for thy care and secrecy;
We shall employ thee in a worthier place :-
Forgive him, Angelo, that brought you home
The head of Ragozine for Claudio's;
The offence pardons itself.—Dear Isabel,
I have a motion much imports your good;
Whereto if you'll a willing ear incline,
What's mine is yours, and what is yours is mine.-
So, bring us to our palace; where we'll show
What's yet behind, that's meet you all should know.

[Exeunt.

a

The novel of Giraldi Cinthio, from which Shakspeare is supposed to have borrowed this fable, may be read in Shakspeare Ilustrated, elegantly translated, with remarks, which will assist the inquirer to discover how much absurdity Shakspeare has admitted or avoided.

I cannot but suspect that some other had new-modelled the novel of Cinthio, or written a story which in some particulars resembled it, and that Cinthio was not the author whom Shakspeare immediately followed. The emperor in Cinthio is named Maximine: the duke in Shakspeare's enumeration of the persons of the drama, is called Vincentio. This appears a very slight remark; but since the duke has no name in the play, nor is ever mentioned but by his title, why should he be called Vincentio among