SCENE VIII. Duke. Peace be with you! He who the fword of heav'n will bear, A Grange. Enter Mariana, and boy finging. SON G. AKE, ob take thofe lips away, That so sweetly were for sworn ; And thofe eyes, the break of day, Lights that do mif-lead the morn; But my kifes bring again, Seals of love, but feal'd in vain. [Exit. Mari. Break off thy fong, and hafte thee quick away: Here comes a man of comfort, whofe advice Hath often ftill'd my brawling difcontent. I cry you mercy, Sir, and well could wish You had not found me here fo mufical: VOL. II. E Let Let me excufe me, and believe me so, ̈ My mirth it much difpleas'd, but pleas'd my woe. I pray you, meet one. Mari. You have not been enquir'd after: I have sat here all day. Enter Ifabel. Duke. I do conftantly believe you: the time is come, even now. I fhall crave your forbearance a little; may be I will call upon you anon for fome advantage to your self. Mari. I am always bound to you. Duke. Very well met, and well come : Ifab. He hath a garden circummur'd with brick, [Exit. Duke. But fhall you on your knowledge find this way? Ifab. I've ta'en a due and wary note upon't; With whifp'ring and moft guilty diligence, In action all of precept he did fhow me The way twice o'er. Duke. Are there no other tokens Between you 'greed, concerning her obfervance ? Duke. 'Tis well born up. I have not yet made known to Mariana A word of this. What hoa! within! come forth! I pray you, be acquainted with this maid; She comes to do you good. Ifab. I do defire the like. Duke. Do you perfwade your self that I respect you? I fhall attend your leifure; but make haste ; Mari. Will't please you walk afide? [Ex. Mari, and Ifab Are ftuck upon thee: volumes of report Run with their falfe and moft contrarious quefts Upon thy doings: thousand 'fcapes of wit And rack thee in their fancies!Well! agreed? Duke. 'Tis not my confent, But my intreaty too. Ifab. Little have you to say When you depart from him, but foft and low, "Remember now my brother. Mari. Fear me not. Duke. Nor, gentle daughter, fear you not at all: To bring you thus together, 'tis no fin, Enter Provoft and Clown. [Exeunt. Pro. Come hither, firrah: can you cut off a man's head? Clown. If the man be a batchelor, Sir, I can: but if he be a marry'd man, he is his wife's head, and I can never cut off a woman's head. Prov. Come, Sir, leave me your fnatches, and yield me E 2 a direct a direct answer. To-morrow morning are to die Claudio and Barnardine: here is in our prifon a common executioner, who in his office lacks a helper; if you, will take it on you to affift him, it fhall redeem you from your gyves : if not, you fhall have your full time of imprisonment, and your deliverance with an unpitied whipping; for you have been a notorious bawd. Clown. Sir, I have been an unlawful bawd, time out of mind, but yet I will be content to be a lawful hangman: I would be glad to receive fome inftruction from my fellowpartner. Prov. What hoa, Abborfon! where's Abborson there? Prov. Sirrah, here's a fellow will help you to-morrow in your execution: if you think it meet, compound with him by the year, and let him abide here with you; if not, ufe him for the prefent, and difmifs him. He cannot plead his estimation with you; he hath been a bawd. Abbar. A bawd, Sir? fie upon him, he will difcredit our mystery. Prov. Go to, Sir; you weigh equally, a feather will turn the fcale. [Exit. Clown. Pray, Sir, by your good favour; (for furely, Sir, a good favour you have, but that you have a hanging look ;) do you call, Sir, your occupation a mystery? Abbor. Ay, Sir, a mystery. Clown. Painting, Sir, I have heard fay, is a mystery; and your whores, Sir, being members of my occupation, ufing painting, do prove my occupation a mystery: but what mystery there fhould be in hanging, if I fhould be hang'd, I cannot imagine. Abbor. * Clown. * * Sir, it is a mystery. The Text here is plainly maimed and deficient, the words by which Abborjon fhould prove the Hangman's trade a mystery are loft. But from what follows the argument may be conjectured to have been this, that every man's apparel fitted the Hangman: to which we may fuppofe the Clown replied, that for the fame reafon the fame thing might be laid of the Thief's trade.---Yes, Sir, It is a my.ery, &c. and this connects the reft that follows. Abbor, Abbor. Proof. Clown. Every true man's apparel fits your thief: if it be too little for your thief, your true man thinks it big enough. If it be too big for your thief, your thief thinks it little enough fo every true man's apparel fits your thief. : Re-enter Provost. Prov. Are you agreed? Clown. Sir, I will ferve him : for I do find your hangman is a more penitent trade than your bawd; he doth oftner ask forgiveness. Prov. You, firrah, provide your block and your ax tofour a-clock. morrow, Abbor. Come on, bawd, I will inftruct thee in my trade; follow. Clown. I do defire to learn, Sir; and I hope, if you have occafion to use me for your own turn, you shall find me yare : for truly, Sir, for your kindness I owe you a good turn. [Exit. Prov. Call hither Barnardine and Claudio: One has my pity; not a jot the other, He'll not awake. Prov. Who can do good on him? 1 Well, go, prepare your felf. [Ex. Claud.] But hark, what noife? [Knock witbin. Heav'n give your fpirits comfort!---by and by,-- I hope it is fome pardon, or reprieve For the most gentle Claudio. Welcome, father. Duke. The beft and wholfom'ft fpirits of the night Duke. Not Ifabel ? Prov. No. Duke. They will then, ere't be long, Prev E 3 |