Prov. I shall obey him. (Exit MESSENGER. Duke. This is his pardon; purchas'd by such [Aside. sin, For which the pardoner himself is in: [ed. Prov. I told you: Lord Angelo, be-like, thinking me remiss in mine office, awakens me with this unwonted putting on: methinks, strangely; for he hath not used 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. Let this be duly performed; 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 nursed up and bred: one that is a prisoner nine years old.t 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 denied 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. 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 often awaked him, as if to carry him to execution, and show'd him a seeming warrant for it: it hath not moved him at all. Duke. More of him anon. written 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. 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 of fence, 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. 1 know them both. Duke. The contents of this is the return of SCENE III.-Another Room in the same. Clo. I am as well acquainted here, as I was in our house of profession: one would think, it were mistress Over-done's own house, for here be many of her old customers. First, here's a commodity young master Rash; he's in for There is in your brow, Provost, honesty and constancy: me; but in the boldness of my cunning, if I read it not truly, my ancient skill beguiles lay myself in hazard. Claudio, whom here you have a warrant to execute, is no greater forfeit to the law than Angelo who hath sentenced him: To make you understand this in a mani fested 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 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. of brown paper and old ginger, ninescore and seventeen pounds; of which he made five marks, ready money: marry, then, ginger was not much in request, for the old women were all dead. Then is there here one master Caper, at the suit of master Three-pile the mercer, for some four suits of peach-colour'd satin, which now peaches him a beggar. Then have we here young Dizy, and young master Deep-vow, and master Copper-spur, and master Starvelackey the rapier and dagger-man, and young Drop-heir that kill'd lusty Pudding, and master Forthright the tilter, and brave master Shoe tie traveller, and wild Half-can that stabb'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. Clo. Master Barnardine! you must rise and be hang'd, master Barnardine! * Countenance. Abhor. 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. 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. [Exit. To save him 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 Prov. I am your free dependant. Duke. Quick, despatch, And send the head to Angelo. [Exit PROVOST. A league below the city; and from thence, 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. Isab. Ho, by your leave. Duke. Good morning to you, fair and gra. cious 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 His head is off, and sent to Angelo. [world; Isab. Nay, but it is not so. Duke. It is no other: [patience, Show your wisdom, daughter, in your close Isah. 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. your eyes; One of our convent, and his confessor, that good path that I would wish it go; And you shall have your bosomt 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 * 'The antipodes. + You heart's dosire, 112 her?-no: Accuse him home, and home. For my poor self, | Will not proclaim against her maiden loss, Enter LUCIO. Lucio. Good even! Friar, where is the provost? Lucio. O, pretty Isabella, I am pale at mine heart, to see thine eyes so red: thou must be patient: I am fain to dine and sup with water and bran; I dare not for my head fill my belly; one 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 dark corners had been at home, he had lived. [Exit ISABELLA. Duke. Sir, the duke is marvellous little beholden to your reports; but the best is, he lives not in them. Lucio. Friar, thou knowest not the duke so well as I do: he's a better woodman than thou takest him for. Duke. Well, you'll answer this one day. Fare ye well. Lucio. Nay, tarry; I'll go along with thee; I can tell thee pretty tales of the duke. Duke. You have told me too many of him already, 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 forswear it; they would else have married me to the rotten medlar. Duke. Sir, your company is fairer than honest: Rest you well. 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, I shall stick. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-A Room in ANGELO'S House. Enter ANGELO and ESCALUS. Escal. Every letter he hath writ hath disvouch'dt 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. Ang. And why should we proclaim it in an hour before his entering, that, if any crave redress of injustice, they should exhibit their petitions in the street? Escal. He shows his reason for that: to have a despatch of complaints; and to deliver us from devices hereafter, which shall then have no power to stand against us. 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. Ang. Good night. [Exit. This deed unshapes me quite, makes me unpregnant, And dull to all proceedings. A deflower'd maid! How might she tongue me? Yet reason dares liv'd, Alack, when once our grace we have forgot, Nothing goes right; we would, and we would [Exit. not. SCENE V. - Fields without the Town. Enter DUKE in his own habit, and Friar PETER. Duke. These letters at fit time deliver me. [Giving letters. The provost knows our purpose, and our plot. The matter being afoot, keep your instruction, And hold you ever to our special drift; Though sometimes you do blenchs from this to that, [house, As cause doth minister. Go, call at Flavius' 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; But send me Flavius first. F. Peter. It shall be speeded well. Enter VARRIUS. [Exit FRIAR. Duke. I thank thee, Varrius; thou hast made good haste: Come, we will walk: There's other of our friends Will greet us here anon, my gentle Varrius. [Exeunt. SCENE VI.- Street near the City Gate. Isab. To speak so indirectly, I am loath; I would say the truth; but to accuse him so, That is your part: yet I'm advis'd to do it; He says, to veil full|| purpose. Mari. Be rul'd by him. Isab. Besides, he tells me, that, if peradven ture He speak against me on the adverse side, I should not think it strange; for 'tis a physic, That's bitter to sweet end. Mari. I would, friar Peter Isab. O, peace; the friar is come. Enter Friar PETER. F. Peter. Come, I have found you out a stand most fit, [duke, Where you may have such vantage on the He shall not pass you; Twice have the trum pets sounded; The generous** and gravest citizens Have hentet the gates, and very near upon The duke is ent'ring; therefore hence, away. [Exeunt ACT V. SCENE 1.-A public Place near the City Gate. MARIANA, (veiled,) ISABELLA, and PETER, at a distance. Enter at opposite doors, DUKE, VARRIUS, Lords; ANGELO, ESCALUS, LUCIO, PROVOST, Officers, and Citizens. * Go, + Contradicted. + Figure and rank, † Utterer. Start off. * Calls, challenges her to do it. Duke. My very worthy cousin, fairly met:- | In all his dressings, characts, titles, forms, Jur old and faithful friend, we are glad to see you. Ang. und 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. Be an arch-villain: believe it, royal prince, If she be mad, (as I believe no other,) Isab. O, gracious duke, Harp not on that; nor do not banish reason For inequality: but let your reason serve And hide the false, seems true. Duke. O, your desert speaks loud; and I To make the truth appear, where it seems hid; should wrong it, To lock it in the wards of covert bosom, PETER and ISABELLA come forward. F. Peter. Now is your time; speak loud, and kneel before him. Isab. Justice, O royal duke! Vail* your regard Upon a wrong'd, I'd fain have said, a maid! worthy prince, dishonour not your eye By throwing it on any other object, Here is lord Angelo shall give you justice; 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 believ'd, Or wring redress from you: hear me, O, hear me, here. Ang. My lord, her wits, I fear me, are not firm: She hath been a suitor to me for her brother, Cut off by course of justice. Isab. By course of justice! Ang. And she will speak most bitterly, and strange. Isab. Most strange, but yet most truly, will That Angelo's forsworn; is it not strange? Isab. It is not truer he is Angelo, Duke. Away with her:-Poor soul, Isab. O prince, 1 cónjure 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 [ble, impossible That which but seems unlike: 'tis not impossiBut one, the wicked'st caitiff on the ground, May seem as shy, as as just, as absolute, As Angelo; even so may may Angels • Lower. Duke. Many that are not mad, Have, sure, more lack of reason.-What woul. you say? Isab. I am the sister of one Claudio, Lucio. That's I, an't like your grace: Isab. That's he, indeed. Duke. You were not bid to speak. Duke. I wish you now then; 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. Lucio. Right. Duke. It may be right; but you are in the To speak before your time. --Proceed. [wrong Isab. I went To this pernicious caitiff deputy. The phrase is to the matter. 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'dt me, and how I reply'd; (For this was of much length,) the vile con clusion I now begin with grief and shame to utter: He would not, but by gift of my chaste body To his concupiscible intemperate lust, [ment, Release my brother; and, after much debateMy sisterly remorset confutes mine honour, And I did yield to him: But the next morn betimes, His purpose surfeiting, he sends a warrant Isab. O, that it were as like, as it is true! not what thou speak'st; Or else thou art suborn'd against his honour, In hateful practice :|| First, his integrity Stands without blemish: -next it imports no reason, 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, H Habits and characters of office. As I, thus wrong'd, hence unbelieved go! Lucio. My lord, she may be a a punk; for many Duke. Silence that fellow: I would, he had some cause Duke. I know, you'd fain be gone:- An of them are neither maid, widow, nor wife. officer! I saw them at the prison: a saucy friar, F. Peter. Blessed be your royal grace! Duke. We did believe no less. [of? Know you that friar Lodowick, that she speaks F. Peter. I know him for a man divine and Not scurvy, nor a temporary medler, [holy; As he's reported by this gentleman; And, on my trust, a man that never yet Did, as he vouches, misreport your grace. Lucio. My lord, most villainously; believe it. F. Peter. Well, he in time may come to clear himself; But at this instant he is sick, my lord, Of a strange fever: Upon his meret request, (Being come to knowledge that there was com plaint Intended 'gainst lord Angelo,) came I hither, To speak as from his mouth, what he doth know Is true, and false; and what he with his oath, Her shall you hear disproved to her eyes, Duke. Good friar, let's hear it. [ISABELLA is carried off, guarded; and MARIANA comes forward. Do you not smile at this lord Angelo?O heaven! the vanity of wretched fools!Give us some seats. -Come, cousin Angelo; In this I'll be impartial; be you judge Of your own cause. Is this the witness, friar? First, let her show her face; and, after speak. Lucio. Well, my lord. Duke. This is no witness for lord Angelo. Ang. Charges she more than me? Duke. No? you say, your husband. Mari. Why, just, my lord, and that is Angelo, Who thinks, he knows, that he ne'er knew my body, But knows he thinks, that he knows Isabel's. Ang. This is a strange abuse:*-Let's see thy face. Mari. My husband bids me; now I will un- Duke. Know you this woman? woman; Ang. My lord, I must confess, I know this [marriage And, five years since, there was some speech of Betwixt myself and her; which was broke off, Partly, for that her promised proportions Came short of composition; but, in chief, For that her reputation was disvalued In levity: since which time of five years, I never spake with her, saw her, nor heard from Upon my faith and honour. Mari. Noble prince, [her, As there comes light from heaven, and words from breath, As there is sense in truth, and truth in virtue, I am affianc'd this man's wife, as strongly As words could make up vows: and, my good lord, [house, But Tuesday night last gone, in his gardenHe knew me as a wife: As this is true + Her fortune fell short. * Beat. ↑ Convened + Simple. * Deception. |